do I need a locking gas cap

Other reasons a locking gas cap would be handy. Some time ago on this forum somebody accidentally put fresh water into their fuel tank. They didn't use that RV that much and just made a mistake.

If you think for a minute that no one will knock a hole in your tank you are nuts.....I have seen it several times. Just like cutting off the catalitic converters.....Saw them cut off of 200 cars in one parking lot one night. Siphoning went out in the 60s----they now use a portable battery powered pump and can get into what you would think is safe tank pretty easy. Don't ever under estimate the abilities of a thief. Even at $2.00 a gallon 20 gal is $40......

A locking gas cap can be removed quicker with channel lock pliers than you can remove it with the key.

Carm wrote:


I'm not trying to insult anyone but many of the questions that people ask on this forum could be answered by simply having a look at your rig.

I could stare at my rig all day, but if I don't ask questions I would miss out on the pleasure of gleaning your wisdom. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I'm having a bit of a chuckle reading some of these replies. How many people have crawled around under their motorhome and had a good look at the gas tank and associated plumbing?

Want to siphon some fuel? Go ahead and give it your best shot. On my Bounder there's about 15 feet of plumbing with 3 90's and a 45 bend, the straight sections are steel pipe, the bends are rubber. There is no anti-siphon device because it's simply not needed.

Poke a hole in the tank with a knife? Again, go ahead and try. RV tanks aren't stamped sheet metal like you'd get on your daily driver. I dropped my 80 gallon tank when I changed the fuel pump: it's welded steel and it's heavy. The best knife you've got might scrape some dirt off.

As for drilling a hole in the tank? I would think that anyone dumb enough to consider using a power drill on a full tank of gas would have already removed himself from the gene pool.

Cutting the generator fuel line and siphoning from there: you're assuming a high degree of technical knowledge specific to RV's, which is something most RV owners don't even have.

I've never had a locking cap, in all my years of RV'ing I've never had anyone try to steal gas.

If you have legitimate cause to think that someone might add something to your tank: get a locking cap.

I'm not trying to insult anyone but many of the questions that people ask on this forum could be answered by simply having a look at your rig.

My locking gas cap was left sitting on top of a gas pump some where on the 2500 miles of Highway 93. My OEM tethered gas cap is still with me.

I've never locked my house, my car or my RV and no thefts. I guess it depends on where you park it and how long you leave it unattended.
at the current $2 a gal or less, I wouldn't worry, back when it was $5 a gal it was a concern in some areas.

I am of mixed opinions,, I have a broken locking gas cap (Will not lock) on mine, it looks like a locking gas cap so the thieves (In theory) will go to easier pickings.

I have heard of tank/hose punctures but never seen one.

Look under the RV and see how far apart the filler and the gas tank are. In my case, there is about 10 feet of tubing, and there is no way to get a siphon tube down to the level of the gas.

I have heard of people taking a large knife and puncturing the side of the gas tank, and then use a 5 gallon bucket to collect some of the fuel, with the remaining going on the ground under the RV.

I hope that never happens to anyone, the replacement tank might cost $500+

Fred.

Q. - Why drill into the tank when it is far easier to snip the generator supply line?

A. - Because they can't get the last 1/4 tank of fuel.

Just sayin
- bob