Author |
Message |
sam_w Samba Member

Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
|
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: Thing spare gas can, what wheel size? |
|
|
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?
_________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Al Capulco Samba Member

Joined: October 31, 2005 Posts: 538 Location: Northridge, CA.
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sam_w Samba Member

Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
|
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. _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
turban Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2010 Posts: 4 Location: GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
turban Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2010 Posts: 4 Location: GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
|
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject: Gas can |
|
|
Hi,
My e-mail
[email protected] |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
germanbilly Samba Member

Joined: October 18, 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Victorville
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3525 Location: Indiana
|
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. _________________ Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
FV195 Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005 Posts: 480 Location: carlisile, pa
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2193
|
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
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. _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sam_w Samba Member

Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
|
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. _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cecil Samba Member

Joined: February 23, 2005 Posts: 461 Location: Stockton, CA
|
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." |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cecil Samba Member

Joined: February 23, 2005 Posts: 461 Location: Stockton, CA
|
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." |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SilverThing  Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 833 Location: Everett
|
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. _________________ "I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2193
|
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 11:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Al Capulco wrote: |
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. |
I dug up this thread because I was curious about the spare gas cans. I can add another wrinkle to this -- the description on how to identify the one for a 15-inch rim would also apply for one for a 16-inch rim. 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. _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
el_safari Samba Member

Joined: January 01, 2005 Posts: 390 Location: Nouvelle Aquitaine,France
|
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  _________________ La terre n'est qu'un seul pays |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sam_w Samba Member

Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 1479 Location: Petaluma, CA
|
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. _________________ 63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
doublecanister Samba Member

Joined: September 23, 2008 Posts: 1203 Location: Richmond, Va
|
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 _________________ ****************************************
2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3525 Location: Indiana
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
strelnik Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Michigan
|
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 7:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
Are the MB cans illegal in the US or just not available? _________________ L'audace! L'audace! Toujours l'audace! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2193
|
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 10:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
strelnik wrote: |
Are the MB cans illegal in the US or just not available? |
Don't know if MB is like VW. I do know getting Eos stuff (like wheels, suitcases, grille, etc.) was not allowed through US dealers or through VW dealers elsewhere unless it was offered here in the first place. I did get the suitcases from the German eBay and some doodle got the grille into the US and then sold it to me. I never had success with the Eos wheels I wanted.
All that said, do an eBay search for "spare wheel gas can" and "spare tire gas can" (more hits on the latter), and you will get options from MB, BMW, Volvo, and others. Some will require international shipping ... but ... even so, some are more cost effective than the vintage VW units if one only cares about the functionality of the cans rather than being vintage or manufacturer correct. _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|