Storing/traveling with gas for portable gen

[Jbrowland]

Hello all. Thanks in advance for the advice and insight you folks always offer.

I recently switched from a class C with a built in gen to a travel trailer to pull with my truck and after buying portable generator and a 5 gallon gas can I realized I may have an unsafe situation according to the 5 hours of reading I have done on the internet concerning storing and traveling with a portable gen and gas can with gas in them.

Here's my specific situation. I live in a townhouse in the middle of the city with a two car garage below the living area where I am currently keeping two cars along with my new generator (holds 1.6 gallons of gas) and a 5 gallon can of gas (red plastic No Spill version) filled about 95%. I do not have any other place to store the gas can away from the house (like a shed etc...) and yes, I have a water heater with pilot light in the garage as well. Not ideal.

I am leaning towards NOT storing the gas can in the garage and emptying the generator but then where will I keep the gas can and how will I fill up the gen before trips and so much for using the gen in case of an emergency? What do you all do and what would you do in my case to mitigate the potential for safety issues?

Also, how do you all travel with portable gas cans for your gens in your trucks? I used to mow lawns when I was a kid and most of these things were kept in the garages of several houses in my hood and no issues.

My trailer is stored at a private storage facility about 15 miles away. I have a 25 foot parking space at the storage facility with RV's on both sides of mine.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts. There are so many positives with the trailer over the class C but this issue is one I didn't really think about until it was too late. My bad.

[westend]

TomG2 wrote:

westend wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
For those who think the sky is falling, "Remember the Pinto"!

Tom,
The thing is, the OP has already conveyed his thoughts about his situation and deemed it "at risk", mainly because of the proximity of the water heater to the potential storage area. I don't think he needs a debate about the safety of the situation or an admonition that he's over-reacting. It's his perception and that's what's important, hence his search for an alternative solution.

This forum has really changed in the last couple of years. Now I get lectured for telling a joke. A bad joke, but a joke. Where did the sense of humor go? For your information, late night television hosts made a living for ten years with "Pinto" jokes. Sorry that you missed it.

Sorry, Tom. I took it the wrong way. I guess it was that first part about "the sky is falling". I do get the joke.

[Chuck_thehammer]

TomG2 wrote:
For those who think the sky is falling, "Remember the Pinto"!

and all the Jeep wagons.. the Fix was to install a trailer hitch... a recall was made to install it..

gas is not dangerous.. just be careful.. dumb actions cause issues.

tens of thousands of gallons are moved and off loaded every hour..

[TomG2]

westend wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
For those who think the sky is falling, "Remember the Pinto"!

Tom,
The thing is, the OP has already conveyed his thoughts about his situation and deemed it "at risk", mainly because of the proximity of the water heater to the potential storage area. I don't think he needs a debate about the safety of the situation or an admonition that he's over-reacting. It's his perception and that's what's important, hence his search for an alternative solution.

This forum has really changed in the last couple of years. Now I get lectured for telling a joke. A bad joke, but a joke. Where did the sense of humor go? For your information, late night television hosts made a living for ten years with "Pinto" jokes. Sorry that you missed it.

[Jbrowland]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
the most dangerous part of my life...

junior high and high school... hospitalized 7 times..


never was harmed from Gasoline... or bears, bob-cats.. dogs...

Camping and Rv'ing is not dangerous... just be careful.

I'm a middle school teacher so that may explain my abundance of caution. 😉

But seriously, I do appreciate ALL of the answers and opinions as it helps me figure out where my own thoughts/knowledge on this topic fall within the spectrum of opinions etc...

We're off to Death Valley soon. Thanks again and have a wonderful holiday season ya'll.

[westend]

TomG2 wrote:
For those who think the sky is falling, "Remember the Pinto"!

Tom,
The thing is, the OP has already conveyed his thoughts about his situation and deemed it "at risk", mainly because of the proximity of the water heater to the potential storage area. I don't think he needs a debate about the safety of the situation or an admonition that he's over-reacting. It's his perception and that's what's important, hence his search for an alternative solution.

[TomG2]

For those who think the sky is falling, "Remember the Pinto"!

[Chuck_thehammer]

the most dangerous part of my life...

junior high and high school... hospitalized 7 times..


never was harmed from Gasoline... or bears, bob-cats.. dogs...

