Fuel Cans

[Santiam Camper]

I will be using my new Fleet on my Nissan Frontier for long road trips and some backcountry driving and I am concerned about carrying some extra fuel.

Those of you that carry extra fuel cans, how do you do it? I've seen some pictures of can carriers mounted on either side of the door. How do you find the studs for mounting them?

Thanks

Mike

 

[nikonron]

I have mine mounted on a swing away CBI bumper. Just reconfigured it, I did have one can but went back to two. Ron

 

[Alley-Kat]

Did you have FWC weld into the back of the camper the extra metal to mount a gas can back there?

Like this... on Ski3pins ATC Bobcat build...

Without that I don't think many guys would say to mount it to the frame. The regular frame just can't handle the weight and motion.

Except that some guys have mounted to the jack brackets, much stronger in that location. Search the forum for that mounting location.

 

[craig333]

Don't use studs. Mine connected to the jack mounts and underneath where the two bars are bolted through the underside of the camper (inside the sink compartment on mine) and to the can carrier. No through bolts through the siding and into whatever (yes, it would be hard to hit the stud in the center).

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Mike, another voice saying make sure you have something secure and sturdy to mount your fuel cans on. I'd start by talking to FWC or American RV to see if they can give you any advice about the back wall frame. We use Rotopax 3 gallon gas cans and a 2 gallon water can. Our Bobcat has the same framing that Ski3pin has. If you don't have the internal framing, then do something like Ron or Craig.

 

[Yukon]

I also have Nissan Frontier. I use the swing out bumper attachment (see photo) method. Gas cans are HEAVY. I do welding as hobby. I bought a Jeep spare tire type bumper. Cut off the spare tire portion and built a steel box with hinged top and lock. I can put gas can in there, or snow shoes, etc. It's GREAT and I use it all of the time. I can hang a bike on it, and I have a shovel for make-shift toilets. I have never yet needed spare gas, but it was close only in the northern parts of Canada (Yukon).

 

[Ramblinman]

I used an aluminum plate on the bottom (under the fridge) with support of the jack bracket. If you PM me your email I can send you some photos. AT Gas Can Holder/Bracket

 

[dharte]

I used a 1/4" aluminum plate which I cut in a parallelogram shape to fit between the jack mount (2 bolts) and the upper bolt on the lower wall step (got a longer bolt). Plenty strong for a Smitty 5 gallon Can holder and can. I also added a nice bottle opener to the plate! In addition, I carry two 2 gallon Rotopax containers-one mounted on the back of my Aluminess Galley box and one inside it. I have a diesel truck and have found myself more than once scrambling to find fuel, so the extra 9 gallons gives me piece of mind.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

I haven't looked, but is it possible to put a bigger tank or an auxiliary under the truck? That would be my choice and exactly what I am doing to my Toyota pickup.

cwd

 

[Ronin]

I have my gas can on my swing arm like nikonron. I used to store a 5gal poly tank under the rollover couch before I had my bumper made. I hated doing it and would dump the gas into my tank as soon as I could after hitting the back roads.

 

[rilcombs]

If you're not ready to invest in exterior mounting options, securing them under the rollover couch isn't the worst idea. Not that we carry them often, but two Wavian jerry cans fit perfectly in our Raven, and we didn't smell anything at all.

 

[Santiam Camper]

Thanks for all of the advice, guys! Very helpful.

No, I didn't have any reinforcement added. I didn't think of it.

 

[Cayuse]

Another user of the AT Gas Can Holder and Bracket. Survived out to Tuweep and back and a trip around the White Rim Trail with no ill effects. Don't have any good pictures handy but the jack bracket and aluminum plate coming from underneath seems to be very effective.

 

[Yukon]

I love Ronin's bumper sticker! Very appropriate for the box around a gas can!
Chris

 

[nikonron]

AT makes a can holder and bracket for mounting to the jack bracket. If you go to Rocky Mountain Four Wheel campers Facebook page and scroll through the photos, there are several good pics of it. Very simple to build your own once you see it. Ron

 

[BillM]

On my Nissan Frontier I installed a front receiver and use a winch mount from Harbor Freight to carry 2 five gallon cans, sometimes water and sometimes gas. In the front if I hit something it's my fault, in the rear you are at the mercy of the texting teenager behind you. We've been through Steele Pass, down Lippincott in Death Valley and to Toroweap with it no problem. You can find a pic of it in this trip report.
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/3290-dv-trip/?hl=billm#entry35604

 

[gaylon]

I have my gas can on my swing arm like nikonron. I used to store a 5gal poly tank under the rollover couch before I had my bumper made. I hated doing it and would dump the gas into my tank as soon as I could after hitting the back roads.

Aluminess Bumper, Ronin?

 

[DavidGraves]

I have read several references that California law now forbids outside carry of fuel cans.....

Any comments on this ?

Also, the entry gate to Mexico are said to restrict FULL cans.

I would be pleased to hear more actual experience.

David Graves

 

[craig333]

That would be news to me, but it is CA so its certainly plausible.

 

[camelracer]

I have heard stories about not being able to bring full fuel containers back into the US from Mexico unless it was plumbed into the truck fuel system. This mainly applied to diesels with bed mounted tanks with fuel pumps. Not sure this is as much of a problem now that Mexican fuel is so expensive.