Fuel bladders soon available in the UK
 

I have been in contact with Paul, who manufactures fuel (and water) baldders: www.liquidcontainment.com.au, Motorbike fuel tanks, Petrol Bladder, Diesel Bladder, Av Gas bladder Tanks
He does not retail them. He was looking for a retailer in Europe.

So I contacted Ernie from Overland-Solutions.com: Rally & Overland Fabrications as he seems to be the ideal person to import and retail them.

Anyway, after lots of emails, it seems that Ernie was looking into that and will be selling them soon (format 8 / 10 / 12 litres).

He is not sure yet of format for 4x4 (feel free to contact him and make your suggestions on this).

So there, as there was lots of speculation now you know!

I will publish when those bladders will be available from Ernie. I don't know yet. I need one bladder before end of August so hopefully...

Cheers,

Well done Maria. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.:thumbup1: Probably a 10ltr in case Ernie is on here.

Thanks Ed!

Ernie will be at the HUBB meeting in Ripley.
I will go ask him when he thinks he will have them in stock. Ask him too.
It will gives him an idea of numbers if lots of people go and ask...

Hello! I just ordered a 12 liter bladder from their web site (www.liquidcontainment.com.au, Motorbike fuel tanks, Petrol Bladder, Diesel Bladder, Av Gas bladder Tanks) and received it in the mail box a week and a half later. Easy!

It looks great by the way, good quality. I don't need it but I'll probably bring it next weekend, just to test it! I love the thought of having solved the extra fuel issue.

I can post a trip rep if it is wanted!

Cheers Tom

msr dromedary bag?
 

would an MSR dromedary water bag work? or would the fuel ruin the material? ive thought of buying one for fuel just to see but they're pricey.

I think this has been covered before. Whilst it is possible to transfer fuel in MSR bags I've seen from experience that everything will smell of petrol and there's a good chance the bag will fail at some point.

There are some chinese fuel bladders on the web but I can't find anywhere outside of Justgastanks in the States that sells them. The Australian ones are the highest quality and the highest price.

Tony-a-Tech Tanks
 

A far cheaper option is to repeat my effort of last summer.

When preparing for the new Zhilagavo route, the Anabar road to the Arctic Circle, the new Veluski Trackt, the Road of Bones and the BAM road, I just rode to a laybay outside Irkutsk and picked up a couple of abandoned 4 or 5 litre oil cans.

They cost nothing.
They carried all the fuel I needed.
Which is more than happened to my Buddy who ran out despite having a purpose built extra tank.

When back on sensible roads I returned them to a lay by for the next Adventure Motorcyclist with more sence than money!

Liquid containment bladders
 

I bought one of these bladders (12 liter) and have carried it across Oz a couple of times. Attaching them to the bike is not simple - on the back seat it was an exercise in nailing jelly to a wall. The 4 corner rivets encourage the use of Ocky straps which is far from the best way to secure petrol.

The plastic connector that screws into the bung needs a hose about a foot long attached to it to work. Other niggles are it is hard to fully empty the bladder with the bung about an inch in from the edge. Also the bung hole is only slightly bigger than an unleaded fuel bowser nozzle which means when filling the escaping air blasts fuel spray with it.

The advantages of having this particular collapsible container are outweighed by its drawbacks. I have gone back to a simple old plastic 10 liter container when I need the extra fuel range.

Regards Ben

I think the best advantage they have (from what I can see), is that they pack up small and can be unpacked as needed ??

I'm carrying a 10L jerry can on the back of my DRZ just for the 2-3 times I might need it in 6 months. It takes a lot of space up (but way cheaper than a £500 Safari tank).

Well done Maria, I may have used one of these but I've already built my jerry racks.

They do look very aukward to carry when full though. I think a cargo net and some Carabinas could help there though.

Maybe for the next trip..................

http://keithooper.smugmug.com/Travel...42_mjpQu-M.jpg

Works for me


.

Options...
 

I'm trying to work out a fuel strategy for my WR250R. IMS are supposed to be producing a 4.5gal(us) tank that gives me 17L and I already have a 5L acerbis front auxiliary tank on the bike. With careful riding I can average 65mpg easily giving me 315miles. From my previous Africa trip I know this is plenty, most of the time, but I'm still considering the option of being able to carry another gallon of fuel if I need to. I found carrying a 10L jerry in Africa (usually empty) on the back of my old africa twin was fine but not as convenient as something that could fold down and eventually the strap came loose, the jerry slipped round and the exhaust burnt a hole through it when it was empty (luckily).

I rather like the idea of these but it seems expensive for what it is? I'm sure I've seen these on those Chinese websites - the same thing but cheaper. Anyone seen these anywhere else?

