Is it ok to travel with a full plastic gas can on my bumper?

My two centavos on this:

I cannot -stand- the EPA approved cans. I have encountered one type of spout that requires twisting... and leaks. The only type of spout I've found which is decent is the one where you rest one notch on what you are filling, press down on a wedge, and it unlocks to pour.

The other twist-to-pour spout, I learned to my horror that it is to be avoided. I went to relieve pressure before filling up my generator, opened it... and out went almost a half-gallon of gas... in a fine mist, just like I was holding an oversized fuel injector Luckily, there wasn't anything around that could have been a point of ignition, or I would have had a pretty nifty crater, and a trip to the local burn ward.

Since I use a pickup truck, I place my gas cans in a row, then use a ratchet strap through the handles to make sure they keep in a straight line. This way, if something rams my vehicle, the cans will remain in place.

Once I move to a motorhome... different story. I am most likely going to see about a hitch mounted cargo carrier that is mounted on a secondary receiver bracket with a rise, higher than normal, then store my portable generator and my gas cans on that. This way, there is a good chance that the rear-ending vehicle goes under the rack, as opposed to striking my gas cans directly.

Another idea I may do is (assuming the motorhome's structure allows this) is to mount pack mounts for RotoPax containers on the rear wall of the MH. If I can mount two rows of paired brackets, I can carry 5-20 extra gallons of gasoline for a generator, as well as the generator itself right below on a hitch cargo rack.

Don't forget what truck camper people do. There are some very excellent front bumper and hitch mounted carriers which can carry a generator, and 2-4 cans of fuel for it in the front. I've yet to hear about a mushroom cloud caused by this setup, and it does work well.

Naio wrote:
I don't see any mention of concern about gas,say, splashing onto the tailpipe. Is that a thing?

The bumper is deep, but the only realistic place to put the can is above the part of the bumper that is nearest the tailpipe.

have you ever run your generator out of gas yet?

Maybe this is a non issue, take your generator with you to go get some gas when you go grocery shopping, at the same time?

I don't see any mention of concern about gas,say, splashing onto the tailpipe. Is that a thing?

The bumper is deep, but the only realistic place to put the can is above the part of the bumper that is nearest the tailpipe.

It gets easier (and safer) than that.

Look at the gen manual and see how long it runs on a tank. In all probability, the OP will be moving to another camp long before the gen tank is empty. Fill it while underway again.

I drive about 10k miles per year and fill the gen tank about twice a year. Why carry spare fuel for the genny?

The OP's rig is probably overweight already. Why add more weight?

ol Bombero-JC wrote:


Way too easy..:W..:B..:B


~

Bumpyroad wrote:

PatrickA51 wrote:
. I would stop and fill a gas can if I carried one before I got to my camp site.

sounds like a plan to me
bumpy

Way too easy..:W..:B..:B


~

I LOVE my MFC's :)

From the link: "* Note: Federal law prohibits the use of this container for the storage of fuel."

Interesting, eh? It's that CARB CR*P again

Yes they need to put this on the site so that they are able to sell them legally. Actually when I bought mine I think it had a sticker on it for potable water only LOL. I just was tired of the crappy CARB ones they have now leaking all over, nothing coming out, standing there for 10 minutes trying to get 5 gallons in my truck blah blah blah. All I know now is with these cans I can empty 5 gallons in my truck in 30 seconds without spilling a drop.

Reddog1 wrote:
Everyone thinking the US military and NATO do not know how to store and transport gasoline? I have to say, I am really shaking my head on this subject.

Does their gas have ethanol in it, or is it straight gasoline?

Everyone thinking the US military and NATO do not know how to store and transport gasoline? I have to say, I am really shaking my head on this subject.

I thought I read somewhere that the new metal gas cans, the good ones anyway, are zinc coated on the inside to lessen the worry about rust.