Trail'd Spare Gas Cans (1 Viewer)

[KNR]

Just wanted to throw this out there. No affiliation here. I got a couple of Trail'd spare tire liquid tanks last week. Great customer service and nice product though a little pricey. But so are rotopax when you add all the mounting things required. I wanted a solution for extra water and gas and if it worked seemed like a good solution and location to hold the 6 gal of gas and water if it worked out. I was concerned about carrying fuel there, but would rather it there, then on the roof. I used two tanks. The gas tank I had at the top and water underneath to protect it if anything hit it. I Just got back from a 4 day trip in the South Tahoe/Kirkwood area with them. We did Pardoe/Squaw Ridge trail and a bunch of forest roads for reference of terrain. I filled them at home at sea level and traveled as high as 9500 ft with 90 degree weather. There were no leaks, and it performed as advertised. One note is definitely wash them out as there is a lot of debris when you receive it from the factory. Black plastic pieces. I shook them out, washed it and it seemed good. It is a little inconvenient to lower the tank to get the water on the trail or at camp (especially with dusty ground,) but as a backup source it was nice. I think this will be where I carry extra water for sure and as an extra 6 gallons of gas for the thirsty girl. Other note is I would probably put a large washer on the under side of the bottom tank to spread the pressure of the tire pulley. These are not epa rated for gas, but performed just fine, but of course use at own risk.

Overland Water Storage for Adventurers | Trail'd

Looking for overland water storage? Trail'd offers the best gear for your outdoor expeditions. Visit the website today and shop now!

www.trailedonline.com

 

[alefer5]

I appreciate the account on these! I'm thinking that this will be my solution to fuel storage on my Gx 460. I know that these carry no EPA fuel rating, but did you have any issues? It seems like the folks on the 4Runner forums fill them with fuel no issue. Also, any issues with expansion / venting of the tanks at altitude? From my past experiences with Rotopax, I would typically vent the containers when up high.

 

[KNR]

I appreciate the account on these! I'm thinking that this will be my solution to fuel storage on my Gx 460. I know that these carry no EPA fuel rating, but did you have any issues? It seems like the folks on the 4Runner forums fill them with fuel no issue. Also, any issues with expansion / venting of the tanks at altitude? From my past experiences with Rotopax, I would typically vent the containers when up high.

No issues with fuel. They have some flexibility to them so I think they expand. I didn't vent at all, and again that was filling up at sea level and driving to 9500 feet in heat. I would be curious about the other way though. If I filled them up at elevation and drove down how it would handle the vacuum vs expansion. Since I had the gas above the water, I would occasionally reach under to check for leaks and not a drop. I also smelled the water tank at the end to see if there was anything smell and couldn't detect any odor on the lower tank or the main gas one. It did kind of "reshape" the lower tank as the tire hoist pulls up through the middle of the tanks so the lower tank kind of flexed concave as you put pressure on it when you lift it tight, but I reached out to the owner and he assured it isn't a problem, and that the tank was designed with some flexibility in case there is too much pressure. I will probably be adding a larger washer where the hoists contacts the tank to give it some extra strength. Don't forget to flatten the tab on the hoist. You will see it.

 

[Sleepyjim]

Couple years old but wondering how they lasted.....

 

[r2m]

Just wanted to throw this out there. No affiliation here. I got a couple of Trail'd spare tire liquid tanks last week. Great customer service and nice product though a little pricey. But so are rotopax when you add all the mounting things required. I wanted a solution for extra water and gas and if it worked seemed like a good solution and location to hold the 6 gal of gas and water if it worked out. I was concerned about carrying fuel there, but would rather it there, then on the roof. I used two tanks. The gas tank I had at the top and water underneath to protect it if anything hit it. I Just got back from a 4 day trip in the South Tahoe/Kirkwood area with them. We did Pardoe/Squaw Ridge trail and a bunch of forest roads for reference of terrain. I filled them at home at sea level and traveled as high as 9500 ft with 90 degree weather. There were no leaks, and it performed as advertised. One note is definitely wash them out as there is a lot of debris when you receive it from the factory. Black plastic pieces. I shook them out, washed it and it seemed good. It is a little inconvenient to lower the tank to get the water on the trail or at camp (especially with dusty ground,) but as a backup source it was nice. I think this will be where I carry extra water for sure and as an extra 6 gallons of gas for the thirsty girl. Other note is I would probably put a large washer on the under side of the bottom tank to spread the pressure of the tire pulley. These are not epa rated for gas, but performed just fine, but of course use at own risk.

