Safest way to carry extra petrol?
Submitted: Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 19:37
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Member - Russell
Hi All
Vehicle in question is a 98 GXL Prado 3.4 V6 manual. Although it carries 159 litres of fuel, there are some trips I do (through NW of West Aus) where I would like to have an extra jerry or 2 of fuel as backup.
After many years of driving diesels and not being too worried about jerrys inside the car (with the usual precautions), having 20 or 40 litres of high explosives in the back worries the proverbial out of me.
Anyone know whats the latest and greatest ways / methods / products to safely carry extra petrol INSIDE the car? Are there any you beaut top of the wozzer petrol jerries out now?
I was thinking about some good quality jerries with a custom made canvas cover or similar, but then got worried about vapour build up. Right or wrong?
Or am I just worrying too much?
If I may pre-empt some questions;
No, I don't want to fit a long range
tank. Budgets all shot to pieces as it is...
Yes, I intend to strap them down very
well.
Yes, I'm a smoker albeit a very nervous one now....
No, I don't want to put them on the roof rack (back problems)
Thanks for your time, and at the end of the day, if the majority opinion says "Russ, don't do it old son unless you're in a hurry to meet angels" then I'll give it a miss.
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 19:57
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 19:57
Russell,
I think that you have answered all your own questions.
Plastic jerry cans are the way to go. If you smell fuel vapour it means that a jerry can is leaking and it is time to ditch it. A full jerry can is a lot safer than a half full one. Make sure that they are straped down to the cargo barrier or some other support. the canvas bag is a good idea to stop the rubbing. When the fuel
tank is empty enough to take the 20lt, fill the
tank and put the empty jerry can on the roof rack with the lid just cracked open to allow the petrol fumes to excape.
Carring fuel in this manner while not as good as a long range
tank is the second best way.
Maybe if you gave up the smokes you could afford a long range
tank.( sorry a reformed smoker).
Wayne
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Russell - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:37
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:37
Bl***y smart a**ed reformed smokers! They're everywhere!! Goodonya. Thanks for the reply. You have a good point, I could get an empty jerry up and down, no problem.
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Reply By: rolande- Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:19
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:19
Russell,
Aside from all the negatives which you probably are already aware of, try using some of the black rheem jerries and only put 20ltrs in, not the 23+ that will fit. Allows room for expansion without problems and they seal pretty
well. I made a wooden box to hold them tight and strap the lot down. I only use this for short trips so vapour hasn't been a problem. Best advice would be to empty the jerries as soon as there is room in the fuel
tank, instead of waiting until the
tank is empty - this helps minimise the risk.
Rolande
AnswerID:
81619
Follow Up By: Member - Russell - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:40
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:40
Thanks Rolande. Had thought about a box. Do you have a lid on yours? If so, would you call it largely airtight? Do you think thats important or not a good idea?
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Follow Up By: rolande- Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:51
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:51
Russell,
No, box actually holds 5 jerry cans - 2 X diesel, 3 X petrol. I live out of town so get a week's worth of fuel for 2 vehicles at once. Made the box so I can secure them in case something happens. Simply copied size of steel jerry holder. Never actually thought of a lid either, but would think it would contain any vapours better than no lid - not sure if this is good or bad though. Sorry I can't be of more help
Rolande
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:44
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:44
Yeah those black ones are great, I use two of them, albiet for diesel but diesel stinks just as bad as petrol even if it is not as dangerous. Don't even know they are there (unless I spill diesel all over the outside of one - DOUH!)
But yeah, don't fill them all the way up.
Easy way is to fill the jerry's first, that way you can put exactly 20L in the first, exactly 40L in the second, then fill up the truck last.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: lx470 - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:33
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:33
Do not be worried.
Carrying the fuel inside the car is much much safer that carrying it outside.
Use Rheem Plastic Fuel containers.
Store them forward of the rear axel. (Protected in case of someone rear ending you, and better weight distribution for your vehicle.
If you are worried about rubbing through your
seat backs etc place a towel of cotton, not synthic as static can build, between the containers and your seats.
Only fill to 20 litres which is the recommended capacity. 23 may fit but is beyond their design and authority limits.
As and when you can refill the main
tank do so as long as you can empty the container. Do this
well away from any fires and downwind from any naked flames.
The most dangerous conatiner is one with vapours in. Refill
tank at the end of day stop. Leave container open overnight and reseal tightly in the morning.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Russell - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:43
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 20:43
You have the same idea as Rolande re the Rheem jerries. Are these the ones you can find in Kmart, or a specialised item from somewhere else? I like your point re cotton, not synth packing. Static can be a bas***d.
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Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:14
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:14
I got the Rheem black plastic jerries from SuperCheap Auto for $29.95
However we did this as we use black jerries for diesel and red jerries for petrol.
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Follow Up By: lx470 - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:34
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:34
I purchased 2 at a
well known 4wd
shop for $40 plus dollars and two later at Kmart, exactly the same for $20.
Took all 4 on a Snowy Mountain trip lashed to the middle rear seats, with cotton towels to protect the leather. 80 litres in all, never smelt at all.
Subsequently, I left a full Rheem in full sun (30C) for about 4 hours. Blew up to almost round. Never leaked. When cooled naturally it returned to orignal shape.
Being plastic static is not a problem, unlike steel. But never can be casreful enough.
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:01
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:01
Have carried petrol around inside all my trucks for ever without a hassle. Have gone to diesel now and still carry jerries inside. Steel jerries that is, with proper seals. Have never had a jerry leak but I do replace the seals every few years.
