Are these factory gas tanks on my Camper Special?

[PCskies]

Hello all. I'm new to the site as of today. My first post was an introduction in the announcement section. Glad to be here!

Hopefully someone can clear something up for me, regarding these gas tanks.

I have 3 gas tanks on my CS. 1 rear, and 2 midship tanks (one on each side of truck - see pictures) The rear tank I'm pretty certain came with the truck, but my question is about the 2 midship tanks. Are they factory? What about the locking gas doors? Are they factory? I tried too outline the passenger side tank to give you an idea of its size. I've always used the rear tank for fueling and never use the midship tanks. Would like to convert it back to factory if these aren't original. Thanks for your input.

 

[m78]

I've never seen or heard of fill doors like that or passenger side tanks

 

[smokey]

Doesn't look stock at all. Never saw tanks that sit that low stock either.

 

[Mil1ion]

Absolutely not

 

[LEB Ben]

I have a question...Ford never had a passenger side tank on these trucks, did they? But yours isn't factory. As for the driver's side, there was a tank in that could have been in that location, but again...yours is something a PO cobbled together.



One more question...I thought I read somewhere that during the 70's gas crisis that it wasn't uncommon for a dealership to do a 3 tank setup for trucks with an incab tank. So you'd have the incab tank, the midship tank and the rear tank. Is this true?

 

[polarbear]

I have a question...Ford never had a passenger side tank on these trucks, did they? But yours isn't factory. As for the driver's side, there was a tank in that could have been in that location, but again...yours is something a PO cobbled together.



One more question...I thought I read somewhere that during the 70's gas crisis that it wasn't uncommon for a dealership to do a 3 tank setup for trucks with an incab tank. So you'd have the incab tank, the midship tank and the rear tank. Is this true?

Yep- I believe that was available from the factory as well. '76 brochure mentions the availability of auxiliary fuel tanks (plural).

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/76fp/76fp.html

 

[PCskies]

I appreciate the feedback. So it appears I have some work to do to put it back to original.

I noticed that someone went to the trouble of painting the exposed bottoms of the gas tanks on each side to match the color of the truck. That's interesting that they went to that extent. The paint on the tanks and the truck appears to have the same patina, so it must of all been done when the truck was fairly new.

There's a gooseneck hitch mounted in the bed. Given that type of hitch and the need for 3 gas tanks, the truck must have done some heavy duty hauling in its day.

Many thanks.

 

[Mil1ion]

One more question...I thought I read somewhere that during the 70's gas crisis that it wasn't uncommon for a dealership to do a 3 tank setup for trucks with an incab tank. So you'd have the incab tank, the midship tank and the rear tank. Is this true?

Yes, 1977 was the last year for an in cab tank

 

[LEB Paul]

Isn't the camper special supposed to have a tool box integrated into the bed on the passenger side?

 

[m78]

Isn't the camper special supposed to have a tool box integrated into the bed on the passenger side?

Camper Special didn't determine weater it had the side tool box or not.

 

[BKW]

Hello all. I'm new to the site as of today. My first post was an introduction in the announcement section. Glad to be here!

Hopefully someone can clear something up for me, regarding these gas tanks.

I have 3 gas tanks on my CS. 1 rear, and 2 midship tanks (one on each side of truck - see pictures) The rear tank I'm pretty certain came with the truck, but my question is about the 2 midship tanks. Are they factory?

Welcome to FTF

Both of these "saddle" tanks are aftermarket. The two give-away's are:

1) Ford did not install a fuel tank on the right side of the bed on any year truck.

2) These tanks are behind lockable doors that are riveted to the quarter panels.

No Ford truck had fuel necks/caps behind doors until 1977, and these doors are hinged and painted body color.

Ben: These fuel tanks are not cobbled together. Aftermarket companies specialized in these tanks, usually installed at the behest of the selling dealer, because Ford did not offer dealer installed fuel tanks.

Here on the West Coast, the Fey Bumper Co. installed similar saddle tanks behind these same types of doors on myriad trucks from 1961 thru 1979.

Most 1965/79 Camper Special's (excluding '73/79 F350's on the 140" wheelbase) have the right side tool box, but this was an option on all of these trucks, Camper Special...or not.

 

[PCskies]

I appreciate the great info BKW and everyone else too.

So I suppose my next question would be - if I wanted to take it back to original would it be easier to find a replacement bed that had the locations for midship and rear tank on the driver side, or could these filler doors be taken off and filled in somehow? I'd like to remove both midship tanks and put a factory midship on the driver side. Not sure what would be best...

The bed of the truck is rusty so maybe a replacement bed would be best. Tailgate has a nice bow to it and is a little rough as well. I can post a picture of the bed once I get back home later to see what you guys think.

 

[LEB Ben]

Personally, I think the easiest route would be finding a new bed and starting from scratch. You could cut out the 'door' area for the gas tanks, but they look like they are sitting a little lower than where the factory doors were. If that is the case, then you'd have some fancy patch and splice work to get factory doors in at their proper locations. Although, your bed should have the round caps in the bed IIRC, so that might make it easier. But as I said, if it were me, I'd just find a good solid 73-76 bed with dual gas tanks.

 

[LEB Ben]

Isn't the camper special supposed to have a tool box integrated into the bed on the passenger side?

Are you thinking of the SCS with the spare tire door?

 

[lostinfords]

This style aftermarket tank were installed on my 76 f250 4x4 that I bought in '84, it had the in cab tank and a manual switch/valve to use these, I now have both a left and right tank which fit between the frame rail and the part bed of the truck, both are 'notched' to fit around fwd. leaf spring hangar, I believe they had econo tank sticker on them from waco, texas ...worked out well on the drive back to Jersey from Alabama, a little hassle fueling through the wheel well but at least there were no non-stock doors on the bed

 

[m78]

My Camper Special didn't come with the box, I added it


.

 

[BKW]

A word of caution if y'all want to install one of these tool boxes on your 1973/79 Styleside.

Make sure y'all get the correct type.

Be AWARE that there were long and short versions that fit 1964/66 F100/250 2WD & 1966 F100 4WD.

Short and long versions that fit 1967/72 F100/350's.

These earlier tool boxes are not the same as used 1973/79.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Theres alot of trucks around here that have them same doors on both sides I dont think very many of em have the tanks still though. If it were me id flush em out and run em.

 

[bucks77ford]

Those tanks are a nice idea, but I'm not to fond of the doors. However, I think they are better than filling through the fenderwell.

 

[rjphillips]

Our dealer up in the Canadian north in the mid 70's installed the same tanks as shown with the in cab tank still in truck for long range since we are about 500 milles from any city. They even added one extra tank with same door on a 79 F250 extended cab my coworker owned since new, but sure doesn't look factory. At least it could be a dealer item on your truck.