Camping and Rv'ing is not dangerous... just be careful.

[RGar974417]

So now so many here are saying don't store gas in your garage because a spark from your water heater or furnace could ignite the gas.I would agree. Yet others on here think it is perfectly safe to travel down the road with your propane on and even refuel with it on. No difference. Yeah it rarely happens. But why take the chance?

[DiskDoctr]

**deleted snarky post***

[pnichols]

Jbrowland wrote:
I am leaning towards NOT storing the gas can in the garage and emptying the generator but then where will I keep the gas can and how will I fill up the gen before trips and so much for using the gen in case of an emergency? What do you all do and what would you do in my case to mitigate the potential for safety issues?

Also, how do you all travel with portable gas cans for your gens in your trucks? I used to mow lawns when I was a kid and most of these things were kept in the garages of several houses in my hood and no issues.

This seems like an awful long discussion just to get at a safe way to safely store - while also being able to safely and quickly dispense - gasoline.

The right way to do it isn't an inexpensive plastic container bought at your local big-box store or auto parts store. Here's how to properly do it in a steel 5 gallon capacity size per container. We have for years used only a 2 gallon version of this kept in an outside storage cabinet of our Class C for refueling of our little battery charging portable generator. There has never been any spillage or odor ... and it's steel construction will be safe in an accident:

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-U2-51-S-Galvanized-Capacity-Diameter/dp/B000BQO15I

[westend]

Lynnmor wrote:
To me, the real problem is not generators or gas cans, it is the fact that you don't have a home that is suitable for the RV lifestyle.

Well, a lot of us have situations that aren't perfect for RVing. I'm blessed with ample land and room to park a lot of equipment with no cranky neighbors. I park my gas and generators in an outbuilding, not the vehicle garage.

To the OP: I think you have a good outlook on this, trying to be safe and yet prepared for the road. If it was me, I'd have a metal box disguised as a plant flower base outside the garage for gas storage. You can paint it with appropriate colors to depict anything you want.

If the generator is adequately drained (entire fuel system), I wouldn't worry about it as a fire hazard inside the garage. Then again, if you buy a big enough storage container, you can put that outside, too. It might involve having an easy opening to get that big generator in he box. That can be your design challenge, lol.

Good luck with your fuel storage!

[Lynnmor]

To me, the real problem is not generators or gas cans, it is the fact that you don't have a home that is suitable for the RV lifestyle.

[Jbrowland]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
First get a jiggle siphon (requires the gas can to be above the generator tank) or buy a small battery operated fuel transfer pump. Thank me later.

Most attached garages are required to have fire "rated" walls. If a fire starts in the garage there will be a lot of time to evacuate using other doors.

Also, most garages are well ventilated. Adding more ventilation, perhaps even a solar powered fan, is a good idea.

After that, I would not worry.

EDIT : I missed the suggestion on the OSHA rated fire cabinets ! EXCELLENT SUGGESTION !!

I have been looking at both the OSHA cabinets and that jiggle siphon. Both look great.

Some of your other suggestions don’t apply to me (but thank you fr them) as a I live in a 3 story townhouse. The garage is directly below the living quarters and other than the door to the garage, there is only one other door to get out and it’s 6 inches away from the garage entrance. I have three shared walls with neighbors and have zero outside space in addition to a cranky HOA. Add to that the gas can and genset Storage space is about three feet away from a water heater with an open flame. My case is not typical and far from ideal for gas storage regardless of statistics being in my favor for many reasons. That’s why I am having a hard time with this and why it may appear that I have no knowledge of common sense. Add to that, I’ve never even owned a gas can before so this is (WAS at this point thanks to so many excellent comments) new to me. See my other posts for specifics and thanks for your thoughts.

[theoldwizard1]

First get a jiggle siphon (requires the gas can to be above the generator tank) or buy a small battery operated fuel transfer pump. Thank me later.

Most attached garages are required to have fire "rated" walls. If a fire starts in the garage there will be a lot of time to evacuate using other doors.

Also, most garages are well ventilated. Adding more ventilation, perhaps even a solar powered fan, is a good idea.

After that, I would not worry.

EDIT : I missed the suggestion on the OSHA rated fire cabinets ! EXCELLENT SUGGESTION !!