[bitingmidge]

I'm interested: If you carry extra fuel, do you carry it inside or outside the car?

I think I've read every Dangerous Goods Act in every state, and the only sense I can make is that the various Acts would prefer one to carry less than 250 litres of fuel inside.

I don't like the thought of having it on the roof, from a weight perspective, and it is pretty much pushing the 75kg manufacturer's limit anyway.

I don't like it inside, but that's what we do, mounted with the weight central, in FRONT of the cargo barrier, so that missiles won't get it in the event of a sudden stop, or if they do, well whatever we've hit has probably already got us.

We carry ten litres of water (or empty containers) each side so we'd need about a foot of side impact displacement right on the pillar to rupture the cans, which again may not be entirely comfortable for us.

On the other hand, we're about to go for an 8,000 k drive, and will have three full cans for a total of 200 k's, two for another 200 and one for probably 500. (Mostly it's just in case we take a wrong turn 200k from the station!)

Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts? I understand some of the Tagalong blokes don't like it inside, yet the Government documents well and truly discourage it outside, mostly because it's very vulnerable in even a minor collision.

cheers,

P

[just_cruizin]

Personally I don't like strapping explosives to my arse, but hey that's just me.

[bitingmidge]

just_cruizin wrote:

Personally I don't like strapping explosives to my arse, but hey that's just me.

I understand the logic!

However, I reckon I'd rather have them where they've got the least chance of going wooof!

Cheers,

P

[mrw82]

how do you go for fumes. you'd have the smell inside the cabin the whole time.
And be careful leaving them inside a hot car, the jerry cans expand and it could get ugly.

i'd suggest taking them in a trailer, but obviously you've planned it so you dont need a trailer for your trip.

[bitingmidge]

I've carried them inside many times, as I said, mostly empty. They are Australian standards approved and can handle the sorts of temperatures that one would expect.

When they are emptied I leave them outside the car with the lids off at every opportunity for a couple of hours and screw the lids on tight. I've never once had a smell of vapour. Perhaps I've been lucky, perhaps I'm finicky about cleaning them (the outsides too) before they go in.

And no, I'm not going to drag a trailer 8,000 ks for four hours of carrying fuel!

Cheers,

P

[just_cruizin]

check the legalities, I don't think carring fuel inside the cab is legal. Roof rack is about the only other option. Syphon them out while they are up there.

[royce]

I reckon the closest you would get to whats legal or not would be something to do with how they vent, a collision that could puncture them and cause a fire your dead anyway really

[bitingmidge]

Them's my sentiments Royce, although I think the greatest risk where we take them is roll over.

What's not shown ('cause they're not full of fuel) is that when they are full, I tie them through the handle down under the bottom bar, so in the event of an accidental inversion, they'll stay put. (An old multihull sailor you see, I imagine what everything might look like upside down.)

I don't pretend to like this arrangement, I just think it's the best of a bunch of nasty options. By golly I drive carefully when we needs 'em full!

Has anyone any bright ideas about long range tanks? I've had a bit of a peek and short of squaring up the round bits there's not too many places to move.

Cheers,

P

[Rockhopper]

I carry one of those fuel containers in the back of the work van to refuel my compressor when I'm on site. Technically, as it's a Toyota Hiace, the container is in the cabin. The company I work for has probably around 200 - 300 field service techs nation wide and are very strict on OH&S so I don't think there is an issue with legalities of storing them in the cab, as long as you don't refuel them in the cab.

[royce]

yes, you cant refuel a portable fuel container unless its on the ground.

[acc1]

I remember when a friend had a plastic 20ltr in the back of his van when we went for motorbike trip, 2 hrs later we came back to find it 2x bigger then we left it.. lol Massive amount of pressure in it, was just an average sunny day nothing extremely hot.

