Fuel Tank options for Land Cruiser 250/ GX550

[GC3]

Update: What a disappointment! The item I filled out the customs form for was not the aux fuel tank, it was for a six gang switch trim panel from Australia. So I'm back to wondering where the heck this thing is at.

I was happy about receiving the switch panel but it isn't a remove and replace thing (sad face) It has required a lot of careful trimming and still doesn't fit just right, but I think I'll get there. For anyone out there interested in this trim panel, You will have to cut the "dash" out where the middle locking tab of the OEM trim panel locks in to. A razor knife worked well for this.

(edit) contacted the company (FX Industries), my shipment has reached their "overseas warehouse" and is on it's way to me....... translation..... "in a holding yard somewhere, waiting for the container to fill up before they put it on a ship."

This kind of interaction is why I chose to buy through Slee and let them deal with FK

 

[EOD Guy]

This kind of interaction is why I chose to buy through Slee and let them deal with FK

I don't think the 12gal aux is available through Slee, when I ordered mine. If it is avail, I'd suggest future DIYrs order one through them and bypass the whole shipping/customs fiasco. I purposely wanted the 12 vs the 16 as it is my understanding, the 12 requires no exhaust modifications and the 16 requires a different exhaust or the OEM be highly modified (muffler moved).

 

[Alpha Puppy]

Update: What a disappointment! The item I filled out the customs form for was not the aux fuel tank, it was for a seven gang switch trim panel from Australia. So I'm back to wondering where the heck this thing is at.

I was happy about receiving the switch panel but it isn't a remove and replace thing (sad face) It has required a lot of careful trimming and still doesn't fit just right, but I think I'll get there. For anyone out there interested in this trim panel, You will have to cut the "dash" out where the middle locking tab of the OEM trim panel locks in to. A razor knife worked well for this.

(edit) contacted the company (FX Industries), my shipment has reached their "overseas warehouse" and is on it's way to me....... translation..... "in a holding yard somewhere, waiting for the container to fill up before they put it on a ship."

Please excuse the thread drift. DMed EOD guy but thought in the balance, this would twig others also into adding AUX switches in an OEM looking fashion.
@EOD Guy. Are you taking about the switch panel from 300mods in Australia? If so, I got the same, and unexpectedly found it does not work... Unfortunately because the side supports of the panel are not centered vertically, it seems the design will need to be mirrored left to right to work on left hand drive cars. Unnecessary difference in my opinion, makes me think less of the Toyota engineer in charge of this. Thought they were all about minimizing unnecessary differences and parts... Anyway, I asked Bob nicely, which seems like a really nice chap if he'd be willing to do this extra bit of design work so his product would work in NA. Lets see what he says.
On the cutting of the plastic of the panel in the middle to make room for the extra switch, I found that if done carefully and judiciously, you lose very little as the middle leftover tab will still provide some friction in the middle to prevent the panel from bowing out from the "unsupported" middle while still providing enough room for the extra switch.

 

[EOD Guy]

Please excuse the thread drift. DMed EOD guy but thought in the balance, this would twig others also into adding AUX switches in an OEM looking fashion.
@EOD Guy. Are you taking about the switch panel from 300mods in Australia? If so, I got the same, and unexpectedly found it does not work... Unfortunately because the side supports of the panel are not centered vertically, it seems the design will need to be mirrored left to right to work on left hand drive cars. Unnecessary difference in my opinion, makes me think less of the Toyota engineer in charge of this. Thought they were all about minimizing unnecessary differences and parts... Anyway, I asked Bob nicely, which seems like a really nice chap if he'd be willing to do this extra bit of design work so his product would work in NA. Lets see what he says.
On the cutting of the plastic of the panel in the middle to make room for the extra switch, I found that if done carefully and judiciously, you lose very little as the middle leftover tab will still provide some friction in the middle to prevent the panel from bowing out from the "unsupported" middle while still providing enough room for the extra switch.

I trimmed the middle tab so that it is as tall as the rest of the OEM flange around the rest of the opening. The top of the flange bumps out in a small area and I had to trim that flush with the opening. I was able to trim the R/H side tab down (shorten) and re-drill the locking depression (where the orange tab locks in to) and the R/H side locks and secures as it should. I thought the L/H was ok but after a very short drive to Ace, it popped out. I have my borescope camera charging and plan on investigating why it's not seating fully. I don't have a bow in mine, but I did in the old 5 gang one. My solution for that, if it manifests later, is to plastic weld a thin strip of metal to the back side of the openings. While the price was right for the trim piece, the customs was a PITA for such a small piece.

My solution for the "too short" Dvr's side tab.

End result......

 

[Rk1679]

This kind of interaction is why I chose to buy through Slee and let them deal with FK

Who are you talking with at Slee? I live in the Springs and am very interested in purchasing from and letting them do the install. I just got back from a 1,600 mile drive and the range anxiety is real! Thanks

 

[GC3]

Who are you talking with at Slee? I live in the Springs and am very interested in purchasing from and letting them do the install. I just got back from a 1,600 mile drive and the range anxiety is real! Thanks

Just call their sales department. Can't order online, they have to set up your account and order details over the phone.

