Yes, please put me down for a fuel tank cradle...


  • Total voters
    38
Let us know when you may have the new cradle available or would you suggest we try to find elsewhere. Mines just failed its test for a corroded fuel tank cradle, I thought it might and that's why I put my name down for your replacement some months ago.

I can still press on with it if people still want me to. Should have a couple of quiet days later this week when I'll be able to get everything drawn up.

The only difficult part is the connecting pieces between the plates and the shaped section, not particularly easy to make without pressing it out!
 
My MOT is due end of March, I would like to have sourced a tank cradle before then. As I posted before, I would be happy to have a re-worked old one.
 
I'll get back on with the tubing drawings then, got one done, need to do the other. The plates are all drawn up and priced.
 
I think im getting towards needing one, unless I sell it before I get to that point.

I'm working with a company down south on these and waiting on a reply from them with ideas for improvement/simplifying before I go into prototyping with them. They're building an overlander demo, and the intention is to supply them with everything inc a new cradle, many eyes are better than just mine
 
Thinking about making them the same as the LR version with the 2 plates on the bottom, but for those who want a beefed up one, get some deflection plates made up and welded to the bottom of the frame. You'd lose 6-8mm of ground clearance, but it saves the need for a fuel tank guard

RE: Beefed up fuel tank cradle.

Would fitting a fuel tank guard also lose 6-8mm of ground clearance like fitting the beefed up cradle would?

I'd like max ground clearance is poss.

Thanks.
 
RE: Beefed up fuel tank cradle.

Would fitting a fuel tank guard also lose 6-8mm of ground clearance like fitting the beefed up cradle would?

I'd like max ground clearance is poss.

Thanks.

Yeah you'd lose 6mm minimum, depends how tight it sits to the cradle, could be double that!
 
RE: Beefed up fuel tank cradle.

Would fitting a fuel tank guard also lose 6-8mm of ground clearance like fitting the beefed up cradle would?

I'd like max ground clearance is poss.

Thanks.

If you're worried about 6-8mm clearance I'd have thought some extra protection was a good idea
 
why not just refurb your old one ? i did mine and fitted it with 3mm plate so its pritty strong now and only took a few hours to repair and make new plates
 
I would definitely be interested in a plain one. Clocked the state of mine when we were under the car it today changing the back box. Currently dickering between getting it done at a garage, which would surely bankrupt me.....or getting the old man to do it....which likely won't end well either!
 
I would definitely be interested in a plain one. Clocked the state of mine when we were under the car it today changing the back box. Currently dickering between getting it done at a garage, which would surely bankrupt me.....or getting the old man to do it....which likely won't end well either!

as long as you have a almost empty tank and a few bottle jacks (or similar ) its a very simple job to do

with lowering the subframe ,then the tank craddle, making new plates,welding it all together ,painting then refitting it took me maybe 5 hrs

but 2 hrs of that was waiting for the paint to dry enought to handle so i could refit it

i def would do it my self ,even if its fitting a new one instead of refurb as im sure a garage will charge ££££££££££££££££
 
Mine needs tarting up again , it's as if it's holding water , so rusting from the inside out , splitting , mot due aug :eek:
 
mine before i refurbed it


then to stop water build up under the plate i cut holes in the new plate


all finished and ready paint and refit



all done ,i did this about 1 mnth ago ,was very easy to do and cost nothing apart from time and welding gas

and with the holes drilled in the plate that the rubber cup thing sits on there is no more water build up sitting on the plate :)
 
Yeah I costed it a while ago, and the only way it was going to be cost effective for me was to make them in batches of 30+ or something silly like that!

I did toy with the idea of doing reconditioned ones, on an exchange basis, but then run the risk of too many cradles that I get sent being unsalvageable! Although it's still a possibility, as long as the centre ties are still solid and the tubes are solid, I can just get a number of plates made up (could even supply new ones for DIY as above).
 
Interesting project. Getting the tube right is a real PITA. It may be easier to have say, 3mm steel lasercut to match the tube with "feet" welded on each end. These would be more accurate and repeatable than tube bending the other sheet metal parts are easily laser cut and the strips across bent to suit a jig. Overall a very "possible" project but unlikely to be less than £120. Can these be removed without dropping the rear subframe etc?
 

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