Bulk Fuel Storage

[Bigus Termitius]

Yesterday morning I met with a local fuel co-owner that my landlord has been doing business with forever for his farm operations. Real nice guy and very knowledgeable. We talked business and world events for about an hour and a half, then settled on a fuel program for the short term. I have a 500 gal tank at my disposal and we are topping it off with 89 and throwing 100gal of 93 no ethanol in a transfer tank for saws.

The plan is to get a few more gigs in and top off a second 500gal and I might need a third tank for diesel if I take on a 1390HD for the season.

How many of you guys are storing up your own bulk fuel for operations? What's your set up and how well has it served you in the past?

 

[treeman75]

I would like to get a tank for some off road diesel for my chipper. There is a station north of town about 10 miles that sells off road diesel.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I would like to get a tank for some off road diesel for my chipper. There is a station north of town about 10 miles that sells off road diesel.

That's what I'd likely have delivered eventually for chippers and loaders, once I have a bucket with a diesel I would switch another tank to on-road.

I was also curious if anyone kept track of total useage of a year and what kind of savings they realized in total from bulk. I'm getting enough to float through the peak seasons at least.

 

[Blakesmaster]

That's what I'd likely have delivered eventually for chippers and loaders, once I have a bucket with a diesel I would switch another tank to on-road.

I was also curious if anyone kept track of total useage of a year and what kind of savings they realized in total from bulk. I'm getting enough to float through the peak seasons at least.

I'd like to eventually buy in bulk too. Even if it doesn't save much money, not having to stop at the fuel station every morning would be worth it for me.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I'd like to eventually buy in bulk too. Even if it doesn't save much money, not having to stop at the fuel station every morning would be worth it for me.

That is part of it too, I'll get spoiled.

It's interesting to estimate my fuel over the peak season, even the year, and then contract or take delivery and maybe figure my savings. Just depends on how out of wack things get.

 

[Blakesmaster]

That is part of it too, I'll get spoiled.

It's interesting to estimate my fuel over the peak season, even the year, and then contract or take delivery and maybe figure my savings. Just depends on how out of wack things get.

Any worries about the fuel "going bad"? Not sure, but this ethanol #### has me concerned. Probably not an issue with diesel?

 

[MarquisTree]

we have on road Diesel at the shop, 500 gal tank, the fuel company fills it 3 to 4 times a week. No real savings on the fuel price but its a huge labor savings not having all the trucks at gas stations every day. We went with 500 gal tank because there is very little regulation on that size. Honestly we don't track the usage of the fuel at all, we should but its just one more thing.
that sounds like your going to have a lot of gasoline, do u really use that much to justify a tank?

 

[mattfr12]

ya we buy 2k on road 750 off road. every two months or so. works out real well for us saves alot of time in the morning going and getting diesel. its also a little bit cheaper.

 

[treeclimber101]

I wish I lived closer to Matt and Marquis I would come and steal your fuel , you too rich ####s wouldn't even know it ....

 

[mattfr12]

we have on road Diesel at the shop, 500 gal tank, the fuel company fills it 3 to 4 times a week. No real savings on the fuel price but its a huge labor savings not having all the trucks at gas stations every day. We went with 500 gal tank because there is very little regulation on that size. Honestly we don't track the usage of the fuel at all, we should but its just one more thing.
that sounds like your going to have a lot of gasoline, do u really use that much to justify a tank?

i was gonna say before i seen 3-4 times a week, that 500 sounded small for your fleet we use around 4k of on road a month.

 

[treeclimber101]

i was gonna say before i seen 3-4 times a week, that 500 sounded small for your fleet we use around 4k of on road a month.

I am sorry to hear that ...

 

[les-or-more]

Any worries about the fuel "going bad"? Not sure, but this ethanol #### has me concerned. Probably not an issue with diesel?

Not a big issue normally but diesel will grow critters if left in storage without treatment, it turns the fuel black and plugs filters. I would suggest a fuel additive for low volume users,$20 worth of additive is cheap compared to the aggravation of changing filters all the time.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

The way we discussed it, the majority of the fuel will be consumed when the price spikes during the peak driving seasons. It should hold together that long. If and when the stations aren't too much more, and on the way, I'll stop and maybe even build my store back up via transfer. My distributor doesn't mind.

What I'm running right now is all gas powered, so taking in consideration last year’s usage on the average and bumping it by about 50% may still fall short with the increase in residential contracts and the city putting me on as their go to guy. The city super is projecting 50 large removals this year, mostly ash. That's a huge jump for us alone.

