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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 4331
Location: SWVA
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 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| squeegee_boy wrote: |
| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
It is on the side. It isn't to prevent leaking. You can buy new gaskets for these, but no need to.
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I would keep a set in the van somewhere. I've had a set of these for ~18 years now, and have replaced the seals twice. They lasted 7 ish years for me, more or less.
Super cheap insurance if they suddenly start to leak on the road.
Robyn |
I ate my own words. I checked mine today and it is leaking. Luckily I have a spair gasket in the van. Hopefully it is still good
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4619
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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This 5G unit "fits" but I haven't carried gas in it up there.
Nor have I made straps for under here, but it fits here too..
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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dougnlina
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Joined: January 19, 2016
Posts: 298
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23888
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2025 3:03 am Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| hdenter wrote: |
I have to say, I'm not a fan of the idea of having a gas can in the overhead luggage rack. In the event of an accident, if the gas can is damaged, where does that leaking fuel go? It drips down over the front doors and open or broken windows. If gas cans are mounted in the rear, if there is an accident, the leaking fuel is much more likely to run down in places where there are no passengers trying to escape the vehicle or first responders rendering assistance...
Hans |
Most of those plastic cans shown aren’t addressing chafe adequately. Anywhere plastic touches something in an automotive application chafe has to be addressed. I chafed open a fuel tank on a boat once just touching a fiberglass wall, interesting when you are offshore and your boat is full of gas fumes.
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8462
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
I dont think tariffs have anything to do with this can not being available, as the site you linked that is selling it that is out of stock is a site in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offered for sale in local UAE money.. |
The sticker on the can says Force USA. Force USA is a gym equipment manufacturer: https://www.forceusa.com/ . Force Off-road no longer exists, based on a quick search. That's probably the reason why only mid-East retailers appear and why they're "out of stock", even on the large version.
Edit: Looks like, perhaps, they're now X-Offroad, or Force USA's offroad products were bought by them: https://www.xoffroad.world/1180/plastic-jerry-can-red-2-6-gallon-10-litres/ .
| zerotofifty wrote: |
| because EPA/CARB regulations. |
Even VP now has to call their famous cans a "utility jug" or "liquid container" because their spouts are not approved for fuel usage by the [insert your preferred descriptive words for our government]. 
I had to put a couple gallons of gasoline into my Cabriolet several years ago after some fuel tank work and the little red can I've had for a long while for emergency use was infuriating. Finally discovered that VP makes a small version of their 5-gallon jug and found one locally... sanity spared.
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3776
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| RicMcK wrote: |
Yes, I noted the out of stock problem.
The ones that I got have some kind of safety spout. You have to actively push the spout into the filler hole. I think it's a supply chain issue.
Tariff price hike = no ordering = no stock. |
They are out of stock in the United Arab Emirates, per the prior posted link. Out of stock in the UAE has nothing to do with American tariffs.
Those mandated safety spouts cause a price hike by the way, yet you were able to buy a can with such a price hiked spout, so that kind of blows a hole in the price hike = no ordering=no stock theory you wrote about.
Buy American and avoid the tariff. 
Of course I still have the near 10% sales tax I have to pay, that too is a price hike, and it is on all automotive products I buy. Price hike (10%) does not equate to no orders, nor to no stock.
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dhaavers
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Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8407
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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[/tariff discussion] . . . as not germane to the “what gas can fits?” question (which is the original topic of the thread).
<shrug>
- Dave
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"The WonderVan"
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RicMcK
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2023
Posts: 225
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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Yes, I noted the out of stock problem.
The ones that I got have some kind of safety spout. You have to actively push the spout into the filler hole. I think it's a supply chain issue.
Tariff price hike = no ordering = no stock.
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - long gone. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3776
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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I dont think tariffs have anything to do with this can not being available, as the site you linked that is selling it that is out of stock is a site in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offered for sale in local UAE money..
However MidWest Can makes American made plastic gas cans....
https://www.midwestcan.com/military.html
Consider the availability of some cans we previously could buy might be restricted because to EPA/CARB spout regulations. Hopefully these regulations can be removed, as it is real pain to use some of these EPA/CARB regulated spouts. We have way too much regulation. 
