(5) Gallon Fuel Cans

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

I'm looking to purchase (3) fuel cans. My preference is plastic since I plan to strap them to the luggage rack on the top of my camper and for some reason it seems to me that plastic would be kinder to the roof. Also, they'd have to be 100% leak proof. So I have (3) questions:

1.) Recently when I was getting on a ferry, the ferry operator questioned if my current fuel tanks (mounted on my Jeep) had some kind of certification (??). I'm not sure what that is, but can you get certified plastic tanks ?

2.) If yes, who would you buy from ?

3.) And last, any advice welcomed ?

Thanks.

 

[RusherRacing]

Alot of fuel tanks are certified.
Most Racing Fuel tanks are certified by SFI.

Quite a few jerry cans are DOT or CARB certified but I prefer a non certified utility jug.

I believe most biltz, wedco etc are certified.

As for actually using fuel jugs I like these.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Two-Handled-5-Gallon-Utility-Jug,1112.html

They are recommended for some of the budget endurance racing I do however they are not certified in any way.

 

[raysuf]

Depends on what certification your talking about. Some discussion here:http://http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31280

 

[109 Pretender]

The cans should be DOT certified (all cans legally for sale in USA have to meet DOT regs) to be strictly legal. NATO jerry cans (WEDCO brand for instance) had to change the fuel opening mechanism to a screw on type to be "child proof" hence the recent changes there. Unfortunately, most children will be able to instantly figure out the new cap style while the earlier style was a lever type release with lock pin that most young children wouldn't figure out or be strong enough to operate anyway. Progress, what can we say....

I'd recommend you NOT use plastic because of dedegration from the sun's UV. A roof mounted can will go bad in one season and plastic cans are notorious for leaking and/or splitting. Plus any can is going to develop quite a pressure head when exposed to the sun for awhile - that's particuliarly hard on the plastic cans.

Only plus sides for plastic are low cost, light weight, and no noise when mounted (clanging and banging).

By the way, it is generally thought that the very best 100% leakproof gas containers made are the pre-ban WEDCO jerry cans. They work 100% of the time. In plastic probably the best is the Scepter type the US military adopted some time back - I think they have DOT compliance as well. (Any DOT or CARB compliant can must state so on the can).

Hope this helps your decision.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

https://dstactical.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=10&osCsid=6886b87c2a52190ac18563a84df79c87

I am sure you'd be able to find someone to treceive them in Canada for you. You pick them up, fill them up and you're good to go. If you wait until you get to the Edmonton area, I'd be happy to order some in for you.
They are not just miltary "grade", the olive drab ones are what the Canadian military actually uses, so you shouldn't have any concerns about UV degradation.


EDIT: Sorry, I didn't explain the part about the fact that the company won't ship the jerry cans to US addresses, hence the need to find someone on the Can. side of the border to have them shipped to.