Fuel tank for hydraulic

I just used the whole tank on my 359 when I was pulling end dumps local. Be sure to take the fuel tank breather out and put a bigger cap type breather in. I just plugged my lines right at the tank so when I went back to running the road it wasn't a big deal.

 

they will still run equal.

 

I installed a 3 line wetline last year on a KW W900 and i had a boat fuel tank builder set up to split my right side tank "120 gal." until i read the pump details and went with a above frame tank, in the pump specs it requires the feed line from the tank to be at or above the pump, using the saddle tank split the feed line would be below the pump and it puts more of a strain on the pump especially if your using it for a dump trailer or any application that uses most of the oil.

 

We run 379 petes with 130 gallon tanks. 1 side is split for 100 fuel, 30 hydraulic. So it's basically a 100 gallon on 1 side and 130 on the other. There are no problems returning fuel evenly.

The suction line height isn't as much of an issue as the fluid level. If the fluid level stays above the pump, it will gravity feed. So if the pump is higher than the bottom of the tank, you want enough fluid in there to stay above the pump. So if you can use the tank and have enough fluid to stay above the pump when all cyliners are completely extended, you will be OK.

 

The only issue on tank height is priming the system and that's easy to do. I put a 50g aluminum saddle tank on my frame behind fuel and never had an issue of sucking the pump dry. You will need at least 35g of oil to put most dumps all the way up. That 30g tank would run out in the middle of the 5th stage on mine.
I would be careful if you use the whole fuel tank as wet tank if you unload on slopes where it could suck air but you could just put 80 gallons in if weight isn't an issue. Hate to have to buy that much to not need it though

 

I pulled a 42 ft Schaller material trailer, it was something like 80 gallon to get the last stage to bottom out. That was part of my reasoning to use the whole tank. Most Pete tanks have a 1and a quarter NPT plug in the middle inside bottom that is ideal to put a shut off and a barb in to get your suction oil. When dumping your gonna want to be level for sure.

 

I never said you cannot install the tanks inlet line below the pump, the pump manufacturer recommended the line be above it, and if you think about it they are right.
Look at every piece of heavy equipment, every Hyd tank is above the pump, look at every new dump body installed, the tank is either between the frame rails above the pump or installed on the outside frame rails above the pump.
When i purchased the kit the dealer told me the inlet line below the pump puts more stress on the pump, I have been in the Excavating, Dump Truck, Low Boy and Walking floor business for over 30 years and one thing i learned is if a manufacturer says to do something there must be a reason.