Overland Water Storage for Adventurers | Trail'd

Looking for overland water storage? Trail'd offers the best gear for your outdoor expeditions. Visit the website today and shop now!

www.trailedonline.com

Although, they are a little pricey.
Too bad they can't make one for petrol along with a fill hose!

 

[URJ150L]

Got some of these… haven’t tried them yet… seem high quality

 

[SouthTxGX]

I’ve been meaning to pick up a pair of these to fill the void where my spare used to be. Haven’t seen much info from gx owners, but 4Runner guys tend to like them.

 

[alefer5]

I'd love to grab a set for fuel, but I'm hesitant...It looks like @KNR had a positive experience with fuel, but anyone else have any first-hand account? What are y'all doing for spare fuel?

 

[r2m]

I'd love to grab a set for fuel, but I'm hesitant...It looks like @KNR had a positive experience with fuel, but anyone else have any first-hand account? What are y'all doing for spare fuel?

For extreme overland travel and camping, meaning several days off grid with no civilization near, I have brought just one 5 gal Scepter jerry can of fuel. But to tell you the truth, there is almost nowhere in the lower 48 where one can go and not be within 25 miles (50 max) of fuel (read: 2 - 4 gallons of gas). Even when we did the Mojave trail a couple of years ago, we were 3 or 4 days off grid. I started out with a very full tank and when we were done, I hit the tarmac with still at least an 1/8 of a tank left. I never touched my "extra" 5 gal jerry can, so I poured it into my tank just for the sake of not having to haul it around on the back of my rig. Yeah, if you're the type that will get yourself lost rabbit trailing down endless trails and run out of fuel, doing that kind of mindless off roading, then you're an idiot and shouldn't be out there.
I believe too many off roaders and overlanders are kind of like the people who purchase EV's. They're always worried about being stuck in the middle of know where and out of fuel. In all honesty, about the only time that'll ever happen is if you puncture your gas tank.
It's kind of like the the people that packback and do "hike-throughs", like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. They carefully plan their adventure knowing when and where to stop for restores of food, showers, etc. Off roading in a vehicle is not different. If you're planning on an big multi-day adventure, then plan when and where you'll be refueling, filling with water, maybe more food, etc. Remember, you're never really that far off gird to be able to fill up quickly without spoiling your adventure.

The only reason I'd want a larger tank or auxiliary tank is for no other reason than to not fill up so often. To me, that is the biggest waste of my time, pulling into a gas stations to fill up. The less I can do that, the more time I get back in my life.

If you're doing an extreme overland adventure, (especially in desert), I'd be far more apt to use the space for an extra 5 gallons of water than 5 gallons of fuel.

Okay, I'm off my soap box now...

 

[alefer5]

For extreme overland travel and camping, meaning several days off grid with no civilization near, I have brought just one 5 gal Scepter jerry can of fuel. But to tell you the truth, there is almost nowhere in the lower 48 where one can go and not be within 25 miles (50 max) of fuel (read: 2 - 4 gallons of gas). Even when we did the Mojave trail a couple of years ago, we were 3 or 4 days off grid. I started out with a very full tank and when we were done, I hit the tarmac with still at least an 1/8 of a tank left. I never touched my "extra" 5 gal jerry can, so I poured it into my tank just for the sake of not having to haul it around on the back of my rig. Yeah, if you're the type that will get yourself lost rabbit trailing down endless trails and run out of fuel, doing that kind of mindless off roading, then you're an idiot and shouldn't be out there.
I believe too many off roaders and overlanders are kind of like the people who purchase EV's. They're always worried about being stuck in the middle of know where and out of fuel. In all honesty, about the only time that'll ever happen is if you puncture your gas tank.
It's kind of like the the people that packback and do "hike-throughs", like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. They carefully plan their adventure knowing when and where to stop for restores of food, showers, etc. Off roading in a vehicle is not different. If you're planning on an big multi-day adventure, then plan when and where you'll be refueling, filling with water, maybe more food, etc. Remember, you're never really that far off gird to be able to fill up quickly without spoiling your adventure.

The only reason I'd want a larger tank or auxiliary tank is for no other reason than to not fill up so often. To me, that is the biggest waste of my time, pulling into a gas stations to fill up. The less I can do that, the more time I get back in my life.

If you're doing an extreme overland adventure, (especially in desert), I'd be far more apt to use the space for an extra 5 gallons of water than 5 gallons of fuel.

Okay, I'm off my soap box now...

