Rear fuel tank strap was rusted through and fuel tank was sagging on inspection. Front was also on the way out. Bolts holding the fuel tank skid/cover were rusted through and I had to cut the cover to remove the tank straps. The retainer pins were also rusted onto the old tank straps and what would be a reasonably straight forward R&R for the tank straps became an all day affair trying to hammer and pry the seized pins from the old straps.

I was driving behind my son, who was driving our FJ and noticed the gas tank hanging down low, just above the street level.

We found the stap holding the gas tank had broke, and the tank was being being held only by one strap and the fuel lines.

We were very lucky I was behind the FJ and saw the tank falling before it fell off entirely. Or before we ruptured the tank.