Thing spare gas can, what wheel size?

sam_w

I bought a really neat genuine VW gas can on thesamba, and tried to fit it in my Thingster.

As you can see it does not really fit in the 14" wheels.

I am thinking of putting (SP?) 15" wheels on my Thingster so that it is compatible with my 63 singlecab, so I have some spare 15" wheels. As you can see it fits perfectly in the 15" wheel.
The last pic is the bottom of the wheel well showing the tank in contact with the wheel.
Are there two different Thing spare gas can sizes?

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

Al Capulco · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

Sam, It depends on how you look at it. They make two sizes. One for the 14" wheel (all U.S. models) and they make one for 15" wheel. I think the early model 181's came with 15" wheels. It is easy to tell just by looking at the top of the can which is which. Your can has two short indents and one long one (15"can) the 14" can has four short indents. The 15" can also holds a little more gas. But, unless you have an early thing with 15" wheels that is the wrong can. It is for other vw models.

sam_w · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:10 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info. I am going to go to 15 inch bus wheels anyway. The only problem is that a 205x75-15 tyre when inflated is too fat and the hood does not shut, so I will have to get 185 15's, or have my spare pretty much deflated, and carry a 12 volt inflator.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

turban · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:36 pm Post subject: gas can 14'' or 15''

Hi VW friends,

I´m looking for a gas can for my 65 bus dosn´t matter the size 14'' or 15'' the correct size of the Wheel i thing is 15''

Tks.

Hugo

turban · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject: Gas can

Hi,

My e-mail
[email protected]

germanbilly · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:53 pm Post subject:

Check ebay search "VW Spare Gas Can" there are several and they are not cheap.
GB

Semper_Dad · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:18 pm Post subject:

I do believe other European car manufacturers had similar design gas cans as accessories. The Genuine VW ones had the VW embossed on the can. BMW had a real nice looking one.
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

FV195 · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject:

I have one that fits my 14" spare, even though I run 15"s, discs up frontnot sure if a 15 will fit under the hood

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168

FWIW, I have a 15" wheel under my front lid. I don't know its width or the tire size off of the top of my head.
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sam_w · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:28 am Post subject:

Well, now that I have big off-road wheels and tyres I am using my 15" gas can in my 63 singlecab. The Thing gas can id in the spare tyre under the truck bed.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

cecil · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:10 am Post subject:

I have a 165 - 15 on a Douglass 4" wheel, fits fine under the hood.
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I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented....I forgot where I was going with this
I have this wierd desease called "must tear everything up and put it back together when there's nothing wrong with it...Itus."

cecil · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:10 am Post subject:

I have a 165 - 15 on a Douglass 4" wheel, fits fine under the hood.
_________________
I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented....I forgot where I was going with this
I have this wierd desease called "must tear everything up and put it back together when there's nothing wrong with it...Itus."

SilverThing · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:27 pm Post subject:

The Bundeswehr also sourced some gas cans that are exactly the same as the originals with the exception of not having the VW symbol stamped in them. They occasionally show up for sale, but generally go for about the same price as genuine VW ones... I think Ralfs-VW-Teile in Germany used to have them, but I haven't spoken with him in quite some time.

BMW and Mercedes both had spare tire gas cans that had jerry can cam lock style caps. I can't remember who they used for their manufacture, but I have occasionally seen unbranded (as in not car brand) ones for sale on ebay.
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oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168

el_safari · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 2:32 pm Post subject:

[quote I stumbled across this eBay ad (US eBay but German source) ...

eBay ad here

There seems to be at least a $200 premium for this particular one. I'm guessing it is due to its size.[/quote]

Hi
The pictures are from a 14'' wheel spare gas can ...
I don't think it exist for a 16'' wheel with a VW logo .
15'' wheel gas cans (original always with VW logo , for the 181) are even more rare and expensive : was only used a year and a few months Cool

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sam_w · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject:

WELL, i BOUGHT MY 15" GAS CAN BY MISTAKE, AND THEN HAD TO CHANGE MY tHING OVER TO 15" WHEELS TO MATCH MY GAS CAN!!

Sorry about the caps lock.

Mine was no more expensive than a 14" gas can. $300.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

doublecanister · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 12:30 pm Post subject: aftermarket

it's a shame someone doesn't make an aftermarket of the fuel can that nests in the spare tire.
I'd love to have one myself, or even a shaped plastic can that would fit in the front stowage area somehow.

I've found a few i'm mulling on but not purchaced anything yet.

T
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Semper_Dad · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject:

Mercedes Benz has (or had) a spare fuel can that fit inside the spare. Not available in the USA though.
[img]
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?s=0...2131[/img]
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

strelnik · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 7:47 am Post subject:

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168


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