Jerry Cans - The secret Weapon

[ntsqd]

Two things that I'll suggest. Use a tough coating on it. Like POR-15 (with a UV resistant top-coat) or "Rust Bullet" or similar. The prep for these coatings is absolutely crucial to do exactly as they say to do it. Make sure that it can't move even the slightest in it's mount.

I use ratchet straps to hold mine in place. I buy inexpensive ones, cut them to length, and expect to periodically replace them. On one truck I bought a Mac's Tie-Downs 1" ratchet strap and am testing to see how long it lasts in the same use.

 

[JHanson]

I have a Wehrmacht jerry can stamped 1956 that I still use. Yes, I repaint it from time to time, but that's easy maintenance. I'll bet there will be zero RotoPax containers still in use in 2085.

I did have a failure on one Wavian can that had been consistently clamped down too tightly and eventually developed a hairline crack. I recycled it (another distinction from RotoPax), but if necessary I could have had even that repaired.

 

[SunMan]

We love our 38 gallon tank on our '19 Tundra double cab. Having a 300 mile plus range is mighty convenient and helps with the peace of mind. The instrument panel says 410 miles range when filled -- but if you think I trust that -- no way!

x3! It’s been a game changer in Baja.

 

[Tom n N]

What a great thread. Never knew there was a high quality alternative to those leaky Blitz cans (threw mine away years ago). Although I have two tanks in my Toyota, bought a 5gal Wavian as extra insurance for an upcoming Baja trip. Was showing it off to a friend who goes to Baja regularly and he said last time he crossed the boarder they were confiscating any cans that had fuel in them. Apparently they were claiming that was gas smuggling and they had a whole pile of confiscated cans. I guess if you want to keep your fancy NATO cans you’d better wait to fill them until south of the border, I know that’s what I’m going to do. Anybody else heard about this?

 

[craig333]

I thought it was more of a way to get you to purchase fuel in Mexico.

 

[Tom n N]

Love the quality of my new Wavian can, but disappointed in the included spout. Was only able to empty about half the 5 gallon can into my Toyota due to the angle, and it took forever.

Would like to get one of the Swiss spouts mentioned earlier in this thread, but link shown was out of stock. Anyone know another source?

 

[ntsqd]

Not that I know of. I had to check periodically to get mine.

One thing to note is that those Swiss nozzles need an adapter to work with an unleaded fill neck. I don't know of anyone making such a thing. I've made the one that I have from 3/4" copper pipe and some fittings. With just a little sanding the 3/4" copper will fit thru the opening in the fill neck. A friend made his adapter from some sort of reducer fitting so that the end of the nozzle fits inside the large end of his adapter. Mine isn't so elegant.

Use of the adapter has had no observable impact on the speed of emptying the can.

 

[craig333]

I use the shaker hose. No need to hold that heavy can.

 

[JWL]

I do the shaker hose thing too. I put the can as the shelf I made for the dog and it dumps the can in about 3 minutes!

 

[ntsqd]

The shaker hose that I bought needs an unleaded adapter, so I've never used it.

I've never timed it, but I'll estimate that the Swiss nozzle takes about 30 seconds to empty the can. Maybe 45 at the most. I don't particularly like handling fuel, so the faster the better, even if I'm not in a hurry.
The secret of the Swiss nozzle isn't the size of the spout. It's in how it vents the can. I'd venture that any nozzle for these cans could be as fast if the vent assembly were reverse engineered and applied to the other nozzles.

 

[Tom n N]

So the downside of the shaker appears to be that the can needs to be higher than the tank to work effectively. Unfortunately I don’t have a convenient shelf like JWL. For now I’ll keep looking for a Swiss spout. Lots of versions available online, but none appear to have the long internal vent tube as pictured in the earlier post. I don’t think adapting for an unleaded filler looks to be too hard a project, just want to start with the highest quality spout as I only like to buy stuff once.

