Storing emergency gas in the bed of my pickup...

So, i'm wondering if it's safe to use the plastic gasoline containers to store some emergency gas in my truck? I know most would say "just don't run out of gas", but just entertain the question. Would it be bad if i tied it down in the bed so it wasn't flopping around? Or even kept it in the cab? Or is there much more to it than that?

 

bad idea, and super bad idea to keep in the cab. if you do store in the bed, use a metal can. heat can expand the container and that spells disaster.

 

Gee you get 24 MPG, and you are worried about running out? I get 16-17 if I stay out of town, go all over Baja and the deserts, and have never run out! Keep your tank full if you are concerned... Otherwise, sure you can put extra gas cans in your truck... just strap them down in the bed and maybe don't park in the garage with a water heater pilot light.

Remember, gas goes bad so don't keep it to long... cycle it.

You can have a cusom aux. tank installed if you think your 500 mile driving range isn't enough!

 

If you have a fear of being stranded somewhere you are safer storing extra food and water in your truck than extra fuel.
With that said if you are headed out on an excursion I see taking extra fuel a responsible thing to do. Storing the fuel long term is a bad idea.

 

I see that you have never driven across the dakotas. Gas stations are few and far between. Also, power outages and other calamities are good reason to carry extra.
Gas in a bed with no cap is cool. With a cap, better leave the windows open and have a can that seals.
Make sure you use stabilizer. Gas goes bad. It evaporates and loses it's oomph after three months. It leaves nasty varnish deposits behind. Use stabilized gas before a year has passed.

 

I drove across the Dakotas with my F250 towing my 30' tt-6 mpg.Never ran out of gas.You're not gonna run out of gas anywhere in the lower 48.

 

Can you explain this? Wouldn't no cap = spillage? And why would I leave my windows open if it's in the bed?

 

I think he means a bed cap.

 

So my guess is that the regular red, heavy plastic containers used to store gas (5 gallon model or less) would be a bad idea to leave strapped down in my exposed bed? Would sun, rain, or bumps and sloshes driving around damage/affect it if it's sealed up?

 

This ^^^^

 

Ever seen one of those in the sun ?

 

I typically keep a 5 gal jug in the back of my truck. But 90% of the time it's only 20% full. I only need a 'splash' of gas, given the event I run out or someone I'm helping has, to get to the gas station. Don't fill it to the brim and set it in the sun, it'll expand and spill over and is more likely to tip during a turn or evasive maneuver. I really don't see the big deal with it though.

 

I think its a great idea to keep spare gas. Those who tell you to just keep your tank full probably don't go off the beaten path that much. I once was taking backroads to some hunting grounds when I took a wrong turn but didn't realize it, I ran out of gas way out in the middle of nowhere and had to hike several miles before I found some campers who offered up some gas from their generator.

Now I keep a small amount of gas in my toolbox (attached to the bed) and cycle it as much as I can. I have been doing this for about 2 years now, and have gone as long as 6 months without cycling it. I agree with the others, cycle it as much as possible, and add stabil.

 

I haven't had mine long enough to say from personal experience, but most folks who've used them say NATO style jerry cans don't leak/spill/leak fumes even if they're full and left in the sun.

 

This ^^^*

If you're gonna keep a can in the exposed bed , get a good one .

 

Our range is between 300 and 400 miles... You can figure how far it is to the next station or how far you will be in the woods, if not then that is a problem. I have taken 1 or 2 five gallon gas cans with me on a couple of trips when I was going to be close to getting to a gas source.

Cans of gas in the bed, outdoors, is nothing to fear... but just don't drive around town like that... fill them when you are heading into the boonies. Unless you are suspecting gas shortages... then, stock up! Just don't smoke!

 

Over the 13 years I've dealt with them, they do swell up a lot from vapor pressure in hot weather.

Frank

 

If you use a real NATO can or Scepter can with good gaskets you don't have to worry about your gas going bad. These cans do not vent so none of the good stuff in the gas that evaporates away when stored can get out. Keep the cans full, seal em up tight and you have nothing to worry about. The military has been using these for years and they've got it figured out. You can buy brand new NATO cans here for $49+$9 shipping.

http://www.deutscheoptik.com/product_info.php?products_id=1718

 

I hear that a lot, and there's some good science behind it. But try to find a lab or engineer that will give you any kind of real timeline. Gas can oxidize (mitigated by using air tight CARB container and keeping it full) and evaporate. Oxidized gas can have gum balls in it.. I've never noticed it as a product of age, though I have had problems with crystals in my gas since ethanol, but I get all my gas from the same station pretty much, so might be crappy tanks.
anecdotally speaking, I've stored gas for years in a CARB container, and it's been barely tinged yellow at all, nor did it smell "sour". I don't do it as a rule, but I don't clean out my shed as often as I should. I have emergency gas around for generators and sometimes don't rotate it (all containers are identical and I'm very very lazy). I also have anecdotal evidence putting the claims of "STABIL" in doubt. Had both my brand new gennys get clogged with "varnish balls?" after about 3 weeks of disuse on stabilized gas. But the tanks were not full and honda generators have SUPER tiny carburetor ports.

ALL that being said, its easy enough to be "better safe than sorry" and just cycle the gas through your tank or something every so often.
And yea, back when I was driving cross country a lot, when I went out west/central US I would just put a 5 or a couple 5 gallon tanks in the bed of the truck, when I hit places like .. New mexico heading north I'd fill em. Scary seeing the gauge at 1/2 and a sign saying next gas 200 miles and the gas station you're passing is closed or out of gas.

 

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