Collapsible Jerry Can Bladder (1.8gal) [LC7 Jerry] - $109.99 : Just Gas Tanks

I am pretty sure that this is the 7 litre chinese one

http://www.bikebookings.co.za/articl..._m61668aaf.png

No stockists in UK yet as far as I know. I guess as it is not CE or BSI marked businesses may be reluctant to get a batch in. I think UK law is 5 litre max capacity in a portable plastic tank. The only seller I have found is in South Africa <<LINK>>

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Cheaper, foldable (at least), filling hole on the corner, convenient handle. You're right, they won't be able to get it approved as a fuel carrier on the road but as a specialist piece of kit 'not for road use' or something, I'm sure it could be done.

Finally
 

I couldn't wait any longer so I bought a couple, for me and a mate and a I also got a spare one. If anyone wants it off me, PM me. It's 7Ltr size (100miles for me) with a 2-part pouring spout that fits back inside the bladder (which can still be folded in half eitherway with the spout in it and rolled up without). Packs very flat but, here's the disclaimer, probably not legal for fuel in the UK but perfect for overlanding. They're over $100 in the States.
Yours for £50

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/...197e6ff9b5.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/...563296f237.jpg

Goodonya ed for 'biting the bullet'. It'll be interesting to see how much response you receive. I'll take your spare one if nobody else does.

If there's a lot of interest, then why don't we think about doing a group [bulk] purchase?


.

If anyone is interested PM me

Those bladder things do look like the answer to occasionally carrying extra fuel and 7 litres is a handy size, but they certainly don't look like $100's worth to me. From the way they look in the photographs I can imagine Chinese factories knocking them out for under $2 each.

Are they better made than they look to justify the price?

They're pretty rugged and like you say perfect for occasional range without having to carry all that air. I can't find anything else that's this convenient.

The US ones are USD109 plus tax/shipping, the SA ones were GBP68 plus tax and shipping. The days of super cheap chinese stuff is past.

I am in China now, if any one wants me to find the suppliers here, then thats no problem.

Like said before, they probably about £20 or $30 at most here.

'vette

Made in 20 Liters and 7 liters

'vette

Had my 12L LC on the top with occy straps no dramas pretty rough tracks too

http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/a...z/SDC10425.jpg

Suppliers
 

Vette,

It would be useful if you could find out how much they would cost and the quantity they would need for an order.

Roamer

Update:
 

I have another spare 7Ltr one. My friend doesn't need both of his now so I can offer it to someone else. Any interest?
I can get it in the post tomorrow morning if you pm me.

Be interesting to see if these bladders can meet the performance tests required for carrying dangerous goods - look for a little circle with UN inside and some numbers under it to see if has undergone the testing. I doubt any bladder will survive the drop test - which is about 1% of the forces you'd get in 50kph accident, let alone some of the venting/expansion requirements.

There are plenty of bladders around for diesel (which is not a dangerous good) because of its higher flash point (+63C) than petrol (-24C).

The bladders that were being sold by an Aussie company I could never find any details about their approval for use as petrol bladders.

I know the UN approval process all seems to be over the top for just 7litres of petrol, but the performance tests have been developed over the years - mainly after people have sufferd at the hands of putting petrol in containers that were not designed for it.

seriously
 

A 7ltr bladder is unlikely to be part of your day-to-day fuel strategy. These rubberised bladders are seriously tough and a massive step up from 1.5ltr coca-cola bottles (if not in price!). The manufacturer rates them (burstpressure:0.48 MPa, drop-height: 4.5m) and they do exactly what they're supposed to. People need to know, and are more than sufficiently reminded here, that these aren't legal in the UK for carrying fuel but this is a travelling site and needs must.

I'll make sure I bear that in mind next time I use a zip-lock sandwhich bag to transfer fuel between bikes.

C'mon, reality check please. We are talking about a standby way of adding some short term extra fuel capacity. As said, beats a pop bottle or three.

I carried fuel in pop bottles trying to cover a big stretch of patagonia. Routa 40...

I dropped the bike in the gravel and the bottles split open, draining all of my fuel into the dry earth and over my luggage and seat. They didn't even take the brunt of any force.

That f**ked up my plan big time and led to a nightmarish day of stress and worry. I WON'T ever use pop bottles again.

I've got a 10L rhino can on the back of my DRZ now. Cost about £10, although the space it takes up is permanent. I'd rather have a small back box there. :thumbdown:

My worry about these bladders is if the bike lands on them, or they're "Squished", how will the seams stand up ??

You will have to rely on KNOWING when you need the extra fuel. I doubt you'd want to carry them full all the time just in case you need it. Not a problem with a jerry.

Also, they look a nightmare to carry when full.. A cargo net would probably help a lot though.

Plus, I don't think I could part with that much cash for a rubber bag !


It's too late for me to swap my jerry for a bladder but i'm really looking forward to some more road testing from you guys !:thumbup1:

Exactly. I thought we were supposed to be a bit more adventurous that than.

It's a good point. What I think you'll find is that the bladders will stand up to being squished better than most things other than a metal jerry. The weakness of a bag is from sharp objects but I've yet to rip the drybag on my rear rack. You do have to think about where to attach the bladder when you do want to fill it but for small bikes it's nice not needing a flat surface to put a jerry can on (I have no room left on my wr).

