How much fuel to put on?

100 gallons

 

First question is, how much fuel do have with the weights you are showing, and how far can you travel with the fuel you have on?

Now, you need to know what percentage of fuel weight will show on the steers and what will show on the drives...like "25" said above it will depend on how the tanks are positioned on the frame.

Let your tanks get to half full (or half empty for the pessimist) then scale the tractor...now put on 100 gallons...scale again.

Fuel weighs approximately 7.3 lbs per gallon...so as "25" says 730 lbs for 100 gallons. Now compare the two scale tickets...how much weight of the 730 lbs went to the drives and how much went to the steers...use this in figuring the answer to your question of how much can you put on.

Other factors to consider:

1. What is the average mpg with this truck?
2. How many miles to the weigh station?
3. How much fuel will burn off in that distance and what is the weight that will burn?
4. Why did I accept such a P>O>S load (again?)?

Now a brain teaser for you...(I did this to every student I had...and never told them the correct answer until they went solo...even if they guessed the right answer right off the bat)

Truck get 7 mpg, fuel weighs about 7 lbs/gal, how much fuel is burned in 7 miles and how much weight is lost in 7 miles?

 

Most trucks will put 50% of the fuel weight on the steers and 50% on drives. Your control point is your drives. 34,000 - 33,660 = 340 divided by 7.2 lbs/gal = 47 gallons x 2 (weight increase on drives + steer) = 94 gallons. After fueling re-weigh to check driver-steer split and you will have a more accurate idea of your fuel weight distribution next time. With your steer and drive weights this close sliding your 5th wheel will not help.

You can put more on if your experience at the weigh station last week was a positive one, less to be safe if it was negative.

 

80000-78920=1080. Divided by 8 #=135 gals. I would put on 100 gals to be safe. I used 8 # per gallon to figure how much fuel I could put on. I pulled a reefer and just tried to stay as close to 80K as possible but leave some room. I'm not saying it's fool proof but I never got any overweight tickets either.JMO

 

NO NO NO NO !!!!!!!!!! TURN THAT FUEL PUMP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He doesn't have 1,080 lbs to play with, he has 680 lbs. Your calculations would be correct id his steer and drives were equal but nit in his present circumstances.

 

Put in 50 gallons. That'll get ya close to 300 miles. Then do it again. Some loads you just have to fuel more than you'd prefer.

 

You guys don't know how much fun this is for a wannabe! Over 100 years of combined experience "back and forthin'"! Great learning experience, thanks!

 

Native Dancer I beg to differ. 34000-33660=340 Drives. 12000-11320=780 Steer. 340+780=1120 under gross. He can put on 100 gallons of fuel and go truck! Don't care where the tanks are. Even under the doors he's got room for 100 gallons. 800 pounds only puts him 12120 on the steer. Like I said put a 100 gallons on and go truck!!