Fuel Can mounting ideas

Adventure4us · 10-19-2023, 11:26 AM

Soliciting wisdom from the group here; our goal is to carry at least 10 gal's of additional fuel securely, and would appreciate any input which doesn't include any roof mounting.
We have the aluminess bumper with the smaller box on the passenger side swing arm, and the spare tire on the drivers side. We've seen vans on this forum with fuel cans on the top of the box, but it looks like they already have some sort of rail mounted on the top of the box (or bought this someplace). We have searched online but not found anything that looks like what some of the members have, so a point in the right direction would be helpful.
Thank you.

Twoxentrix · 10-19-2023, 12:30 PM

There are many options, just make sure you get the right can for the fuel you use (Diesel needs a different fuel fill gasket than Gas). Assuming you haven't already purchased the cans, you can get metal or plastic jerry cans (Scepter plastic cans are popular and well built - they also come in 5gal and 2.5gal versions).
The protruding edge on many of the boxes was welded on (older boxes), but Aluminess does sell a rack which bolts to the top of the new boxes (believe these also work on the older boxes that didn't have a rail attached).
https://www.aluminess.com/products/b...box-universal/

Otherwise, there are plenty of other options - I'm attaching several below which can easily bolt to the top of your box (These are just the ones I bookmarked a couple years ago when I was searching for something similar for a project I was working on):
Just keep in mind the Scepter cans do not fit in some of these holders & some of these racks hold 2 cans):
https://www.zoro.com/wavian-gas-can-...86/i/G2103782/

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smitty...an-holders/745

https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/UNI-DJC-PC.html?

https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/U...IaApqpEALw_wcB

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/arb-je...n-holders/2575

https://www.equipmentdefender.com/pr...saAn_xEALw_wcB

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ma/Y05038.html

https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/UNI-SJC.html

This is the one I would have used because it's offered in two versions, one is designed specifically to work with Scepter cans (which I have):
https://www.4xinnovations.com/Jerry-...llon_p_42.html

Thought about using 2 of these, and hanging them off the roof drip rail above the rear wheel well - with two high power suction cups on each which I would have bolted to the bottom of the rack frame to keep the set-up from bouncing/swinging against the body (no idea if this would hold up on real ruff terrain since you'd have about 45lbs hanging off each)
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.co...an-holder.html

When you decide what direction you'll go, and if you need 2 racks for the top of the aluminess box I would position them so one is flush with each side of the box - leaving you room in between to store other things, This way whatever you put in the middle can be secured using the sides of the 2 racks (EX: I have my levelers stores between my cans)
For a visual:

Adventure4us · 10-19-2023, 01:26 PM

That's a lot of options, and we have come across a couple of them. we didnt think about just mounting these to the top of the box so Thank you!
I remember your van from another question we posted about the RV levelers. Those are really nice and we did end out getting something similar but a lot less $$$'s.
What are the 2 boxes below the tire and box? are they attached to the bumper? They look like they hang down really far, has this been a problem?

Twoxentrix · 10-19-2023, 02:45 PM

The boxes at the bumper are not as low as it looks in the picture; one holds fluids needed like oil, grease, etc. The other holds my electrical cord & adapters - that way i just pull the box and set ut under the van below the van hook-up, run the other end to outlet. once i've hooked up, the Box then keeps all the extra cord & adapters dry & dirt free.
The boxes set perfectly in two Scepter runt mounts which are bolted to a 3/8" (4" wide) metal plate that spans the distance between the two boxes. That plate is welded to the bottom of the hitch extension. Bottom of the boxes are about 4" lower than the bottom of the Aluminess bumper, but still 2" above the bottom of the hitch frame. Since it is all welded to the hitch extension, if I need room for a departure angle issue then I just pull the hitch pin, pull the whole setup out of the hitch receiver & put it back in when I'm beyond any terrain challenges. Very easy & quick, and have only had to do this once.
This set-up also allows me to put the two boxes in the van, move my 2 Scepter 2.5gal runts to where the boxes are now (they just hold water)...then put my two 5gal fuel Scepters on the top of the box where the runts are now.
I ordered 2 of these - they are the fuel racks I ordered (i just unbolted all the additional hardware and bolted the two racks to the plate that holds them)
https://www.etrailer.com/Car-Organiz...de/MR26MR.html

1der · 10-19-2023, 03:10 PM

Fuel? Diesel or Gas? 4x4 or 2WD?

If diesel, contact Jake At Aerotanks in San Bernadino, he has 41 gal tanks for the ESeries 4x4

Adventure4us · 10-19-2023, 03:47 PM

Thanks 1der and Sorry, 4x4 gas V8. But we are not intending to replace the gas tank because we already have the large SMB tank (46gal I think).

1der · 10-19-2023, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adventure4us

Thanks 1der and Sorry, 4x4 gas V8. But we are not intending to replace the gas tank because we already have the large SMB tank (46gal I think).

Ah, Transfer Flow 46 which is typically really ~41 usable without doing a tank mod ( Hutch and Harpoon) to allow access to more tank capacity.

PDXDave · 10-26-2023, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1der

Ah, Transfer Flow 46 which is typically really ~41 usable without doing a tank mod ( Hutch and Harpoon) to allow access to more tank capacity.

Interesting...
I didn't know this.

Glenn P. · 10-26-2023, 10:38 AM

I was in your shoes once upon a time Adventure4Us! I was carrying extra fuel and water and trying to balance the equation as to where to put it all. We don't know a whole lot about your rig as there are many options out there depending on where you can stuff the fuel cans. Please read through this post I started where I was asking for help like you were only about storing water in my case and it made me rethink my whole plan and I shifted to mounting fuel storage, in cans, where the spare tire used to be under the van.

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...350-26797.html

Adventure4us · 10-28-2023, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1der

Ah, Transfer Flow 46 which is typically really ~41 usable without doing a tank mod ( Hutch and Harpoon) to allow access to more tank capacity.

Yes, We were not aware of that either, but we make a conscience effort not to get that low to begin with. We did a search and found a several good explanations on how to correct this. We will however save this project for another day, but good to know none the less.

Glenn, that's a clever idea! Just more than what we would like to go through. Looks like we will mount at least two fuel racks to the top of the Aluminess box, it just seems to be the most simple solution.

Thanks for all the suggestions.