MTS 15 gallon Tank Install

Have any of you run into problems with the side straps being too short for your original skid plate on your intermediate? Are the straps supposed to go from front to back on the skid plate?
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How are you mounting it? Did it come with instructions?

The pics of an uninstalled MTS that I've seen lead me to believe that since the MTS plastic tank lacks the corner mounting tabs(factory style) the strap needs to be fashioned in such a way as to hold only the tank, with the skid plate going on after the fact.
I'm guessing that you may be trying to wrap the strap around both the tank and the skid.

 

Only instructions for sending unit. I didn't see instuctions on their website either. I was thinking the straps strapped the tank to the skid plate to
hold the tank steady, as the tank has no mounting holes to mount it like the original steel tank to the frame. The skid holds this tank up?
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The later tanks use the skid plate to hold up the tank. IIRC the plastic tanks take this approach, and you must add the strap to secure the tank. You also must have a skid plate, which was not required for the '70-75 tanks.

Yes, the later tank uses one strap, from front to back.

 

Thanks, Tim. The poly tank I received came with 3 straps. I'm assuming one to go over the too of the tank and the other 2 to go on the sides. Are you thinking I only may need the top strap?
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If you look at the MTS web site, they call these "top strap" and "end straps." So they intend for you to use straps across the ends of the tank, I presume.

This is different from the steel tank install, but I would follow the recommendations of the tank maker, and install the parts that they recommend.

http://www.mtscompany.com/jeep.htm

 

The side/end straps are what I'm saying are too short for my skid plate. I will try to post some pictures this evening to show what I'm talking about.
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The skid plate is rather springy, and might come together some when its installed. Are they too short if you squeeze the skid plate together a little?

Too short implies that the newer skid has a shorter length than the older skid. If so, I would just add a little material to the straps to make them fit. Or maybe fabricate my own straps, and send these back. The top strap will definitely have to be adapted, because the way it attaches to the front of the skid plate won't work with the older skid.

Or, even more drastic, buy the newer style skid and use it. I'm sure you could make that work - it's been done many times on early models.

 

Where might I find strap steel to make the existing straps longer?
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Lowes ... Home Depot ... maybe scrounge some at your local scrap dealer.

 

Remember to add a bit of rubber between the tank and the straps, (to keep chafing of the plastic tank and a fuel leak. (I dunno how, but dirt and grime always seem to work their way between them.
I bike tire tube will work.
Also one between the skid pate and the tank, (I used a hunk of red rubber gasket material from a plumbing shop).
I've used pipe strapping from Lowes to extend the straps, (tripled up to make sure it always held), and on my '61 CJ, I made a bracket that bolted to the frame mounts that lowered the mounts so the orginal straps worked.
Main thing is keep the plastic tank away from metal edges, (I had a KTM motorcycle tank start leaking during a race, Turned out a bolt head worked it way into the tank).
Joe
Owning a jeep is like a river. The projects and the $$ never stop flowing!
I love it!R)