Small trip Id see no problem with them inside. As Id have no where else on the sierra :p

Fumes wouldn't be to bad either for me, as I have the windows down all the time anyway

[2stroker]

Small trip Id see no problem with them inside. As Id have no where else on the sierra :p

Hey acc1, if it is a small trip you won't need extra fuel... haha

[shep]

2stroker wrote:

Small trip Id see no problem with them inside. As Id have no where else on the sierra :p

Hey acc1, if it is a small trip you won't need extra fuel... haha

in the bush i get 80k's out of a tank off fuel. i keep the fuel that i will be using
that day inside my hard top. i have never had a problem and seeing as i
also pack a outboard motor with internal tank and a chainsaw as well i
have plenty off fuel sloshing around. the only thing i do is after i fill the
jerry cans i lay them on the ground while i pay for the fuel so i can see if
they leak.

i really dislike plastic jerry cans and i wont use them i have steel cans that i
bought new, as opposed to ex army cheapies. and i half look after them and
i carry spare seals.

[bitingmidge]

shep wrote:

i really dislike plastic jerry cans and i wont use them i have steel cans that i
bought new, as opposed to ex army cheapies. and i half look after them and
i carry spare seals.

I think there are two camps on jerry cans too.

Like steel, there are good plastic and bad plastic cans. I started using plastic a long long time ago when I got tired of the steel ones rusting out at the seams and developing leaks, ditto with the boat tanks.

Everyone who has had a good experience with steel loves them. I'm a bit finnicky over weight though, so steel is out, and just as you do, I look after my cans as though they are my kids.

Cheers,

P

[ODA1]

i have been looking into a tank on the roof, saw this on 4wd monthly forum



it holds 55L and should fit nicely on my rackk.

[bitingmidge]

That looks a really neat solution Tim, but 55 litres weighs roughly 40 kgs plus the weight of the tank plus the weight of the rack and anything else you've got on board.

If your GV safe roof load is 75kg, which I think it is, the roof rack is just there to carry the fuel.

I guess we could carry that and the Oztent (just), but I still can't get my head around the fact that the times we need lots of fuel are the times we are hitting the roughest bits first (Simpson, Canning, Gibb River etc) and it took years to convince myself to bung the 16kg tent up there, let alone any other weight!

Cheers,

P

[Bruce]

ODA1 wrote:

i have been looking into a tank on the roof, saw this on 4wd monthly forum



it holds 55L and should fit nicely on my rackk.

Bwhahahahahaahh THat's the bosses H3.

Contact Jason at UV 4x4 in Brendale for one of them fuel tanks. I'll be getting one of them soon. I already have a 147lt long range tank but will need more for some of the trips I'll be doing soon.

[Rockhopper]

Thats a good idea if you don't have to lift it down when its full

[royce]

Bruce wrote:

I already have a 147lt long range tank but will need more for some of the trips I'll be doing soon.

to work AND back on a tank of fuel?

[bitingmidge]

I was just contemplating my next trip, (starting tomorrow) and thinking how cold it's going to be out there, when I saw that array of lights.

Now I don't EVER go anywhere after dark, and I really TRY to be in before the creatures go looking for tucker, hence my lack of bar work, but heck it would be good to have those lights hanging off the roof.

They'd heat the whole tent from ten paces I reckon.

Cheers,

P

[ODA1]

I like this set up



I allways pack the heavy things in the car and the light stuff on the roof, i have just removed my roof rails and roof rack plus the basket for a one piece alloy rack that has a good length on it so i would be happy to carry the tank, and the rest of the gear and put the heavy stuff down low in the car at the foot wells in the back.

i think having the tank across the width will work well

[gregdixon]

Just my opinion but if you are only to supposed to fill jerry cans on the ground wouldn't it be the same for that plasic tank on the roof as it is just a big jerry can?

[bitingmidge]

I'd also be concerned with the weight of the fuel shifting every time you went round a corner.

The fill line is some distance from the top, it could be quite ugly. (Says the bloke who carries his petrol inside!)

Cheers,

P

[gregdixon]

I carry my jerry cans inside my car as well. I have removed my rear seats and have some tie down points where the seat belts use to bolt to the floor. I can fit 2 20 litres of water and 3 20 litre fuel cans. There is no law saying you can't carry approved fuel containers inside the cabin of the vehicle . I am cautious about what i put on my roof basket i have my spare tyre there now and that is about all i put up there.

[ODA1]

lol!!

i wish i could do the same but the car is full of my 3 kids
so i jam stuff in any place i can fit it in the gv





hence the new rack