Who keeps extra gasoline in their vehicle? - Questions

rt014

rt014

Joined
Jun 21, 2001
Messages
2,861
I'll be getting a camper shell on my pickup and want to store two 5 gallon containers of gas for emergencies. Stabilization is not a problem. I plan on rotating it into my UTV or vehicle to keep it fresh:

Questions:
1. Are there any concerns from a safety standpoint? Even as it relates to the cans getting hot from sitting in the sun and expanding or letting off gas vapor? Does the vapor stink up or taint anything else stored in the compartment?

2. Are there any particular gas cans that you would recommend for this purpose? The squat cheap plastic ones seem like they'd take up a lot of room and maybe not be the best for this purpose - maybe the old style military metal ones?

3. How do you secure them in your vehicle? Aside from either bungee cords or straps.

4. Anything else I should consider or be concerned about?

Thanks
 
I'm no expert on volatile liquids, but I wouldn't want to carry extra gas for the reasons you articulate. I have around 40 gallons stored at the Powernoodle Compound for my generators, and the cans will build up pressure when they get hot. The alternative is to vent them, but that emits (potentially) explosive vapors.

What about this: never let your vehicle's fuel tank get below half full, and consider that second half to be your emergency backup? And carry an empty gas can in case you have to hoof it on foot to fill up, or more likely if you give the can to some poor stooge who has run out of gas and let him hoof it to fill it up.

Everything we do in life has a cost-benefit associated with it. In this case, (for me) the risk of fire, odor, etc. would outweigh the potential benefit, especially if you just make yourself fill up your vehicle's tank when it reaches half empty and regard that remaining half tank as your emergency backup.

I know two guys who were seriously burned when gas cans exploded (both involved filling up a hot mower) - and I mean major, 3rd degree burns - so I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to this stuff. Just my take.
 
I don't any more, a perk of living in Hawaii, you're never that far from fuel... but in Arizona I did carry spare gas with me. Before I go I you have to re-read what Mr. Powernoodle said... it's all spot on. That said, I had a 2 5 gal fuel tins (those old military style ones) strapped to the OUTSIDE of my truck. And by strapped I mean metal straps with padlocks on them so they wouldn't grow legs.

Also it's good to put a dash of stabilizer in them just because... I would seriously not store gas in there... I know a few gardeners that will, or in the back of their vans, but never over night, and never for long periods of time...
 
I would not store gas inside the car.

- Extreme fire hasard
- All the cans I've tried leak to some extent or lose fuel through evaporation

Instead
- Carry empty containers
- Keep tank half/quarter full at all times
- If you must store fuel, build a suitable long term fuel storage system at your home. The kind of thing farmers have.
 
There are many concerns that outweigh any benefit. What powernoodle stated. Its really about risk/reward. If you live in NY, even way the hell upstate, I would be hard pressed to think you are not always within several miles of a station. I only practice the 1/2 mile rule on long trips but it will get you across the country and back without ever being that close to going empty, but the risks of carrying gas is just not worth your well being. A few miles walking won't hurt you either in the event you did run out. Usually when you run out the one time, you tend to never allow it happen again anyway.
 
So it's looking like a bad idea so far. Not surprised.

And by the way, I always try to keep my tank as close to full as possible. Maybe keeping an empty is the ticket. That way I can top off and fill up if and when gas lines come back unexpectedly :-) Just trying to be prepared.
 
Pennzoil used to make a product called rescue fuel or something that would allow you to get to a gas station, but was safe to store in your car. They don't make it anymore, but I found this:

http://sparefuel.net/auto/

I don't know anything about it though.
 
rt014 said:
I'll be getting a camper shell on my pickup and want to store two 5 gallon containers of gas for emergencies. Stabilization is not a problem. I plan on rotating it into my UTV or vehicle to keep it fresh:

Questions:
1. Are there any concerns from a safety standpoint? Even as it relates to the cans getting hot from sitting in the sun and expanding or letting off gas vapor? Does the vapor stink up or taint anything else stored in the compartment?

2. Are there any particular gas cans that you would recommend for this purpose? The squat cheap plastic ones seem like they'd take up a lot of room and maybe not be the best for this purpose - maybe the old style military metal ones?

3. How do you secure them in your vehicle? Aside from either bungee cords or straps.

4. Anything else I should consider or be concerned about?

Thanks
Click to expand...

1. Yes, plenty. Gasoline vapors are highly flammable and explosive. If you have an accident, your life as well as your passengers and anyone else within your immediate area including first responders are in danger.

2. Read the first point.

3. Refer to the first point again.

4. Concerned with your life maybe?

Crry an empty quel can and if you run out of gas, walk to the gas station or call for roadside assistance. Most auto insurance companies offer it for free. Getting RSA is being prepared enough for me. What are you preparing for anyway?
 
I think that we've covered the negatives pretty well here... What kind of truck do you have and what are your reasons for wanting to carry spare fuel? Other than to have spare fuel...

I did a lot of work in the middle of no where and would found the hard way that my gas gauge wasn't reading true. So I figured ~10 gallons would get me to the closest town/gas station from where I was when I was the farthest out... Honestly, 5 gallons was enough, but 2 of those tins looked way cooler than just one lol..
 
Good idea to keep your truck full. Also a good idea to have an empty gas can. If for some reason you think you will need extra gas right away, you can fill the can at the same time you fill your truck. Best of both worlds. Of course, I never follow my own advice, but I still wouldn't routinely carry around extra gas.
 