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hdenter
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Joined: October 14, 2008
Posts: 2940
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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I have to say, I'm not a fan of the idea of having a gas can in the overhead luggage rack. In the event of an accident, if the gas can is damaged, where does that leaking fuel go? It drips down over the front doors and open or broken windows. If gas cans are mounted in the rear, if there is an accident, the leaking fuel is much more likely to run down in places where there are no passengers trying to escape the vehicle or first responders rendering assistance...
Hans
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RicMcK
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Joined: August 29, 2023
Posts: 225
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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Yes and. I do check them and be sure they don't get pressurized due to the sun I do have to piece of white plastic on top during the summer. I also leave plenty of head room. Yes I know it's not 'the best ", however so far so good,and it's not a fill and forget solution.
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - long gone. |
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DanHoug
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Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5711
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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yahp... one really wants the filler cap, any openings on the top of the resting position as well as dip tubes, fuel outlets, etc. it's a requirement for the marine world and is a stipulation that is borne out from tragedy with plastic threads and expansion in the hot sun. you'll notice all the RotopaX storage cells are top fill oriented.
underbody fuel *tanks* obviously have fuel outlets below the gravity line but they are permanent affairs and still have fuel fillers above the gravity line.
race fuel cells, an even more stringent application, have everything on the topside.
but... there's no law preventing you from doing what you want. well, maybe in some jurisdictions but enforcement will be weak. orient the aux fuel tank how you want and spin the big wheel. c'mon Big Money.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
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dhaavers
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Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8407
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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^^^
| Quote: |
| …I’m curious if the spout opening is on the top or side when “strapped in”... |
FYI…Side, it seems. Keep us posted on leakage (if any)… 
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
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RicMcK
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Joined: August 29, 2023
Posts: 225
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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It's like this one. I can't find the orginal vendor
https://shop.carmart.ae/product/force-usa-flat-plastic-jerry-can-10-liter-2/
Pre tariffs, (late winter I got them from both AliExpress and Amazon. It looks like they are hard to get now.
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - long gone. |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8407
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| RicMcK wrote: |
| I have two 10 liter flat plastic fuel containers (Amazon or AliExpress). They are the same height as the luggage rack I can fit 3 across if I need to... |
Pic or link to the actual container? I’m curious if the spout opening is on the top or side when “strapped in”...???
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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RicMcK
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2023
Posts: 225
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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I have two 10 liter flat plastic fuel containers (Amazon or AliExpress). They are the same height as the luggage rack I can fit 3 across if I need to. Never had a leak issue.
Hard to see I strap them in place with 1" webbing.
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Rick McK
Seattle
89 Westfalia-2.2L WBX
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up
70 tin top, 700k mi when sold in 91
58 split window bug - long gone. |
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vanis13
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Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4406
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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I got something similar at the dollar store for $1.25.
Cut off some of the tip to get a bigger final diameter and thus a better flow rate.
Like the extended side, makes pouring in way better.
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zerotofifty
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Peter Kosho
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Location: CA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| Thanks for all the responses. Got a Wavian 5.3 gallon can from Zoro. Now don't know if I need a flexible spout. The can comes with a safety spout that requires pressure on the spout to pour. Think it's for filling things like mowers. There's a flexible spout on Amazon that might be better for adding gas to the Westy. Thoughts? |
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zerotofifty
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Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3776
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Gas can in luggage rack? |
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| dhaavers wrote: |
Thing I wouldn’t love about a jerry can in the luggage rack is having to schlep it up & down…5 gallons of gas weighs 30 pounds. My shoulders hurt thinking about it…but I’m an old fart, prone to bouts of bursitis…
The jiggle siphon is dead simple, makes life a dream.
Remind me, how are we getting gas in & out of our under body tanks?
- Dave |
Blitz made some nice sturdy steel 2.5 gallon cans, much easier to lift than the five gallon type. I run four of them on my Jeep roof rack, and when not jeeping I keep one in my van under the rear seat, and one in the trunk in several of me cars. .
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Give Peace a Chance.
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