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

For years I remember seeing the standard 5 gallon steel "Jerry Can" mounted in pairs on racks above the rear bumper on the back of a standard Willys jeep. I haven't seen them lately on the back of the newer Humvees though. Here in the AZ desert, serious off roaders still do it all the time. I think metal would be the way to go.

Chum lee

to get my non-vented gas cans to work properly, I put a hole in the top handle and plug it with a golf tee.
bumpy

Few if any gas cans are vented, most will leak a touch to bleed off pressure.
Otherwise cute trick that works great,.....just barely poke a hole in the very top w/ a sharp ice pick. It will vent the pressure, and not leak a drop.

hotpepperkid wrote:

George H wrote:
Have you seen one of hose plastic gas cans expand, and even blow, when in the direct sun?

If it were a vented can that **** wouldn't happen

I carry gas cans on a hitch hauler in the rear receiver for short distances...like to the gas station and back.

An "empty" gas can isn't really empty. It's full of gasoline vapor, and a small amount of liquid gasoline in the bottom. It's the gasoline vapor that is explosive, not the liquid.

Ever seen an "explosion-proof" fuel tank on aircraft or race cars? They are filled entirely with open cell foam for that very reason.

:):)

As someone mentioned, you are gonna need an ignition source for it to catch fire/explode. Not sure a plastic gas can would do much with being hit except break and spew gas. If you are gonna get hit hard enough for it to happen, then I would be worrying about a lot of other things as well. I would be cautious, but I wouldn't worry about it. I would actually want it on the back bumper, rather than the front. I would want it further away from the engine and battery (sources of spark/ignition).

You could buy a rack and mount it up on the door of your van. That would keep the can more out of harm's way. THese Rotopax containers are some of the best.

Naio wrote:
Oh, I see I missed the roof rack idea. That would be a lot more sun! But out of the way.

I can just see that red can flying off the roof during a panic stop.
bumpy

Oh, I see I missed the roof rack idea. That would be a lot more sun! But out of the way.

Good point, Niner, about dumping the old gas in my van gas tank.

George H wrote:
Have you seen one of hose plastic gas cans expand, and even blow, when in the direct sun?

If it were a vented can that **** wouldn't happen