Fuel tank side straps?

[Hedgehog]

I'm not flying completely blind, but some advice would be helpful.

I'm installing a new 21 gallon fuel tank on a PO modified jeep that had no fuel tank skid plate. The new poly tank needs a skid plate to install the tank. No problem the tank is almost installed. A question has come to mind. The replacement tank is held in place with only one big metal strap running over the top, front to back. But while researching I see some references to side straps There are corresponding holes in the skid plate for the side straps. So, should I either fabricate a set of straps, find a stock set or forget the straps all together? The downside to adding the straps is the possibility that they will eventually rub a hole in the poly tank. Advice, if you got it, will be helpful.

 

[caveman]

I think the end straps are more for peace of mind more than anything. Only reason for them is if the strap on top breaks. The end straps are just a simple piece of strap steel that could be easily fabricated. About the same gauge as the skid pan.

 

[hondo]

mine are missing to. i am not at all worried about it my tank is nice and tight and not going anywhere without the jeep

 

[Hedgehog]

Talked to Rob at Willys Works, this is one of those subjects that shows the willy nilly nature of CJ construction. Jeeps like mine, a '75 CJ5 , didn't have the straps. The newer CJ's in the '80's do have the straps or at least are supposed to have them. He's seen many stock CJ's that should have them with no sign that they were ever there, evidently it's about a 50/50 proposition. But he did have some in stock and quite a few of his junk skid plates had them installed. We were under the impression that I really don't need the straps, but what the heck they can't hurt either. So, I have a set all cleaned up and painted ready to put on today. I'm kind of impressed with their construction. Where I expected a simple steel strap, these are all bent and slightly concave with permanently attached bolts on the ends, made for a specific side and all in all quite a bit more engineered than expected.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

My '85 was OEM with the 20gal poly tank.
It does have a thin metal over strap on the tank.
No side straps at all, no need or room.
The OEM skid plate is worthless for protection in the rocks.
About 12 years ago, I put a heavy duty one on in place of the OEM to protect the tank.
These were sold by Four Wheel Drive Hardware.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

The point is your 20 gallon tank SHOULD have had them stock from the factory. Whether they were needed or not is entirely another matter. I believe that once all my projects are done I will make a skid plate of my own. Looks easy enough.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Should of had them-Nope, not in '85. No provisions for them at all, other than the one overhead strap.
The OEM 'skip-plate' cover'd the plastic tank on all exposed sides(except the top).
Fit of the tank into the 'skip-plate' was pretty snug.
Can you post some pics of your set-up?

I do believe your yr jeep did use the side straps.

LG

 

[Hedgehog]

When installing the 21 gallon tank you use the '76 and newer skid plate. The ones I've seen have a hole on the side in each corner about 4 inches from the bottom. Maybe it's the 15 gallon tank that should have them, but not all of the ones that should have the straps have them.

 

[Hedgehog]

Lumpy this is what my skid plate and side straps look like. Naturally mine is a 21 gallon tank.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

My OEM gas-tank skid plate didn't have the open sides like in the picture.
Only one top center strap from front to back.
This is what mine looks like-
1985 Jeep CJ7 Plastic Gas Tank with Skid Plate | eBay
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Yeah I saw that in another thread. .... the one I stole the image from. Never really paid much attention to the skid plate on the newer CJ's. It looks like they tried to armor (don't really want to argue the relative strength of the skid plate here) the 20 gallon tank much more than the 15 gallon tanks I'm familiar with. All in all I think it was a good move to find the additional side straps.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

My concern would be how close the exhaust pipe runs to the exposed tank. That, an how easy that tank could get a hole poked into it while jeep'n.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

The exhaust situation does concern me. With duel exhaust the problem exists on both sides. It will be resolved with a combination of exhaust wrap and heat shields. When projects slow down some it wouldn't be difficult to fabricate a full set of sides similar to yours.