I don't disagree with you either! If you can make the stock capacity and range work for you, that's most definitely the way to go. A jerry is a perfectly fine solution. Not even necessarily to use on a regular basis. But it would allow one to comfortably go into the "red" on the main tank, knowing there's reserve hanging off the back bumper. That's at least 35 miles more range right there (I have a 3.5 gallon tote).
Under tow, I get 205-220 range on the main tank before the range-o-meter tells me I'm at 0. It's probably a bit better than that, as I'm on 33.2" tires, and the odometer under reports. So with the jerry can margin, that's 240-255miles range. At 55 - 60mph.
In the odd case I'm trying to make time, large headwins, or hills, range shrinks. Sometimes dramatically. Or the time I was camping in BLM land, and doing off-roading side excursions, range became a peculiar issue with the nearest gas station 30 miles away, uphill.
I could certainly add another jerry. I may still do that as I hear you that it's a cheaper, simpler solution. I just wish that the main tank had more range. I sometimes find myself stopping more often (3 times in a day) for gas just to make sure I have a safe reserve as gas stations sometimes are not arranged nicely to allow me to run below 50 miles range. And not all are safe for me to enter towing 27' of TT behind. I still agree with you. But I'm partially justifying an aux tank (the small 13 is all I wish for). It would remove a point of constraint on our journeys for sure, allowing me to stop at rest area or interesting stop, instead of a gas station and rest area, or just gas station.
Anther part of it is that I'm always looking for the next project, and an aux tank would be a fun one for me to tackle.
