Best place to mount a jerry can?

[TeriAnn]

Just ordered myself a jerry can after puttering out on a local road after running out of fuel. Apparently "about a quarter tank" actually means "about the square root of beat all" for my little Rover.

So where's the best place to mount the thing on the 88" pickup? I want all opinions, both aesthetic and practical!

At frame level inside the body. Adding a second under the seat fuel tank, doubls your fuel capacity, takes up no additional usable space (but you do loose the storage box). It does not add to the vehicle centre of gravity. its tidy and out of the way.

My 109 has 2 under seat fuel tanks plus a rear duel tank. 42 gallon fuel capacity, all at frame level, weight distributed about evenly in the vehicle, no lifting 20L cans & pouring them into the tank.

Sometimes you might want to think inside the box.

[Artificer]

At frame level inside the body. Adding a second under the seat fuel tank, doubls your fuel capacity, takes up no additional usable space (but you do loose the storage box). It does not add to the vehicle centre of gravity. its tidy and out of the way.

My 109 has 2 under seat fuel tanks plus a rear duel tank. 42 gallon fuel capacity, all at frame level, weight distributed about evenly in the vehicle, no lifting 20L cans & pouring them into the tank.

Sometimes you might want to think inside the box.

You're right, that is something to consider. I seem to remember thinking about that for about 3 seconds and then dismissing it; for what reason I don't know. I would like to keep the under-seat storage for now, as it is the only storage I have on the Rover that is out of the weather. Until I fabricate or buy a tool chest for the back, anyway.

[LaneRover]

I would like to keep the under-seat storage for now, as it is the only storage I have on the Rover that is out of the weather. Until I fabricate or buy a tool chest for the back, anyway.

Or looks like it is out of the weather.

[czenkov]

Durr.....

As far to the rear as possible! If you have the same springs I have your ride is "vigorous". Moving it as far the the rear as you can will negate some of the effect. Yeah it reduces access from straight back but that is the beauty of a pick-up.......lean over the side. You can lay them on the side, nozzle up, in a mount, on the wheel weels and they ride a little higher but they are out of the way of the main load-space.

[lstrvr]

I thought I would comment as that first picture is of my Carawagon . I pondered on Jerry can mount locations for a long period before departing on our trip to Alaska, and when all was said and done, I decided on copying the original Carawagon jerry can mounts. Although it may look scary to some, I really dig the original look and love the set-up. If the truck was petrol I maybe wouldn't recommend it, but considering they only carry diesel, and are only ever filled for off-road, they are less of a danger than they look! Carawagon and Dormobile mounted them up front originally, as most useable space was used up for cabinets, and the original overcab roof racks were way to light to ever consider mounting a jerry can. Series Rovers have been mounting jerry cans up front since their inception. I just read about Robert Bateman touring the world in '57 in a S1 with dual jerry cans up front labelled "gin" and "tonic"! I believe those guys in "First Overland" had the same set-up as well. Obviously there can be better places for other reasons , but they've worked there for me and many other travellers in all forms of unforgiving climate and terrain for years!

[yorker]

If someone was worried about having fuel cans on the front bumper they could always use the bumper mounts for H2O and put the fuel elsewhere in room freed up by that.

[jrd51ox]

This is a topic that I've been thinking about on & off for a while now. My concerns

1. Not wanting any new holes in the body
2. Not wanting the cans inside the rover
3. Non-permanent: ability to take off when not needed

I don't use the rear tire carrier (keep it on the bonnet), and thought that could be a great place start. So I'm having a friend make me a new plate for the carrier that can be used to bolt on two classic jerry can holders. That way it is removable, just undo the lug nuts. Tough to describe, sorry if his sounds unclear. Pdf Attached is a rough draft I made on paintbrush....the pic is the plate I'm speaking of modifying....

Just an idea.

[TeriAnn]

I don't use the rear tire carrier (keep it on the bonnet), and thought that could be a great place start. So I'm having a friend make me a new plate for the carrier that can be used to bolt on two classic jerry can holders. That way it is removable, just undo the lug nuts.
Just an idea.

