Possible gas can solution: seasucker rotopax?

[dudemancool1904]

I am spending more and more time out now that it’s desert season. One place where my bronco and jeep buds have me beat is gas capacity. I have stock bumpers and don’t want to deal with evap codes that may or may not come with an LRA, so I was looking at rotopax or equivalent. However the only place I’ve seen them mounted is on the roof and the last place I want a bunch of gas is on the roof of a black truck in the middle of the desert. I considered one of those cool tac weenie guy Molle panels that mounts on the rear quarter window but again those aren’t designed for the stock roof rack.
Then it hit me: those things use suction cups. Why not just cut out the middleman and go with a seasucker? Turns out they make a dual suction cups with integrated rotopax mount. I figure I can stick it to a rear quarter, the rear window or the tailgate. I used their tacks before on the wife’s panoramic roof Benz, they held our paddleboards and bikes no problem.

The mount is a few hundred bones and I can pick up a few used rotopax containers from friends looking to upgrade. Is it worth my time? Am I crazy? Let me know.

RotopaX Tank Holder

Let us help you haul your RotopaX Tanks without any permanent mounts! Grab a SeaSucker RotopaX Tank Holder, powered by two 6" SeaSucker mounts, and easily attach your existing tank and hardware. Put your tanks on when you need them, remove in seconds when you don't! SeaSucker's RotopaX Tank...

www.seasucker.com

 

[gaijin]

I think that's a brilliant idea! Each holder is limited to a 3 gallon tank, but it looks like there would be space for 2 holders on each side when mounted to the rear quarter windows - 12 gallons total!

I'm very curious to see what others think.

 

[7000ft]

Hum. I for one wouldn't trust suction cups holding 20# of fuel and Rotopax cans on my side or rear windows while off roading or 80mph highway cruising. I'd also be concerned about possibly breaking the glass its attached from the weights vibrations.
I have two rotopax mounts on my ARB Baserack ( black LC200) and never have had a fuel problem in 100 degree environments.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I have had enough problems with suction phone/ trailer cam monitors on windshields and temperature differentials, that I am weary of suction cup solutions. However, I have seen suction cup ski racks work on Porsches and Lamborghinis at 80+ mph, so I am willing to be proven wrong.

 

[dudemancool1904]

I found one of the wife’s old sea suckers (i think this is the stretch band one) in the old hopes and dreams closet. I’ll pull down the suction roof racks tomorrow and compare them, might be able to put something together with a hardware store run.

As far as suction cups, between these, and various camera mounts I’ve used in years of a previous life as a photographer, I’ve never had an issue with one coming off a car, boat, plane, or motorcycle at speed. I do think all that weight pulling on a side window could be an issue, I’d feel better if I could find enough sheet metal real estate to make it work.
Better buy some beer and have fun tomorrow.

 

[NikP]

One of my Jeep buddies runs a set of two 3-gallon Rotopax cans on rear window suction cups for his JK unlimited. His setup has a metal brace that connects back up to his roof rack for a bit of added support. Ive noticed when we're on the trail, his cans seem to slide down the window over time and the metal brace even seems to bend under the weight. I'm not sure what brand he uses, but the design isn't symmetric so when the cans slide down the window, they pivot and become crooked when looking at them from the sideview. I'm not sure I'd fully trust just suction cups without added support to a roof rack at both ends.

 

[bicycleagent003]

A full 3 gal Rotopax weighs 25 lbs, but you probably knew that already.

 

[gaijin]

I found one of the wife’s old sea suckers (i think this is the stretch band one) in the old hopes and dreams closet. I’ll pull down the suction roof racks tomorrow and compare them, might be able to put something together with a hardware store run.

As far as suction cups, between these, and various camera mounts I’ve used in years of a previous life as a photographer, I’ve never had an issue with one coming off a car, boat, plane, or motorcycle at speed. I do think all that weight pulling on a side window could be an issue, I’d feel better if I could find enough sheet metal real estate to make it work.
Better buy some beer and have fun tomorrow.

View attachment 4018295

Those suction cups in your picture look smaller than the 6.5" cups SeaSucker has on their Rotopax mount:

Might make a significant difference if testing yours to see if it's feasible.

