RotopaX Rooftop Fuel Carrier on Stock Crossbars

[Taco2Cruiser]

If you read reviews on Amazon for the rotopax mounted on vehicle roofs its leak story after leak story. Ruined windshield gaskets and smelly gas on the hands. I dig the concept / design but hesitant to spend $x on possible leaky plastic. Just throwing that out there. Nice fab work for you rack.

I’ve hand nothing but rock solid no leaks from mine for the past 6 years.

I will say that there is an c-channel shaped gasket that goes around the spout. Sometimes it does unseat itself when removing the cap. So if you don’t inspect your spout prior to refilling it, then yeah, it could leak.

I attribute it to everything in this world. People don’t care, they don’t care to take a second to make sure everything is how it should be. We live in an instant world where maintenance doesn’t matter, and time to think through problems is not a course of action... just better to jump on social media and complain.

I’m not attacking you Travis, I’m just being me.

 

[Willy beamin]

All good. I was hoping youd read that and elaborate

 

[chilibit]

You can install the Rotopax mounts directly to the cross bars. It was discussed here previously and if you pull the end caps and pay attention to the internal cross bar construction you can easily drill the necessary holes on a drill press. I carried around Colorado and states to the west with no issues at all. It will sit a touch higher if that is a concern.

 

[gaijin]

I attribute it to everything in this world. People don’t care, they don’t care to take a second to make sure everything is how it should be. We live in an instant world where maintenance doesn’t matter, and time to think through problems is not a course of action... just better to jump on social media and complain.

Absolutely G*****n right!

 

[TeCKis300]

On the road to the mountains today. Just got in. Today was HOT. Just pushing 100F. The canister definitely looked "fluffy", but no leaks. I vented it once to relieve the pressure, but that's the nature of fuel canisters in this type of whether. I do make it a point to make sure I don't get contaminates on the sealing surface. But also to squeeze it down slightly when closing the cap such that it has room when it get s hot.

I setup my mount to keep things as much in the slipstream as possible. It's only like 3/8" off the surface of the roof.

 

[linuxgod]

Do you fill it to the max, or do you leave air space in the rotopax? I'm wondering if it's better to overfill, since air expands much more than fuel? Or if the expansion isn't really air actually vaporized gas, which is less dense than liquified gas and thus it would be better to actually leave more of an air gap?

 

[TeCKis300]

Good question. I'm not sure it leaving less or more gap is better. There's a fill line which is about 90% full and I fill to that.

 

[ethernectar]

Just don't leave the lockable Rotopax up on top for an extended duration. I had mine on the rack for about a year and it was completely seized up. Fortunately we discovered this while the truck was in the garage and not hours from civilization or fuel. Even after pulling the bracket off, I could not get the lock to release. Big hammer, little hammer, punch, etc.

 

[Willy beamin]

Did you hose it down with wd40? Works wonders for stuck locks

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

^^^ Yeah!

Spray that, PB, or a dry lube. Spray in, wait 3 minutes. Problem solved... problem stayin' solved.

Open locks just don't have a chance after awhile. Same with the Steelcore Straps locks, that's why those have a neoprene accessory cover to protect the open lock from dust (use those for my OzTent). Hell, even the rear door lock on my FJ would get stuck after some time in the desert.

I left mine on the top of a rack for 3 years in El Paso, no problems. Maybe I just got the two most magical rotopaxs and mounts ever?

 

[ethernectar]

^^^ Yeah!

Spray that, PB, or a dry lube. Spray in, wait 3 minutes. Problem solved... problem stayin' solved.

Open locks just don't have a chance after awhile. Same with the Steelcore Straps locks, that's why those have a neoprene accessory cover to protect the open lock from dust (use those for my OzTent). Hell, even the rear door lock on my FJ would get stuck after some time in the desert.

I left mine on the top of a rack for 3 years in El Paso, no problems. Maybe I just got the two most magical rotopaxs and mounts ever?

Negative Ghost Rider. Tried WD40, TriFlow, Brake Cleaner, etc. You must have had the magical mount lol. Once I got it off the rack by removing the base, I couldn't break the lock free even in a vice.

Haven't had the issue with my Steelcores, but those are only on for whatever trip I'm on, not everyday, but that does remind me to shoot some TriFlow into them...

 

[linuxgod]

As cool as they look I only intend to leave mine up there when traveling. When I get home I will transfer any remaining fuel to my truck's tank and store the rotopax.

