Cover photo: Toyota South Africa Motors. Thanks, Toyota.
Drive north out of Opuwo and you leave the last sure diesel in Kaokoland behind you. After that, fuel comes from drums, if it comes at all. That is the trip that makes owners phone a tank maker.
But most of us fit a tank for one trip and then carry it to work for years. So start with the tank you already have. On an SA Cruiser, it may be bigger than you think.
This guide covers how much fuel each Cruiser carries from the factory and how far that gets you. Then it covers the four ways to carry more, what they cost here, and the rules that apply in SA.
The short answer
- 79 single cab: you don’t need a tank. It already carries 180 litres.
- 79 double cab or 76, SA and Botswana trips: start with two 20 litre jerry cans.
- Double cab or 76, Kaokoland or the Central Kalahari every year: a gravity-fed extra tank of 70 to 80 litres is the simple fix.
- Towing, a V8, or trips past Namibia: a bigger replacement tank, or a big second tank with a pump.
- 78 Troopy: the strongest case of all, with 90 litres on the current model.
- 300 and Prado: they carry about 100 to 110 litres already, in two tanks. Most owners stop there.
What your Cruiser carries from the factory
These figures come from Toyota South Africa’s spec sheets, issued on 24 September 2026. The fuel use is Toyota’s own claim.
| Model (current SA range) | Fuel from the factory | Toyota’s claim, L/100 km |
|---|---|---|
| 79 single cab (2.8, 4.2 diesel, 4.0 petrol) | 180 L (two 90 L tanks) | not given |
| 79 double cab 2.8 | 130 L | 9.7 |
| 79 double cab 4.2 diesel | 130 L | 12.2 |
| 79 double cab 4.0 petrol | 130 L | 14.4 |
| 76 station wagon 2.8 auto | 130 L | 9.8 |
| 76 station wagon 2.8 manual | 130 L | 7.7 |
| 78 Troopy 4.2 diesel | 90 L | 11.9 |
| 300 (diesel and petrol) | 80 L main plus 30 L second tank | 8.9 diesel, 11.6 petrol |
| 300 GR-S hybrid | 68 L main plus 30 L second tank | 10.0 |
| Prado (the new 250) 2.8 | 80 L main plus 30 L second tank | 7.9 |
Look at the single cab. In SA it has two 90 litre tanks. The Citizen’s road test in July 2026 says the same. Australian single cabs have come with one 130 litre tank. So Australian advice that every 79 needs a long-range tank doesn’t fit here. An SA single cab owner who follows it is solving a problem he doesn’t have.
Now a warning for buyers. Of 942 79s on live listings, 137 carry the same dealer line about dual 90 litre tanks and 180 litres in all. That line turns up on double cabs too, where it is wrong. A double cab has 130 litres, so check the car, not the ad.
Two more things. Toyota SA dropped the V8 from the new 70 Series in 2026, so a new 79 is a 2.8, a 4.2 diesel or a 4.0 petrol. And Troopies differ by year. Toyota SA’s 2012 brochure lists the Troopy with two 90 litre tanks, but the current one has a single 90. Check your own.
How far a tank really goes
SA road testers got about 9.5 to 10.5 litres per 100 km from the 2.8, mostly on tar. In local terms, that is close to 10 km a litre. One SA road test put the V8 double cab at about 13.5 litres per 100 km. One V8 owner on 4x4community reported about 6.5 km a litre empty and 5.5 when towing.
We found no SA test of the 2.8 fully loaded or towing. So the table below is plain sums, not a test. Pick the column that looks like your trip.
| Fuel on board | Easy tar (10 L/100 km) | V8 or loaded (13.5) | Heavy load, corrugations (16) | Sand or towing (20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 L (current Troopy) | 900 km | 667 km | 563 km | 450 km |
| 130 L (79 double cab, 76) | 1,300 km | 963 km | 813 km | 650 km |
| 130 L plus two 20 L cans | 1,700 km | 1,259 km | 1,063 km | 850 km |
| 180 L (79 single cab) | 1,800 km | 1,333 km | 1,125 km | 900 km |
| 185 L replacement tank | 1,850 km | 1,370 km | 1,156 km | 925 km |
| 130 L plus an 80 L extra tank | 2,100 km | 1,556 km | 1,313 km | 1,050 km |
| 130 L plus a 110 L extra tank | 2,400 km | 1,778 km | 1,500 km | 1,200 km |
Don’t plan to arrive empty. Plan to arrive with a quarter of a tank left. Better still, pack the car for the trip and do a weekend shake-down first. Fill up, drive, fill up again, and work out your own km a litre.
Where you actually run short
Most trips in SA, and on Botswana’s main roads, never need more than 130 litres. A few places do.
Kaokoland. Opuwo is the last sure diesel stop. Further in, Puros, Okangwati and Orupembe have sold fuel from drums, about 20 litres at a time. Tracks4Africa warns that drum fuel can be dirty. It says to carry enough to reach at least Palmwag.
