Factory Finish
Tanks produced by Long Range Automotive are made using aluminized steel and at the end of the process, have a high-quality paint finish applied at the Lilydale factory. It is robust and durable.
Before
After
Aftermarket Options
Some customers prefer to add supplemental finishes for various reasons. There are three basic options:
- DIY spray-on
- DIY roll-on
- Professional bedliner
Reasons for an upgrade may include:
- Camouflage to conceal the presence of an auxiliary or after-market fuel tank (black vs. silver).
- Increased protection against road salt, chemicals, etc.
- Increased protection against rock chips, thrown stones and trail trauma.
Item “1” can easily be addressed with a can of Krylon or Rustoleum – either paint or undercoat products. If that’s all you need, $20 or so will get the job done.
If you live in the snow belt, drive a lot of rocky roads or have other concerns about surface rust, physical damage or other external factors, then there are some other options.
There are some DIY solutions at the hardware and on Amazon, but they don’t come cheap – basically roll-on products that build a physical barrier for the truck bed, chassis or tank – whatever is being “painted.”
The problem is that you pretty much get what you pay for and if you need more robust solution the DIY solution may not work and then you end up having to remove all that “stuff” in order to move on to the professional solution
We are NOT taking a position that any one the three options – DIY spray-on, DIY roll-on or professional bedliner application, but we do believe in well-informed decisions, so check out online ratings and reviews.
There are several popular options for professional installation – Line-X and Rhino Linings. There are three things to consider in choosing a dealer-applied tank coating:
- Product – What is the product?
- Process – How is it applied?
- Professional – Reputation of the firm?
Once upon a time, the Rhino Linings option was seen as the “junior” solution, while LINE-X has generally had the “premium” reputation. Ratings and reviews for Rhino have improved.
We have experience with LINE-X and the product has held up well. No experience with Rhino Linings good or bad, so do your research. We have done LINE-X on several customer tanks prior to shipment but the cost is prohibitive, so we now recommend that purchasers have the work done locally, after shipping. The end-user or his/her dealer is better suited to manage the process, negotiate terms and oversee quality of the work.
LRAM Dealer Options
Here are two that we know of, will add more as we gather intel.
Tanks installed by Georg Esterer at Valley Hybrids in Stockton, California can be sent out for treatment. Call the shop for cost and installation information, 209-475-8808.
RPM Performance in the Seattle area. If you are in Washington or British Columbia and interested in the bedliner solution, give Carl Tucker a shout at RPM (https://www.maxrpmusa.com/) to learn more about LINE-X, to order a tank and get it installed.
LRA Tanks with LINE-X Installed
Toyota Tundra – 46-gallon replacement tank
Toyota 4G 4Runner / Lexus GX 470 – 33-gallon auxiliary tank
Toyota 4G 4Runner / Lexus GX 470 – 33-gallon auxiliary tank
(with supplemental skid plate added at Valley Hybrids)
Jeep JK 4 door (2012 – 2018) – 15.8-gallon auxiliary tank
Suits Toyota 4G 4Runner & Lexus GX 470
Ward’s response to my initial questions of the tank were very in-depth and he responded quickly. He provided a digital manual and links to videos to make sure I knew what I was getting into in regard to the install. The purchasing process was very smooth and luckily for me he had a tank already in the warehouse for me, so I received it quickly. When I received the product, the packaging with very adequate for protection during shipment. Wow – what a beautiful tank! It looks great! I do however wish I was painted black instead of grey so it could have blended in with my undercarriage better. Maybe in the future this could be an option.
When I finally filled the tank, and tried transferring for the first time, it worked without a problem. No engine codes. No issues at all. The pump is pretty slow at transferring fuel from one tank to another, but it doesn’t bother me. I usually transfer fuel when my main tank is only a 1/4 full and within about 30 minutes my main tank is topped off. I just came back from a 11,000 km/6,600 mi trip in Northern Canada on some rough and remote roads, and the tank worked flawlessly throughout this trip.