Carrying Extra Fuel

[Lief_WJ]

1) How much extra fuel should you carry?
2) Is it safe to carry extra fuel in plastic Jerry Cans?
3) Is it safe to carry extra fuel on your roof rack?
Let me know what your thoughts are.
Lief_WJ

 

[grubworm]

lot of "it depends" to go with this, but personally, i would go with metal cans of good quality because even the higher end plastic cans will swell and sometimes split on the seams, especially in the hot sun. i have a shell on my truck and dont want gas fumes in there, so i use a hitch mount carrier for my cans. if we plan on some desert camping, i usually go with 2 extra cans. if we do trails somewhere semi-remote, but there are still stores fairly close by, i'll just go with one can for "just-in-case"

ive seen rotopax gas cans up on roof racks, but that's not anything i'd want to mess with...especially since i do have room for metal cans i can access more easily
i went with 2 of these. they were a bit cheaper back when i got them and i also went with the NATO spouts, which are also spendy, but really good to have. you just need one spout if you go this route.

 

[Lief_WJ]

lot of "it depends" to go with this, but personally, i would go with metal cans of good quality because even the higher end plastic cans will swell and sometimes split on the seams, especially in the hot sun. i have a shell on my truck and dont want gas fumes in there, so i use a hitch mount carrier for my cans. if we plan on some desert camping, i usually go with 2 extra cans. if we do trails somewhere semi-remote, but there are still stores fairly close by, i'll just go with one can for "just-in-case"

Yeah...I have a two can rack on top in back above my rear hatch ( Jeep WJ ).
RE: Swelling of the cans. That is what I was thinking of and why my 1st choice is metal.
Besides, I cannot stand those plastic pour spouts. What joke! They dribble more than me during my midnight mission to the head in the dark.

 

[shansonpac]

I carry a 4 gallon Rotopax on the spare tire carrier on the back of my trailer. I have never had to use it, but I like having the buffer of fuel. You never know what kind a detour you will need to make.

 

[Lief_WJ]

Got that right. Safe is better than sorry!

 

[bear_den_overland]

I’ve got two , two gallon rotopax. I usually don’t carry unless I’m taking people along or traveling with my Wife and Daughter. I carry them external on a bed rack on the side.

 

[Lief_WJ]

That sounds reasonable.

 

[Lief_WJ]

lot of "it depends" to go with this, but personally, i would go with metal cans of good quality because even the higher end plastic cans will swell and sometimes split on the seams, especially in the hot sun. i have a shell on my truck and dont want gas fumes in there, so i use a hitch mount carrier for my cans. if we plan on some desert camping, i usually go with 2 extra cans. if we do trails somewhere semi-remote, but there are still stores fairly close by, i'll just go with one can for "just-in-case"

ive seen rotopax gas cans up on roof racks, but that's not anything i'd want to mess with...especially since i do have room for metal cans i can access more easily
i went with 2 of these. they were a bit cheaper back when i got them and i also went with the NATO spouts, which are also spendy, but really good to have. you just need one spout if you go this route.

These look nice

 

[Ubiety]

Weight up high is the enemy of vehicle stability.

 

[Lief_WJ]

Weight up high is the enemy of vehicle stability.

Got that right, but the fumes in the cab tend to wipe out the entire crew quickly!
Gotta weigh the options.
Point to remember: I do not pack too much on the roof. Most everything has a place inside.
I follow the aircraft load-master's method of stowage. Keep it low, keep it tight, keep it within load limits and keep it evenly distributed or we do not take off!

 

[kunstmilch]

I may end up with an opinion here that most might disagree with.

I wouldn't bother with carrying extra gas unless you are going out really remote and far. That said...

You will get less miles out of your tank than on freeways, but if you have an idea from shorter trails, or camping trips what your range is, that helps. If its for peace of mind, the wavians suggested already are the standard everything else must meet. Make sure whatever jerry can you choose it is secured in a way that damage isn't caused from washboards. Also agree that carrying weight as low and centered as possible is your best bet, but depending on the circumstances the roof may be the best option, say on a true expedition.

