Rolling Gas/Diesel Caddy

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 05:10 AM

I'll be spending more time in SC, often with my wife staying in Maryland.

While I always top the tractor fuel tanks off, we are looking at something like this so she doesn't have to schlep five gallon gas cans around the equipment barns to get the equipment ready for the next go:

Any one her have a similar set-up? The closest place to me that has one is 40 minutes away and I'd like some data points before I head up.

Also, the price disparity from Amazon (low) to in store (high) is interesting, with or without a manual or electric pump.

Thanks in advance.

1990C4S · 08-04-2025, 05:35 AM

Isn't this sort of 'farm thing' exactly what Tractor Supply specializes in?

That's where I would go.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

There's are way cheaper solutions.

herr_oberst · 08-04-2025, 05:42 AM

I was hoping to see a dual-fuel Cadillac when I saw the headline.

(If you get the one with the armstrong pump and your wife complains about the flow rate, tape a picture of some gas jugs on the front of the caddy to remind her of what it could be like!)

herr_oberst · 08-04-2025, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie

There's are way cheaper solutions.

Noooo! Nobody is that stupid!

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Isn't this sort of 'farm thing' exactly what Tractor Supply specializes in?

That's where I would go.

I shop there all the time.

The cost difference is what startled me a bit...the local TS, according to their website, and the guy I spoke to on the phone, doesn't have one available but they ones they carry in Waldorf are "interesting" from a price perspective.

It is ten miles from my place to the closest really anything so I try to bundle trips and do some homework.

Arizona_928 · 08-04-2025, 05:56 AM

Truck bed mounted transfer tank.

Based on the color of your neck, 55 gallon steel drums work just as well (with a brass bung wrench).

Are you looking for gas or diesel storage?

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Truck bed mounted transfer tank.

Based on the color of your neck, 55 gallon steel drums work just as well (with a brass bung wrench).

Are you looking for gas or diesel storage?

Diesel. The only equipment other than cars on the farm that run gas are the portable generators and the Polaris Ranger. The Ranger, which we use multiple times a day, will go for three weeks on a tank of gas, so no issues.

I looked at truck mounted options but given the size of my farm, a 20/25 gallon roller seems to be the best option. The key is the filler location on some of the equipment, higher than you think and a bit clumsy. I have no issues with the little electric pumps I use in the 5 gallon diesel gas cans I use but wife does.

My "plan" is to continue with the current process of getting gas in the portable cans and then, which I do now, pour the diesel through a screen and filter, especially the off road diesel before I fuel the equipment.

TMI but that is my thought process.

Thanks again!

Arizona_928 · 09:24 AM

The electric transfer tank pumps will fit/thread on a standard 55 gallon steel barrel. One can easily plumb spin on filter(s) to those pumps with galvanized threaded pipe. I have a 15ft hose and regular diesel nozzle for my transfer tank. Works nicely on cross country trips and pulling along side of tractors, genies and other equipment. When i need extra fuel, I’ll fill up barrels with diesel and move them around with a FEL. Carrying over 110 gallons of fuel requires DOT signage and possibly a cdl.

Gasoline is a whole different animal and will require special storage.

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 09:30 AM

You do have me thinking. I have a spare high volume pump.

I am going to have a chat with the guy I lease my fields to...we have worked together here, from machine hire, to share cropping to know lease, for over thirty years.

The increased volume of time in South Carolina starts next year so this summer is good. We use, depending, around 8 gallons of diesel per week in maintenance "stuff".

Thanks again.

1990C4S · 08-04-2025, 12:29 PM

For gasoline, the volatility would worry me, I would avoid Amazon and pay the TS price.

For Diesel, I'd be a lot more interested in the lower cost options. But a barrel and a hand crank are pretty reliable/cheap.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

So if you spend $$ on the yellow thing, how are you going to fill it? If you put it in your truck and take it to the fuel station and fill it, how are you going to get it out of the truck?

MAS956 · 08-04-2025, 01:13 PM

I would highly recommend going with an electrical pump. My real world (if second hand) experience here involves the rarest of finds in my little town (Placerville) - someone who sells ethanol-free 95 octane "race gas" at only $11 a gallon, but I digress... In the last year they replaced their hand crank pumps with electrical. It was just taking too long to get 5 gallons out of a 55 gallon drum. At that price, I'm pretty sure i was their only customer so I paid for the pump upgrade. On the plus side, they are better at giving me 5 actual gallons at a time now.

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

So if you spend $$ on the yellow thing, how are you going to fill it? If you put it in your truck and take it to the fuel station and fill it, how are you going to get it out of the truck?

I have actually noodled this through

I do filter all the diesel through strainers into a separate gas tank before I fuel the equipment. This was recommended to me decades ago. I need to find a picture of the filter/strainer I use.

What I will do is filter the same five gallon diesel cans into the roller, easy day for me since the battery powered pumps are easy for me to move.

Pretty much exactly what I do now but my wife can, she is a farm woman, handle a roller easy day.

Seahawk · 08-04-2025, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAS956

My real world (if second hand) experience here involves the rarest of finds in my little town Placerville.

I have spent a lot of time in Placerville.

Great place and I have been informed whatever I do will be electric

A930Rocket · 08-04-2025, 03:04 PM

I don’t know how much that rolling fuel tank would be moved, but I bet larger tires and a taller handle would help tremendously in moving it. Of course, you would need to extend the non-moving legs to level it.

jrj3rd · 08-05-2025, 11:59 AM

Flo-Fast. I have the 7.5 gallon setup so my wife can fill our lawn tractor and mow when I am not available. Can still pick up a 7.5 when filled with gas so I can fill it at the gas station. either that or I just refill from one of the 5 gal containers also setting around. Has worked well for 12 years so far.
Pumps both ways so if I need to steal gas from tractor to top off generator during outages that works as well.