Extra Gas in a Can

clayway wrote:
We have been known to carry extra fuel when evacuating during a hurricane.
We used 5 gallon low profile boat tanks & carried in the open roof rack

If we had to evacuate like that, I would be transporting as much fuel as possible in all the approved containers I have around the house.

But that is a very unique situation, not the standard for vacationing.

Dakzuki wrote:

ron.dittmer wrote:
It would be very safe to carry a brand new never-used cheap plastic gas can. This way you can better help yourself, avoiding safety concerns including issues with fumes.

Those cheap plastic gas cans are some of the most unsafe things around, IMO. I won't go near them at home or in the RV. I don't know how they manage to sell some of them and not get sued. I have yet to see one that doesn't vent off fumes when it gets hot.

I agree with you Dakzuki, but I was referring to carry a "Virgin" gas can that has never been used. I surely don't recommend going on vacation with gas fumes in those cheapie things, let alone liquid gas.

Just donate it to the gas station you filled your rig up at, good for the next unfortunate soul walking in asking for a gas can.

We have been known to carry extra fuel when evacuating during a hurricane.
We used 5 gallon low profile boat tanks & carried in the open roof rack

ron.dittmer wrote:
You are welcome Beth.

It would be very safe to carry a brand new never-used cheap plastic gas can. This way you can better help yourself, avoiding safety concerns including issues with fumes.

Those cheap plastic gas cans are some of the most unsafe things around, IMO. I won't go near them at home or in the RV. I don't know how they manage to sell some of them and not get sued. I have yet to see one that doesn't vent off fumes when it gets hot.

I use nothing but steel NATO style jerry cans of various sizes. They have very good sealing tops that clamp shut tight. There are also high end plastic fuel cans available too that the ORV crowd like. For small amounts of fuel there's Primus fuel bottles.

Mine look like this: LINK. I have 5, 10 and 20 liter cans. No I'm not endorsing that site as I've never purchased from them. I got mine from various places. You can also get mounts to carry them externally. I have no qualms carrying them in external bins that are isolated from the RV interior.

Spend some money on your gas cans and they'll last a lifetime if taken care of.

Hey j-d, Ron. Yeah we took a 2 night/3dayer to a state park and became convinced we could be prepared. I'm going to my mechanic prior to departure and have him WAtch ME check oil/belts/battery, tires and so on. I'm paying good money to goodSams for their extended roadside/medical and whatever else and think I've taken sufficient measures to be as safe as possible. He'll, I'm TAKING ya'lls suggestions lolol, a brick in the front seat, two fire extinguishers, LP/smoke detector, NO xtra gas in the RV... What am I missing? Lolol... I'm trying to read, learn everything I can but coming from a position of knowing zip, it's still a rush-job. There ain't no way to know other than being there, doing that I think.

Besides, thank God for all ya'll here to guide me?! Your experience speaks volumes..

Beth

duplicate

Hey Beth,

Please try some short term trips before you hit the road for the Continental Divide. A weekend camping at home has been a good start for many. Gives the chance to find out how things work, duck inside for the canopener you forgot, so on and so forth. Then a local state park or the like.

Also make sure you know where all the service points are on the Toyota and the House. Like Oil, Water, Tires (be sure about Rear Duals to check the air), Chassis and House Batteries.

Do you have an onboard Generator? If so, do you know how it operates and how to power the House from it?

There is a safe way to carry additional gasoline not in the living area of an RV - but it's expensive to achieve this safety.

We carry a 2 gallon version of this 5 gallon container in an exterior storage compartment of our Class C motorhome. We carry this gas for our backup small battery charging generator - but of course could also supplement our main engine tank from it in an emergency. Even using this container, the storage compartment we use is far from the open flame of the refrigerator's outside vent, far from the open flame of the water heater's outside vent, and far from the propane furnace's outside vent. All of our outside storage compartments are also lined with steel.

Here's a link:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-1851R/Safety-Storage/Type-II-Gas-Can-5-Gallon-Red?pricode=WY777&gadtype=pla&id=71302527562&gclid=CMWTgrSF0L0CFRdsfgodo4gAkg

You are welcome Beth.

It would be very safe to carry a brand new never-used cheap plastic gas can. This way you can better help yourself, avoiding safety concerns including issues with fumes.

J-d, Ron, and all ya'll, thank you so much for your notes of assurance. Appreciate you!

Beth

This RV must be on or in a Toyota Pickup, right? A little Class C, right? You don't want to carry extra gas aboard, and you don't need it. I imagine you'll find you don't want to drive this above the low 60-mph speed, and I imagine you'll find your range is close to 200 miles before your gas is frightenly low.
I just checked with my daughter. They drove a Subaru Forester from OK City to Anchorage AK in late spring. This means not all the gas stations along he AK Highway were open. They carried two 5-gallon plastic gas cans on a rack at the back of their heavily loaded (read Over Loaded...) popup camper. They were only getting about 15-mpg. Subaru's tank about the size of yours. They NEVER needed any of the extra fuel. All it did was damage the rear bumper of the trailer with the extra weight.
Come to think of it, a friend bought a Toyota-based Class C in AK and drove it to FL. Never complained about a gasoline crisis.
You will be simply JUST FINE! Welcome to Forum, Congratulations on your RV, Have a Great Trip, and Keep in Touch.