Gas and water containers

[Toy Man]

These are the gas and water cans I use. HIGHLY recommended.
I like the 10 liter (2.6 gal.) size for ease of carry/packing/use.

Notice that you need the special $24 gas spout to use these cans.

http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/ta...Fresults%2Etam

http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/ta...am?rlk=5323872

Dick - Toy Man

[Jerry]

I like the smaller 2.5 gal water containers. Just the right size. I use to carry a 5 gal. water can, but it was too heavy to handle comfortably. Haven't had the need for extra gas yet, but I do have two 5 gal jerry can holders with locks bolted to the inside walls of the F-150 truck bed just in case. If nothing else it's a good feeling to know I have a little extra gas when traveling in remote areas.
Jerry

[Steve]

Everything I read agrees with using the SCEPTER for fuel storage. Now I just need to provide a place to store them on my Land Cruiser.

Steve

[Jerry]

Just a little legal note here guys. It is illegal to carry gas cans on the outside of your vehicle on Washington State roadways. All those Jeeps with jerry cans affixed to the spare tire carrier are doing so illegally.

Legal vs. illegal on different roads and trails and the chance of getting a warning or a ticket is one thing. But, the law was inspired because carrying gas cans on the back of your rig IN FACT can be dangerous to the people in your vehicle as well as people in the rig behind you.

It all comes down to your good judgement as to when you NEED to carry extra gas and WHEN you can do it safely, ie low speeds on the trail. It's the gettin' to and from the trail where you get into trouble.
Jerry

[Jerry]

Re: water cans. I thought I had found a pretty good deal on plastic water cans that appeared to have the same base measurements as common jerry cans. So I purchased two Reliance brand containers from REI over the net.
http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/43.html
I received two turquoise-blue 3 gal cans in good condition via UPS. Problem is they measure:
Length: 14.75, Width: 6.25, Height: 12.50
Three gallon jerry cans measure:
Length: 14.00, Width: 6.50, height: 12.00

The Reliance cans are .75" too long to fit in a regular gasoline jerry can holder. Too bad as it would have been convenient unless they make a different sized base for water cans. I like the turquoise color as it immediately identifies the cans as water containers and I will use them regardless of their measurements, but it is disappointing that they will not fit the jerry can base. I might also mention that the sidewall thickness of the Reliance can is much lighter duty than military spec units.

Live and learn.
Jerry

[Toy Man]

I found the Reliance water cans too flimsy for my use. The vent plug kept coming loose and splilling water.

Toy Man

[Jerry]

I agree with you 100%. I wouldn't trust the Reliance vent plugs even if I was guaranteed the cans would stay upright. I should have looked at them before I bought, but that's water under the bridge

[HDM]

Hey Jerry, I'm new on this site, but interested in your comment about carrying fuel. Any chance you have the citation for the law that say's it's illegal to carry fuel outside a vehicle in Washington? I'm no legal expert but this was not what I was led to believe by the WSP in Olympia a couple years ago – at that time, they said "no problem as long as the cans are approved for fuel transport and properly secured outside the vehicle." As far as I know, the only prohibitions regarding carrying fuel on our trucks is on Washington State Ferries – but that is a matter of containers and quantity. By example, this summer I had three full jerry cans strapped to the roof and was told I could only have 12 gallons total; they suggested I just empty one of the 5 gal cans into the fuel tank in the truck and I was GTG. They didn’t have a problem with them being outside the vehicle, just the quantity carried in excess of the fuel tank. I later checked their website and it is pretty explicit on the matter.

Anyway, until I read your post, I hadn’t given the matter another thought and always figured if it was illegal, every guy towing/hauling a dirt bike, boat with outboard motor, ATV, snowmobile, lawnmower or chain saw would have an instant ticket as they all take along extra fuel. Anyway, it would be nice to see the prohibition in writing so I can save myself from getting into hot water with the law. Thanks, d

[Jerry]

Here is the RCW:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.465

Personally I have never heard of a jerry can blowing up in an accident nor have I met anyone who was cited for carrying one outside their vehicle. Use your own good judgement.
Jerry

[Steve]

RCW 46.37.465
Fuel system.

(1) The fuel system shall be manufactured, installed, and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public. Fuel tanks shall be equipped with approved caps.

(2) There shall be no signs of leakage from the carburetor or the fuel pump or the fuel hoses in the engine compartment or between the fuel tank and the engine compartment.

(3) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state unless the fuel tank is securely attached and so located that another vehicle would not be exposed to direct contact with the fuel tank in the event of a rear end collision.

I don't think that auxiliary fuel cans would be included in this RCW.

The RCW is titled "fuel systems" and number 3 states "fuel tank".

My interpretation of this law is you can not mount a "fuel tank" in a location where it could be exposed to direct contact during a rear end collision (ie; the Ford Pinto and a few others).

I searched all RCWs that contain the word "fuel" and could not find any that pertain to the transport of fuel on the outside of a vehicle.

But of course, that's only my interpretation of the laws.

Steve