What Size TruckMaster Do I Need? 53 vs 79 vs 114 Gallon
The TruckMaster comes in three capacities, and the right one comes down to two questions: how much fuel you burn between fills, and how you'll move and lift the tank. Here's how to decide without overbuying.
The three sizes at a glance
| Model | Capacity | Roughly | Typically used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM53 | 53 gal | 200 L | Pickups, single machines, small fleets |
| TM79 | 79 gal | 300 L | Contractors running several machines |
| TM114 | 114 gal | 430 L | Farms, heavy plant, all-day operations |
All three are lightweight polyethylene, lockable, and ship with an integrated 12V dispensing pump. The difference is volume, footprint and how you'll handle them.
Start with your daily burn
Pick the tank around how much diesel you go through before it's convenient to refill. As a rough planning guide:
- A compact excavator or skid steer burns in the region of 1–2 gallons per hour under normal load.
- A mid-size tractor or larger excavator can run 3–5 gallons per hour or more.
- A standby generator's draw depends entirely on load, but mid-size units commonly sit around 1.5–3 gallons per hour.
So a single machine working an 8-hour day might use 12–40 gallons. If you want to refill weekly rather than daily, size up accordingly. The TM53 suits one machine and frequent top-ups; the TM79 is the natural "fits most contractors" choice; the TM114 is for sites where running dry mid-job isn't an option.
Always size from your equipment's published consumption, not these averages — they vary widely with load, terrain and engine condition.
Then think about moving and lifting it
A full tank is heavy: diesel weighs roughly 7 lb per gallon, so 114 gallons is around 800 lb of fuel before you add the tank itself. That matters for two reasons:
- Your vehicle. Confirm the loaded weight sits within your pickup or trailer's payload and that you can secure it to the strapping points. Never transport a tank that overloads the vehicle.
- Loading and unloading. Every TruckMaster has moulded lifting eyes and two-way forklift access in the base. The smaller TM53 and TM79 are designed to occupy roughly half a pallet, which makes them easier to handle and ship; the TM114 adds an internal baffle wall to limit fuel surge when it's on the move.
If you'll routinely load by hand or with a small loader, the TM53/TM79 are far more manageable. If you've got a forklift or a fixed location and want maximum runtime, the TM114 earns its size.
A quick decision shortcut
- One machine, want it simple to move: TM53
- A few machines, one tank to rule them all: TM79
- Big daily burn, machinery to lift it, refill rarely: TM114
Still unsure?
Tell us your equipment and how often you want to refill and we'll recommend a size — or request a quote and we'll spec it with you. Trade accounts with terms are available.
Consumption figures are general planning estimates and will vary by equipment, load and conditions.