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So, I spent the day building a gas tank guard/rear slider setup for my EA81 wagon.

 

Wondering if anyone else has done anything to protect the tank?

 

For as much as I see built wheeler Subarus, I always wonder about gas tank vulnerability.

 

I also wanted to build slider bars so that big rocks don't hang up the rear when walking off them.

 

I wil try to post pics once the paint dries......just wondering if anyone else has done a gas tank skid plate?

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Most of the gas tank skids ive seen end up traping rocks that ether ware or punch holes in the tank it seems the right way to protect the tank is to use a after market tank mounted out of the way of the rocks the skid plate also make fixing any leak a pain in the --- i just cary a tube of all purpose epoxy in my glove box if i hole my tank i can patch it up in seconds been there done that lol if you do end up using a skid plate just make.sure its sealed to the tank so nothing can get between the tank and the skid even small rocks cause leaks i sugest useing silicone or something along those lines to seal it off and make sure the paint is good on the tank or it will rust real fast sealed up like that

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Most of the gas tank skids ive seen end up traping rocks that ether ware or punch holes in the tank it seems the right way to protect the tank is to use a after market tank mounted out of the way of the rocks the skid plate also make fixing any leak a pain in the --- i just cary a tube of all purpose epoxy in my glove box if i hole my tank i can patch it up in seconds been there done that lol if you do end up using a skid plate just make.sure its sealed to the tank so nothing can get between the tank and the skid even small rocks cause leaks i sugest useing silicone or something along those lines to seal it off and make sure the paint is good on the tank or it will rust real fast sealed up like that

 

 

My skid has a good 1~1-1/2in space between the tank and the plate.  And there are a few areas with holes big enough to look in and reach an arm in to clear any rocks/mud.  And also just enough to access the sender unit if it needed service.

 

I made it so that there is no longer a "hollow" space between the gas tank and rear bumper.  So that large boulders that are driven over and cleared by front end and wheels, won't hang up under the lip of the rear end.  It will just slide the rump right off.

 

Trying to figure out whether to use flickr or some other photo site to post up pics.

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<a data-flickr-embed="true"  href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/152512309@N02/albums/72157687177261024" title="gas tank skid/sliders"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4440/37314075642_118399e75a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="gas tank skid/sliders"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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well, IDK WTF is up with Flickr.  Wish Photobucket didn't screw the pooch.

 

Anyhow......the link works i think.

 

Keep in mind the build philosophy here is kinda like the early 2000's show "Junk Yard Wars".

 

Or 

 

"Found Object Sculpture" that you can wheel.

 

So, what you see (or don't) in the pics is made from collected scrap from other rigs and trail cleanup.

 

Sliders on the sides = upright pieces from a bashed 90's F-350 whinch bumper/deer basher (aka Roo bar for the blokes down under)

 

Flat plate skids = rear gas tank guard halves (2 of 'em) from same F-350

 

U-shaped center frame = Trail cleanup. Swing out spare holder from Suzuki or Kia maybe. Found on trail with nice 31" mudder spare tire attached still.  **note, don't forget cotter pins in removable assemblies.

 

The only thing I had to buy was 5, 7/16-14 grade 8 bolts, locks, fenders, and nuts.  Drilled 1/2" holes across the towbar.  Welded the 7/16 nuts in place to towbar over the holes.  This is so I can use long bolts to draw the plate in on install.  

Edited by Gloyale
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Wow.  I was super stoked on finally making this.  Had pieces collecting for 3 years, finally said  "nows the time"

 

No ones got any thoughts?

 

Pics of what they've made?

 

Bring it on.....I know it's a monstrosity.  But it should be tough....all I care about.