These are all great points Richard! Back in the day, I spent my summers doing some multi-week hikes on the Appalachian Trail, and we had everything planned down to the tee. Everything from the trail waypoints to campsites, to rivers to source water, to towns to receive mail-drops of food, everything was planned. I follow a pretty similar mentality with my overland trips, but having "additional fuel" is always a nice peace of mind. I did the Mojave road last year, and we had one guy that barely made it out to a fuel station. In my mind, if there's a decent solution to store an additional 3-6 gallons (like the Trail'd containers), it might not be a bad thing to carry. In any case, appreciate your insights!

 

[ducktapeguy]

For extreme overland travel and camping, meaning several days off grid with no civilization near, I have brought just one 5 gal Scepter jerry can of fuel. But to tell you the truth, there is almost nowhere in the lower 48 where one can go and not be within 25 miles (50 max) of fuel (read: 2 - 4 gallons of gas). Even when we did the Mojave trail a couple of years ago, we were 3 or 4 days off grid. I started out with a very full tank and when we were done, I hit the tarmac with still at least an 1/8 of a tank left. I never touched my "extra" 5 gal jerry can, so I poured it into my tank just for the sake of not having to haul it around on the back of my rig. Yeah, if you're the type that will get yourself lost rabbit trailing down endless trails and run out of fuel, doing that kind of mindless off roading, then you're an idiot and shouldn't be out there.
I believe too many off roaders and overlanders are kind of like the people who purchase EV's. They're always worried about being stuck in the middle of know where and out of fuel. In all honesty, about the only time that'll ever happen is if you puncture your gas tank.
It's kind of like the the people that packback and do "hike-throughs", like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. They carefully plan their adventure knowing when and where to stop for restores of food, showers, etc. Off roading in a vehicle is not different. If you're planning on an big multi-day adventure, then plan when and where you'll be refueling, filling with water, maybe more food, etc. Remember, you're never really that far off gird to be able to fill up quickly without spoiling your adventure.

The only reason I'd want a larger tank or auxiliary tank is for no other reason than to not fill up so often. To me, that is the biggest waste of my time, pulling into a gas stations to fill up. The less I can do that, the more time I get back in my life.

If you're doing an extreme overland adventure, (especially in desert), I'd be far more apt to use the space for an extra 5 gallons of water than 5 gallons of fuel.

Okay, I'm off my soap box now...

I've heard that you don't need spare gas any where in the continental US from a lot of different people, but I'd disagree. The majority of those people seem to be from the East Coast, and I guess they've just never experienced the endless roads of the southwest where you might see signs like this.

I don't even go out as remote or for as long as many people, but there are quite a few places that I would say extra gas was a necessity if you didn't want to make a huge detour or reroute. Hell, I've even come close to running out of gas in my Subaru in the middle of California, and that got twice the mileage and probably 70% better range that my GX, and I never left a paved road.

For the Mojave road, yeah I don't see needing any gas cans for that because you're pretty much paralleling 2 major highways and there are a lot of exit points along the route. But in Death Valley, you can easily start hitting the range limit of a thirsty GX. Just last year I had to detour to Big Pine, which is at least an hour detour just to fill up, and sometimes things like that can kill the momentum on a trip. A couple of years ago I had one guy begging to buy a couple gallons of gas from me at the Racetrack, because he was running low and didn't want to go back the way he came, and wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it out the other routes.

In Canyonlands last year, I carried 10 extra gallons, had to borrow 2 more gallons from a friend, and I still was running low when I got out. The gas station in Hite was closed for the night, and I had serious doubt as to whether I could make it to the next gas station 50 miles away in the wrong direction. If I had gone back to Canyonlands this year, the planned route would have me carrying 20-25 extra gallons, and even that wouldn't have left me with a comfortable margin. I've had similar experiences in the Arizona Strip and Northern Nevada.

Unless you feel like spending half a day in the middle of the trip to run out and fill the tank, only to spend 1/4 of that tank to return back to where you left off, having a couple of spare gas cans makes a lot of sense. Maybe some people are meticulous enough to have every gas stop planned, and are diligent enough to even go through the trouble ahead of time to make sure their planned gas stops are still open, but I'll admit I'm not one of those people. I don't always have a set plan, and a lot of times I'll change plans or change routes in the middle of a trip for a variety of reasons, sometimes due to weather, technical problems, or I just decide I'd rather go somewhere else. I even get lost sometimes because I'll see a random trail and see where it goes, that's part of the fun of exploring. Having spare gas just gives you more freedom and flexibility, so I don't see much of a downside to carrying it.

 

[URJ150L]

Just got back from a 4 day camping trip. Nearest gas station was 75 miles away. After 3 full days of wheeling we got back with less than an 1/8 of a tank… glad I had an extra 8 gallons in rotopax on the Tacoma.

