Petrol Jerry Cans

keiron · Senior Member

Petrol Jerry Cans

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

keiron wrote:
I intend to use Steel cans, because they are tougher and not so easily punctured, (they will be mounted across the front of caravan), ....

I suggest that is incorrect.

I have used Rheem "Fuel Safe" plastic jerries for 25 years and my experience is that these are the best and the toughest available.

I have even picked them up in damaged on the Kalumburu road when they have fallen off a vehicle in front when full of fuel.

The fixed fuel tanks and water tanks on our OKA are made from a similar material. They have copped a hiding from rocks for almost 250,000km without cause for concern.

And they don't rust inside or leak fumes.

Cheers,

Peter

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Peter, I guess I am either lucky or bought unusually good 20ltr metal ones back in the 1980s. I am still using them now.

They have only ever carried diesel and still don't leak anything, let alone fumes, and most definitely like new still inside.

They aren't filled that much these days but spend their life carried in the jerry can carriers - empty 90% of the time.

I have a 10ltr metal one I bought in mid-1990s for when my son was racing go-karts. It has only ever had ULP in it - then for the go-kart and since then I only carry ULP in it for generator and chainsaw. Doesn't get much ULP in it these days since I got solar - but still doesn't leak fumes or fluid .. and still very clean inside.

Whenever any surface rust appears on the inevitable scratches on the outside I just use a bit of rust converter and give them a coat of Kill-Rust black enamel.

As I said, I must be very lucky.

Cheers - John

JackoFJR · Senior Member

I think he is probably more worried about someone poking a hole in a plastic can and pinching his petrol

JohnR · Senior Member

Keiron

Are you going off the bitumen and back roads??

If not why the need to carry fuel understanding the weight factor and the issue with handling petrol (inflammable).

We have driven from Hervey Bay to Gin Gin, Blackwater, Emerald, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Mount Isa and finally Camooweal before hitting NT. We roughly paid $1.47 to $1.55 before paying $1.77 at Camooweal.

We have paid $1.89 at Barkly Homestead and now between Katherine and Kununurra and paying $1.77 all being for diesel. I usually only let the tank get down to 3/4 before topping up.

When you do the sums there is not a great difference. 125 lites @ $1.47 to 125 litres @ $1.77 equates to $37.50.

A notice at Barkly Homestead pointed out that their set up shops/caravan park/pub/roadhouse etc uses 500 litres of diesel to run. As one person pointed out that if they were not there were would we be??

JohnR

Izabarack · Guru

10 litre plastic is my suggestion. Size is much, much easier to handle and to lift to the vehicle fill point. I recently gave three steel 2 litre Jerries to the grandson.

Plastic is no less robust than steel, in my experience. Like Peter, I have recovered two plastic 20 litre Jerries, with fuel, off the side of the road. Did have to throw one steel jerry away though. It had fallen off a mining truck and had landed on the filler.

If you are concerned about petrol sniffers, a screwdriver in front of a rock will go through a steel can surprisingly easily. If you are worried about petrol sniffers, use Opal fuel and label the cans in big letters.

In many miles through the outback, a relatively light chain threaded through the handles has provided sufficient security.

Iza

-- Edited by Izabarack on Thursday 31st of May 2018 06:23:05 AM

Moose2 · Senior Member

If they must remain on the outside of the van whilst you're away then apart from securing them with padlocks and chains/wire ropes etc there's not a lot you can do.

keiron · Senior Member

Thank you JohnR for your response.

My vehicle is a 4.8 litre Patrol, towing a 2.5 tonne Jayco Starcraft. When towing the van I use anywhere between 25 and 28 litres per 100 klms. My fuel tank is 90 litre capacity and the fuel warning light comes on when I have used 75 litres.

From the above a simple calculation; 28 litres per 100 ks, say 3.2 klms per 1 litre, x 75 litres means I would expect to travel about 220 - 250 kilometers on a full tank.

there are many towns in the outback that far, and further apart, not to mention any side detours that I might like to make.

Remember I am using PETROL and NOT Diesel.

Thanks again for you comments. KB

HandyWalter · Senior Member

Keiron, that is very excessive fuel usage. Glad my disco 4 gets 14 per 100 if I dont flog it towing a 2.4T van and about 16 if I do!!! I have a similar problem in that the D4 has a usable tank of 77litres. I read that difference in JohnR post. and that difference is MORE than the cost of a plastic 20litre jerry can! Hence i carry 2 jerry cans for the car and one for the generator.