STRAPPED ON

Outlaw Customs shows how to build your own custom fuel-tank straps while saving upwards of $400 per pair

By Bruce W. Smith

Fuel tanks stand out on any truck. So when it comes to customizing, truckers spend a good bit of time and money on making them compliment their rig be it through polishing, painting, powder-coating, or some combination thereof.

One part of the fuel tank owners of custom rigs can have some fun with—while saving a bunch of money—is customizing the straps themselves.

An added benefit of making your own fuel tank straps, as Outlaw Customs’ Nic Gillan showed us recently, is the job is neither difficult nor expensive. The latter is great news for those who need to replace the straps for one reason or another.

OEM Peterbilt straps cost more than $500 per pair with aftermarket versions setting you back at least four bills. These “backyard-build” straps will cost you less than $400 for a set of four and you can add your own custom finishing touches to really make them stand out. – CR

All you need is a good workbench, basic layout skills and basic hand tools, access to a TIG or MIG welder, and some aluminum sheet stock (or stainless if you’re into the higher-end look.) The job should take about six hours to do two sets of straps; less if you have made them before.– CR

Custom Rigs Quick Tip Videos

Nic Gillan explains the reason for drilling a small hole anywhere a cut intersects an area of the fuel tank strap where a bend is going to occur:

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Nick Gillan shows a trick to make the oval slot in the straps for the T-bolt:

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Step-by-step photo gallery

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Which is best for your custom fab job: MIG, TIG, FCAW or Stick?

by Larry D. Walton

You don’t have to look very hard to find welds on your rig and probably don’t have to think long to remember the last time you needed some welding done on one of your custom projects. Welding is as much a part of owning a custom rig as polishing.

Many of us remember all the old stick welders you could find in practically every garage. Heck, some of my buddies are still using their dads’ old Lincoln arc welders around the farm to repair equipment or build trailers for some specialized purpose that has to do with spreading manure, hauling silage or other stinky job.

Stick welders are still available and work great for fixing farm equipment and making the occasional repair on one of your old trailers.

But for show-quality custom work using today’s alloys, it’s time to take a good look at the portable TIG and MIG welders. Affordable and relatively easy to learn, these new wire-feed welders can be a great addition to the home shop for the owner-operator.

Here’s a handy comparison chart to help you decide what type of welder is best for your application: