Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

I wish that I had taken the time to go to the Arctic Circle.. Just didn't have the time.

2 Alcans

3 Cross-Country Drives..

I like driving.

 

i think its already decided between my old man and the wife, im going to be making two trips to AK. one winter, one .... not winter. whatever they call it up there. im going to shoot for most miles on a tacoma ever. newfoundland is also on the list. thats a long way from LA!

 

woot!! Packaging is torn open by about an inch. Strap is perfect.

 

i should have ordered more! i was suspicious

 

So a local guy is selling these for $125. Would be cool to have, but not worth that much imo...

 

Yeah, I'd like to drive it in the summer/spring.. Only thing, is that's when all of the RV's are out, as well.

 

ive got to find out when the "seasons" start to turn. id take a month in may or september no problem.. or.. whenever it gets a little more for your average RV'er ...and still not find myself hating everything. though, i dont mind a few RV's on the highway.. id like to go find a few dirt roads and uninhabited areas to 'explore' anyways. mild weather would probably make for the best trip.

 

Getting back to the Jerry Can/MFC topic. I've always used the steel jerry cans. Yes, i know they can rust and dent but that is mechanical damage that can be avoided with care. The concern I have about the MFC is the plastic. All plastics can degrade under UV light and can deform due to heat and cold. Various solvents can also attack it.

Yes, I know the MFC is current milspec and carries a NSN number. However, there is also a readily available quartermaster to replace when needed. This is not the case for me and my bank account.

What I would be curious about is an actual study/report on the MFC. Average service life, replacement schedule and failure/replacement rate per 1000. Lastly, carrying a MFC in a metal rack could subject the can to mechanical wear by vibration.

Maybe its just me but I don't see an advantage to the MFC over the metal jerry can other than its current issue.

 

I understand what you're saying..

I run metal cans. They work just fine for me.

They're fuel cans.

I understand your point about UV exposure/overall durability, etc.

Again. They're fuel cans.

I think it's important to take into consideration the amount of usage that the cans will get. I highly doubt that the majority of people will put more than 30 days MAX/year on them. The average end user won't subject the cans to anywhere near the abuse that they would see in military service.

YMMV

 

i can glady say that i have swam in the acrtic ocean

x2 on this. im just running 3 plastic can that will do just the job i need them to do. if anyone is curious of my set up just check the build.

 

I'm in the non-average minority! Woot!

......which is one of many reasons I avoid plastic *anything* like the plague itself. Plastic has its place. Not in abuse-receiving offroad products. Metal ftw!

 

^^ x2, me too.

Honestly. They're fuel cans. I spent about 2 minutes deciding which ones to get.

All I have to say.

 

Plastic cans for me. Scepter and LCI. Best cans I've had after years of metal cans.

 

If anyone is really interested , this is the spec that the Scepter MFC cans meet

http://www.everyspec.com/COMML_ITEM_DESC/A-A-59000_A-A-59999/download.php?spec=A-A-59592A.038870.pdf

 

anyone running a solar panels or 2 on their truck? Im looking to add a 2-3 panels on my roof rack and a marine battery for it.

 

Addressing the UV/heat/cold; I've used them from -20F to +120F in several different countries. Sitting in the back of my M-ATV year round in Afghanistan, exposed to the sun and all sorts of elements. Had 8 of them I believe, ratchet straped in the bed. Used them a few times when we ventured real far out and would top them back off when we got back to base. They were in every HMMWV I was in, just tossed in the back and the subsequently buried.

If you had a failure from one, it was from the gasket, which can be easily replaced (not so easy to do in the military, but easy online order/replace in the civilian world). The water ones were a little more touchy. The vent cap on them likes to break if you drop them.

I personally would take a plastic can over a metal one. The metal ones on my Jeep are rusted from the gas in California. They also have a hard time with expansion/contraction from the heat of the day, to the cool air of the night.

 

Built this today, should make it easier hauling tools for work and provide a place to mount a fridge

 

^^^ nice work.

 

Thanks, it will come back out soon to figure out a way to secure it to the truck and get sprayed with a rubberized bed liner to make it anti slip

 

Currently running 4x15watt (60w total) panels on my truck, they work well and I can sit for days and still have cold drinks in my fridge.

I'll likely upgrade to some better (power/weight) panels later on, should be able to get 200-270watts with the floor space I have 54"x45". I did have it hooked up 24/7 but disconnected it so that I can get more life out of my batteries.

Nice thing about solar is you never have to worry about a dead battery, you just sit for a few hours and your good to go!