Gas tank attachment/molle panels

Hello everyone, I just want to ask for suggestions, recently we have been going off roading and really wanted to get a gas can/container in case we go deep somewhere lol but I don’t want it inside the vehicle so I was thinking of getting a molle panel? Sorry still not that knowledgeable with terms, anyway the thing is that I have a stock roof rail and no budget to get a full on roof rack. All suggestions are appreciated!

 

I recommend the following:

A pair of LFD crossbars.
https://lfdoffroad.com/products/ruggedized-extrusion-crossbar-5th-gen-4runner

A pair of 10 liter Wavian gas cans. The 20 liter ones are really heavy when full and hard to get on and off the roof. They come in colors other than red.
https://wavianusa.com/wavian-gas-can-red-10-liter.html?cgid=wavian-fuel-cans

A pair of 10 liter jerrycan holders.
https://wavianusa.com/2792-retail.html?cgid=wavian-holders

You can sometimes find deals on the cans and holders if you shop around.

See my rant on Wavian cans HERE.

 

15 gallons up top. Never needed gas when I carried it.

Only needed gas once and that was last month. My buddy had 10 gallons he brought in the bed of his tacoma. We had a camp site we then drove out from over 3 days going on many dirt roads. Everyone went in ny 4runner to conserve gas. We explored a lot of roads. Used all of his 10 gallons. So depends what youre doing.

 

Rago Fabrication

I carry 5 gallons on one side and traction boards on the other. The pic shows water containers but the gas can looks the same but red

 

My post is above. I started carrying fuel because twice in Moab we got scary low on fuel.

 

@morfdq thank you for the response! Thing is that I am running on stock roof rail and not in the market for full roof rack to attached the molle, anyway nice rig!!

 

Thank you. I THOUGHT I saw a recent post with the molle panels and stock rook rack. It wasn’t what I have (Rago) but I swear I just saw a post where someone made them to work with the factory roof rack. Yeah I agree that gas isn’t something you want on the inside of the car.

 

Found it

https://www.hookeroad.com/products/...p0xGZJOtmJbjxmgjEnV_wJQJBM8kq3l4aAgpWEALw_wcB

 

@morfdq this is perfect! Thank you!

 

This is exactly what I did before I got a Gobi roof rack. The LFD crossbars and the Jerry can holders worked like they were made for each other. The nice thing about the Jerry can holders was that you can get a small pad lock through latch to prevent theft.

 

@weezol got a picture of your setup? Thanks!

 

I will get one on my lunch break or after work.

 

This was the LFD setup from my last 4Runner. I liked it a lot, but I’m going to be selling the LFD crossbars just because I have a Gobi rack now. I’ll get a picture of that up after work.

 

This is the way. The rear side glass carries look goofy.

 

@mattdc.032 this is what I currently have:





I like the Gobi cause I just throw a net over the top and it holds things down well. For Gas tanks you can bungee or strap the Wavians down as well.

 

I call that the Princess Leah side-bun look lol.



Seriously though, I’ll add some thoughts for consideration, understanding that everyone needs to decide for themselves how to carry extra gas.

You really need to carefully look at how a side-window molle panel mounts before deciding how much weight you’ll carry on them. The ones I’ve seen actually use the glass to carry the load of the lower corners of the panel. If you’re on off-camber trails, close to trees or walls, you’ve increased your chances of hitting that corner on something hard, and potentially breaking the glass or causing body damage if the glass doesn’t break.

Being that much wider with accessories hanging in the breeze also increase your chances a snagging a branch, maybe wrenching the entire thing off. Nobody plans to get themselves into tight situations, but it happens if you enjoy traveling out in nature, so it’s worth thinking about how well your 4runner will get through tight spots.

The other thing is the choice of carrying gas inside, or outside. Gas outside is my preference, but the safety argument is moot if it’s in a plastic gas tank, and is vulnerable to impacts. These things also get HOT in the sun, and the plastic canisters can split open from the internal pressure. I’ve had them split even when cool stored in the garage (granted they were pretty old Kolpin rotomolded type canisters, but still).

