Replacing leaking fuel filler

[1996B4000]

1997 B4000; 4.0L V6; manual; 200,000-plus miles. There's a hose that connects the fuel filler to the fuel tank. Mine is leaking. If I fill up -- fill all the way up, top it off -- there's a small fuel leak from this hose, leaves a puddle of gas on the driveway at the pump. Not much, but enough to be dangerous.

Everything I have read says I need to pull the bed to replace this hose.

Really? Has anyone ever replaced this hose without removing the bed?

Right now I am dealing it by not filling up completely -- tank holds 20 gal; if fuel gauge shows 1/2 full, I put in 9 gallons because 10 would cause fuel to drain out of the cracked hose.


I keep thinking that one of these days I will get rid of this antique. Then, I consider that it's running fine, not using any oil, shifts smoothly, rides a bit rough like a truck, does have a few . . . a few . . . cosmetic issues . . . but have you priced a new one?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Don't neglect a fuel leak. You could travel on a steep incline, and it could leak fuel onto the hot exhaust system causing a fire.

 

[RangerX]

Mine does the same thing. Pulling the bed is no big deal, better than having to drop the tank like on an Explorer!
It’s just six bolts holding it down, and unplug your taillights, slide it back halfway and rest the back of bed on a sawhorse.
The real issue is the replacement hose, they’re hundreds of dollars!

 

[410Fortune]

Junk yard or use hoses from a later model and make something work

A large impact gun with impact rated torx50 will remove the ranger bed bolts even from 1997. Not a bad idea to have a new set of Bolts and clips on hand for replacement as often one or two will snap
I have also had to grind a few ranger bed bolts that wouldn’t loosen or the torx stripped

Good time to change the fuel pump also

The alternative would be to drop the tank… on rangers it’s easier to lift the bed, even if the bolts fight you