Which is better and why?
Scepter vs. Wedco Gas Cans
- Thread starter Azrocks
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Good Question AZ, I've been wondering this myself. I'm really really torn between the Wedco and Scepter. I like the idea of Palstic for impact resistance and non-explosion design, but they're quite a bit more expensive and I'm not sure they're worth the extra money. I found the Wedco cans at the local Mill's Fleet Farm up here in Wisconsin for $29.95. Thats about $10-12 cheaper per can than the scepter's and the Wedco's at FF each come with the spout for the $29.95 price.
I've been researching this for about 2 weeks now and still haven't come to difinitive answer. Hope some of you with direct experience with each or both will enlighten us.
Matt
I've been researching this for about 2 weeks now and still haven't come to difinitive answer. Hope some of you with direct experience with each or both will enlighten us.
Matt
Az, go to www.expeditionportal.com and do a search for jerry cans, you'll find alot of posts about both.
Matt
Matt
Sceptor makes fuel cans for the military based on military specs. They have been doing it for years.
Wedco makes fuel containers based around the Lawn and Garden industry. If you have one of these cans you will notice they change thier thread pitch pattern every few years and when you need a spout you have to buy a new can since the spouts are NLA.
Wedco makes fuel containers based around the Lawn and Garden industry. If you have one of these cans you will notice they change thier thread pitch pattern every few years and when you need a spout you have to buy a new can since the spouts are NLA.
Wedco also makes NATO spec cans as well, with flip top and locking pin. Available in D.O.T. colors and NATO colors. I believe every British, German and Spanish military vehicle is sporting Wedco these days.
I have never heard of either of these brands, but what I want is steel cans which will positively seal.
Sceptor make fuel cans until the end of the year for consumers. After that, who knows.
Wedco makes their fuel can based on the German WWII design, which was the military standard for over 50 years. Wedco cans are very very good. I have no idea what the hell you are talking about with the spouts as there are no threads?
Jerry Cans
There are several companys that sell used NATO jerry cans at fractions of the price of a new one. cheaperthandirt.com is one. I have found used cans as low as $9.99 at some of these sights. I just repaint them and they look good as new. As a bonus, I've also found 1 gal (5 Liter) cans that work out awesome for carrying fuel on a motorcycle.
There are several companys that sell used NATO jerry cans at fractions of the price of a new one. cheaperthandirt.com is one. I have found used cans as low as $9.99 at some of these sights. I just repaint them and they look good as new. As a bonus, I've also found 1 gal (5 Liter) cans that work out awesome for carrying fuel on a motorcycle.
Here is a link on some Gas Can research..
http://www.survivalmonkey.com/portable_fuel_storage.htm
makes good reading on the subject, I've got some beat-to-hell military surplus Scepter cans that do fine and a Blitz can that never has leaked a drop... Lots of good points to the NATO cans..might get a few of those next..
http://www.survivalmonkey.com/portable_fuel_storage.htm
makes good reading on the subject, I've got some beat-to-hell military surplus Scepter cans that do fine and a Blitz can that never has leaked a drop... Lots of good points to the NATO cans..might get a few of those next..
after doing WAY to much research on the topic of wedco vs. scepter / metal vs. plastic/ used vs. new etc etc. I went with the new Scepter plastic because they were made out of plastic, they retrofitted to existing funnel/spouts and do not conduct electricity. Did I mention that plastic does not rust. https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=170940
having said that they dont rust you do have to deal with the gasket seal in the lid.
I chose the Green Cans with the red strap, they come in all red and orange.
for the water cans I chose the Sand colored ones for the reason that the supplier that I went to had them in stock. in retrospect I would have gone with the blue colored cans instead.
I went with new cans because the reasoning is that I will have these for the rest of my life, broken down that is dollars or cents a year to have a technology/ product that will last even longer.