The best option I’ve seen for canisters are the steel NATO Wavian Jerry cans, with the cam lock spouts. Not cheap, but I’ve purposefully left mine outside on hot days with full sun exposure, laying on its side, with zero liquid or vapor leaks, even though they are noticeably pooched out from the pressure. It’s NOT a good idea to open one in these cam-lock canisters when they have this much pressure…let it cool first unless you want to get soaked and go blind. Regardless, after testing them out and getting zero leaks, I’m comfortable enough to carry them inside the vehicle should I need to. If I ever needed to open one that was hot or felt pressurized, I’d practice carefully before hand on how to carefully open and crack the seal slowly to vent it. I have, and it’s tricky. Tricky enough that I still hesitate to even try it. I’d rather cool it. But cooling a canister (or waiting) is preferable to having a plastic one split open hanging off the side of the car or on the roof.

I think the idea with gas is to carry it only when needed, use it as soon as your main tank will accept the quantity, and use the best canister available. If you use plastic rotomolded cansiters, don’t fill them until you will be actually using them, and keep an eye on them, maybe even vent them occassionally until you can empty it into your gas tank.

Again, just some thoughts to consider. Any way you do it more dangerous than not carrying extra gas, but it’s good to play out the pros and cons of how you’ll carry it.

 

There's like one guy with one of those what actually wheels it.

I have thought about where to carry fuel when I'm out and about but I don't go often enough to justify doing anything. My initial thoughts would be LDF crossbars with a Frontrunner holder. If I get an actual rack then a 3/4 rack with the same mount. My ultimate setup would be a rear bumper with dual swingout for cans and other stuff. I would leave the tire underneath.

No sure if I would have the balls for carrying fuel inside unless it was an emergency. I have Scepter plastic cans from Costco but they just sit around in storage.

 

I'm curious, where do you go where there are no gas stations for 200 miles?

My 15 SR5 has a 22 gallon tank. If I get 10 miles to the gallon when off roading, (that is a low estimate), I can easily have a range of 200 miles.

Why would I take the risk associated with schleping a toxic, flameable, explosive, environmentally hazardous substance that is, in reality, not even needed?

 

At some point I will make it out to Death Valley. There's also parts of Mojave that are remote. Sometimes you just forget or someone else forgets and you end up needing it. Remote no name stations will sometimes charge a premium.

 

There’s a time and a place for extra gas. It’s totally true that neither occur as often we think they do lol.

But when you’re out 100 miles from nowhere, and you plan on looking around while you’re there, it’s probably the right choice to take the risk to take extra gas.

 

Use a quality container, and the risks are minimized.

I've gotten under 10MPG on trail days.

Things don't always go as planned. If you're traveling in remote areas, a little insurance can be nice to have.

 

I'll add another endorsement for Wavian fuel cans. I picked one up years back on the recommendation of a guy on Tacomaworld who has never steered me wrong. The quality is as good as it gets.

 

Nice! I try to mount mine as close to the center as possible to minimize vertical movement and fuel sloshing around and putting stress on the mounting hardware. Not too much of a concern if they are full, but still...

 

Unistruts make great roof rails btw

 

I used them on our work trucks for years. We carried 2 full sized spares and a 6’ step ladder on ours to remote communication sites.

 

Makes sense, I like them closer to the edge just cause it’s easier to grab them. They’re just right there when you step up on the rear tire.

 

I’m not one of those guys that drives around with gas cans full time. I just mount them when I think I might need extra gas, and that’s happened a couple times.

First time I was driving from NC to TX, and there was a hurricane on the way. So I brought full gas cans in case it got bad and fuel became hard to get on the way.

Second time I drove from NC to CA and there were stretches on the highway saying something to like “No services next ___ miles”, and that number was usually 70+. I just liked knowing on the off chance that one gas station in town between 70 miles stretches was closed I’d have a few extra gallons.