My bandit rep that I met with the other morning was boasting of some excellent efficiency with the perkins in the 1390hd. It just really depends on how things play out. I'm looking at a 02 International with the 444E turbo forestry with a terex. If things pan out on something similar, I'll transition to diesel with another couple of tanks.

According to the fuel man, we can house 1320gal per farm site without restrictions, and we have three locations to work with and I'm moving this spring so that will make four. What is nice is that the salesman is counting the farmer and I as one, so I'm getting a better deal than I would otherwise.

Particularly in my area, being able to purchase and/or take delivery of bulk fuel when it's at its annual lowest certainly gives me an edge.

 

[mattfr12]

I am sorry to hear that ...

Why that's a good thing means your working. And it's really not as much as it sounds. I guarantee Marquis is using double or almost, maybe more. We get a pretty good discount from a company called Zeppi. I might have spelled it wrong but they come every other Friday and top them off.

 

[mattfr12]

The way we discussed it, the majority of the fuel will be consumed when the price spikes during the peak driving seasons. It should hold together that long. If and when the stations aren't too much more, and on the way, I'll stop and maybe even build my store back up via transfer. My distributor doesn't mind.

What I'm running right now is all gas powered, so taking in consideration last year’s usage on the average and bumping it by about 50% may still fall short with the increase in residential contracts and the city putting me on as their go to guy. The city super is projecting 50 large removals this year, mostly ash. That's a huge jump for us alone.

My bandit rep that I met with the other morning was boasting of some excellent efficiency with the perkins in the 1390hd. It just really depends on how things play out. I'm looking at a 02 International with the 444E turbo forestry with a terex. If things pan out on something similar, I'll transition to diesel with another couple of tanks.

According to the fuel man, we can house 1320gal per farm site without restrictions, and we have three locations to work with and I'm moving this spring so that will make four. What is nice is that the salesman is counting the farmer and I as one, so I'm getting a better deal than I would otherwise.

Particularly in my area, being able to purchase and/or take delivery of bulk fuel when it's at its annual lowest certainly gives me an edge.

Watch that 444E test drive it before you buy it and make sure your ok with that kind of power. We had one and had to use another truck to give it a little help with just a full load of chips in steep driveways. I sold it just because of the motor. It was an automatic also a standard might help.

 

[no tree to big]

444e= DONT DO IT
I just looked at the specs of those motors and the most powerful one you can get is only 230hp and the weakling of the bunch is 175. fully loaded the truck is going to be heavy even if its rated under cdl its going to weigh around 30K loaded add a chipper that truck probably wont make it out of 2nd gear going down hill

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Watch that 444E test drive it before you buy it and make sure your ok with that kind of power. We had one and had to use another truck to give it a little help with just a full load of chips in steep driveways. I sold it just because of the motor. It was an automatic also a standard might help.

Thanks for the advice on the 444e guys, if it wasn't so flat around here I wouldn't even consider it.

As I understand, it's best to keep the diesel topped off and keep the moisture out of the tanks better that way. Hey Matt, do you contract in at a lower price for the year, or just pay as you go?

 

[mattfr12]

Thanks for the advice on the 444e guys, if it wasn't so flat around here I wouldn't even consider it.

As I understand, it's best to keep the diesel topped off and keep the moisture out of the tanks better that way. Hey Matt, do you contract in at a lower price for the year, or just pay as you go?

Pay as we go. It's usually a good bit lower but some companies are the same as at the pump. I check prices every once and awhile to see if I'm still with the lowest. I put the diesel 911 stuff in the tanks.

 

[mattfr12]

444e= DONT DO IT
I just looked at the specs of those motors and the most powerful one you can get is only 230hp and the weakling of the bunch is 175. fully loaded the truck is going to be heavy even if its rated under cdl its going to weigh around 30K loaded add a chipper that truck probably wont make it out of 2nd gear going down hill

444e won't pull a full load of chips and a chipper in our lot. It's the 7.3 power stroke they put in pickup trucks.

For some reason that motor being an 8 cylinder is a drawback.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Pay as we go. It's usually a good bit lower but some companies are the same as at the pump. I check prices every once and awhile to see if I'm still with the lowest. I put the diesel 911 stuff in the tanks.

I would think with your useage you'd consider contracting for as much as you could as low as you could. I'm hoping to have that ability next year, lock it in low and go with it, but we'll see.

That 911 has always served me well, but I would think the companies would already blend in the treatment this time of year for you. I suppose not if they are coming straight from the terminals though.