 

[Tom n N]

Only place I could find listing the Swiss Nozzle was ‘Swiss Army Vehicles’ in Arkansas. Website listed it out of stock every time I checked. Finally decided to call and was told no idea when they might get more and that there was a very long waiting list. The very nice lady then agreed to put me on the list and wished me luck. About ten minutes later the phone rang and it was the nice lady telling me she checked with the boss and he had just found some more. I quickly gave her my credit card number before she could change her mind, and two days later it showed up on my doorstep. Although of course used, it appears to be very high quality. Looks like the flexible spout part is copper, so shouldn’t be too hard to fab an unleaded adapter. In the meantime I’m looking forward to trying it out on my old Chevy truck tomorrow that doesn’t need an adapter.

If anyone else is looking for one of these, now might be the time to jump on it.

 

[ntsqd]

Eagerly awaiting your use impression of the nozzle.

 

[pvstoy]

Just called them and said they have a few in stock. Web shows out of stock as they have not changed it.

Cost $57.50 , shipping to west cost $22.45, total $79.95

I just purchased one.

Thanks Thom for the link. Looking forward to modifying the end for unleaded filler and seeing how fast it drains.

Patrick

Only place I could find listing the Swiss Nozzle was ‘Swiss Army Vehicles’ in Arkansas. Website listed it out of stock every time I checked. Finally decided to call and was told no idea when they might get more and that there was a very long waiting list. The very nice lady then agreed to put me on the list and wished me luck. About ten minutes later the phone rang and it was the nice lady telling me she checked with the boss and he had just found some more. I quickly gave her my credit card number before she could change her mind, and two days later it showed up on my doorstep. Although of course used, it appears to be very high quality. Looks like the flexible spout part is copper, so shouldn’t be too hard to fab an unleaded adapter. In the meantime I’m looking forward to trying it out on my old Chevy truck tomorrow that doesn’t need an adapter.

If anyone else is looking for one of these, now might be the time to jump on it.

 

[Tom n N]

Finally tested out my new Swiss nozzle.

Haven’t made an unleaded adapter yet, so tried it on my old 65 Chevy truck. Full 5 gallon dump took less than 30 seconds!!! As stated before, build quality very high - I’m sold.

Next have to make an adapter so I can test it on the Toyota. Can easily use copper reducers but undecided about incorporating the included screw in filter attachment on the end of the nozzle. Would be nice to have the screen, but that would introduce a steel to copper joint, which may not be a good long term thing. What have others done?

Tom

 

[ntsqd]

I'm really glad that it worked for you like they have for me!

What I did, because it was what I had laying around, was to carefully grind the male threads of a copper union to fit inside the end of the aluminum piece that the screen is attached to. The union already had a short section of copper tube sticking out of it (a rem from an old air supply system). I then used some J-B Weld in the end of the aluminum part, and after fitting the reducer but before the J-B set up I carefully peened the end of the aluminum part down over the formerly threaded portion (rib) of the union.

I don't know what he used and I have only his verbal description to go on, but a friend in NorCA found a fitting that fits over the end of the nozzle that he then was able to reduce down to the 3/4" tube size. He said that it's a tight fit on the nozzle and he leaves it in place.

 

[pvstoy]

Tom and Thom,

Tom attached are my images of the spout that I just got a hour ago.
Did yours have this much rust?

They did attach a new gasket.

I need to clean up all the rust. What paint type would you use after the rust is removed? (something in a spray can?)

Thanks, Patrick
.

 

[pvstoy]

End condition.
.

 

[ntsqd]

No, mine are not that rusty. I'd think that any durable paint would be fine for it.

 

[Tom n N]

While definitely well used, mine was also not rusty, and still had most of its original green paint. Your end nozzle looks about the same as mine. It unscrews to reveal the screen. Mine has a small hole in the screen and I’m thinking I probably don’t need a screen anyway.

Still trying to decide if I’m going to attach the unleaded adapter I’m making to the screen thingy or just discard it and attach the adapter directly to the flex hose. Since the flex hose looks like copper or brass, and my adapter is going to be copper, I think I’m not going to use the aluminum screen holder. As an old electrician I know aluminum to copper connections never end well, especially here on the salty coast.

After that I need to work on mounting. Fortunately I feel really comfortable storing it inside my FW Camper. After two weeks of shaking in Baja in high heat not a whiff of fumes! What I really need to figure out is a good system to mount two cans on my old Chevy 4x4. At 12MPG and a 12 gallon tank by the time I get out into the really good stuff I’m on E.