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What is your go-to solution for carrying extra fuel?

OGRES

Ramblin' Wreck
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
City
Suwanee
State
GA
Like many of us, I only have the standard 15 gallon fuel tank on my Scrambler. I am also running a very thirsty Chevy 350. My fuel gauge works most of the time, but not all of the time.

I feel the need to carry around a gas can when I take the Scrambler our just to make sure that I don't run out of gas and get stuck (even though I have run out of gas AFTER putting 5 gallons of gas from the gas can in it).

I currently have a 2.5 Gallon Roto-pax gas can. The plus side is that it is thin and doesn't take up much room. I have a custom mount in the bed for it and a Roto-pax tool box that works pretty well. There is one problem though. Last year, I left it full and forgot to go let the pressure out and the damn thing expanded so much that it cracked the tool box to the point of being almost useless (I have since replaced the tool box).

I used to have a mil-spec plastic Scepter jerry can that I could leave full and it had a venting system to let out excess pressure. I unfortunately sold it with my last Scrambler, so I don't have it anymore. I could buy another one, which seem VERY pricy right now, or I could go for a steel can that would probably take more pressure without needing to vent.

So what are you all running with on your rigs if you have one? Do you only store fuel in it on special trips or do you leave gas in it all the time? How do you have them mounted?

I know there is a bunch of interesting stuff on this forum, so I would love to know what you got!
 

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AK-RWC

Legacy Registered User
Gold Member
City
south central
State
AK
As I progressively moved up engines from a 304, to a 360, and a 401, my 15 (that held 12) gallon tank on my '84 CJ-7 that became my Scrambler was woefully inadequate. When moving back to Alaska from the east coast, in addition to the 5-gallon jerry can that I had built into my tire carrier, I ended up getting two more 2.5 gallon cans and a 5-gallon can. There were times when I went through ALL of them, and one time that I coasted into a gas station and had to wait an hour for it to open.

For the Scrambler build, I immediately sourced an OEM 20 gallon tank like my '85 CJ-7 has, which even with a Chevy 350 still gets me 230ish miles on a tank. The 20 gallon tank on the 401 has been amazing, but I supplemented that with a custom auxiliary tank (and a transfer pump) in the space between the last two crossmembers, which holds 5 more gallons. I can now make a road trip to my home town without stopping for gas.
 

Shrek

Active member
Lifetime Member
City
Saint Francisville
State
LA
I carry a 5 gallon plastic specter can.
 

don87401

Original Owner
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Farmington
State
NM
I have built 3 tire carriers that are capable of carrying up to 18 gals. Normally just one 4 Gallon Rot-pax "cans". Easily carry 2 of the 4 Gallon and can add a 2 can Jerry Can carrier. I have a thread in the Fab Shop Forum, Rear tire carrier and Roto-pax cans on how they are built if you are interested.

20160727_094221.jpgresized.jpg20160815_122017.jpgresized.jpg

I have carried all 18gals on the LJ for week long trip in Canyon Lands Park south of Moab.
 

Ron84cj

Engine nerd
Lifetime Member
City
West Bend
State
WI
I've never been a fan of having gas cans on the tire carrier other than purely for off road. If a truck rear ends you guess what is going to get hit... Also, think of all the additional weight hanging off of the back. If a 20 gallon tank isn't enough, I would make something additional to fit within the frame rails in the middle with a skid plate to protect it.
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
I've never been a fan of having gas cans on the tire carrier other than purely for off road. If a truck rear ends you guess what is going to get hit... Also, think of all the additional weight hanging off of the back. If a 20 gallon tank isn't enough, I would make something additional to fit within the frame rails in the middle with a skid plate to protect it.

Only ever carry one if you’re on a trip that needs it. If you feel you have to always carry it then yes, find a proper solution.

when I fill the trailer cans for a trip, I dump them back in the Jeep at the next fueling stop once I’m done wheeling or past any long gas station-less stretches.
 

OGRES

Ramblin' Wreck
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
City
Suwanee
State
GA
So far, I like the 20 Gallon Tank idea the best. That would make me less reliant on the extra cans.

Can a 20 gallon tank be installed with the body on the frame? I think the filler hoses are different, but is there anything else that would be needed for the bigger tank other than a new skid plate? New fuel pump?
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
So far, I like the 20 Gallon Tank idea the best. That would make me less reliant on the extra cans.

Can a 20 gallon tank be installed with the body on the frame? I think the filler hoses are different, but is there anything else that would be needed for the bigger tank other than a new skid plate? New fuel pump?

If you’re going to bother and fuel is an issue save up for the aero tank IMO.
 

AK-RWC

Legacy Registered User
Gold Member
City
south central
State
AK
The Aerotank is attractive, but the price killed it for me. For less than half, I got a junkyard OEM 20 gallon tank shipped, a Kilby skidplate, and my custom tank made. We already have tail-draggers, and the Aerotank further hurts departure angle. This doesn't matter if you don't wheel it, but even in my 7 I'd routinely hit my rear bumper on rocks, and I knew it would only get worse with an 8. The custom tank I have neatly angles up from the mid-point on the OEM tank to the bottom edge of the rear crossmember, so it has zero impact on departure angle and is unlikely to hit on anything (and thus far it hasn't). The bottom piece is still made from 1/4" anyway as a CYA.
 

Emile

Active member
City
Wilsonville
State
OR
I have built 3 tire carriers that are capable of carrying up to 18 gals. Normally just one 4 Gallon Rot-pax "cans". Easily carry 2 of the 4 Gallon and can add a 2 can Jerry Can carrier. I have a thread in the Fab Shop Forum, Rear tire carrier and Roto-pax cans on how they are built if you are interested.

View attachment 88626View attachment 88627

I have carried all 18gals on the LJ for week long trip in Canyon Lands Park south of Moab.

What does the bumper sticker say?
 

Randyzzz

Blown Budget
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Redmond
State
OR
My solution is anything but bolt on, but I would have to say it can’t be beat if you have the body off the frame, and the ability to weld. I installed a 25 gallon K-Blazer tank, with the added benefit of an in tank pump. I did have to remove the rearmost crossmember and fabricate an over the top crossmember. I also gained an 1 1/2” fuel fill hose. C6F76A3D-04E7-4CEE-9F22-54150B058E2B.jpeg2FCE974A-07B5-4279-8F68-6F2383B31BC5.jpeg
 
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