 

[SouthTxGX]

The only place I’d ever really use extra fuel is heading down PINS depending on the sand conditions. A 120 mile trip in soft sand will put you either close to empty or having to refuel before you get off the beach. I mainly want the trail'd containers to fill the void and have extra water if needed.

 

[KNR]

Couple years old but wondering how they lasted.....

They are working good. I've kept them empty when not in use underneath and still working. I've used them for gas 4 times now (only needed the extra fuel twice) No leaks. It's a bit awkward to fill the tank with the small nozzle and the short scepter filler. Definitely spilled some gas, but having this solution vs a Jerry on the roof for me is a good solution. The material seems soft enough to expand at elevation gain, but it does deform (concave) a little with the tire chain pressure against the body as it holds it. I would think a simple syphon hose would work great but I haven't gone that route yet. I have it the lower on a rock once and it put a scrape in the plastic but not even close to puncturing it. They are pricey but since I don't have a Jerry holder on a bumper and don't want to put gas on the roof it works like a charm. The peace of mind of carrying the fuel for me or someone in the group is very worth it.

 

[KNR]

The only place I’d ever really use extra fuel is heading down PINS depending on the sand conditions. A 120 mile trip in soft sand will put you either close to empty or having to refuel before you get off the beach. I mainly want the trail'd containers to fill the void and have extra water if needed.

Definitely clean out the inside first REALLY well. There are plastic shavings on the inside when you first get them and even after that first go there was a bit of a color to the water on the first use. I should have cleaned them out better. I used one for gas and one for water the first 2 trips. First trip had the coloration but was ok after that. Looks like I could have cleaned them better. Since then I have moved them both to gas only use.

 

[r2m]

Definitely clean out the inside first REALLY well. There are plastic shavings on the inside when you first get them and even after that first go there was a bit of a color to the water on the first use. I should have cleaned them out better. I used one for gas and one for water the first 2 trips. First trip had the coloration but was ok after that. Looks like I could have cleaned them better. Since then I have moved them both to gas only use.

If you're using anything that is brand new for out of the box that is roto/plastic molded for potable water, you need to clean the inside first!
First thing I did when I got my Scepter cans was to use a little Dawn dish soap (just cause that's what we use in the house), rinsed them out very thoroughly, then with some plain liquid bleach (not scented or powder) and mix with water. Again swish around vigorously and rinse.
Now you'll have fresh clean water that tastes the same out of the container is when it was put in.
Doing that will ensure you've removed any mold release, oils, particulate, etc. from the factory.
There are some websites on how to clean plastic containers for potable water.

 

[r2m]

I've heard that you don't need spare gas any where in the continental US from a lot of different people, but I'd disagree. The majority of those people seem to be from the East Coast, and I guess they've just never experienced the endless roads of the southwest where you might see signs like this...

You make some great points and I have to agree! When my Mom lived in Winnemucca, NV, I remember seeing "Next Gas XXX Miles" signs like what you posted. There are some Loooong stretches of awesome highways out there! Just be prepared...
Although your argument is probably geared for the off road crowd that just hops in their rig, not checking their gas gauge (like the guy at the Racetrack), not filling up as close to the trail head as possible, or as you mentioned rabbit trailing different paths.
And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that! I guess my point is that if you plan your adventures, like planning a long hike through (like Pacific Crest Trail, mentioned above) you don't just hop in your rig and start driving, just like you wouldn't just put a day pack on and start hiking PCT, which is like what some people do when heading out for the day off roading.
If you're the type that just likes to go with no particular destination in mind, or as you mentioned, "...get lost.", and I'm sure there are many like that, then I 100% agree, bring as much extra fuel as you can carry!
My wife and I are on the other side of this view, maybe cause our age, but we like to plan our trips, but not to say we won't rabbit trail ourselves off from out planned trail, but we're always mindful of our situation, whether it be fuel, water, weather, trail difficulty, etc.

 

[KNR]

If you're using anything that is brand new for out of the box that is roto/plastic molded for potable water, you need to clean the inside first!
First thing I did when I got my Scepter cans was to use a little Dawn dish soap (just cause that's what we use in the house), rinsed them out very thoroughly, then with some plain liquid bleach (not scented or powder) and mix with water. Again swish around vigorously and rinse.
Now you'll have fresh clean water that tastes the same out of the container is when it was put in.
Doing that will ensure you've removed any mold release, oils, particulate, etc. from the factory.
There are some websites on how to clean plastic containers for potable water.

good points. I did a proper clean with dawn a few times but didn't do the bleach....