The Scepter cans DO expand and contract. I believe mine was caused by the rise and fall in elevation on my trip(filled up in Salt lake City dispensed in mountains of colorado. Filled up in Denver and dispensed in Oklahoma).
I have not had any experience with the Wedco cans. hope this helps.
having said that they dont rust you do have to deal with the gasket seal in the lid.
I chose the Green Cans with the red strap, they come in all red and orange.
for the water cans I chose the Sand colored ones for the reason that the supplier that I went to had them in stock. in retrospect I would have gone with the blue colored cans instead.
I went with new cans because the reasoning is that I will have these for the rest of my life, broken down that is dollars or cents a year to have a technology/ product that will last even longer.
The Scepter cans DO expand and contract. I believe mine was caused by the rise and fall in elevation on my trip(filled up in Salt lake City dispensed in mountains of colorado. Filled up in Denver and dispensed in Oklahoma).
I have not had any experience with the Wedco cans. hope this helps.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
The nice thing about the Wedco metal cans, is that they absolutely do not leak or vent fumes. I have carried 5 gallons inside for weeks on a long trip and never had a single issue. The spout also has the same positive lock with no threads at all. It even has a safety bar (lacking on the ex-Military ones) to make sure the cap stays on.
I suppose the Wedco cans will eventually rust. They are welded steel cans. Maybe by 3007 given that mine live inside when they are not on a trip. The point is, rust will be an issue for someone, but not me.
The Scepter cans look good, and I like the similar water cans, but I am not sure they seal quite as well. Still a good choice.
Avoid Blitz cans, or anything that says "CARB approved"
I suppose the Wedco cans will eventually rust. They are welded steel cans. Maybe by 3007 given that mine live inside when they are not on a trip. The point is, rust will be an issue for someone, but not me.
The Scepter cans look good, and I like the similar water cans, but I am not sure they seal quite as well. Still a good choice.
Avoid Blitz cans, or anything that says "CARB approved"
I can attest to the Wedco cans being air tight. In fact if you change elevation from when you closed them last, they can be a bear to open due to the lower pressure inside the can. They also expand and contract due to pressure changes.
As for anything "CARB approved", I just don't get it. I think "CARB approved" is short for "leaks gas everywhere which defeats the entire purpose of the approval". I have a little 1 gallon Blitz plastic jug that has the "CARB approved" filler. I call it the "gas ladle" since it is stored inside the can and collects gas so when you pull it out to use it, you ladle gas out and spill it everywhere.
I'm fully convinced that the California Air Resource Board is just full of meth addicts and crack heads.
Just a note. Wedco cans are brand new, not military surplus. All the vendors I know of who are no longer offering Scepter cans next year will offer Wedco cans instead.
I've used the Wedco cans for years, but just purchased a couple 10 liter Scepters from Slee as I needed two more cans and couldn't find the 10 liter Wedcos in stock anywhere.
So far, I've only filled them up and not used them, but they seem pretty nice. They are light, feel very durable and very sturdy.
However, of the two brand new cans, one leaks while the other one appears to be fairly tight. The leaking happens if I turn the can upsidedown. The wedcos, can be stored in nearly any position without any problems. I'll have to go back and check the tighteness of the cap and whether or not its overfilled as they may be issues.
But in the end, I don't think anything can beat the Wedcos when it comes to being leak and vapor free. My wedcos have lived inside my rig for years without so much as a hint of vapor, fumes or any smell of gas, much less leaks. They are also completely leak free when filling up my tank.
At this point, I'm not sure which one is better. I'll feel more confident with the Wedcos, but the Scepters are easier to use. If the Scepters could be reliably leak free, I'd rather use them. Hopefully I just got a dud gasket on the one leaky Scepter.
So far, I've only filled them up and not used them, but they seem pretty nice. They are light, feel very durable and very sturdy.
However, of the two brand new cans, one leaks while the other one appears to be fairly tight. The leaking happens if I turn the can upsidedown. The wedcos, can be stored in nearly any position without any problems. I'll have to go back and check the tighteness of the cap and whether or not its overfilled as they may be issues.
