Fuel Can Storage Question

[ttora4runner]

I have an upcoming trip down to San Rafell Swells and I'm trying to fiqure out where to mount the aux. fuel canister I have (5 Gal Nato). I had a roof basket earlier in the year but ended up having to sell it due to unemployment (I needed the money). So it's left me without a way to mount/carry the can.

My vehicle has the factory roof rack and cross bars but I'm not sure how I would attach/hold the can down with it or in which direction to hold (on it's side, with the spout end up)?? So any suggestions you all could give would be welcome.

[FrenchieXJ]

I have had no problem with the nato cans leaking in any mounting position. If you have a way to keep it from scrapping the roof you can carry it there on it's big side down. A ratchet strap with the racks slide as close together as possible. Tight and check often to confirm it stays tight.

[ttora4runner]

Bump....

[CoastalDefender]

Bump....

Dude, there ain't any magic bullet for this one. Don't put it in your rig. If you have to, strap it flat side-down on your roof. Another way would be strapping your spare up there and the can on top of the spare.

[TACODOC]

Dude, there ain't any magic bullet for this one. Don't put it in your rig. If you have to, strap it flat side-down on your roof. Another way would be strapping your spare up there and the can on top of the spare.

:coffeedrink:

x2

[BIGdaddy]

I have a wedco nato style. I try to carry it on a narrow side, with the opening side up, to minimize the possibility of leaking....

but, honestly I could probably strap it upside down to my front bumper and it probably wouldn't leak a drop, even after almost 10 years of moderate use.

Just lay something like a rubber floormat or something with grip and strap it down flat.

no worries.

[Fergie]

Dude, there ain't any magic bullet for this one. Don't put it in your rig. If you have to, strap it flat side-down on your roof. Another way would be strapping your spare up there and the can on top of the spare.
Well, good advice or not, but I just returned from a trip to Mexico with 2 surplus NATO cans in my LC.

No fume, no weird expansions from altitude or heat. Went from snowing in Flagstaff at 7000' to 75* weather in MX, through PHX and Tucson.

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I posted this in the first place is that I had done a leakage test with the water canister I have (my bad I have scepter fuel canisters not nato)by laying it on it's side (big side down)and I had experience some leakage with it. So that is where my concern comes from that if I lay the fuel can down on it's big/flat side it would possible leak.

I have a stored a gas can in my vehicle before with no problems. Just wasn't comfortable about it.

[sami]

I travelled 500+ miles on dirt in one particular trip through the Swell in my '99 4runner and stored a Scepter behind each front seat.. Worked great, except someone lent me a can with a fractured lid(hairline, near impossible to see).. Ya, I got high.. Probably killed some brain cells..

On the other hand, I have used Scepters in tip top shape inside the truck with no issues.. Also, as you will see this weekend i'll be sporting a 5 gal NATO can inside my rig. I feel comfortable with the can strapped into my interior rack.. I've gone weeks with a full NATO can inside on my rack with no fume or leaking issues..

I say just pull out the bottom seat of your rear seats, fold the rear portion down.. And there you have a perfect spot to snuggly fit a Scepter.. I picked that trick up from SOAZ on the board IIRC..

[sami]

But be sure you have zero leaks!

[cruiseroutfit]

... except someone lent me a can with a fractured lid(hairline, near impossible to see).. Ya, I got high.. Probably killed some brain cells.....

I know nothing.

For the record I still contend you brought it back with a hairline crack ;)

Also for the record all of my caps have been inspected and replaced as needed.

[ttora4runner]

I'm pretty sure it has no leaks. Since I have never used it since I bought it a little over a year ago. :sombrero:

[Ruffin' It]

If you have a good sealing NATO jerry can, straping them down inside isn't all the uncommon. I had an internally mounted jerry can holder in my Disco for years without any sort of issue.
Before that, however, I was in a similar situation as you are. I had factory roof rails, but no actual roof rack. I just got some 1X1's for cross-bars and some big U-bolts and attached them to my roof rails. Then attached a little plywood and ran several U-bolts with fender washers through the plywood to hold the jerry can holders down along with some pipe clamps to hold y shovel and ax - it worked fine for several trips. Even after a while when it starts to wear out, it is cheap to replace (or just re-drill the holes several inches away and re-mount if you are really on a budget. Sure, it isn't as sexy as a $1,200 rack. But it left me with enough money to actually get out and take trips - which WAS pretty sexy. Wood painted flat black doesn't look all that different from metal and, if painted properly, holds up ok to the elements.


I have an upcoming trip down to San Rafell Swells and I'm trying to fiqure out where to mount the aux. fuel canister I have (5 Gal Nato). I had a roof basket earlier in the year but ended up having to sell it due to unemployment (I needed the money). So it's left me without a way to mount/carry the can.

My vehicle has the factory roof rack and cross bars but I'm not sure how I would attach/hold the can down with it or in which direction to hold (on it's side, with the spout end up)?? So any suggestions you all could give would be welcome.

[red87]

When you guys say don't store gas cans inside your rig, does that just mean not in the passenger compartment? I've got a Flip Pac on my truck and I wanted to store my Blitz can in the bed.

[CoastalDefender]

When you guys say don't store gas cans inside your rig, does that just mean not in the passenger compartment? I've got a Flip Pac on my truck and I wanted to store my Blitz can in the bed.

Yeah, we mean in the passenger compartment.

And be prepared for your blitz cans to leak and your entire flippac to stink like gas fumes.

[red87]

Thanks for heads up

[TACODOC]

Yeah, we mean in the passenger compartment.

And be prepared for your blitz cans to leak and your entire flippac to stink like gas fumes.

:iagree:

[robert]

Have you tried any of your local welders? I know some of our local guys will do small projects with their scrap for cheap if they're slow. Basically all you need is a couple of pieces of steel flat stock welded together. You could bend two pieces bent to wrap around your crossbars or even use some clamps from Lowe's.

Heck, if you're really cheap just stick it in an Rubbermaid Action Packer and strap that to the roof.

[JRH_PowerWagon_06]

Is there room on the back to mount a blitz can holder?
They make adapters to bolt this to an external spare tire. Con-ferr, KAYMAR, and ORU are a few.
This is the cheapest route.

Kaymar and Adventure Trailers make a universal basket type that works with most cans.
Blitz has a basket that works with metal cans. You need metal locking brackets if you don't want them stolen.

NATO cans are the best. Difficult to get. And $$$.

[red87]

I do have an aftermarket bumper that I could attach a holder too. Or I guess I could just make a reinforced place on the shell to mount one too.

[cruiseroutfit]

While its not my prefered placement for various reasons, I have little concerns with transporting a secured Scepter can inside of the cab of my Land Cruiser. If your tanks leak or have the potential to leak, its a no brainer... leave them outside. However if you have readily tested your cans and are confident with its ability to stay leak free, don't do it.

[ttora4runner]

I kept inside this past weekend on the Swell trip with no problems.

[Ruffin' It]

Just my $0.02, take it for what it is worth, but I would think it would be easier and cheaper to spring for a couple quality jerry cans than to start fabbing and/or buying additional brackets. I started with Blitz cans and they made me a little jerry can shy. Now I have good quality cans (insert joke in poor taste here) and and haven't though twice about them.


I do have an aftermarket bumper that I could attach a holder too. Or I guess I could just make a reinforced place on the shell to mount one too.