Motobilt is Releasing a new Gas Tank and Skid

Fouledplugs

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TJ and LJ aluminum gas tanks. Not sure on the skid material as of yet, looks like steel.
Prices are TBD and all other important details are yet to be released.

As always, it’s great to see some companies continue to introduce new TJ/LJ parts instead of putting them to the wayside or no longer supporting them.
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It looks smaller than factory. My guess is that this is a stretch tank.
Regardless of what we can speculate from the photo in my original post, it’s just speculation until they release the details. But it may absolutely be smaller.

The phrase, “stretch tank,” is the wrong way to put it. A tank that some may label a stretch tank does indeed look much smaller which allows the stretch. But they are really more of a, “reshaped,” tank, being that some stretch tanks are actually rated to hold the same amount of gasoline as the factory tanks.

While the tank may “look,” smaller, it is often a fool who claims it so. It’s only been reshaped with priority being centered around making room to stretch the rear center section further back without contacting the gas tank. Which, is why some people believe them to be smaller.

Take for example, an early model TJ, it came from the factory with a 15 gallon tank. If you were to try to increase the wheelbase by pulling the rear axle back, that factory 15 gallon tank would probably allow 1 inch of stretch, if that.

An aftermarket 15 gallon, “stretch,” tank holds just as much gasoline as the early model gas tank but allows 9 inches of wheelbase stretch because of it’s shape.

Example : Genright’s Alien tank. 15 gallons and allows up to 9 inches of rear wheelbase stretch.
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https://genright.com/products/alien-crawler-gas-tank-skid-plate-15-gal-jeep-tj-lj.html
The later model TJ’s/LJ’s, all the way through 2006, came with a 19 gallon tank. The factory 19 gallon tank allows for about an inch of wheelbase stretch, but most folks cant even get that much with a trackbar still on the rear axle.

However, an aftermarket stretch tank can be had that will allow 19.5 gallons of gasoline, yet allows 5 inches of rear wheelbase stretch.

Example: Genright’s Crawler EXT Tank. 19.5 gallons and can accommodate up to 5 inches stretch.
https://genright.com/products/jeep-tj-lj-crawler-ext-gas-tank-skid-plate-19-5-gal.html
 
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Is the primary goal stretch or range?
Stays the same in certain models while allowing more stretch. Some tanks are built to only offer more range and no stretch.

Both the Crawler EXT tank and the Alien tank from Genright are the same size as the TJ factory tanks, yet they allow 5-8 inches of stretch.
 
@Wildman maybe get dimensions from genright on their new 15gal Alien Tank. That might fit after your stretch at 5”. The photos I posted of the 8” stretch on your build page, he said the 11 gal. Alien Tank would fit. But he went to a cell anyways.

Just a thought.
 
Genright might seem expensive but their stuff is really nice. Genright keeps improving/updating their TJ/LJ tanks. @Chris can attest to their quality, fit, and finish. Genright tanks and skids are like art.

GenRight tanks are amazing quality. The welds on those things are just sublime.

I'd buy one again in a heartbeat.
 
@Wildman maybe get dimensions from genright on their new 15gal Alien Tank. That might fit after your stretch at 5”. The photos I posted of the 8” stretch on your build page, he said the 11 gal. Alien Tank would fit. But he went to a cell anyways.

Just a thought.
The 11 gallon is being sold from Genright for $250 off. They are getting rid of them in favor of the 15 gallons. Only while supplies last.
 
@Wildman maybe get dimensions from genright on their new 15gal Alien Tank. That might fit after your stretch at 5”. The photos I posted of the 8” stretch on your build page, he said the 11 gal. Alien Tank would fit. But he went to a cell anyways.

Just a thought.

I won't go to a 15 gallon tank unless I had no other choice. Right now I am planning on using the GenRight 20 gallon fuel cell. I have a GenRight extend range tank that I am taking out. It replaced the stock tank with a 24.5 gallon tank and I was able to fit my CRD 60 rear axle BEARLY. As a side note I bought it used from Tony when he took it out of his Jeep back in 2005/6.

Once I cut my rear frame section I won't be able to use a fuel tank in the back. I could just notch my crossmember but I would lose 1 mounting point on the crossmember for the tank skid. The fuel cell at this point just seems to be the better option.

And yes they use to offer a 15 gallon tank BUT they were the same size as the 20 gallon tank. The only difference was there was a tube in the filler neck that made it a 15 gallon instead of a 20 gallon tank. It use to be a popular modification to drop your tank and pull the fuel pump and reach in and cut that neck off. You could change your 15 gallon to a 20 gallon for about 2 hours of work. Ask me how I know???


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A little dirty but still a very AWESOME fuel tank.... And 24.5 gallons.
 
Because backhalf?

No I'm not doing a back half but I am going to cut the rear frame section off and move it back 5" which means I will then cut the rear crossmember off along with 5" of frame rail sticking off the back. So there won't be any place to mount a tank without a TON of fab work.

Like this one that Blaine did.
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If the Motobuilt fuel cells had baffles in them I would most likely go with them over the GenRIght fuel cell.
 
TJ and LJ aluminum gas tanks. Not sure on the skid material as of yet, looks like steel.
Prices are TBD and all other important details are yet to be released.

As always, it’s great to see some companies continue to introduce new TJ/LJ parts instead of putting them to the wayside or no longer supporting them.
View attachment 165508

I do like the shape of that tank.
 
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No I'm not doing a back half but I am going to cut the rear frame section off and move it back 5" which means I will then cut the rear crossmember off along with 5" of frame rail sticking off the back. So there won't be any place to mount a tank without a TON of fab work.

Like this one that Blaine did.
View attachment 165703

If the Motobuilt fuel cells had baffles in them I would most likely go with them over the GenRIght fuel cell.
Yea I figured it came down to fab work. I have seen guys run genright stretch tanks with back half kits.
It does look like a lot of work.
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