Anyone though of using ammo cans for gas? With the carb compliance thing and the cost of metal jerry cans, I would think one or two of those 81 or 120 mm cans would make a good gas can. Rig up a nozzle and a vent and one should be good to go. They are more heavy duty than existing jerry cans.
Ammo cans for gas?
- Thread starter mac66
- Start date
85CUCV
Adventurer
Maybe for a one time emergency. I'd be worried about seal failure as I doubt they would handle continued exposure to fuel. I've also seen the 81mm cans take a strike to the side and lose seal integrity. Military fuel cans can take a beating and still hold a reasonable seal. I do not think I would try it.
Dan
Dan
4671 Hybrid
Adventurer
How many gallons do they hold? This is an interesting idea, especially since I've been using Jerry's for quite a while and never had one take a direct hit. With these cans, a simple cage and the potential danger could be averted...
I did buy some small ammo cans and picked up 1 81mm and one 120mm can. I probably won't use them for gas, but by my calculations the 81mm would hold approx 8.1 gals (easy to remember), the 120mm holds 8.6 gals. The 40mm can in the middle would hold approx. 4.4 gals. The 50 cal would hold about 2 gals. I say approximate because I determined volume by outside dimensions. A gallon of gas is 231 cubic inches by volume.
Left to right, 120mm, 81mm, 40mm, top-30cal, 50 cal and 5.56 SAW box. Photo is not mine.
Left to right, 120mm, 81mm, 40mm, top-30cal, 50 cal and 5.56 SAW box. Photo is not mine.
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78Bronco
Explorer
I am sure you could carry gas in an ammo box but it sounds like a potentially dangerous idea. This is why they make jerry cans with a spout and a vent hole.
Also, if one of those police guys were to what's in the ammo box. Hold on a second officer it's full of gas.
What if someone left the top open and a spark from your camp fire just happened to catch it on fire and the whole back of your truck is a blaze.
It just sounds like a bad idea.
Also, if one of those police guys were to what's in the ammo box. Hold on a second officer it's full of gas.
What if someone left the top open and a spark from your camp fire just happened to catch it on fire and the whole back of your truck is a blaze.
It just sounds like a bad idea.
4671 Hybrid
Adventurer
I'm the opposite, it looks like a solid idea to me. I've never had a cop try and inspect my cargo and I've never put myself in a position where they want a warrant to search my car. If it's to that level of a stop, I probably have other things to worry about instead of having fuel in a non-DOT approved container. As for having the top open and a spark from the camp fire hitting it, I figure that if I have 8 gallons of exposed fuel next to a campfire, I probably deserve whatever comes to me.
Not totally discounting the dangers, but as someone who's been in several countries where any container that doesn't leak is used as a fuel can, this looks to be a much better container. Depending on the price, this would be great as a fuel container to lay on the roof rack in the horizontal position. To do that I'd probably weld it shut, and install a cap and a vent and away we go. With a nipple on the side and a hose, it'd make roadside fill-ups a breeze and you'd never have to take them down.
How much does a 81mm can go for these days?
Not totally discounting the dangers, but as someone who's been in several countries where any container that doesn't leak is used as a fuel can, this looks to be a much better container. Depending on the price, this would be great as a fuel container to lay on the roof rack in the horizontal position. To do that I'd probably weld it shut, and install a cap and a vent and away we go. With a nipple on the side and a hose, it'd make roadside fill-ups a breeze and you'd never have to take them down.
How much does a 81mm can go for these days?
My original thought was to weld the top shut and add a spout/vent on the top and a spigot on the bottom for fueling my ATV when out in the boonies. I was thinking of mounting it on the back door of my van behind my ladder. Kind of like a fuel cell thing.
As for cost, price varies widely. I know a guy who bought 3 or 4 pallets of ammo cans from the gov. He was selling the 81s and 120s for $20 ea. I got them for $10 ea. because he was down to just a few left and he wanted to get rid of them. I just couldn't pass up that deal even though I am not sure what I am going to use them for.
I probably won't use them for fuel but I may still mount one on my van to use for storage.
As for cost, price varies widely. I know a guy who bought 3 or 4 pallets of ammo cans from the gov. He was selling the 81s and 120s for $20 ea. I got them for $10 ea. because he was down to just a few left and he wanted to get rid of them. I just couldn't pass up that deal even though I am not sure what I am going to use them for.
I probably won't use them for fuel but I may still mount one on my van to use for storage.
Mc Taco
American Adventurist
First, Welcome to ExPo.
Seems like a bunch of effort welding it shut, adding a spout, etc to get to what you could get for $25. Granted that $25. is only a pita carb Blitz can. But get a super siphon and the carb spout is bypassed. DOT legal. Not endangering First Responders.
Get the NATO cans or save up for the gold standard Scepter.
My $.02
Seems like a bunch of effort welding it shut, adding a spout, etc to get to what you could get for $25. Granted that $25. is only a pita carb Blitz can. But get a super siphon and the carb spout is bypassed. DOT legal. Not endangering First Responders.
Get the NATO cans or save up for the gold standard Scepter.
My $.02
I Leak Oil
Expedition Leader
I'd be curious how they would react to repeated expansion and contraction. Purpose built steel fuel containers have thinner walls and rounded corners to help with this.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I would agree to get NATO cans. Not sure why you think Scepters are the 'gold standard' though. NATO cans are just as easily available and just as leak proof.
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
I assuming he is referring to the price tag of the Scepter
While I agree the NATO cans are an excellent option, the Scepters sold themselves to me when two bounced down a hillside and didn't leak a drop
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I assuming he is referring to the price tag of the Scepter
LOL, I can understand that. I don't recall seeing anything but maybe one of you know... are the Scepter cans CARB legal? I know the Nato cans aren't but I've never been stopped for having them on my roof. If I ever am stopped, I'll simply move them inside.
That's pretty good.While I agree the NATO cans are an excellent option, the Scepters sold themselves to me when two bounced down a hillside and didn't leak a drop
