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

I would advise using a GAS CAN that is made for gas, and NOT a metal gas can....I had a metal one. The seams expanded in the heat and the gas leaked. Having 60 plastic chair, a few gallons of gas, and 5 qts of oil on fire in the bed of ones truck is not fun...

 

If your in the sun light a lot you need something besides a plastic gas can.

If it sits long enough in the sun without being relieved it will BLEVE, and possibly explode. Never seen it happen but have heard of it.

 

x2
Just came back from a 4k+ road trip with a Berlitz jerry can lashed to the side of the bed. Damn thing leaked all over the place through both the seams and the cap (when I dumped the remaining fuel into the tank). POS. Anyone have ideas for a better can?

 

NATO cans ftw.

 

Like this?
http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/GJC20.cfm

 

those are the ones I use.

 

Ordering now. Thanks!

EDIT: Waaaaait a moment... it says they won't sell these to CA residents. How'd you get yours?

 

They were given to me as a gift by someone who's not a resident of CA.

 

Here's my take on it:
- buy good cans, even if they are expensive
- fill 'em up when the weather is forecast to go haywire and you're filling up the truck, once the weather blows over, go ahead and use the gas
- carry one when you're off to the boondocks

Otherwise, I just don't see hauling around five gallons regularly as a good idea.

Around town, I fill up at 1/2 tank.
On longer trips, I fill up around 1/4 tank (provided it's not way out in no man's land, and frankly, I've not driven out that way (great plains, west texas, etc.) in a long time

 

I have used a plastic Blitz 5 Gal gas container in my bed for a year or so. I have it strapped down to the bottom of the bed and strapped to the side in the corner. I always use fuel stabilizer and cycle the fuel every few months. Its nice to have it on long trail runs and when exploring a new trail.

I have found that the gas vapor expands much more dramatically than the liquid gasoline in sunlight. For expample, if the gas container is 1/2 full and setting in the sun it will expand like a balloon bulging at the sides. But if the container is completely full (only a small pocket of vapor at the top near the cap) when left in sunlight it will only expand a very small amount (almost no buldge at all). One time the container was almost empty, just a small amount of gasoline puddle in the bottom of the container (99% vapor, 1% liquid) and after setting in the sun for a while I was sure the container was gonna blow apart it had expanded so much. I am not sure about the physics behind this, but this is my experience.

That being said, I am planning on upgrading to a steel NATO jerry can type of container. I just have a hard time finding something in California without the shitty CARB type of nozzle.

 

I've had a 5 gallon can in my bed for about a year now. i add a fuel stabilizer to it and swap it out every 2 months if i don't use it otherwise. keep it full and secure it well and you'll be alright. you can never be too prepared.
Edit: as a side note, i also have a fire extinguisher right by my seat.


for the mount speciffically

 

Nice mount. "Liked"... What's the price?

 

we at KR FAB sell some too let me know...

 

PMd so we don't take Vrbas' thread too far off topic

 

Unpopular but cheap solution that I use and is very much practiced in 3rd world countries is to use soda bottles. A lot of red gas cans made with #7 plastic, so are a lot of 2 liter soda bottles and 1 gallon ice tea jugs like Arizona Ice tea made with #7 plastic. I used plastics 1 ,5 and 7 for years with good result. For about 8 years now I used Arizona ice tea 1 gallon jug to mix gas for my leaf blower. (nothing more permanent then temporary)


I have one 2 liter Sprite bottle filled with gas in the bed side pocket. 2 liter bottle fits just right in that pocket. This bottles is made to handle a lot of pressure and I do fill them to the neck so no space for vapor to form. Stored gas this way for years in trunk of different cars with no problem. I do add stabilizer.

I understand that 2 liters is nothing but it gives me extra 10 miles or less to find gas station.


Update: left 2 liter soda bottle filled to the brim with premium gas with stabilizer for 3 years. Friends car with empty tank started with no problem after adding this old gas.

 

Swap out plastic tailgate for metal one.