Maybe you should desist from smoking inside the vehicle.
If you don't buy cigarettes for 10 weeks you will be able to to afford the LR
tank
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Follow Up By: Member - Russell - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:06
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:06
Starting to wish I hadn't mentioned the smoking....
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Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:28
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:28
Never apologise for your right to do something legal.
Smoking is a personal choice, not a crime. Having said that, I wish I had never taken the bloody things up.
Cheers,
Jim.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:35
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:35
Its simple......just give it up.....Mind over Matter
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:47
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:47
Wow willem, where can I get a long range
tank for $180!!!???? :-)
I guess some smoke more than others, but geeez you'd have to smoke while sleeping to buy a LR
tank after 10 weeks! LOL
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Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 18:34
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 18:34
Jeff
I believe smokes cost at least 10 bucks a packet or more. If you smoke 5 to 8 packets a week it could cost you between 50 and 80 bucks. Times ten weeks and you have your LR
Tank. Maybe your smokes are a bit cheaper or from another source LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 18:37
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 18:37
I stand corrected, if you smoked a pack a day I guess that would work out. Ouch.
Yeah, and yes, another source... ;-)
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Reply By: Magnus - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:48
Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 21:48
I'm with Willem. Steel jerries inside the vehicle. No problem. Keep seals new is a must.
U might also want to consider a wheel step that you put over the vehicle wheel that you can stand on and work on gear on the roof rack. Makes putting jerries up and down a breeze. Cost about $80 from 4x4 shops.
But as someone said, no smokes and presto a few weeks later a long range
tank.
From another reformed smoker (8 yrs) and now a non drinker (2 yrs) as
well. Heaps of spare money for all sorts of goodies.!!!.
Have fun
Cheers
Magnus
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Raymond - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 08:19
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 08:19
Hi Russell
You mentioned a bad back, same problem here, I have learnt to use 10 litre Jerries, much light to carry and much easier to pour into the
tank. I have the red plastic ones and have no problems with them. Also you can empty 10 litres in every 100 klms and reduce the amount of fuel you are carrying. Plus they are light enough for the navigator to empty while you are watching from a safe distance having a fag.
Ray
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Paul J (ACT) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:08
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 11:08
If you smoked like i used to, and gave up, you would save around $4,000.00, a year, buy all kinda chit, but after 2 years, to me they still smell like a good roast cooking...
if your happy smoking, keep smoking, carry your fuel in either style as mentioned above, and Stop Revive Survive and have a Smoke every 1 to 2 hours, that's what i would do.... mmmmmmm Longbeach Super Mild, still miss em..
Paul..
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Reply By: Member - Russell - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 21:54
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 21:54
People, people!!! Look at moi, look at moi. I've got just one word for you - Focus on the original question!
Forget the bloody smokes!. The smokes issue is to do with IGNITION, not money, for cryin' out loud. The budget is the CAR budget, not my life savings!!
Sheesh.....
Apart from that, thanks all for the useful suggestions and advice. It seems to me, get some good quality jerries, treat them with respect, throw the empty light ones on the roof, and stop worrying. Message received and understood.
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:28
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:28
If you didn't want comments on smoking then you shouldn't have included it. This is an open
forum, anything you say is fair game.
Okay to smoke in the car while carry jerrys. Your nose will alert you to any problem before you blow up. Thats assuming you still have a sense of smell but gee a few drops of petrol or vapour stinks to high heaven.
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Reply By: Member - Russell - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:38
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:38
(sigh...) Mad Dog old son. Bite yer a**. READ the original post CAREFULLY. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the COST of smoking.
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:49
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:49
LOL...dont burst ya boiler old soldier. You must have a pretty cool life if that gets you down. We care about you, now what did you want to say.
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Reply By: Member - Russell - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:58
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 22:58
LOL??!! I'll give you LOL!! Can't you see I'm trying to do my BAS? The bloody ATO has got me all SNAFU'd as usual. And thats your bloomin' lot of acronyms for the night.
(Can you imagine what non-Aussie, non-self employed readers of this thread are thinking?)
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Follow Up By: Wok - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 08:12
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 08:12
Selamat Enche Russell,
Tidak tau apa chakap?
Ciao
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Reply By: ev700 - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 00:56
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 00:56
I keep good ventilation if carrying fuels inside, regardless of whether I can detect fuel smell. Also leave some limited ventilation when parked - possible to get a static or electrical spark (eg door activated light) when opening door.
Anyone ever see the photo circulating on the Net about a year ago - car opened up like a sardine can from an explosion resulting from a slow leak from a gas cylinder.
Amazing how many people are naive regarding fuel vapours in closed spaces (and posible sources of ignition).
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Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 06:57
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 06:57
Russell the suicide bomber :-) (The jerries might just speed up the process). The biggest ignition risk is arcing inside electrical switches or loose wiring/connections. Russell - try the patches - cheaper than nails, and less offensive and harmful to your passengers.
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Reply By: Ali L - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 15:14
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 15:14
On a recent trip across the Simpson and through Central Australia we used new steel 2 X 20l jerry cans and made hessian bags to cover them. They were carried in a purpose built space in front of the rear axle. We emptied them as soon as the fuel would fit in the regular tank and then put them on the roof. Like a lot of others we were careful to get rid of the fumes before we put them on the roof. The hessian worked
well as it added a bit of cushioning, reduced rubbing and covered them from sight when in Aborginal Territory.
PS We have never smoked and the $1200 quoted for a long range tank was beyond our budget!!
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