The Central Kalahari. There is no fuel inside the reserve. The usual fill-up is Rakops, about 50 km from Matswere gate. One SA couple crossed it with 150 litres on board: 100 in the tank and 50 in cans. It was enough.
Further north. Long trips up to Tanzania and beyond are where the big tanks earn their keep. So is towing a trailer through sand.
Four ways to carry more
| Option | What it is | Extra fuel | Price here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replacement tank | A bigger tank in place of the factory one | about 55 L on a double cab | quote only |
| Gravity-fed extra tank | A second tank that drains into the main one, with no pump | 70 to 80 L | about R10,500 to R18,000 |
| Extra tank with a pump | A second tank and a switch that moves the fuel across | up to 110 L | quote only |
| Jerry cans | Steel cans in a holder, used only when needed | 40 L in two cans | one-can holder from R8,995, cans extra |
An extra tank is also called an auxiliary tank, or an aux or sub tank on the forums.
A bigger tank in the factory spot
A replacement tank swaps the factory tank for a bigger one. You keep the factory filler, the fuel gauge and the pump. There are no switches to remember.
Brown Davis makes a 185 litre tank for the 79 double cab. Brown Davis Africa gives the fitting time as three and a half hours. The catch: the maker says exhausts with two outlets may not fit. There is also a 170 litre tank for the single cab. It replaces the rear 90 litre tank and keeps the other one.
A second tank that feeds by gravity
This is the favourite on SA forums. A second tank sits beside the chassis. Fuel runs through a pipe into the main tank as you drive. There is no pump, so there is nothing to burn out.
The local ones we found, from Marlin 4x4 and Gerber’s, are made of 3CR12 stainless steel. That’s a tough steel that resists rust. They add 70 to 80 litres, and they are made and repaired here.
The downside is the gauge. Some of these tanks come without one. HJM Offroad warns that the factory gauge may read wrong after fitting. You drive on the trip meter instead.
A second tank with a pump
This is for the most litres. Brown Davis makes a 110 litre second tank for the 79 double cab. With the factory tank, that is 240 litres. Fitting takes about five hours. We could not confirm that it fits the 2.8, so ask the dealer.
There are two kinds. With a transfer pump, you press a switch and the pump moves fuel into the main tank. With a changeover valve, the engine can draw from either tank. Brown Davis Africa says its changeover version is for diesels only.
Pumps add a part that can fail. Brown Davis Africa warns that a pump left running for a long time can burn out. It fits a buzzer that sounds when the extra tank is empty.
Jerry cans
Two 20 litre cans add 40 litres for one trip. You leave them at home the rest of the year. There is no fitting and no warranty question.
There are rules. SA’s dangerous goods standard, SANS 10231, limits fuel in portable containers to 60 litres per vehicle. That is as reported by The Citizen and TopAuto in March 2026. So three cans is the most. The bigger limits you read on Australian forums do not apply here.
Use proper metal fuel cans, not a water drum. Garages may not fill a container that is not made for fuel. And empty the cans into the tank before you cross back into SA. Tracks4Africa warns that SARS may charge duty on fuel carried in cans.
Keep cans low and locked down. Three full cans hold about 50 kg of fuel. Up on a roof rack, that weight makes the car roll more. Check the rack maker’s load rating before you put them up there.
What it costs in South Africa
Most tank makers sell on quote only. None of the 13 stores we compare lists a priced tank for the 76, 78 or 79. These are the prices we could find, seen on 24 September 2026.
| What | Where | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity tank, 79 double cab (V8 and 2.8) | Marlin 4x4, Delmas | 80 L | R14,625 |
| Gravity tank, 79 single cab | Marlin 4x4, Delmas | 80 L | R17,985 |
| Gravity tank, 79 double cab (V8 and V6) | Rhino 4x4 | 75 L | R10,522.50 (out of stock) |
| Gerber gravity tank, 79 double cab (V6 petrol) | HJM Offroad | 70 L | quote |
| Brown Davis replacement tank, 79 double cab | Safari Centre, Cape Town | 185 L | quote |
| Brown Davis tank with pump, 79 double cab | Safari Centre, Cape Town | 110 L | quote |
| Gobi-X jerry can holder for the 79, single | Go-4LO | 1 can | R8,995 (can not included) |
| Gobi-X jerry can holder for the 79, double | Go-4LO | 2 cans | R9,995 (cans not included) |
Marlin’s page does not say if fitting is included. Ask for a fitted price, and ask what else changes. The exhaust is the usual extra.
Then there is the fuel itself. Inland diesel was about R30 a litre in September 2026, before the garage adds its margin. So filling an extra 80 litres costs R2,400 or more.
Fitting: the traps
Check the engine. Some tanks are listed for the V8 or V6 only. The new-shape 2.8, from 2024, is a different engine with a different exhaust. Ask the fitter to show you that the tank fits a 2.8. Our 2024 facelift fitment guide covers which other parts carry over.
Check the exhaust. Several tanks sold here need the exhaust moved. Aftermarket exhausts and tanks fight for the same space.
Check the spare wheel. On every current 79, the spare lives in the load bin. On the 76 and 78, it hangs on the back door. Some 76 tanks may need the spare moved, so ask.