I'm short on time so for this trip I will likely ratchet-strap mine to the roof rack. If some jag-off wants to steal it they can take the maxtrax and shovel as well I suppose

 

[sdnative]

How has the roof mount been working out? Do the fuel cans leak when mounted horizontally?

I bought some Yakima RailGrab and 58" round bars. I am going to mount a Yakima Skybox 16 to the round bars and nest a Rotopax universal plate between them mounted on the factory crossbars where they connect to the side rails. I also want to throw a OzTent RV5 up there but at that point I would exceed the 165lb limit. With the Yakima stuff, some light gear and two Rotopax 4gal fuel carrier I am right at the limit.

I was resisting an aftermarket rack, but have come to terms with adding a Front Runner down the road. Looking for an interim solution.

 

[linuxgod]

How has the roof mount been working out? Do the fuel cans leak when mounted horizontally?

I bought some Yakima RailGrab and 58" round bars. I am going to mount a Yakima Skybox 16 to the round bars and nest a Rotopax universal plate between them mounted on the factory crossbars where they connect to the side rails. I also want to throw a OzTent RV5 up there but at that point I would exceed the 165lb limit. With the Yakima stuff, some light gear and two Rotopax 4gal fuel carrier I am right at the limit.

I was resisting an aftermarket rack, but have come to terms with adding a Front Runner down the road. Looking for an interim solution.

No leaks for me after 2 summers. Ask me after the LCDC I suppose. I don't keep mine full except on long trips though.

Mine isn't really mounted so much as strapped down with multiple kayak lashing straps. I've considered a real mounting solution but it's as expensive as a rotopax and the straps seem to work fine, plus I've heard of the locks freezing when mounted horizontally. In my mind I have an idea of what kind of mount I'd prefer to use (basically two j-hooks which pull tight when you flip a latch down). If I could find those for $5 a piece I'd buy a half dozen and use that as the kayak straps work but take several minutes for me to unlash since I need to wrap/tie up the excess strap when it's up there.

 

[TeCKis300]

Still working well with no issues to report. I use it about once a month when I'm off weekend camping. The mount is always there, so it's cake to throw the fuelpax on and secure with the screw bracket. Easy mount/unmount for fueling and fill-up.

I've had no leaks. Even when the fuelpax getting quite bulgy in the heat of summer.

 

[duncancsu]

Have any of you who have mounted them to the factory roof rack bars noticed any increase wind noise? I like the look of these and could solve my fuel issues when towing a trailer. Much cheaper then an aux tank.

 

[chilibit]

I mounted directly to roof rails. Located at the passenger rear corner I did not notice any noise but my hearing is not acute. It works fine but you will discover that pulling it down and dumping the fuel into your main tank is slightly more bothersome that you might think. If I needed more fuel more often I would install an auxiliary tank. I don't use it often and I just remove the rails and tank as a single unit and hang it (empty) in a separate vehicle building.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'm particular to noise which is part of the reason I won't consider an aftermarket roof rack. For the way I have it mounted, as much in the profile/slipstream of the stock bars as possible, it doesn't create any additional noise. I recently started putting traction boards bungeed to the roof rack and that makes some noise but under what the tire noise is on the highway.

I have an aux tank but still carry the fuelpax for safety, portable genny on the trailer, and to help others on the trail.

For towing, you may not actually resort to using the fuel can regularly as it's not exactly convenient. What it's useful for is to more comfortably draw deeper into your main tank, another 30-50 miles range, knowing you have additional fuel onboard if it were to come to that.

 

[fos373]

Does anybody have pics / link to how they mounted fuel cans in the spare tire area? Any rubbing Issues? @Taco2Cruiser - assuming you fabbed something?

Apologies if I’m taking this post in another direction. It was mentioned in some posts, just curious about alternatives.

thanks

B

 

[duncancsu]

I'm particular to noise which is part of the reason I won't consider an aftermarket roof rack. For the way I have it mounted, as much in the profile/slipstream of the stock bars as possible, it doesn't create any additional noise. I recently started putting traction boards bungeed to the roof rack and that makes some noise but under what the tire noise is on the highway.

I have an aux tank but still carry the fuelpax for safety, portable genny on the trailer, and to help others on the trail.

For towing, you may not actually resort to using the fuel can regularly as it's not exactly convenient. What it's useful for is to more comfortably draw deeper into your main tank, another 30-50 miles range, knowing you have additional fuel onboard if it were to come to that.

View attachment 2516069

Thank you for the info