Carrying Extra Fuel

[Rustynail11]

I am staring to plan a few trips and want to carry some extra fuel. I know Rotopax are an option but right now the money it would cost to get a Rotopax set up just isn't in the budget.

Has anyone carried fuel in a Jerry can or Scepter military style gas can strapped in a roof basket? Any issues?

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[Vinman]

I often thought about a marine fuel tank. Strap it to the roof and use a siphon hose to transfer fuel. I like the marine style due to their low profile and the fuel cap is still on top as opposed to either standing a tradition style can up or laying on it’s side which puts the cap on the side.

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[Deleted User 293754]

Off brand rotopax and a harbor freight Jerry can on homemade carrier works for me.
I have seen a big strap that goes around the spare tire that holds fuel but not sure who makes them

 

[GATORB8]

Off brand rotopax and a harbor freight Jerry can on homemade carrier works for me.
I have seen a big strap that goes around the spare tire that holds fuel but not sure who makes them

Rock slide engineering makes the tire strap mount for Rotopax.

 

[Deleted User 293754]

? thanks

 

[GATORB8]

I am staring to plan a few trips and want to carry some extra fuel. I know Rotopax are an option but right now the money it would cost to get a Rotopax set up just isn't in the budget.

Has anyone carried fuel in a Jerry can or Scepter military style gas can strapped in a roof basket? Any issues?

We run a 2 gallon Rotopax on a RSE strap spare mount on the Jeep, and two 5 gallon Jerry cans in Smittybilt Universal holders on the off road trailer. I do not recommend the Smittybilt jerry cans, both cans I bought initially for the setup failed with a hole through the side of the can in less than a year, leaking fuel all over the place. The smittybilt holders are just OK.

Metal jerry cans are impacted pretty significantly by temperature fluctuations, especially when empty. They basically implode sealed empty.

Aftermarket roof rack can mounts get expensive quick, most are $150+. AEV has a 10 gallon spare tire mount.

The rotopax mounts are pretty universal, so you can fab up brackets. I definitely would do the RSE Strap and Rotopax mount combo again. The RSE comes with one strap and two mounts, if you buy a second strap (the included one is available from US Cargo Control on Amazon) you basically get a set for two jeeps.

 

[Buzz11]

Ran a Jerry can forever, no issues

 

[rickinAZ]

For those that carry extra fuel cans, do you "rotate" the fuel occasionally to prevent spoilage?

 

[SadRobot]

We run a 2 gallon Rotopax on a RSE strap spare mount on the Jeep, and two 5 gallon Jerry cans in Smittybilt Universal holders on the off road trailer. I do not recommend the Smittybilt jerry cans, both cans I bought initially for the setup failed with a hole through the side of the can in less than a year, leaking fuel all over the place. The smittybilt holders are just OK.

Metal jerry cans are impacted pretty significantly by temperature fluctuations, especially when empty. They basically implode sealed empty.

Aftermarket roof rack can mounts get expensive quick, most are $150+. AEV has a 10 gallon spare tire mount.

The rotopax mounts are pretty universal, so you can fab up brackets. I definitely would do the RSE Strap and Rotopax mount combo again. The RSE comes with one strap and two mounts, if you buy a second strap (the included one is available from US Cargo Control on Amazon) you basically get a set for two jeeps.

I've been thinking of going the RSE route but I also kind of hate my Rotopax. I've never been able to get fuel out of it and into the Jeep without spilling it all over my hands and the ground. I can never quite get the spout to seal correctly.

 

[GATORB8]

For those that carry extra fuel cans, do you "rotate" the fuel occasionally to prevent spoilage?

We primarily fill only for long trips or extended off grid and use Non-Ethanol when available. Don't always remember, but will throw it in the boat or one of the vehicles when we get back so it's still fresh. No reason to hang an extra 20 pounds on the spare tire, or 100 pounds on the trailer all the time.

 

[GATORB8]

I've been thinking of going the RSE route but I also kind of hate my Rotopax. I've never been able to get fuel out of it and into the Jeep without spilling it all over my hands and the ground. I can never quite get the spout to seal correctly.

I have heard some guys use a self venting aftermarket metal spout from another brand, but not sure what that is.

I feel like all the EPA compliant setups suck for leaks, but something you may want to consider is test fitting and checking for leaks with water first, then trimming the spout with a razor if it's causing the leak, that's what I do with my VP racing jugs.

That reminds me, if you can find a way to carry VP jugs on the trip, they work so much better than unvented jerry cans or Rotopax.

 

[IceBerg]

For those that carry extra fuel cans, do you "rotate" the fuel occasionally to prevent spoilage?

I only run gas in them when I need them otherwise they are empty.

 

[C.Sco]

For those that carry extra fuel cans, do you "rotate" the fuel occasionally to prevent spoilage?

I don't normally just drive around every day with full rotopax tanks, I only fill them when I think I might need them before a trip. At the end of the trip, if there's any left in the tanks, I'll empty them into my Jeep and then put the tanks back in the garage until next time.

I'm not sure how much it matters if the fuel in the tanks is a few weeks or months old, I just personally prefer to not keep old fuel in mine.

 

[GATORB8]

I'm not sure how much it matters if the fuel in the tanks is a few weeks or months old, I just personally prefer to not keep old fuel in mine.

I wouldn’t worry too much for 3 months with E10, throw stabil in if longer than that. Non-Ethanol can go a while longer.

We store the boat with a full tank and stabil at least 6 months every year.

 

[Zandcwhite]

We run a 2 gallon Rotopax on a RSE strap spare mount on the Jeep, and two 5 gallon Jerry cans in Smittybilt Universal holders on the off road trailer. I do not recommend the Smittybilt jerry cans, both cans I bought initially for the setup failed with a hole through the side of the can in less than a year, leaking fuel all over the place. The smittybilt holders are just OK.

Metal jerry cans are impacted pretty significantly by temperature fluctuations, especially when empty. They basically implode sealed empty.

Aftermarket roof rack can mounts get expensive quick, most are $150+. AEV has a 10 gallon spare tire mount.

The rotopax mounts are pretty universal, so you can fab up brackets. I definitely would do the RSE Strap and Rotopax mount combo again. The RSE comes with one strap and two mounts, if you buy a second strap (the included one is available from US Cargo Control on Amazon) you basically get a set for two jeeps.

The aev spare tire mount only works with their bumper unfortunately. A $1200 ugly bumper and a $400 gas can are about the opposite of budget friendly. I like the idea of the strap, but it seems over priced for what it is.

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