GO WITH THE PROS
FOR SUCH an important job – which could prove to be a lifesaver on a remote-area adventure – it’s essential to get a quality-made product from those in the know. Brown Davis, for example, has been producing fuel tanks since the early 1980s, but the idea originated in the mid-70s when David Brown (director) and Rod Stephens Racing created a lightweight aluminium fuel tank to give their Holden Torana the extra laps they needed around Mount Panorama.
This lead to a close friend wanting this same principle applied to his 40 Series Land Cruiser to get him to the tip of Cape York, and suddenly Brown Davis long-range fuel tanks were born. Cam Brown put it eloquently when he said: “In 2018 we will celebrate 40 years in business. When you buy a fuel tank or any product from a company that has been manufacturing for this long you know they must be doing something right.”
With more than 250 different tanks in the Brown Davis catalogue to choose from, there are small 50-litre auxiliary tanks for Jeep Wranglers and Defender 90 Series up to 210-litre replacement tanks for Mercedes Sprinter vans.
Likewise, manufacture of The Long Ranger began in the 1970s – “let’s just say we still have the original drawings in inches”, Ric Black added – and by 1980 sales began to skyrocket. It’s this experience which is why it’s advisable to stick with the trusted brands.
“When you make a decision to buy something cheap you often have the rationale that it’s not that important or you don’t use it that much, but every time you turn the key and start your vehicle you want your fuel tank to work; it’s not a purchase you should gamble with and hope for good luck with it,” Ric said.
ARB’S Mark Berger ratified that point, adding that an aftermarket fuel tank isn’t something you should take a risk on: “4x4ing often sees us traversing some rocky grounds, with sharp, protruding rocks and steep drop-offs. A less quality-built tank could soon see you with 100 litres of diesel on the tracks, hundreds of kilometres from help. The cost of recovery and the misfortune of this situation is probably not worth the risk of saving money on a cheaper, lessengineered product.”