Gas can mount on top of spare tire on back wall of trailer

[profdant139]

If you already have a good way to transport your gas for your generator, stop reading – this post is a waste of your time.

But if you have a very small trailer with the spare on the back and no good way to transport your gas can (a fairly common set of circumstances), this may be of interest.

This blog post lays out, step by step, how I built a secure mount for the gas can. Here is a picture of the finished product:


Click For Full-Size Image.

As you’ll see if you read the blog post, this mod results in greater stability for the whole spare tire assembly – it reduces the road vibration substantially. Fair warning -- the blog post has lots of detail and lots of photos. Here’s the link:

Gas can on top of spare tire

[Tachdriver]

The only thing I have seen is a fold down shelf in the back on certain campers....I forgot the make and model but that would be a mod that goes beyond what you have done and perhaps what you need.

The campers in question if I remember correctly do not have a pass through cargo and that is where the cargo is strapped down and carried.

Here is a link that you can see what I mean.

[profdant139]

So this discussion raises a question -- where do most people carry gas cans for their generators? If I had a roof rack on my truck, it would go there. If I had an open cargo bed, the can would go there. But my truck has an enclosed cargo bed -- I have one of those camper shell toppers.

So for me, there are only three choices -- in the cargo bed (where the fumes can build up), on the tongue (no room), or very securely mounted, high up on the rear wall of my trailer.

I have opted for the third choice, but I am very aware that the can is vulnerable to a severe rear end collision. The safety concerns expressed by some of the posters above are entirely valid.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

It is illegal to carry propane in an enclosed compartment. It is not safe because propane is heavier than air and will pool if there is a leak.

mgirardo wrote:

profdant139 wrote:
So my question is this: is this arrangement any different from a tongue-mounted gas can? It is virtually the same as the jeep cans that carry gas racks on the spare tire -- I see those on SUVs every day.

In my opinion, it is a safety hazard no matter where it is. Gas in portable containers attached to a vehicle is inherently dangerous.

With your can being 6' off the ground, you'd have to be rear-ended by a tractor trailer to make contact with the gas can. I think you are probably fine where it currently is.

If I had to carry a small gas can, I'd either carry it on the roof. I'd slide the roof rack cross bars so they hold the can in place and then strap it down or in a milk crate in the trunk - the same way I carry a 20lb bottle of propane.

-Michael

[mgirardo]

profdant139 wrote:
So my question is this: is this arrangement any different from a tongue-mounted gas can? It is virtually the same as the jeep cans that carry gas racks on the spare tire -- I see those on SUVs every day.

In my opinion, it is a safety hazard no matter where it is. Gas in portable containers attached to a vehicle is inherently dangerous.

With your can being 6' off the ground, you'd have to be rear-ended by a tractor trailer to make contact with the gas can. I think you are probably fine where it currently is.

If I had to carry a small gas can, I'd either carry it on the roof. I'd slide the roof rack cross bars so they hold the can in place and then strap it down or in a milk crate in the trunk - the same way I carry a 20lb bottle of propane.

-Michael

[hornet28]

profdant139 wrote:
The crate is bolted to the platform -- the blog post (which is too detailed, in my own opinion) explains how it is fastened. The strap is sort of incidental -- it is just designed to reduce vibration. I would never rely on a strap alone, especially not where a gas can is involved!!

Sorry about that. I looked again and saw that I'd missed the bolting down of the crate. When I saw the bungee cord around the crate I thought it and the ratchet strap were the only things holding it on the platform.

[profdant139]

I should add that the setup I have created is at least as solid as the propane tanks on the tongue, and probably more so.

But, admittedly, the propane cans are on the tongue, rather than at the back of the trailer.

[profdant139]

Scott, I appreciate your point of view. But an ordinary bump won't budge this thing -- it is six feet off the pavement, and a bumper-thumper won't affect it.

A big impact will, though.

So my question is this: is this arrangement any different from a tongue-mounted gas can? It is virtually the same as the jeep cans that carry gas racks on the spare tire -- I see those on SUVs every day.

[ScottG]

I agree with Lantley, I would not carry fuel back there.
One bump from another driver and it's a disaster (1/gal gas = 24 sticks of dynomite). To me it just isn't worth the risk to my family or someone elses.
Like the propane bottles, I think it would be safer on the tongue as long as it's well secured.
I've known burn victims and I would ask you to please reconsider.

Best regards,
Scott

[profdant139]

I should add that if you look at the blog post and the photos, you will see that the gas can is not just perched haphazardly on the tire -- it is bolted to the trailer. If I could still do pull-ups, I could do a pull-up on the platform to which the gas can is secured. Very solid.

So yes, I am very aware of the risk and have done everything possible to mitigate it.

[profdant139]

Lantley, that is true -- if I get rear-ended violently, there is a chance that the can could get knocked over. But the risk is essentially the same if the can is on the tongue -- a side impact or a rollover will spill the gas.

The same risk is present if the gas can is inside the cargo bed of the truck (where I have been carrying it). A bad crash will spill the gas.

By contrast, a true built-in gas tank is (in most vehicles) an armored metal container, designed to withstand impact. The little plastic tanks that most of us carry are much less safe, no matter where we put them.

[Lantley]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but am I the only one to see the inherent danger in carrying an exposed unprotected gas can on the rear of a trailer?
Can you not see the potential for a rear end explosion! Gasoline is volatile stuff.
Does anyone remember the Ford Pinto?

[profdant139]

I agree that weight is a concern, but it's just one gallon of gas -- maybe 8 pounds??

[bob213]

I think you did a great job but as I stated when you re-braced your back wall, I'm still concerned about the integrity of the back wall when you add 30 plus pounds of gas and the weight of the can to it. I hope it works for you as it's a nice solution to carrying that gas can.

[profdant139]

The crate is bolted to the platform -- the blog post (which is too detailed, in my own opinion) explains how it is fastened. The strap is sort of incidental -- it is just designed to reduce vibration. I would never rely on a strap alone, especially not where a gas can is involved!!

[hornet28]

Instead of strapping the crate to the rods why not bolt it to the plywood platform? Then you know for sure that a strap failure is never going to cause you to lose it. Straps do wear and break