Carrying 1 or 2 x Jerry cans on roof, is that bad practise?

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Hi Guys,

Have had this ongoing argument with some mates who I'm going on a trip with in a few weeks. We're doing flinders rangers, maybe lightly touching on the Simpson and birdsville. They're completely against any weight on the roof, i can see their point. However i don't have a spare 4k for a rear bar to carry them and i thought it would be safer than breathing in fumes in the car?

I'd like to carry 1 or 2 x 20L metal jerry can 'just in case'. I was thinking of getting the horizontal holders for rhino platform rack.

Anyway question is, how safe is it? Surely 1 or 2 jerry can's isn't that unsafe if i don't have much else up there other than a shovel and hi lift jack? Thoughts?

Matt

[Tazdevil Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close Tazdevil]

Hi VXcruiser08

Just make sure that you use it as soon as you can, when you are able to put the fuel into the tank then that would get the extra weight off your roof rack.

[Guest Close Guest]

Should be fine.
Would be nice to have the half height ones like these so it isn't so high but it is probably only 10L
http://superuse.org/media/2012/12/439.jpg

Or you could lay your 20L jerry can down like this
http://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com...ducts/3303.jpg
(edit: I see that you have already considered the horizontal jerry can holders)

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

I have the same ongoing argument though the other way around. This guy thinks it fine to have 4 x 20L jerries PLUS a spare (LT285/75/16) on the roof and thunders down unsealed roads at 100km/h....

I would think though that 2 x 20L would be fine though.

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Thanks for the replies so far, yes the horizontal would be the go. Anyone had any bad experiences i.e. leaking from laying down?

120D4D, that's a lot of weight. 100KG+ on the roof geez.

[Guest Close Guest]

If you are concerned about it leaking, you might not want to fill it right up to the brim so that the level isn't so high. Before you seal the cap, you might want to squeeze the sides of the can to allow for expansion during the trip.

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

vxcruiser08, Mate as long as you when you lay the jerry can down that the lid faces up all should be okay. If you do not have any jerries and are going to buy some get the ones with the locking pins for the lid. They can be annoying but offer extra piece of mind that the lid can not just came open.


SOL.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I think either way is fine, I carried 2 x 20 lts jerrys in the back of the Prado across Madigans last year. My plan was to put it in the tanks ASAP but as the trip started others in our convoy immediately started to worry about not having enough fuel, I was confident of making without the jerries so left them in case others wanted to use it. They were in the back of the Prado for about 10 days in 40+ degree heat no issues.

On the roof would also be fine IMO.

I do however think you might be being overly cautious given where you are going, the 150lt tank is likely to be more than enough to get anywhere in that area comfortably.

Cheers Andrew

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Great feedback thanks all.

Sol - i saw those ones, not cheap but they're the type i'd purchase.

AJ120 - My main concern was fuel prices, not so much my range. However the crew i am travelling with are known to change their minds and have no doubt ill end up going somewhere completely off route.

I'll be travelling with 2 x Hiluxs and 2 x straight 6 4L petrol engine jeep's... they will be carting a trailer purely for fuel

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Great feedback thanks all.


AJ120 - My main concern was fuel prices, not so much my range.

I would suspect that anything you saved in the cost of the fuel would be eaten up by the extra fuel used due to the wind drag from the jerries on the roof. You would need to go a long way of the beaten track to use up more than 150lts between stops.

Cheers Andrew

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

I've never been a fan of metal jerry cans, I've been using the same set of Scepter cans for about 16 years. The weight shouldn't be an issue, and as long as the seals are good on the cans pressure build up is not as big an issue with diesel as it is with petrol. Squeeze a bit of air out to allow for heat but should be cool.

I'm thinking the same, as you, going to Broome next month, don't need the extra range with a 150 litre tank, but it gets you past all the expensive servos. Bit different for me though, I've got room for 100 litres on the camper trailer.

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

I bought the 20lt squat Scepter cans. They stand a lot shorter than the normal jerry cans and have a lot larger base,which makes them very stable. You can get them in yellow for diesel also.
I bought mine online after spending about 3 hours search around town and on the phone, then about 3 months later, saw them in Bunnings. Don't you hate that!!