I haul almost 11,800 gallons of gas 5-6 days a week... :D

caramptruck045_zps797e538a.jpg


That is different though. The trucks are designed specifically for that purpose. It still has the potential to be very dangerous though...
That said, my pickup is diesel, but I never carry extra fuel, and when I had gas pickups, I wouldn't carry extra gas either. The only small container of gas I ever carry is for my chainsaws.

Having a container that previously had gas in it, but now only has vapors, is FAR worse than having a full can of gas.
In the summer, when the temps get up into the 80's, I have to be very careful when I pull the caps off of my 4 inch hoses, because with the vapors, they build up so much pressure, they will shoot the caps about 15 feet, if I don't hang onto them.

So, I wouldn't carry any extra gas. Chances are you would never have any problems doing it, but it isn't worth taking the chance. If you do get a gas can, get one that is plastic.
Steel portable gas cans are the absolute worst idea there is. It shouldn't even be legal too sell them. It doesn't take much for something to create a small spark against metal, and a spark with gas or vapors is a very bad combination...

The tanks and plumbing on my truck are all aluminum. Any fittings are either aluminum or brass, because you don't have too worry about these materials creating sparks.

Plan ahead....
If you map out your travels before you leave, you will know when you should make sure you need to top off the tank. Realistically, these days, there are so many gas stations, you should never need to carry extra fuel.
 
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rt014 said:
4. Anything else I should consider or be concerned about?
Click to expand...

The ONLY time you MIGHT be carrying fuel in the bed of your truck is when you are leaving the pavement. Period.

Carrying it around in the bed of your truck with a camper shell is downright stupid and a recipe for disaster.

If you are carrying fuel for ATV's, keep it in OPEN AIR on the trailer with them.

An enclosed bed with a camper shell is the last place you want a can of fuel.
 
I carry an extra tankfull of fuel in my truck all the time. The truck has switchable twin tanks with seperate fuel pumps. The only time I carry a can of gas is when I am carrying fuel for equipment like saws, pumps and pressure washers. And then it is in 2 1/2 gallon cans in the open bed.
 
You really want a second permanent gas tank for long term use.

NATO "Jerry cans" work well if you can store them outside like you see in off-road jeeps and similar vehicles. You really don't want a gas vapor "bomb" inside any portion of a road going vehicle. Anyone remember the Pinto and rear end collisions? :eek:
 
hey if you are going to store gas then there is something you put in it so it will last a very long time without it turning on you. I forgot what it was called but I got it and put it in my Generator gas tank so I don't have to start it up every week.
 
I would not do it. I do store & rotate gas but not in my truck/vehicles. I have 20 gal on hand most times. IMHO, the best thing to do to be prepared is to fill the cans & put the proper amount of Stabil in them & leave them in your garage. You seem to think like me 30 yrs ago. I call it "Common Sense Prepping". By that, i mean just buying more of what you use everyday. That way, it is easy to rotate supplies, no matter what they may be. HOWEVER---one thing i have NOT seen touched on is sparks/arcs & static electricity. It is real & it is REAL dangerous. I have a plastic bed liner in my truck. Put a plastic gas can on it & slide it across it & there will be static electricity built up in it. If you do not remove it & put it on the ground to fill, it may/can spark when the nozzle gets near it. I have seen it happen with BAD results. Fuel vapors are more explosive than the actual fuel. When you hear the "wooooffff" of fuel going up in flame, it is the vapor that gives you the wooooffff. Just something to think about. I highly suggest to anyone storing fuel in 55 gal metal drums, that they be properly grounded.
 
theHobbyist said:
I think that we've covered the negatives pretty well here... What kind of truck do you have and what are your reasons for wanting to carry spare fuel? Other than to have spare fuel...
Click to expand...

I was thinking of a SHTF scenario where you couldn't get gas and wanted to get out of town. In my case from a major metropolitan area to a place 250 miles away. If my tank is full I'm covered. So that's the route I'll take. I may still keep an empty (new one) just in case that kind of scenario occurred and you could top off the extra container for a short term period. I'm usually only carrying extra fuel when filling it up and then bringing it straight home for use in the UTV, chain saw, etc.

Thanks for all the responses everyone. Obviously carrying an extra container routinely is a stupid idea (particularly in an enclosed space). I guess I was thinking about military vehicles that sometimes have extra containers attached to the outside of vehicles.
 
I've carried extra fuel on a motorcycle. :) some of those signs that say "next gas 300 miles" can be tricky for some motorcycles.
 
TwinStick said:
I would not do it. I do store & rotate gas but not in my truck/vehicles. I have 20 gal on hand most times. IMHO, the best thing to do to be prepared is to fill the cans & put the proper amount of Stabil in them & leave them in your garage. You seem to think like me 30 yrs ago. I call it "Common Sense Prepping". By that, i mean just buying more of what you use everyday. That way, it is easy to rotate supplies, no matter what they may be. HOWEVER---one thing i have NOT seen touched on is sparks/arcs & static electricity. It is real & it is REAL dangerous. I have a plastic bed liner in my truck. Put a plastic gas can on it & slide it across it & there will be static electricity built up in it. If you do not remove it & put it on the ground to fill, it may/can spark when the nozzle gets near it. I have seen it happen with BAD results. Fuel vapors are more explosive than the actual fuel. When you hear the "wooooffff" of fuel going up in flame, it is the vapor that gives you the wooooffff. Just something to think about. I highly suggest to anyone storing fuel in 55 gal metal drums, that they be properly grounded.
Click to expand...

See post #11... :D
 
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