Jerry cans to a Dakar?

**andydrew** · #1 12 Jul 2004

Hi there, I am planning a Trans america on a Dakar and am concerned about running outta gas. One thing is for sure, I'm not paying a grand for touratech tanks and am wondering if anyone has attached one/two jerry cans? I thought about just belting it/them to a rear rack. Would one 20l or two 10l be better? Or is there a better place to fix them to? Also any recommendations about good cans would be appreciated?

Many thanks
Andy

**JamesCo** · #2 12 Jul 2004

Don't worry about it. Unless you go seriously off road there is always gas available within your bike's tank range, with the *possible* exception of Alaska and the Atacama desert in Chile (am assuming by Trans America you mean the Latin part, too

) If you are setting off for a very remote stretch, just visit the market at the last civilised stop and pick up some cheap plastic jerry cans. Two small are better than one big for weight positioning and leak-insurance. Strap them on wherever you have room; just do it well because the shakes off-road will loosen the bindings. Coke bottles, old water or milk containers etc. work just fine if cans can't be found. Expensive cans aren't worth buying, since they'll be empty and in your way 98% of the time, but too heartbreaking to throw away when you don't need 'em.

Have fun,
James

[This message has been edited by JamesCo (edited 12 July 2004).]

**malmoerik** · #3 14 Jul 2004

Hi, I agree with James.
I just came through Eastern Europe, Middle East, Saudi, Iran and Central Asia, and only once did I have to use spare jerry cans. I was carrying two 5l plastic ones and strapped them on the front sides of the panniers.
My friend strapped one of his on the bike, above the exhaust pipes, on the tine plastic rack you know. BAD IDEA. It got loose and drifted off and actually leaned against the exhaustpipe. Have a guess if we were worried when we saw the melted plastic...

If you still want to take 2 10l tanks, I talked to a guy at Touratech who built aluminium frames that he mounted on the bottom of the panniers and just slid the tanks in.
Erik

**gozell** · #4 15 Jul 2004

Hello,

I travelled through Africa on a Honda Dominator, unfortuanly even the long range tank is only 23litres... Most times this would be enough, for the long streches I mounted two 5litre plastic jerrycans on the passenger pegs using africa bungierope... Its a good idea to source them locally as the quality varies a lot....

grtz

**gozell** · #5 15 Jul 2004

Correction: Its a good idea to source them in the western parts of the world as the quality on the road for jerrycans varies somewhat... But then again leaking jerrycans is part of the fun right? BTW, it helps if u dont smoke...

**andydrew** · #6 17 Jul 2004

Guys,
Thanks for the advice!
My wallet is a little fuller tonight

Andy.

**Simon D** · #7 19 Aug 2004

If you do like the idea carrying more fuel so that you can get lost regularly, an idea is for a carrier frame on either side of the fuel tank. It puts more weight toward the front of the bike and they also act crash bars without protruding too much once the containers are removed. I have pics of carriers i made for my Dakar:
www.longdetour.hotfire.net

Cheers, Simon

**mcluretaylor** · #8 20 Aug 2004

Hi andrew,
I had some additional jerry can frames made by Ernie at www.overland-solutions.com. They sit infront of the frames for touratech panniers (that he also made for me). Superb job. He also sells the five litre jerry cans (proper metal and jerry can shape) at a reasonable price.

I am also doing the latin america tour, leaving October.
Good luck
Dave

**Goetz** · #9 23 Aug 2004

Hi andi
fuel range of a dakar will be some 600 km if you don't go in the sand.
The most we spent was 4.8 l / 100 km in Kazakstan, average speed was 25 km/h.
Average consumption is a little less than 4 l if you don't rip off the throttle.
Pierresas said the most they spent was 7 l / 100 km in deep sand.
We carry one 10 l steel jerry can each on the foot peg.
Just moulded a 2 mm tin to u-shape, drill 2 holes, get the bolts of the pegs thru and secure with wire of (lack of english) the things you secure hoses with.
Cheap, efficient. Fill up when you need it.

Regards
Goetz + Karen, both on F 650 Dakar

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