Thread: Plastic vs tin fuel petrol jerry cans

Approved plastic jerrycans are said to be as safe as the metal variety.

And I know that there are secure fixtures for carrying jerrycans on the roof but I for one would not do it.

There are safer and more convenient methods for carrying additional fuel if needed but it is difficult to imagine a scenario (apart from the CSR and a couple of other remote Central OZ routes) where it would even be necessary.

Auxiliary tank, rear jerrycan holder or trailer would all be preferable.

Think about the difficulty and inconvenience of filling, draining & access, the safety issues of lifting and securing the load, the hopefully unlikely issues in the event of a rollover or sudden stop, the likelihood of overhanging branches wiping roofloads off etc etc.

+ in any case it looks lousy


here's one setup:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/body-exter...olders-x2.html

I would also not recommend putting jerry cans on the roof instead look to put them on the back or in the back.
If you are going to put them on the roof maybe look at a lowline one.
i prefer plastic over tin any day

I prefer metal cans and all mine are '50's vintage ex mil. Have carried up to 4 on the roof, although for preference would carry them inside. Make sure your gutter mounts on the roofrack are solid and distribute the weight evenly.

I also have a long range tank fitted and a 105 litre plastic tank which fits on the floor in the back for long cross country runs (Madigan Line)

Assuming you've got a good solidly mounted roof rack no real problem carrying fuel up there as long as you're careful. You've got to carry it somewhere, and as you say, refill the main tanks as fuel is used.

I've wouldn't recommend steel jerry cans as they're too big, too heavy and are more likely to split or chafe through when packed together than are plastic ones.

I'd go for the 10 litre 'thick rounded plastic' type of jerry can as they're lighter and much more convenient to use than 20 litre types. They're also low profile so don't stick up as high.

If you must go 20 litre, try carring them on edge to reduce their profile and filling them to just below the filler (about 17 litres). If you're real keen place a thin piece of ply or cut up beer carton to place between them to stop chafing. More of a problem with steel than plastic though.

Whatever you do don't tie plastic jerry cans down with rope, as it will cut through the plastic with movement. Instead use wide straps, common (usually cheap) hardware store ratchet straps work well.

Deano

If buying new cans I would get plastic and go for a quality brand like Rheem do not go for Supercheap type cans metal or plastic.
I used to fly Diesel out to remote camps in Jerry Cans.
We only used plastic and would lay them on there side and stand on them for a "check"
most metal cans leaked around the seam or spout.
Older metal Jerries were generally good.

I bought the plastic type x 2. They meet Australian Standards so that’s good enough for me. Metal looks cool but plastic is the right material choice I think.

The ones I bought feature not one but two screw-type filler caps, one on each top corner. I didn’t think about it at the time, but when they are stored on their long edge, one of the filler caps is at the bottom and therefore always submerged. Not sure I like this.

Previous plastic cans I bought only had one filler cap and I’d always place this at the top, facing upwards.

Just be aware that jerry cans and the yellow or red plastic cans are a different width and plastic ones will not fit in a steel carrier.
The only ones I have found to fit are the expensive black plastic "VISY' brand made in NZ.
The VISY ones are great and very durable, and I have been all over OZ with mine. These replaced an earlier set that I replaced as a precaution as they had some wear on the corners. AFAIK they are made of the same stuff as car fuel tanks.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Just be aware that jerry cans and the yellow or red plastic cans are a different width and plastic ones will not fit in a steel carrier.

I got mine in the standard steel carrier ... I think the Aus Std may relate to dimensions as well as storage specifications?

Anyway, it helps if you do not fill them to the brim as well... they can then squeezed in