May I suggest weighing your spare tyre and a full pair of 20L jerrycans for comparison? The weight of larger spare tyres have been known to cause damage to rear doors. The factory addressed this issue by adding a third hinge to the rear door. I suggest doing so if you plan to add a lot of weight back there. And remember the closer you can fit the weight of the cans to the hinge/latch plane of the rear door the better. Maybe your can carrier can mount to the tyre carrier and bend back to the door to mount the cans on either side up against the door?

Just a thought about weights & levers.

[jrd51ox]

Thanks TeriAnn...I completely under estimated the weight....your right.

Just one can on the hinge side would be a safer bet.

[BellaCoola]

FYI...the Carwagon with the yellow jerry cans on the front are filled with water only.

He's a member of our club the Roverlanders.

On a recent trip a S3 109 put two jerry cans on the outriggers in front of the rear wheels under the body on both sides. Good low weight, only drawback is that he needed to remove his tire to access them.

I had 4 cans up on the rear of the roof rack...I would do it again for highway driving, even gravel, but not off road. The weight makes it too top heavy.

[lstrvr]

Hi Dave

I think you missed my post on page 2! They are filled with Diesel. A lot of guys get freaked out by the idea of jerry cans up front, and as I mentioned earlier, I probably wouldn't do it with petrol, but diesel isn't anywhere as flammable as petrol. In the chance of an accident, they will probably do more to put out an engine fire than start one! I like the location for what I use the truck for as they are out of the way, easy to fill in place, easy to re/re, mounted frame height, stay way cleaner than anyting mounted to the rear of my truck, and it frees up the inside for other gear that is more suitable to being kept in the interior with passengers. Even with the crappy Heystee suspension up front, any change to the driving characteristics of the truck with the cans full or empty is almost impercetible. If I was doing a ton of bushwacking I would re-consider, but I try not to go driving into stuff when I'm out in my truck. That being said, they are just Jerry cans. Cheap to replace if they do get damaged. They are far more practical where they are than they seem to get credit for. Like I mentioned before, I have actively used them in that location for years and would of relocated them long ago if they ever posed any inefficiency. That's just my experience based on how I use this truck. I am sure it will be different for others based on their own needs.

[yorker]

Hi Dave

I think you missed my post on page 2! They are filled with Diesel. A lot of guys get freaked out by the idea of jerry cans up front, and as I mentioned earlier, I probably wouldn't do it with petrol, but diesel isn't anywhere as flammable as petrol. In the chance of an accident, they will probably do more to put out an engine fire than start one! I like the location for what I use the truck for as they are out of the way, easy to fill in place, easy to re/re, mounted frame height, stay way cleaner than anyting mounted to the rear of my truck, and it frees up the inside for other gear that is more suitable to being kept in the interior with passengers. Even with the crappy Heystee suspension up front, any change to the driving characteristics of the truck with the cans full or empty is almost impercetible. If I was doing a ton of bushwacking I would re-consider, but I try not to go driving into stuff when I'm out in my truck. That being said, they are just Jerry cans. Cheap to replace if they do get damaged.

Have you priced non CARB jerrycans in the US lately?

[stomper]

Yorker brings up a question I have been investigating through e-bay lately. I really want 4 nato style jerry cans, but they are hard to find with the CARB regulations. The Blue H2O cans say you can't put fuel in them, but if you changed the top gasket, and painted them another color, wouldn't they be the same thing as the old NATO cans? If not, does anyone have some NATO cans they wish to part with?

[yorker]

Yorker brings up a question I have been investigating through e-bay lately. I really want 4 nato style jerry cans, but they are hard to find with the CARB regulations. The Blue H2O cans say you can't put fuel in them, but if you changed the top gasket, and painted them another color, wouldn't they be the same thing as the old NATO cans? If not, does anyone have some NATO cans they wish to part with?

they supposedly have a different food grade lining that might degrade with gasoline. Your best bet is to stock up on good used preban jerrycans.

I was shocked when I priced Scepter jerrycans- they have gone out of sight- even used ones.

[yorker]

by the way the best deal I have seen on surplus German style metal jerrycans is at Coleman's surplus. I think thery are British surplus and ~$25 ea. If anyone knows of any others out there pleas post up.

There is usually an ongoing supply of surplus plastic Scepter military fuel cans on eBay.