You're talking more about planning here. The world isn't the barren wasteland it once was. How ever much fuel you're carrying it would be wise to factor in a safety margin on the relatively 'known' distance you're attempting to travel. That is just sensible. Jerrys or bladders just give you a greater range to apply that safety margin to.

And its always a group unusual events when accidents occur, the fuel container issue is just a part of risk reduction for any trip - just like wearing boots instead of thongs. If you want 750kms fuel range, buy a tank or bike that gives you the range.

About 95% of accidents involve another party (5% single vehicle accidents), so whilst you maybe prepared to accept the risk of injury to yourself - maybe other people would take a dimmer view of being sprayed with petrol, especially in remote areas of third world countries where medical help may not be available to them - whilst you get an air ambulance home.

RogerM, I take onboard the aspect of risk reduction. Using road networks for prolonged periods of time on a trip is inherently risky and much can be done to minimise it. The impact of a risk does not affect its probability and in a case where you're carrying 7Ltrs of fuel on an occasional basis your likelihood of 'spraying' anyone other than yourself when you fill it up is, at best, slight. That's before we get onto not needing 750km ranges all the time or wanting to spend hundreds on a new, large tank - if they even make one for your bike in the first place.

We'll just have to agree to disagree - I'll buy you a pint with the money I save on a bigger tank if you agree to pour it on me if my bladder catches fire :thumbup1:

Just so you can see..
 

For anyone who's interested, I finally filled up the bladder from my metal jerrycan and...sat on it to see if it leaked. No worries - these things are tough.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/...4e264736b4.jpg

I then measured the fuel out again. The pic had 7.2ltrs of fuel with an air gap. They recommend only filling to 7ltrs. Not a single leak from the cap or the spout. Very impressed.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...65eba3faf8.jpg

Then I rolled the thing up to show the optimum size. The spout sits in the bladder when it's full although in this case I removed it to get the optimum. Looks like it'll go in my packsafe (for special occasions) just fine.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/...d542c0ff9a.jpg

Thank you for watching!:thumbup1:

Clear out
 

I've still got one of these to sell. £25 + a couple of quid p&p.

PM me if interested. 1st come, first served.

Appreciate your concerns, but gee, thats a very misleading use of data mate ... the accidents that involve other parties tend to be in populated areas ... exactly the places you wont be using your fuel bladder. - How many motorcycle dropping incidents or stacks in the simpson desert involve innocent 3rd parties?

As for how people approach fuel safety in the 3rd world, where people routinely smoke cigarettes while refuelling ... I think this is a red herring.

No problem since no-one is going to be carrying fuel in them in the UK anyway. The only time they will see fuel is in Siberia, Mongolia, outback Australia or the Sahara

No worries
 

Colebatch - do you want one then? :thumbup1:

Hi, just registered so can't PM, but I'm interested in the bladder if you still have it?
PB

Comms
 

pm'd you. Can you receive them?

Yes, I'll take one

Fuel bladder
 

I don't have the required 5 posts to PM about the bladders either. I can be contacted with the same user name at ADV or the WR250R forums.

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PM sent.

Sorry guys, it was too good an opportunity to miss, but I promise it'll be well used.

Hi All,

Has anyone any experience of using Swiss Army rubber water containers ( see pic ) for short term ( day or two ) petrol storage ? Apparently USA pilots of Piper Cubs use these often as spare fuel bladders, in fact the fuel tanks in the wings of Piper Cubs are made of rubber. These are 20 litre - it would also be easy to cut a circular disc out of rubber and insert it under the tap to stop any chance of tap leakage and being Army they are probably tough as old boots !

They also look like they would make a good pillow or swim float too, how much are they ? :thumbup1: I have carried fuel in a platapus water container before. As previous posts state the idea of these bladders are for bridging the gap between petrol stops. Not for carrying around on the bike to look cool ! In the type of places where you will require the extra fuel, People and business are not going to be a worry, so accidents involving other people are going to be very low. Loosing the fuel would be a concern but again if you are trying to preserve fuel as you are on a section far from anyone else then you should be taking it as easy as you can.

Here's a shop in the UK - selling them brand new for £16.99, but I think you can get them for about a tenner if you buy them from Switzerland. Hopefully someone will come along who has used and abused these and can tell us if they could be tough enough - for as you say - a variety of uses.



Forces Uniform & Kit> Genuine Army Surplus For Sale UK > Camping and Military Equipment > Army Camping Equipment > Swiss 20 Litre Black Water Carrier


Mike

Thats probably due to those third world fuel refillers knowing that a cigarette doesn't burn at a hot enough temperature to ignite either fuel or vapour, drop a lit cigarette in your petrol tank, it goes out.....

They probably found out by trial and error however our western health and safety mad society says not to do this.

Matches however are a very different story.