Is this a fire hazard? Will my truck eventually explode?

I picked up 2 5 gallon Jerry Cans the other day and got around to sanding and painting them today. Once they dried, i wanted to make sure they were functional;l and didn't leak or something so I went out and filled them both with around 4.5 gallon each. They are USMC cans from 1973, so I though there was a chance of them leaking. Well, they don't leak. Now I have them (full) in the bed of my truck strapped to a sidewall. Very secure. They are not going to move while driving or anything. I have the sliding window in the cap open in case there are fumes. Should I be worried about doing this, considering that I have a cap?



Side note: If i keep this arrangement I will be relocating the grill...just to be safe.

 

Is this a fire hazard?????? Yes. Will my truck eventually explode?????? Most definitely, but at least you can say you went out in a blaze of glory.
All kidding aside. I would leave a side window open some, but I think you,ll be fine. It would be better to put them on the outside of the truck, but that's sometimes easier said then done. Keep in mind that I am no expert and hopefully one of the resident fire fighters will chime in. They will pressurize due to heat though. I have a small one gallon can for my saw that I have in my tool box. In the summer time it can be almost round. Might also use some sort of a tie down strap instead of bungee.

 

Bungee bad.

They WILL move in an 'event'.

 

Very true. I need to get some light duty ratchet straps or something. I'd store them on the outside if that were an option. Someday I hope it will be.

 

Yeah, everything about this seems unsafe. I'm probably going to pour most of it into my tank tomorrow and keep maybe a gallon in one of them. Ill most likely pick up some straps in the next few days as well. I wish I had a way to store them on the outside of my truck. I just cant see a way to install one of the smitty built holders that is practical.

$63 Smittybilt Jerry Gas Can Holder (Black) - 2798

https://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-2798-Jerry-Gas-Holder/dp/B008CLNYPC/ref=pd_bxgy_468_img_2?

the bungees are as tight as they possibly can be. They're stretched out to the max.
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Just make sure they are on the opposite side of the bed where the thermite container is.

 

I tend to keep the thermite in the cab with me

 

dood you goinna blow up

 

Is there a wateryear to mount rotopax cans to the side of your cap. I know more money, but then at least they are out of the way and secure. The cans can bounce out and break the back cap window in an event or really rough trails. Just my'.02

 

Carpet also creates static electricity, that when mixed with fuel vapor creates explosive results.

 

I'm no fire fighter but I have "had professional experiences" with hazmats. I'll leave it at that. That being said, if you are leaving them in your vehicle on a daily basis just to have them in case you need them, I personally would leave them about half full due to gasoline's chemical properties, containers expanding and contracting as well as minimizing pressure on the sealed lid of the container to prevent a spill. However if you are going out on a day trip, a full can for a day wont be much of a hazard so long as you keep them 'cool' enough and the container is in good repair. Just don't leave a full can in your cap all day every day as the heat will cause the can to fail eventually. It's not the gas that's the problem, its rupturing the can due to the expanding fluid volume. The more air you have in the can, the lower the likelihood of a loss of containment during long term storage.

 

I would disagree about leaving them half full. Fuel vapor is what is explosive, not fluid. I wouldn't just keep gas in there all the time.

 

true, but leaving the air in the container for compression is the reason we leave them half full or less for transport. allows the air to compress without stressing the container.

 

Great topic...besides the safety factor, there's the gas smell issue....For some reason even if the can doesn't leak you can still smell the gas... Then I wonder, how safe are the cans that are attached to the rear outside the truck in the event of a collision? Great testing for Myth busters...

 

Just keep your gas inside your gas tank, then, no moe worries.....