 

[Rk1679]

Just call their sales department. Can't order online, they have to set up your account and order details over the phone.

Thanks…I‘ll give them a call

 

[JoeDirt]

Spent some time with Slee today at Overland Expo SoCal. Saw FK tank installed on both the GX550 and LC250….very clean. Slee’s team is very impressed with both build quality and ease of installation (good sign). It sounds like their initial shipment landed at Port of LA recently and should be moving through customs. The challenge for them is trying to nail down what their cost structure is going to be given the bouncing tariffs right now.

I’m always impressed with Slee and their products. The fact that they’re putting their weight behind this has to count for something.

 

[agjake01]

Spent some time with Slee today at Overland Expo SoCal. Saw FK tank installed on both the GX550 and LC250….very clean. Slee’s team is very impressed with both build quality and ease of installation (good sign). It sounds like their initial shipment landed at Port of LA recently and should be moving through customs. The challenge for them is trying to nail down what their cost structure is going to be given the bouncing tariffs right now.

I’m always impressed with Slee and their products. The fact that they’re putting their weight behind this has to count for something.

Thanks for the feedback from Slee, looking forward to @EOD Guy trailblazing the 12Gal install. Definitely a huge demand in the community for a finished product

 

[EOD Guy]

Spent some time with Slee today at Overland Expo SoCal. Saw FK tank installed on both the GX550 and LC250….very clean. Slee’s team is very impressed with both build quality and ease of installation (good sign). It sounds like their initial shipment landed at Port of LA recently and should be moving through customs. The challenge for them is trying to nail down what their cost structure is going to be given the bouncing tariffs right now.

I’m always impressed with Slee and their products. The fact that they’re putting their weight behind this has to count for something.

I hope my 12 gal is in that container!

 

[EOD Guy]

Update: Got an email from Alibaba stated the shipment was on it's way and provided a tracking number..... WooHoo!

(edit) the tracking number doesn't mean anything to US carriers, unless it starts with "MK"

 

[shwazz714]

Got mine delivered last week and installed yesterday. I had about 35 miles left on the odometer when I picked it up and I average about 18 mpg - so maybe 3-4 gals in the main tank (2 on the odometer and 2 in reserve). Filled up and got 25 gallons in which was the max the pump allowed.

Only driven back from car shop yesterday so I can’t say exactly how the distance to empty works. Will provide an update

 

[Rk1679]

Got mine delivered last week and installed yesterday. I had about 35 miles left on the odometer when I picked it up and I average about 18 mpg - so maybe 3-4 gals in the main tank (2 on the odometer and 2 in reserve). Filled up and got 25 gallons in which was the max the pump allowed.

Only driven back from car shop yesterday so I can’t say exactly how the distance to empty works. Will provide an update

Looking forward to updates

 

[erhall55]

One option that I haven't seen talked about much is the LongRangeAmerica Auxiliary Tank. It's definitely not for everyone as it requires relocating your spare but it does keep your fuel gauge accurate and just transfers fuel from the 24 gallon tank into the main tank which the gauge still reads off of.

Unfortunately it seems like at this point in the game, all of the options do have some drawbacks, but it's great seeing this, the FK and all of the other tank options coming to the market. The range on the U.S. 250's is really a buzz kill!

What are the options on the 250 for relocating the spare?

 

[Matthew@LC250Mods]

What are the options on the 250 for relocating the spare?

Good question. Some may require a little creativity, but:

A) roof rack mounted
B) rear bumper swingout
C) in the trunk depending on tire size
D) if only street driven, just use AAA or a patch kit & compressor

 

[erhall55]

Good question. Some may require a little creativity, but:

A) roof rack mounted
B) rear bumper swingout
C) in the trunk depending on tire size
D) if only street driven, just use AAA or a patch kit & compressor

I just sent you an email on this so you may disregard. However, are there rear-bumper swing out kits out there?

 

[erhall55]

I like the idea of the LR America option rather than the uncertainty of tariffs and it seems that the DTE stats and the ECU hard-coding makes the aux option little better choice IMHO.

 

[erhall55]

I just sent you an email on this so you may disregard. However, are there rear-bumper swing out kits out there?

Maybe this? Tire Carrier Swing-out

 

[agjake01]

Looking forward to hearing how the fuel transfer and MTE display works out with the FK 12Gal from @shwazz714. Have a feeling FK is about to get several more orders. Maybe a forum discount?

 

[erhall55]

On a whole other tangent, it seems that the Toyota coders could figure out an option that allows you to invoke an economy mode rather than always in max power mode. After all, aren't most hybrids designed toward fuel economy? The fuel economy on my LC 250 was a bit of a shocker and continues to be the bain of ownership when considering the tank capacity.