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Just hope you dont get a 1 3/4 " rock wedged in there you would.be surprized the things ive pulled out of my front skid once on my truck i pulled a.seagull out.from between my skid and my oil pan lol truck also came with tank protection it was a pain in my back side picking the rocks out every time i went out i would think a few pieces of tube would do the trick if anything at all you would.have to have gone through some hella nasty stationary rocks already to get to 5he piont that the.gas tank would.be in any danger i would think that there would be other things that would hit long before the gas tank chances are you would.put a rock though the floor boards before the gas tank hits dont get me wrong i know the tank takes some hits but ive only had issues coming off of ledges and having loose rocks flyup or hit rocks burried in the sand but ledges ussaly arent jaged other wise the undercaredge would be rip up and rocks in loose dirt or.sand tend to give before the sheet metal doses it just.seems like alot of unnessisary wait your better off protecting the rear quarters and positioning the car so it takes th3 big rocks along the side of the car and not down the middle i use my rearquarter sliders all the time i also dont have alot of tank damadge just some minor dents and scrapes and like i sead i carry fuel safe stick epoxy just in case and i also have 2 extra tanks laying around for a more perminite fix if need be but if your realy that worried about it fuel cells are cheap now days

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I don't want a fuel cell in the car.  I take my kids and family wheelin.  Already crowded for cargo space.

 

I've got an EJ22......Weight isn't an issue.  actually helps to have a bit of weight back there for balance.  And the belly of my car is HIGH and has full length slider rails along the factory unibody rails.  Engine and rear diff and rearmost u-joint are armored.  No problems getting the front and middle of the car over things.  It just when you get over an obstacle and then immediately have an uphill, the rump drops and hangs on that obstacle.

 

As for 1-3/4" rocks under the skid.....Yeah I'm not worried.  I am worried about 2-3/4' Foot tall rocks.  

 

This was the experience that made me contemplate this project.  I kept being able to go forward until a large rock hung up my rear bumper.  Then when reversing it would smash into my gas tank.  It got quite well bashed.  you can see the rock I kept backing up against in the second pic.  That pointy guy bashed my tank good and eventually got my hung up.  Had to highlift of it.

 

37237398130_65e1f464b3_b.jpgIMG_0245 by Dans Subaru, on Flickr

37464518392_e318f72519_b.jpgIMG_0248 by Dans Subaru, on Flickr

 

I do take plenty of big rocks along the sides too! 

37464546512_d6b5a262cb_b.jpgIMG_0244 by Dans Subaru, on Flickr

37464532842_5c97efbde2_b.jpgIMG_0246 by Dans Subaru, on Flickr

 

And then this stuff too.....slider would've been nice here.

 

Edited by Gloyale
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is that a chunk  off axle on your rear bumpber? whats that for?

 

Had a spare tire holder that folded down built from an EA82 rear trailing arm, using the wheel bearing as the pivot..  Stub axle slipped into that cup.  Unfortunately, teh latch mechanism that held it upright failed, and it started bouncing uncontrollably on a dunes trip.  Broke the stub in half.....it's still stuck in there....I never remade the thing.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I think a gas tank guard is one of the first things I'd do to a Subaru I was going to take off road after an oil pan guard.  I can never understand why people make rear diff guards but not gas tank guards.  The tank on my Outback got bashed in without one, and we do nothing like Gloyale is doing!  I think that caused the siphon out of the driver's side to stop working.  Here is one guard we made:

 

DSCF0721s.jpg

 

Not pretty but bolts to the diff mount and kept the gas tank from getting worse.

 

DSCF0722s.jpg

 

This is one we made for my friend's Forester that bolts to the diff mount and subframe mounts.  I have bent the subframe mounts back on my Outback, this reinforces those and gives more support to the guard at the same time.

 

DSCF3072s.jpg

 

This is what we did for my Outback when we put the fuel cell in back.  Ties into the rear bumper for a smoother and stronger departure angle.  That horizontal tube right behind the rear diff is absolutely smashed now, so it's probably doing its job.

 

DSCF3527s.jpg

 

DSCF3833s.jpg

 

DSCF3837s.jpg

 

 

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I think a gas tank guard is one of the first things I'd do to a Subaru I was going to take off road after an oil pan guard.  I can never understand why people make rear diff guards but not gas tank guards.  The tank on my Outback got bashed in without one, and we do nothing like Gloyale is doing! 

 

yeah, the EJ cars the tank is even more vulnerable.

 

i like your designs very much.  I may have to borrow some ideas to apply to my Forester DD. it's stock, but i've got skid plates on front and on rear diff.  I'd like to add an Auto Trans pan skid or at least a beefed up pan, and of course the gas tank guard.  I don't "wheel" it, but every now and then i see a road or trail i want to try and i feel like i should be ready to try anything that presents itself without worry of catastrophic damage.

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