Backcountry Pilot

[Hammer offline]

I'm interested if any of you carry gas cans in your plane, and if anyone has found a particularly good brand or type of can.

I'm not crazy about the idea, but with some of the trips I want to make I don't have a lot of choice. I understand the dangers of static electricity and plastic gas cans...I also believe that with a properly constructed closed syphon system, the risk of fire is well within acceptable limits.

What I'm really interested in is finding a can which won't leak, and which is less likely to burst in the event of a hard landing. If it's static resistant of can be bonded to the plane, so much the better, but that's not my primary concern.

[a64pilot offline]

I think there have been a couple of threads about this. If you can get a hold of a couple of the modern real "Jerry" cans, the type used by the German Army now, they are the best I've found.
They differ from the US military can in the opening. The US can has a big screw thread and is difficult to keep from leaking. The German one has a couple of "fingers" that as you push the closing mechanism closed pull the top down real tight. Either metal can is in my opinion pretty crash-worthy if properly secured.
The US military can is as good as the gasket used on the hose and the cap. If they are soft and pliable, then you will have a good leak proof seal. You already know why I prefer metal over light weight plastic.
My opinion only of course and I'm fixing to get "bashed" for carrying fuel in the passenger compartment of an airplane. I haven't tried it, but I have always wondered if you could get a 55 gl. drum in my Maule , and if it could safely hold that weight.

[Hammer offline]

There have been threads on this. You can do a search for them. It was covered pretty thoroughly.

Ya...I remember. I learned a lot about static electricity and how unimaginably dangerous it is to fill a gas tank. I started a new post because I don't care whether anyone thinks it's safe and I don't care about theories, I'm just curious what people are actually doing which works for them. I think a64 just gave me more usable information than I got out of the last multi-page thread.

[Hammer offline]

You got me there! Guess I should have said I don't care about revisiting the debate on how dangerous it is to fill out of cans.

[OregonMaule offline]

I would by a PU truck tank. They have a lot of sizes. A 50 gallon aluminum one weighs about 25 pounds empty and would fit in the back of my M7. They are rectangle so they won't roll.

Then use a hand pump and enough hose to reach the wing tanks.

Rob
http://www.truckstuffusa.com/deltaproliquidstoragetanks.html

[willyb offline]

Hammer you might want to check out what they have here.Plenty of safe stuff and options for fuel.I have been studying this for an aux tank in the cub baggage area.

Bill

[willyb offline]

OOPS
forgot to post

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/m/283_Str ... Tanks.html

Bill

[Savannah-Tom offline]

If you can get a hold of a couple of the modern real "Jerry" cans, the type used by the German Army now, they are the best I've found.

I'll second this opinion. I've got ten of these beauties. They are available locally at surplus stores and at mail order/internet places like sportsmansguide.com. The lid has a heavy gasket that really seals well. I've got two strapped to the back of my van, I use three more to slog mogas to my plane, and I've stashed them in the desert for fuel-ups in the outback. I don't normally fly with them, but of all the cans I've seen, these seem like they would be the most crash-worthy.

Might be fun to strap a flare to one, light the flare and toss it out at 1000agl to see if it would burst.

tom

[Zzz]

To those trying to do my job by telling Hammer to search first...

This is the only relevant thread I could find, omitting static topics:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1398

[a64pilot offline]

The cans I'm talking about are apparently referred to a NATO style jerry cans here is a link to a pictue. http://www.britishpacific.com/lrpartsSi ... yCans.html

[OregonMaule offline]

These stackable ATV tanks are pretty cool.

http://www.justgastanks.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=318



- 4 gallon fuel capacity

- High density polyethylene makes it the toughest fuel container available

- Fits flat on all ATV racks or mounts on with two ATV Water/Fuel Pack Brackets

- Molded handle for easy transporting and filling

- Self venting spout included

- Sturdy construction allows additional gear to be stacked on top of the pack

- 34 1/2” W x 3” D x 13 1/4” H



Here are fuel cells for race cars. Very safe.
Starting at: $84.99
All Measurements Approx.

#11002 - 8 GALLON 17" X 13" X 9" (NO ROLLOVER-VENT)

#11005 - 11 GALLON 17-1/2" X 17-1/2" X 9" (NO ROLLOVER-VENT)

#11102 - 15 GALLON 25-1/2" X 17-1/2" X 9-1/2"

#11105 - 22 GALLON LONG 33" X 17-1/4" X 9-1/2"

#11108 - 22 GALLON SHORT 25-12/" X 17-1/2" X 14-3/4"

#10999 - 32 GALLON 25-1/2" X 17-1/2" X 17-1/2"

[qmdv offline]

Nice if the streetrod fuel cell had a built in fuel pump then you could just run a hose to the top of the wing to transfer the fuel. Not during flight of course.

Tim

[patrol guy offline]

Rob, those 4 gal. ATV tanks look interesting. I don't expect you could carry fuel in them while "flat" ?

[whee offline]

I found a 5 gal gas can while driving to Atlanta, ID this past winter. I don't know what brand it is but i know it is a type 2 safety can similar to these except it is rectangular. It must have fallen off a passing truck and fell 20 ft down to the river where I found it...it doesn't leak so it must be tough. I figure I could fit two maybe three in the back of my Luscombe because of the shape.

[OregonMaule offline]

Rob, those 4 gal. ATV tanks look interesting. I don't expect you could carry fuel in them while "flat" ?

They will lay flat and you can stack them. They have holes through them for tying them down. They don't leak. There is another company out there that make a 6 gallon version too.

Don't forget the outboard marine gas tanks too.

Rob

[GumpAir offline]

I don't expect you could carry fuel in them while "flat" ?

Flat is how you carry them. I have two that I've lugged around on my Honda Rubicon for the past 4 years, and not a single leak or problem. Ordered them up from Cabella's, though I imagine there's plenty of other (read that cheaper) suppliers out there.

Gump

[M6RV6 offline]

A64pilot, Maule will carry a drum easy, make sure you cut a sheet of 3/4 plywood big enough to hold it and make double damn sure you have it strapped forward as tight as you can! use a couple of rachet straps!!. Will really make a bad day out of a good one if it moves back very far!! You can make a channel out of alum. to fit over the bottom of the door so you won't tear it up when yu take the barrel out.(make sure your feet are out of the way when it hits the ground

[qmdv offline]

A 55 gal drum of gas? Boy that would suck in turbulance. How would the plane fly after the drum went through the overhead?

Tim

[iceman offline]

As for gas in the plane The old tripacers had a factory option for a 8 gal tank under the rear seat. I found one and bought it and installed it and it was the best addition to the old bird I made. Had a transfer pump that pumped the gas up into the right main when you hit a switch. It was shaped like a wedge and fit under the rear seat. Try shortwingpiper club to try to find one. Although I might add they are as rare as hens teeth. and pretty pricey even if you find a used one somewhere. but I see my old tripacer is now for sale and you could buy it from the kid who bought it from me to get the tank>> I only used it on long trips and flew on the right tank till half was gone then pumped the right wing full again. I never felt comfortable with 8 gals of fuel behind my butt. But I can tell you watching that fuel guage go up while it was pumping after a little over an hour of flying was very comforting. gave me over 5 hours flight time when high and leaned out.

[willyb offline]

Older Cessnas had an aux tank option in the baggage area.Filled through a filler in the side of the fuselage and used a transfer pump.

Javelin also made a similar aux tank set-up.

There is a company in PA I believe that still makes an aux set-up for some Cessnas.Don't remember if they do it for other makes.

O&N is the outfit

Bill