HTH

 

[Boston Mangler]

my bronco and jeep buds have me beat

 

[siberian]

Just amazed that given the very low gas mileage the tank is so small. I'm averaging 14.6mpg, empty and having removed the third row seat. Distances here are huge and depending on the time of year, a lot of gas stations are closed. So planning on driving the Alcan you better plan. Chitina, one of our salmon fishing places is about 330 miles away way beyond what I could reach sans refueling. Not a problem but other areas require careful planning. Thank you all or your feedback, I'll contact Rotopax this week.

siberian

 

[stonepa]

I am a huge fan of 5 gallon fuel bladders. As I use them I just roll them up and throw them in the back. And the Long Range tanks. Not a fan of gimmicks like the fancy fuel cans. They may look cool but I have never found them useful for my situation.

 

[stonepa]

Just amazed that given the very low gas mileage the tank is so small. I'm averaging 14.6mpg, empty and having removed the third row seat. Distances here are huge and depending on the time of year, a lot of gas stations are closed. So planning on driving the Alcan you better plan. Chitina, one of our salmon fishing places is about 330 miles away way beyond what I could reach sans refueling. Not a problem but other areas require careful planning. Thank you all or your feedback, I'll contact Rotopax this week.

siberian

I always carry 4 5 gallon fuel bladders or old-school jerry cans when headed up the Alcan and Dempster. Sure, there's plenty of fuel along the route but I am the type that never goes much below a 1/4 tank before I start sweating. Must be the old pilot in me.

 

[sdnative]

I am a huge fan of 5 gallon fuel bladders. As I use them I just roll them up and throw them in the back. And the Long Range tanks. Not a fan of gimmicks like the fancy fuel cans. They may look cool but I have never found them useful for my situation.

Which bladders do you use? Where do you store them when full? Roof? Do you have any pictures of your setup? I am looking for a good fuel carrying solution since I don't have an aftermarket roof rack on the new truck.

 

[stonepa]

Which bladders do you use? Where do you store them when full? Roof? Do you have any pictures of your setup? I am looking for a good fuel carrying solution since I don't have an aftermarket roof rack on the new truck.

I store them in a plastic tray in the back and sometimes on the roof. Ill see if I have a picture.

I have used the Armadillo that I bought off Amazon. There are much more expensive versions out there but I have not tried any of those.

 

[linuxgod]

For water I'm super tempted to try these with a $75 Shurflo 12V pump, which then frees up my swingout for fuel.

Trail'd 6 Gallon Spare Water TankNONE / TWO TANKS

Increase off-road water storage by utilizing your truck's space tire space. The Trail'd Universal Spare Tire Tank holds a substantial 6 gallons of liquid, providing you with complete peace of mind when you're off the grid. Extend your adventure by stacking up to 3 tanks per vehicle for a total...

www.tacomalifestyle.com

TBH I kinda want to make this in a fuel-safe plastic container and then just use a transfer pump with a hose into the gas tank. I'd still have to stop and plug the hose into the gas tank filler opening, but no rotopax/jerry can lifting effort.

 

[siberian]

The truck like hatch design is painful enough when trying to load a team of Siberians or cargo and I don't have enough room in my garage for a swing out without opening the door. Thus the rotopax is interesting.

Question; is it preferable to have a single dual pack or safer/easier etc. getting two single ones on either side?

siberians

 

[sdnative]

Water is much easier to deal with. I hesitate to put fuel inside the cabin but water no problem.

For a longer trip a couple years ago I removed the smaller of the 2nd row seats and built a simple platform to fit 3x 5gal MWC (scepter). Worked like a charm.

 

[linuxgod]

The truck like hatch design is painful enough when trying to load a team of Siberians or cargo and I don't have enough room in my garage for a swing out without opening the door. Thus the rotopax is interesting.

Question; is it preferable to have a single dual pack or safer/easier etc. getting two single ones on either side?

siberians

If I only needed 4-5 gallons and money was no object I’d do two smaller ones. They’re easier to handle and a bit of redundancy if one were to leak. The only real downside other than the increase in costs for the cans and mounts is that you have to vent 2 instead of 1.

I do think vertical mounted rotopax are better for venting, whereas the horizontal mount on my roof means I have to remove the rotopax to vent it which is a hassle.

 

[siberian]

I'll see if I can mount one on either side on the wheel arch rather than the window. Given I'm on 3 miles of gravel to get to the mailbox or road I'd prefer the bouncing stress to be on the body rather than on the glass.

siberian

 

[gaijin]

Just to make it even more interesting... SeaSucker has a mount with 3 suction cups rated for use up to 5 gallons:

Link: 5 Gallon Capable SeaSucker Mount

Pic:

This looks like a winner!

HTH