 

[ducktapeguy]

They are working good. I've kept them empty when not in use underneath and still working. I've used them for gas 4 times now (only needed the extra fuel twice) No leaks. It's a bit awkward to fill the tank with the small nozzle and the short scepter filler. Definitely spilled some gas, but having this solution vs a Jerry on the roof for me is a good solution. The material seems soft enough to expand at elevation gain, but it does deform (concave) a little with the tire chain pressure against the body as it holds it. I would think a simple syphon hose would work great but I haven't gone that route yet. I have it the lower on a rock once and it put a scrape in the plastic but not even close to puncturing it. They are pricey but since I don't have a Jerry holder on a bumper and don't want to put gas on the roof it works like a charm. The peace of mind of carrying the fuel for me or someone in the group is very worth it.

So where are you carrying the spare? I had looked at the trail'd tanks a few years ago and thought it was a good solution for extra gas and water, but the one thing stopping me was what to do with the spare tire. I didn't want the extra weight of a rear bumper carrier, and if I did, I'd probably keep the spare underneath and put the gas and water on the bumper where it's a lot easier to access. Would it be possible to use a large metal plate under the tanks to act as kind of a skid to protect it?

 

[ducktapeguy]

You make some great points and I have to agree! When my Mom lived in Winnemucca, NV, I remember seeing "Next Gas XXX Miles" signs like what you posted. There are some Loooong stretches of awesome highways out there! Just be prepared...
Although your argument is probably geared for the off road crowd that just hops in their rig, not checking their gas gauge (like the guy at the Racetrack), not filling up as close to the trail head as possible, or as you mentioned rabbit trailing different paths.
And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that! I guess my point is that if you plan your adventures, like planning a long hike through (like Pacific Crest Trail, mentioned above) you don't just hop in your rig and start driving, just like you wouldn't just put a day pack on and start hiking PCT, which is like what some people do when heading out for the day off roading.
If you're the type that just likes to go with no particular destination in mind, or as you mentioned, "...get lost.", and I'm sure there are many like that, then I 100% agree, bring as much extra fuel as you can carry!
My wife and I are on the other side of this view, maybe cause our age, but we like to plan our trips, but not to say we won't rabbit trail ourselves off from out planned trail, but we're always mindful of our situation, whether it be fuel, water, weather, trail difficulty, etc.

It's a good practice to fill up as close to the trailhead as possible, I have started filling up at the second closest gas station, then top off again at the closest one. It's happened to me before that the closest gas station might be closed, out of order, or just doesn't exist anymore, so I don't take the chance because I hate having to backtrack and waste time.

A lot of times I'll have a rough plan, so I know the approximate mileage, and the nearest gas stations, but like I mentioned, those plans are basically a rough idea and frequently change due to trail conditions, weather, etc. But even following a planned route, it's not that hard to start hitting the range limits on the GX, especially off road. Bone stock I was only getting about 350 miles to the tank, after the lift, protection, and fully loaded, my range only went down. Add lower tire pressure, low gear, towing, soft sand, or any combinations of those and your mileage soon goes down to single digits and suddenly a full tank of gas isn't getting you as far as you want. I've averaged <10 mpg over a full tank more than once, so fuel capacity is always in the back of my mind. Also, just because the nearest gas station is <50 miles away, those 50 miles can easily be a 3-4 hour trip each way. Who wants to spend a whole day on a gas run?

That last example at Death Valley, I filled in Panamint springs, took hunter mountain around to the race track, then came down Lippincott. My original plan was to go through Saline Valley warm springs to Steele Pass and Eureka Dunes, but after talking to the caretaker, he warned me of the recent trail conditions and suggested not to attempt it. Since there was an oncoming storm with snow in the forecast, I took his advice and continued north on Saline Valley road instead with the intention of cutting over to Eureka dunes from the north. However, at the north end of Saline valley, I did some mental calculations and realized I'd be dangerously low on fuel trying to make it to the dunes and back (about 90 miles), especially not knowing what the road conditions were like. An extra 6 gallons would have made all the difference in that case. As it was, I cut the trip short and headed to Big Pine to fill up, and the first gas station I went to the pumps stopped working while I was refueling. Luckily there was one more gas station in town where I could fill up, because I wasn't sure I had the gas to make it to the next town.

Extra fuel doesn't just buy you more range, it also buys you more time. If something unforeseen happens, and you're stuck in the middle of the desert in 110 degree heat, or the mountains in sub freezing temperatures, have a few extra gallons will allow you to run the engine for heat or A/C for a few more hours or a day while you figure out a solution.