Are any of you running a custom made gas tank between the bike and sidecar? If so, how many gallons is it, what material is it made of, and is it baffled? Pros? Cons?
For long distance rides i just carry 2 1/2 gal plastic gas can.
4 1/2 gallons, Aluminum, no baffles. Electric transfer pump, with switch on battery box which carries a car battery behind the tank. Built and set up by Claude Stanley's Freedom Sidecars.
Pros = 220+ mile range on a Bonneville rig. When I transplant the tub to my F800GS Adventure I expect to get close to 300. Tank and battery act as ballast (I never carry a human passenger)
Cons? = I'd love to have a plate there, to plant my foot on to shift my weight towards the tub on those tight right hand turns! That's the worst of it, right there.
Do you ever feel the shift of the fuel as you start to turn with no baffles?
I've never noticed anything. That's not to say it couldn't happen, but it would have to be a partial tank, say 3 gallons, and that's 25-30lbs shifting a couple of inches? I really can't see it becoming an issue.
EDIT; IF it was a larger tank, mounted with the wide dimension horizontal so the fuel could slosh further, then it might be an issue. But it's maybe 6" wide and a foot tall. Side to side is nothing on a vertical tank like this. Maybe a gallon would move to the outside in a turn...8 lbs? You'll never know
I have a custom 6 gal tank behind the seat in mine, it goes across the rear of the car. I have never noticed the fuel moving during driving, I can say I can feel the difference of when it's empty vs. full
but as to sloshing in the tank, never feel it
trikebldr - 3/19/2016 11:06 PM
Do you ever feel the shift of the fuel as you start to turn with no baffles?
If your concerned about fuel slosh, Summit racing carries a product called fuel cell safety foam. Looks like open pore foam rubber and you just stuff it into the fuel cell, and no slosh. Beauty is you barely loose any capacity from your tank. My 3 gallon cell still holds3 gallons.
