I dropped the tank on my yota today to flush it out and noticed to my knowledge it doesnt have a fuel filter at all. Why? Have i missed it or is it not there?

 

Are you positive that the fuel filter is not mounted to the passenger side fender in the engine compartment?
You should have had a strainer mount at the end of the fuel pick up in the tank.

 

I'll look again i didnt search hard in the engine bay cause i thought it was supost to be on frame rail ill check that out thanks.

 

It is supposed to be there, but a lot of people moved them up to the engine compartment to make it a little easier to get at.

 

^^ all the 81's I have lOoked under the hood have had the filter under the hood. Not sure but believe they are under the hood up to at least '82

Edit: confirmed with Trekkerpaul-he has a 79,80,81 & 82 in his driveway...lucky guy...
Weird though that in the FSM I could find no verification of the filter location...

My 81's fuel filter:

 

Interesting! I wonder what the reasoning was for moving it...I mean it's still not hard to get at but it's a lot easier when it's up in the engine compartment.

 

It doesnt have one like that or one at all as far as my search shows after a triple check. i guess it wouldnt have to have one.

 

if you can't find one, put one in ASAP

 

Here is a picture of the fuel filter in the tank. Mine is bad and needing replaced. Goes on the end of the pick up tube. The other filter is on the frame as was mentioned earlier, or was at one time.