Transporting Gasoline

Hey TW,

Will be driving from SF Bay Area to So. Cal. Primary route being taken is Interstate 5, which rarely has any gas stations. Thinking about bringing a fully loaded 2.5 gallon plastic fuel can in the bed of the Taco. Is this a good idea or bad? If it's bad, what kind of problems will I run into? Appreciate any suggestions and/or comments.

Have a great weekend!

 

It wouldnt be a bad idea, but there are quite a few gas stations down the 5, as long as you pay attention and dont try to get every last drop out you shouldnt have a problem with fuel. When you get down to 1/2 start paying attention to the town signs and miles

 

You will be fine. But if you want to bring a gas can go for it. No harm. Just strap it down so it doesn't move around.

 

Make sure its secure and wont spill and you are fine, When i got out to the desert or camping I take 10 gallons with me. Never had a problem with it or anyone.

 

I just made the trip and I wanna say the furthest without gas is like 50 miles

 

You'll be fine! You don't need the extra gas cans.

 

ive done that drive a lot. from the bay area, you could easily make it to the Harris Ranch, which is right off the exit for hwy 198. there are two gas stations, but the shell on the east side of the hwy is right next door to the Harris Ranch which has really good fresh beef and a pastry shop inside. i think its about 220 mi. from the bay area. and then from there, you could easily make it to LA and probably go all the way to around the orange county area before the gas light comes on.

anyway, google the harris ranch to get the exact distance, but im positive you'll make it. when the gas light comes on, you've used about 16.5 gallons and the tank has 21..

 

I can't imagine It's illegal to transport it in the back, as long as its in the proper kind of container made to hold gasoline.
I would definitely make sure its secure, and make sure to open the vent every so often at the top to prevent it from expanding, due to heat.
That's all I can think of.

Everyone up above all have good ideas, I think you'll be fine without. But you can always bring it, so you wont worry.

 

hehehe,
This ain't the 60's.
There are sufficient gas stations along the route to provide you with fuel as well as piss stops. I remember "when I was a kid" making those drives and had a water bag attached to the front of the grill on the chevy as well.
Nowadays, I'd have to stop to drain the lizard well before running low on fuel.

 

Get a metal can leave about 3 inch of air at the top for expansion - tie it down good.

I use to travel the western states with two - you CAN GO FOR MILES WITHOUT SEEING A GAS STATION .

Better to have and not need than need and not have
http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/blitz-military-style-gas-can-5-gallon-p-58722.html?ref=42

 

wtf I5 has plenty of gas stations.

 

I have two of these:



That I haul in the bed whenever I go riding in the desert. I just bungee them down. They are heavy enough that they aren't gonna fly out of the bed, I just use the bungee to keep them from sliding around.

 

i just made that trip 2 weeks ago. you'll be fine. i had 3 people and a bed full of stuff. you probably only have to fill up once. I had a full tank of gas when I left Hercules/SF then i filled up when my tank was just barely half empty and made it to L.A. with just barely over a quarter tank. I was going about 80mph. You should be fine. My rule of thumb was to make sure I started looking for a gas station once I only had a quarter tank left.

 

I actually ate there and had their Rib Eye steak. Not too bad. GF and I shared one and left us filled.

 

Haven't done that trip in the new taco, but I've probably done L.A. to the bay and back 15-20 times in my old 1st gen 5lug taco and my RX8 (which gets 220 miles to a tank normal use and has only topped 300 a couple times on road trips).

For the southbound trip I'd usually top off in Gilroy around the 101/152 junction, or you can swing a couple extra miles over to Los Banos to fill up. Either way you should be good to make it to the Buttonwillow/McClintock gas stop which will get you into L.A. no problem.

Only thing to watch out for is that it's usually seemed that CHP is more active on southbound I5 on Fridays, but that may have just been timing and luck.

 

start with a full tank, stop somewhere when you are hungry or have to go the bathroom or something, fill up while you are there, then if you can get to the top of the grapevine and bring cash to fill up, its cheaper on top and cash is cheaper than credit at the gas station. (BTW i did exactly that on my last trip)

 

I'm sure he just doesn't want a repeat of wxRYANxw! I want to eventually put a metal can in my bed, once I get all the other stuff situated in there!

 

I brought 20 GALLONS with me on a trip through the colorado front range. Didn't see a town for 3 days. It was 2 track and trails the whole time. Didn't go over 200 miles for the whole trip. I used one of the gas cans cause it was leaking into the bed :/ Now I usually only bring one or two gas cans with me. Figure a 5 gallon gas can equals roughly 90-100 miles.

 

definitely a mall crawler...and not from around here are you? as others have stated, plently of stations....

 

may i ask, what happened to wxryanxw??