Also, just another opinion here but, dont waste your money on wavian knock offs. The value isn't there.

 

[Lief_WJ]

I agree 100%

 

[MMc]

How much gas is enough? that really really depends, I go Baja about 60% of my trips, you almost always get gas there, it will be from a 55 or a farmer at a high price. On many trips I'll take 10 or 15 gal in Blitz cans on my roof. ( 2500 Ram with shell and rack) I leave a inch or two for expansion. They do the job. I carry surfboards and kayak on top also ski don't know if it expects my mileage much. As for being top heavy it doesn't seem to mater much, I don't wheel over than anything over knee high stuff generally. The extra 150 miles has come in handy. Having said all this, $50.00 and gratitude most likely get to the next full stop.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Jerry can on swingout carrier when I do take extra fuel, not needed 90% of the time.

 

[OTH Overland]

Agree 100% the Wavian NATO cans are probably the safest way to transport fuel in a portable container. Ideally I carrying extra fuel is something done with any regularity, installing a larger main fuel tank or an aux tank is the best way to go, although definatly not most inexepensive (around 2k just for the tank on my JK), although if you factor in buying the cans, mounts, and perhaps a swing out carrier the cost gets a bit more palatable. Plus having the tank located between the frame rails protects it during a collision, keeps the weight way down low, and is just a lot more convenient. Have a long range america tank planned for the JK build. My next best place is to carry NATO cans in a rack on the rear, high enough that during a rear end collision, most passenger vehicles will pass below the level of the cans. Have the parts to build a swing out carrier for our WJ to get the spare out of the back and carry a couple of wavian's just need to get around to welding it up..lol Will never carry cans in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, beside the almost inevitable fumes, a ruptured can during an accident or roll over can be a disaster. (Responded to a rear end collision while in the fire department where the driver was bringing home a couple of cans of gas for his lawnmower, one can ruptured and sprayed fuel throughout the vehicle interior, fortuantly no fire occured).

 

[Lief_WJ]

I just do not want all the stuff on the back of my WJ. I have an off road bumper in back, but just don't want that swing out contraption it's just not for me.

 

[Ubiety]

Have a long range america tank planned for the JK build.

I am mulling the extra tank over...

 

[Akicita]

Some great feedback here from others. My truck is only configured with a 21-gallon tank, so I carry two 3-gallon Rotopax fuel cans. They have exceeded my expectations for durability and being leakproof during extreme use and conditions on the road and off. I have only need to use the fuel from the once when my route was cut off by a fast-moving wildfire that required us to backtrack 52 miles on jeep trails to get to a safe area. Had I not had them, I may not have made it. I have also used them countless times to aid off-roaders, UTVs, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles when in the backcountry and motorists on the hard roads. For that and the peace of mind of self-rescue and helping others, I will always carry extra when I can.

 

[Lief_WJ]

I am mulling the extra tank over...

Extra tank / Aux Tank is the best way to do it and safest, however it is the most expensive as already mentioned.

 

[Ubiety]

Some great feedback here from others. My truck is only configured with a 21-gallon tank, so I carry two 3-gallon Rotopax fuel cans. They have exceeded my expectations for durability and being leakproof during extreme use and conditions on the road and off. I have only need to use the fuel from the once when my route was cut off by a fast-moving wildfire that required us to backtrack 52 miles on jeep trails to get to a safe area. Had I not had them, I may not have made it. I have also used them countless times to aid off-roaders, UTVs, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles when in the backcountry and motorists on the hard roads. For that and the peace of mind of self-rescue and helping others, I will always carry extra when I can.

Alu-Cab questions/comments
- Did you drill into your "canopy" doors to install accessories? I have the canopy only and have yet to breach it.
- Is that an Alu-Cab awning or other brand. If other brand how is it mounted?
- Have you looked at the rubber lock mechanism seals? It only took one below freezing adventure where water froze in the locks for me to get them. Have not had a problem since and the locks like not being exposed to grime.

And now back to the regularly scheduled topic ;)