Has anyone come up with a way to mount extra fuel cans to their GFC?
Hereās what I didā¦ I had a local welder fabricate a hitch bar for my jerry can holder. It works well. Seems to be high enough for eroded rough Baja roads, but I donāt ā4 Wheelā. I have to remove it to open the tailgate, but its pretty easy. I usually add the gas to the tank when I get to 1/2 tank. Then its empty and lighter.
Hereās my bar on another tacomaā¦
I donāt think thereās a safe secure way to mount a jerry can to the GFC. It has to be rack mounted, IMO. The plastic gas containers may be an option, but I donāt have any experience with those.
Honestly, gas is so readily available its really not a necesity. Even in Bajaā¦ I have run across gas stations that are out of gas in Baja, but thatās the exception not the rule. If you need it, then you need it. Your call there, but I wouldnāt recommended going through all the trouble unless youāre sure. I use mine in Baja, but I havenāt absolutely needed it yet. Its just been extra safety. Its treating me mostly. So farā¦
Peace.
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pic from my trip to the Arctic last year.
I strapped down the yellow can of diesel on top of the Decked drawer using Frontrunner Ratchetstrap. In fact, everything thatās strapped down is by Frontrunner Ratchetstrap. Thereās no regular tie down used.
The red rotopax can is mounted to the bed rail using some t-nuts and the rotopax mount.
This lasted through 15k miles of going form socal to Alaska Arctic and to Tuktoyaktuk and back, as well as numerous trips to the desert including a high speed run from Henderson, NV to Laughlin, NV (over 100 miles on dirt, high speed)
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If you donāt need anything permanent, you can look at seasuckerās rotopax mount
@OutOfOfficeCamping uses their stuff a lot.
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I am sure I will get some hate here, but I carry mine inside the GFC. I will only use the Wavian metal cans, never a plastic one. I have about 2 1/2 years with 150+ days off-road all over the western US and as far east as OH with 0 leaks, drips or even smells. This includes many days over 100 in AZ and nights well below freezing. I cycle the gas in the can about every 4 months. I would not recommend the Rotopak as I have seen a couple people have issues with them. YMMV
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My first trip with this setup is in a couple weeks so I will know more after that, but here is my attempt. There is just enough room for a 10 liter wavian can next to a 100W Renogy solar panel on the roof. Since Iām not a metal fabricator I purchased a second GFC solar panel mount, riveted in an aluminum bottom plate and mounted it next to the mount for the solar panel. The two mounts in the center are actually on top of each other. It shades the solar panel from the driverās side and the weight is up high, but I didnāt want fuel inside and it accomplishes that. I also hope to try a 3gal rotopax on a seasucker mount for at least some of the trip. Not great pic but if I am happy after my 6 week roadtrip Iāll take some better pics and offer more thoughts.
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flat pack on the beef bars on the roof.
Just a couple of comments. Both those mounts look solid. I thought about a crossbar rack of some kind, but I decided to do a hitch mount for these reasons:
- I was paranoid of any amount of gas leaking on the tent roof.
- The extra weight would make the tent more susceptible to closing in the middle of the night in baja wind.
- After emptying the jerrycan, the hitch mount can be refilled in place without hassles. No climbing required.
While my setup is always available, I just leave I t at home except for baja dives. Iāve found that even the most remote areas of Idaho and Montana have plenty of gas up opportunities.
Iām not judging nor insinuating that you donāt need the extra gas. Just sayināā¦
Peace.
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Just in order of questions:
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You are correct in the worry. I double checked my rubber washers and did leave them on the ground, in the sun, on their side for 3 days to test the leakage potential. None, in my case.
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That is indeed true. It hasnāt been an issueā¦yetā¦but I also do have a small telescopic hiking pole that works as a brace on the back end of the tent to hold it up in the winds. Even naked, a solid wind can close the rooftop in the right conditions.
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Yep, no denying that.
I have a 38g fuel tank on my Tundra. I get 15.5+ mpg on the highway at 70 mph with the GFC on top. That puts me at 575+ miles of range on the highwayā¦or 350-400 range on gravel and off-road. The spare 2x 4g rotopax are indeed āfor emergency use onlyā. If I need them, odds are I planned very, very wrongly and refilling probably wasnāt really an option in the first place.
- It was also the cheapest, simplest method I had at my disposal when I needed to do this. Itās not āthe bestā but then again, I havenāt needed more either.
Best!
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I do the same thing. Two Wavians in the back with the rest of the gear.
As Dan Hunneyman pointed out we like to keep our fuel/water outside our camper using the Sea Sucker RotopaX mounts. We have both the 5 gallon and 3 gallon models by SeaSucker ā SeaSucker
Mark (& Teresa)
Hampstead Maryland
ā¢ Purpose Built Adventure Rig Ā© ā¢
Ford Ranger FX4 - GFC Camper V2 # 1919
ā¢ Kia Soulverlander ā¢ Nissan Xterra Off-Road ā¢
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Iāve got a seasucker with a rotopax mount to try on my upcoming trip. Have you experimented with different locations and do you feel like the mounting locations shown in your pics are the best locations? Thanks!
Hey Bruce, Yes! For me I mainly run 1 unit on my side door. I donāt have to many other options with the 3 cup design. The 2 cup is actually my wifes. Iāve been running that set up the most with typically (2) 2 gallon of water. Winter time I run 1 2 gallon water w/3 gallon gas can filled with diesel for our diesel heater. Iāve been happy with this set up. I also donāt open up my side doors on the GFC all the time. If I do I can easly remove the tanks and place them on the ground. Or the full unit with the Sea Sucker. So just think about that.
Do you have the 5 gallon (3 suction cups) or the 3 gallon (2 suction cups) Sea Sucker? The 3 gallon 2 suction cups can be placed in a lot more places. You just want to avoid any areas you have decals or vinyl. We use a lot of there products. I had Jan do a great video which might help you understand some bonus stuff in regards to the plungers. https://youtu.be/ImCZpZWwfx8 Please donāt hesitate to email me direct. Always happy to help. Great products that truely works.
Also on a side note Hunneyman introduced to the āBoltā locks. So I also like to keep my Sea Sucker connected with the Bolt Cable lock to my awning so it doesnāt walk away. Of course most people have no idea how to release them. But with the Sea Sucker, hardware and RotopaX you donāt want to see it disappear. 
Not that you canāt just take it off and stick it in your truck.
One last notes we use a 1/2 gallon weed spray pump bottle for camping (water ā good for washing dishes cleaning your handsā¦). This works great to spray water onto the suction cup surface. Weāve found this to help get the best vacuum seal for up to 4 days. They suggest checking them every time you fill up for fuel. Or just daily give a look see if you see the orange on the pludger. Now keep in mid with freezing temps water is not your friend. So if you install it just donāt remove it. Iāve been wanting to try some winsheild washer fluid in colder freezing temps for a install. So far Iāve been down to 18Ā°F with out any issues. Installed at above freezing ofcourse with water. No problems. Going to try this week some more since weāll be hitting 3Ā°F by Tuesday night.
I do plan on doing a video to explain the 2 options because they both are great! Enjoy!
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Thanks for the quick and detailed response and the link to the video! I have the 2 suction cup with the 3 gal rotopax option. The bolt lock is a good idea, Iāll probably pick one of those up along the way (until then I can just pop it off when the vehicle is unattended at a trailhead or a parking lot). Most the time I probably donāt need extra fuel, but there are some longer trips where it would provide stress relief if nothing else. These arenāt exactly cheap, but certainly less than adding a Rigd ultraswingā¦particularly when I donāt always need to carry extra fuel. Thanks again!