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

Lynnmor wrote:
Yes, you need to drill a 1/2" hole, high and to the rear. I found that those step drills work great. Check ebay for the parts. You can get spouts, vents or complete kits. You might want to lay in a supply before the nazis clamp down.

I see they can't sell the spouts to VA or MD folks. they do have a similar (cept for color of spout) setup for "water" that are available in VA,MD. :)
bumpy

RedDog2, that gravity feed system is brilliant!

Yes, you need to drill a 1/2" hole, high and to the rear. I found that those step drills work great. Check ebay for the parts. You can get spouts, vents or complete kits. You might want to lay in a supply before the nazis clamp down.

Lynnmor wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
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

I use these: Vent

An old empty gas can strapped to a rear bumper with a loose bungee would be a good tailgater deterrent.

thanks for the link. I have looked all over for something other than those currently govt.mandated pieces of trash. I just glanced at the site but think you still need to put a hole/vent in the top of the can?
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
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

I use these: Vent

An old empty gas can strapped to a rear bumper with a loose bungee would be a good tailgater deterrent.

I carry a full gas can all the time in our RV in an outside storage cabinet. However, the can is a certified steel safety can rated for gasoline transportation. The exterior compartment we put the can in is also the one farthest from the furnace's, the water heater's, and the refrigerator's open propane gas flames.

These certified gas cans are not inexpensive, but they are safe ... even in an accident.

If you do a google, you will find there are federal laws governing transportation of gasoline and the approved containers. Personally, I have never seen anyone use the approved containers. I think this is because they are so expensive and clumsy to use. California has its own laws as to which fuel containers are acceptable, directed toward smog issues. The Feds are concerned with safety.

None of the so called Jerry cans are Fed approved. Personally, I find it interesting that the military uses them, but they are not approved for non-military use. Fact is, every time you see a gas can on the back of a Jeep or whatever, it is in violation of Federal law. I have never seen this law enforced.

As for plastic fuel containers, there is a difference between those used for your lawnmower and boat portable fuel tanks. The boat tanks are much thicker.

I have used just about every fuel container over the years. I have had plastic fuel cans crack and leak. I have used the boat fuel tanks, but find they are a bit awkward when pouring from them to a small engine tank. I have made adapters to use the boat fuel tank to feed directly to my Honda generator. Works great. I have recently changed over almost all of my plastic fuel containers to steel NATO fuel cans. On my slide in Camper, I have a 2-1/2 gallon steel NATO can, which feeds directly into my Honda.

Personally, I prefer to not carry any gasoline container (plastic or steel) at bumper height. The photo is with my boat fuel tank. It gravity feeds to the Honda below it. The tank is out of harms way if I am rear ended. I have changed to a steel NATO 2-1/2 gallon tank with the same fuel transfer ability.

I carry an empty plastic gas can and fill it as I need it to boondock. Its a 2 gallon can and when filled, I carry it on my roof rack on the toad the short trip to campsite.
My last two toads will not allow siphoning from the gas tank.

I wouldn't carry gas in a plastic tank on any bumper.

I keep five plastic cans sitting in the barn. Its about 11 miles to the nearest gas station on county roads.
I usually fill three at a time and haul them behind the cab in the bed. In the summer I stop half way and let the pressure out of the tanks.
I forgot one trip and as I set them out of the bed I noticed they were almost round. One popped the small vent open and sprayed my leg/hip with gas.

I would use a steel jerry can approved for that purpose.

The real way to go is the Military Fuel Can. Unfortunately the CARB has decreed them to be hazardous to the environment and dangerous as well so that the subjects, I mean citizens, are not allowed to buy them, except on the "aftermarket".

I got a couple, not cheap, not easy to find, but the best can ever invented.

With the crappy enviro-safety-spouts they put on cans these days, they're not worth bringing home.