Plan it with the canopy. Fitting a tray can mean the tank’s filler has to move. Fit them together if you can. Our canopies and trays guide has the options.
Ask how it is mounted. SA owners on 4x4community report tanks cracking at the welds or brackets on corrugated roads. Some were fixed and leaked again. Most blamed stiff, rigid mounts. Ask how the tank is held up, and check the brackets after every rough trip.
These are firms we could confirm on their own websites in September 2026.
| Who | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Safari Centre | Brown Davis dealer, supply and fitting | Goodwood, Cape Town |
| Safari Engineering | Brown Davis dealer | Windhoek |
| Gerber’s 4x4 Conversions | makes local stainless tanks | Boksburg |
| HJM Offroad | sells and fits Gerber tanks | Randburg and Durbanville |
| Marlin 4x4 | publishes prices, fits | Delmas |
The Windhoek dealer is worth saving in your phone if you break a tank in Namibia.
Weight: the part owners forget
Diesel weighs 0.8 to 0.85 kg a litre, going by SANS 342, the SA diesel standard. We use 0.84 kg below. A full tank is weight you carry every day, even on the school run.
| Extra fuel | Weight of the fuel |
|---|---|
| 40 L (two cans) | about 34 kg, plus the cans |
| 55 L (185 L tank instead of 130 L) | about 46 kg |
| 80 L extra tank | about 67 kg |
| 110 L extra tank | about 92 kg |
Add the tank and its brackets. No maker we checked lists that weight.
Now compare that with what each car may carry. This is payload: Toyota’s GVM, the most the car may weigh, minus its empty weight.
| Model | Payload (Toyota SA) |
|---|---|
| 79 single cab 2.8 | 775 to 1,175 kg |
| 79 double cab 2.8 | 810 to 1,050 kg |
| 76 station wagon 2.8 | 575 to 795 kg |
| 78 Troopy 4.2 diesel | 950 kg |
The 76 is the tightest. The fuel in a full 80 litre extra tank weighs about 67 kg. On the 76 with the least payload, that is more than a tenth of what it may carry. And that is before people, a fridge or water. Our GVM upgrade guide explains what happens when a loaded Cruiser goes over.
The law, your warranty and insurance
Roadworthy. The National Road Traffic Regulations say you may not drive with a fuel tank or pipe that is damaged or exposed enough to be a danger. The filler must have a cap that works. So a leaking or badly mounted tank is a roadworthy fail.
We could not find an SA standard that covers add-on fuel tanks. So the quality is down to the maker and the fitter.
Warranty. A new 70 Series has a three-year or 100,000 km warranty. Toyota’s terms exclude problems caused by changes and non-Toyota parts. But the Competition Commission’s 2021 guidelines say only the parts the work affects are at risk. The rest of the warranty should stand.
In plain terms, a tank does not void your whole warranty. But if the tank or its pipes cause a fuel problem, expect Toyota to refuse that claim. Get the fitter’s own warranty in writing, and keep the invoice.
Insurance. Tell your insurer about the tank and add it to your list of extras. If you don’t, it is probably not covered if the car is stolen or written off.
Dirty fuel and pre-filters
A tank does nothing for fuel quality. Drum fuel in remote Namibia can carry water and dirt. A pre-filter is an extra filter with a bowl, fitted before the factory one. It catches water and dirt first, and you can drain it at the roadside.
Owners often fit one at the same time as a tank. 4X4 Wholesalers Africa lists Racor filter and water trap kits for the V8, the 4.2 diesel and the 2024 79. Each was R7,800 on 24 September 2026.
Live prices · 24 September 2026
Diesel pre-filter kits for the 70 Series, in stock now
3 in stock at 1 South African store today, from R7 595 to R14 995. Typical price about R12 995.
The Fuel Manager kit’s product page lists the V8 only. Ask if it fits a 2.8 before you buy.
What about a water tank?
The same fabricators make stainless water tanks that go under the car. The trouble is space. A water tank wants the same gap beside the chassis as a fuel tank. Owners on 4x4community had to move exhausts to fit both. And water is heavy: a litre weighs a kilogram.
Who should do what
| You drive | Do this | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| 79 single cab | Nothing. Take two cans for Kaokoland. | holder from R8,995, plus cans |
| 79 double cab or 76, SA and Botswana | Two 20 L cans | holder from R8,995, plus cans |
| 79 double cab or 76, far trips every year | Gravity-fed extra tank, 70 to 80 L | about R10,500 to R15,000 |
| Towing, a V8, or the far north | 185 L replacement, or a 110 L tank with a pump | quote |
| Current 78 Troopy | Ask a fitter what fits yours | quote |
| 300 or Prado | Nothing. You have about 100 to 110 L. | nothing |
If you fit a pump tank, think about your 12V setup at the same time. Our dual battery guide covers that. For the rest of the kit list, see our essential additions and what to carry guides. To shop the rest, start at the 79 accessories page or the 76 accessories page.
Thanks to Toyota South Africa Motors, Brown Davis Africa and Front Runner for the photos.
