Carrying extra gas

[oscar]

In a recent thread, there was some discussion of how to safely carry extra fuel in/on your vehicle, if you're traveling through a "service desert" where you're not sure your gas tank will provide enough range.  I've done that once before (on a remote road in the Canadian Arctic), and may need to do so again (in a remote lower-48 location).  Any additional thoughts, from forum denizens?

Just to summarize the previous thread, the options discussed were to (1) stow a red plastic gas container in the trunk, (2) bungee-cord it to a platform behind your rear bumper, mounted on a trailer hitch, (3) bungee-cord it to your roof rack, and (4) bungee-cord it inside an open pickup truck bed.  I'm really uncomfortable doing (1) for any significant distance, and somewhat uncomfortable with (2) and (3).  (4) would be perfect for me except my pickup truck bed is enclosed under a camper shell, though I could and did get by, leaving the shell's side windows open to provide some ventilation for the gas containers. 

[Scott5114]

I was always of the impression that the plastic gas containers didn't allow any fumes to escape when sealed properly. Might be wrong though.

[corco]

If that's the case then I have never figured out how to seal a gas container properly- the smell can be pretty small but I wouldn't want to drive several hours with it.

[Brandon]

I was always of the impression that the plastic gas containers didn't allow any fumes to escape when sealed properly. Might be wrong though.

I've done it, carrying really cheap gas (10 gallons) back from Ottawa to Joliet when the price when nuts last summer.  For the half hour-forty minutes I was carrying them (two 5 gallon containers), there was no smell.  I have a hatchback, and could not smell them in the cargo area.

[kphoger]

To stow a canister in the trunk, it might be worth it to buy Velcro strips to more firmly attach it to the trunk liner.

[oscar]

To stow a canister in the trunk, it might be worth it to buy Velcro strips to more firmly attach it to the trunk liner.

Just a few Velcro strips won't hold in place a full canister, which will weigh about six pounds per gallon, if you go over a bump or around a curve.  Bungee cords or ropes, or a cargo net, seem the way to go, assuming you can find a decent attachment point.  Even my little Prius hatchback has four attachment points in its "trunk", one at each corner.

[kphoger]

To stow a canister in the trunk, it might be worth it to buy Velcro strips to more firmly attach it to the trunk liner.

Just a few Velcro strips won't hold in place a full canister, which will weigh about six pounds per gallon, if you go over a bump or around a curve.  Bungee cords or ropes, or a cargo net, seem the way to go, assuming you can find a decent attachment point.  Even my little Prius hatchback has four attachment points in its "trunk", one at each corner.

Well, yes, I meant in addition to whatever other cords you're securing it with–as a secondary precaution.

removed double quote

[Ace10]

I would be most concerned with getting into a collision. A rear-ender may have the potential to do the most damage, but in any type of collision, the canister could be punctured by the car itself or another object in your trunk that flies around from the force or inertia.

[Brandon]

To stow a canister in the trunk, it might be worth it to buy Velcro strips to more firmly attach it to the trunk liner.

Just a few Velcro strips won't hold in place a full canister, which will weigh about six pounds per gallon, if you go over a bump or around a curve.  Bungee cords or ropes, or a cargo net, seem the way to go, assuming you can find a decent attachment point.  Even my little Prius hatchback has four attachment points in its "trunk", one at each corner.

That's what I do, I use a bungee cord through the handles on the containers.  They don't move anywhere then.