Cherokee Gas Tank
Here's some information on a Cherokee XJ replacement gas tank from Aero Tanks.
| Item | Description | Price |
| CWS-30 | 30 gallon aluminized steel replacement tank | $328 |
| 101-1/4 | 1/4" steel skid welded to the tank | $101 |
| PU-BK-JP-45 | Adapter bracket for sender unit | $79 |
The tank hangs down a bit more than the stock tank... about an inch. With the 1/4" steel skid, though, it will never dent.
Also, Northwest Metal Products makes a 32 gallon XJ gas tank replacement, part #AMC-2. They list for $401, but RRO sells them for $370. They don't, however, have a true skid plate option.
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Hi Andre,
It looks like things have changed a little in the last year. When I bought mine, both the Aero and NWMP tanks were $357. I just looked at my receipt and I paid $357 + $40 extra for a heavier gauge bottom +$28.50 shipping. It literally comes unwrapped in two pieces: the tank; and a box with the goodies in it. The kicker was that with Aero you had to buy all the goodies separate and Aero's total was $450+. With the current price difference I'd bet Aero still charges extra for the kit (fuel sender, filter, gasket, hose, etc.). The other main reasons I went with NWMP was that when I talked to the Aero guy he just didn't tell me much. The NWMP guy gave me all kinds of good info. Plus it holds two more gallons. And I really did put 32 gallons in it.
One thing the NWMP guy did was talk me out of an integrated skid plate. He said that they cause the tank to warp because the different thicknesses of metals expand/contract at different rates. So he put a 14 gauge bottom with the rest of it 16 gauge. I went ahead and had a skid plate made for it though and it was a wise move. The tank itself is very durable and would resist caving in like I've seen stockers do, but it does get in harms way on occasion and the skidplate took all the beating. What I did was had a 1/4" steel plate cut to fit the bottom of the tank. I had a bend put in the 1/4" plate to follow the contour of the tank. I had the two straps that wrap all the way around the bottom of the tank stitchwelded to the inside of the straps. So the straps and skidplate are all one unit and not the tank and the skidplate.
The NWMP tank is treated with something not to rust, but I don't know what's used. I know this because they told me that the thickest metal that could be used for a gas tank is 14 gauge because that's the lowest gauge steel that is treated with a rust inhibitor. Also, expect to lose 1/2" or so in back, more or less depending on what kind of skidplate you use. The tank probably adds 40 or 50 lbs over the stocker, but the additional 12 gallons of gas adds another 72 lbs. or so (doesn't gas weigh 6lbs/gl?). The skid plate is probably another 30 - 40 lbs. As for late
The only other thing I can think of is that the tank hangs down about 2" over stock. I've got 5" of lift and I have hit rocks with it but only on pretty extreme trails with sharp ledges and/or large rocks. And then the skidplate always does it's job there. It's a 2.5 banana job if you have a friend that owns a shop with a vehicle hoist, or a three banana job if you have to borrow a friend and do it from the bottom. Don't forget to run your old gas tank close to dry before the R&R.
I just went back to reread your specs and saw that Aero charges an additional $108 for FI. NWMP had no extra charge for that. The NWMP tank use the stock hangar locations if I recall, but with some new hardware. I don't remember ever having to touch the receiver.
Overall it's worked great so far and the extra 12 gallons of gas speaks for itself. If you've added large tires and significant weight your gas mileage probably stinks like mine so the extra range is very nice to have.
Greg