But in the end, I don't think anything can beat the Wedcos when it comes to being leak and vapor free. My wedcos have lived inside my rig for years without so much as a hint of vapor, fumes or any smell of gas, much less leaks. They are also completely leak free when filling up my tank.
At this point, I'm not sure which one is better. I'll feel more confident with the Wedcos, but the Scepters are easier to use. If the Scepters could be reliably leak free, I'd rather use them. Hopefully I just got a dud gasket on the one leaky Scepter.
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Surplus NATO cans are the best.
More wood for the fire: https://www.expeditionexchange.com/wedco/
I use the non-CARB Wedco cans with a super siphon....I don't have to remove the cans from the basket on my rear bumper when fueling.
I use the non-CARB Wedco cans with a super siphon....I don't have to remove the cans from the basket on my rear bumper when fueling.
Josie'sLandCruiser
Stop calling it a "FJ."
Hi All:
I have a pair of late-1960s manufacture British Army surplus "jerry" cans that I use in my FJ40, mounted laying horizontal without any problems with leaks.
I have a buddy who owns a pair of the Sceptor plastic fuel cans. First 'wheeling trip after he bought 'em he lent of of those cans to me to use. Guess which of the cans was missing the lid gasket . . . . .
As you can imagine, leaked gas whenever on steep up or down hills, etc. He said his can worked fine, no leaky.
That said, I have a US military surplus Sceptor water can that has performed well for me.
Regards,
Alan
I have a pair of late-1960s manufacture British Army surplus "jerry" cans that I use in my FJ40, mounted laying horizontal without any problems with leaks.
I have a buddy who owns a pair of the Sceptor plastic fuel cans. First 'wheeling trip after he bought 'em he lent of of those cans to me to use. Guess which of the cans was missing the lid gasket . . . . .
As you can imagine, leaked gas whenever on steep up or down hills, etc. He said his can worked fine, no leaky.
That said, I have a US military surplus Sceptor water can that has performed well for me.
Regards,
Alan
I'm going with the Wedco cans. I love the fact they are steel and they are hightly recommended. I can't stand plastic stuff. I've had too many plastic 5 gallon containers over the years. Time to trade up.
on the availability of the Scepter MFC's, I contacted Scepter directly. Here is what they said:
"Hello Graeme.
Here's a long answer to your short question:
Yes, certain colours are being discontinued (orange, red and yellow) altogether.
Also, in U.S. States that are required to meet CARB regulations for portable fuel containers (a growing number), our MFC is now only available to the military.
The reason: Our MFC is not CARB compliant, but Uncle Sam happens to be exempt.
In Canada no CARB-like regulations for PFC's exist...yet.
Therefore, the OD MFC's (05552/gas and 05939/diesel) are still available to anyone in Canada."
Now if I could just figure out why they cost more in Canada...
Hope this helps
"Hello Graeme.
Here's a long answer to your short question:
Yes, certain colours are being discontinued (orange, red and yellow) altogether.
Also, in U.S. States that are required to meet CARB regulations for portable fuel containers (a growing number), our MFC is now only available to the military.
The reason: Our MFC is not CARB compliant, but Uncle Sam happens to be exempt.
In Canada no CARB-like regulations for PFC's exist...yet.
Therefore, the OD MFC's (05552/gas and 05939/diesel) are still available to anyone in Canada."
Now if I could just figure out why they cost more in Canada...
Hope this helps
Exploit Jeep owners for not knowing the rules...I just had Quadratec ship me, no questions asked, two MFCs (with red strap for DOT compliance) to the s***-tastic state of California. (If you can't tell I view having to live here for work as penance for such a cool job).
They also have water cans, but the tan ones are sans the Arabic on the side.
They also have water cans, but the tan ones are sans the Arabic on the side.
