Folding fuel containers/local jerries

**Matt Cartney** · #1 18 Nov 2005

I have an XT with a 20 litre tank which is probably fine for most stages of the trips I'm planning to Morocco and Nepal. However, there will be one or two times when I'd like the security of an extra 5/10 litres or so of fuel. A steel ar even a plastic jerry seems like an awful bloody thing to have on the bike for months for the occasional use in the south of Morocco/Iran. I'm wondering, is it easy enough to buy those 5l plastic fuel cans in Morocco and Iran that you get in service stations here? I'd be happy to sacrifice a few quid a few times to have a plastic jerry on my back seat then give it to a local after the long stage.
Alternatively, I've seen collapsible water containers all over the place but no one seems to sell them suitable for fuel. Anyone know of one?
Lastly, is there any reason (apart from tricky filling!) why I can't put petrol in old pop bottles?
Cheers, Matt

**Chris Scott** · #2 18 Nov 2005

>Lastly, is there any reason (apart from tricky filling!) why I can't put petrol in old pop bottles?

Assuming you don't mean glass bottles, it's not recommended as petrol slowly softens regular plastic and petrol expands when shaken & heated. For a day or so you may get away with it. Keep it out of the sun and use bottles for fizzy drinks - they are a bit stronger.

But if you don't want to burst in to flames on the highway somewhere, I would get a proper 5L plastic jerry. They weigh next to nothing and I found it a handy seat/headrest when off the bike.

Chris S

**Matt Cartney** · #3 18 Nov 2005

Hmm, yep, don't like the sound of that bursting into flames stuff. I guess a plastic jerry is going to be the way forward. I expect you could attatch it almost anywhere on the bike when empty and leave it there till it was needed.
Matt

**ozhanu** · #4 23 Nov 2005

I've bought a metal petrol can on ebay. It has 5L volume and a good closing mechanism.

------------------
ride safely
ozhan u.
'97 F650
www.ozhanu.com/gezi

**Matt Cartney** · #5 23 Nov 2005

Ozhanu,
Yes, I've decided that despite it's bulk a 10 litre jerry on the back of the bike is the way forward. I've protected the electrics behind the seat with an alloy plate and im going to just strap it on to the back seat and lock it in place with a light bicycle lock so I can leave it on the bike most of the time.
Matt

**AliBaba** · #6 5 Jan 2006

I have had problems with the range a few times and I bought some cheap plastic-containers. If you only want 5 liters then fill all the tanks and go. After one or two hours driving empty the plastic-containers into the tank.
In Africa I did this multiple times with up to 15 liters and I never had a problem with petrol eating the plastic but I had problems that the cans got destroyed in crashes.

**mattmbishop** · #7 17 Jan 2006

This thread suggests MSR dromedary bags. They are collapsible, but of course have the risk of splitting in a crash.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000010.html

I can confirm that petrol doesn't seem to degrade the MSR bags.

Made-for-fuel collapsible bags are available, but they are expensive due to the regulations that the bags must meet. Here's a manufacturer in Australia:

http://www.turtlepac.com

the smallest they make is 21 l though...

**tor1150r** · #8 17 Apr 2006

I just purchased two Primus 1.5 ltr (aluminum) fuel bottles to take on our trip. These are comparable to Sigg fuel bottles.

Has anyone used this type of bottle?

They are cylindrical and seem to be much easier to strap to the bike then a standard, square, Jerry can.

**loxsmith** · #9 18 Apr 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattmbishop

This thread suggests MSR dromedary bags. They are collapsible, but of course have the risk of splitting in a crash.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000010.html

I can confirm that petrol doesn't seem to degrade the MSR bags.

Made-for-fuel collapsible bags are available, but they are expensive due to the regulations that the bags must meet. Here's a manufacturer in Australia:

http://www.turtlepac.com

the smallest they make is 21 l though...

I have sent turtlepac an email asking if they would consider making a 5 or 10 litre, would be handy for all. Let you know when I get a reply
Glen

**loxsmith** · #10 24 Apr 2006

Here's the reply, sounds like good quality but an expensive option.

Dear Glen.
We just made up a 20 litre version to use on Trikes or motor cycles. This is a jerry can and photo is enclosed. No brochure just as yet.
The size is including the seams all around
55 cm 21.5" - length 68 cm 26.5". The seams are 45 mm all around 1 3/4".
Weight is 2 kg 4.4 lbs.
There is only a filler with elbow supplied to pour.
The webbing buckles are adjustable to carry the full tank or roll up empty or secure to bike.
Do not need to fill up to full capacity. If make it any smaller the cost be the same or almost the same so not worth doing it. Smaller tanks cost more per litre capacity.
Cost is A$ 360-00 inc. GST.

Hope to hear from you.
Best Regards.
Laszlo Torok
Director
I can forward the photo if anyone is interested, PM me.

Glen

**kbikey** · #11 24 Apr 2006

I experienced a close call with a plastic fuel can last year . It nearly cost me my KLR and too much pain to imagine.
I'm a farmer and ran out of gas in a machine so hopped on the bike and off to the store went I with a plastic can, filled and headed back to the feild.On the way down the gravel road I felt my ass getting damp, not agood feeling when you know that its wet from a flamable liquid. So in short order I stopped the bike and got off holding the handle bar with my left hand, just as I stood facing the bike I heard whoosh sound and pushed the now flaming bike to the ground on it's right side.Relieved that I wasn't lit up I then hurried to save my KLR. I had one glove in the tank bag so I used that hand to pull the gas can away annd beatout the flames on it. Then I pulled up weeds and beat fire and ripped off the seat, sidecover and rear fender, the luggage rack I couldn't get off so I kept beating it with weeds until it was out.
Post mortem examination showed that the gas I felt came out the vent thats normally covered with a little snap on piece. The presure opf the bungee cords on the container forced it open and out came the gas.

**kdmts** · #12 7 May 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by tor1150r

I just purchased two Primus 1.5 ltr (aluminum) fuel bottles to take on our trip. These are comparable to Sigg fuel bottles.

Has anyone used this type of bottle?

They are cylindrical and seem to be much easier to strap to the bike then a standard, square, Jerry can.

Those are the type of bottles we have for our trekking stove, and the stove's supposed to be multi-fuel capable...I don't see why they wouldn't work with regular fuel. That's what I was going to use as well.

Karen

**skidder** · #13 8 May 2006

I've just ordered a couple of Ortlieb 10 litre bags, I'm going to use them for fuel. Someone on the hub said they'd tested them for a month or so with fuel in them and they didn't degrade. Also, I met a bloke who'd tested Platypus bags for months with no degridation. There is a Platypus ad that has a car driving over a full (of water) bag to show how strong it is. Neither of these (or many others like MSR) are made with petrol in mind, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.

Ortlieb in Australia at <info@aktiv8.com.au> I found them very helpful.

**skip** · #14 26 May 2006

Hi
I run two 10 litre jerry cans on the front of my 86 xt Tenere with the tank full and the cans full you can hardly feel the extra weight, and i found that they also give me a lot of protection when i drop the bike, there are a few pics on the msn uk xt 600 tenere owners web site look under skippypete. Hope this is of some help Skip