Mounting Rotopax cans on roofrack

I am ordering 2 X 4 gallon cans. What accessories should I get to mount them securely on my roofrack? Thanks

 

bungie cords for the win. to hell with $500 in mounts. system is rigged

 

That's alot of weight up there. I would look at real mounts for the rack even if not cheap. Here is one example

https://bajarack.com/collections/fuel-and-water-tank-holders/products/roof-rack-fuel-tank

 

What rack are you using? Stock or an aftermarket solution? Your best bet for rotopax is going to be the rotopax specific mounts. The rotopax branded units are a bit pricey but there is a company called 'MOQIauto' on Amazon that makes a knock off that I'd swear is the same product with a different logo on it.

How you attach those mounts to your rack may differ depending on the cross bars.

 

Aftermarket, Arksen

 

Do you still have the spare up top or are you planning on a swing out carrier? Trying to see where a good location would be based on your usage depending if you are working around the spare.

May end up getting creative to keep the weight evenly distributed up top. Do you have a close up of how much space that rack has on the sides?

 

Agree.

I skipped that whole racket and just ratchet strap shit I need to take with me to the roof.

The trained monkey (my transportation director) helps me and loves the job.

Jason

 

Spare is on top. I read some reviews on Amazon and looks like Rotopax leaks when flat. What do you say?

 

get a genuine wavian jerry can with cam locking cap. They don’t leak, and dont split from internal pressure; and wont fatigue from flexing if they get strapped down. If you absolutely have to carry fuel on your roof, spend the money to do it the safest way possible.

 

You sure this won't leak flat on the roof?

 

IDK, isn’t the reason for buying Rotopax the secure and convenient (not cheap) mounting?

I’d go with Rotopax mounting solutions if Rotopax is your thing.

 

Probably not. But I wouldn't risk carrying anything on it’s side. Watch some videos on these and report back.

 

Some more info over on TW. I like the idea of fuel cans being stored on rear bumper more than roof but I expect that's not the direction you want to go needing a bumper. I do carry alot of gear on my roof rack

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rotopax-on-roof-bad-idea.688984/

 

Thanks. I am liking the metal Wavian ones more now. The reviews on Rotopax are not good. With two Wavians I can carry 20 gallons of fuel.

 

Be aware of imitations when you buy online. The real ones have the cam lock cap with a cross bar that keeps them closed really well. I bought one last year for home use. When I got it, I filled it up and put it on it’s side in the driveway in the sun for a few hours. You can tell it expanded a bit, but it didn’t leak. Fyi, use a rag over the spout lid when opening, and do it as slowly as you can. It’s capable of spraying out fuel very forcefully when it’s pressurized.

Whether or not it will leak on a roof top I don’t know, and it might depend on what it’s subjected to. A half filled can will generate different gas pressure than a full one. Temp and altitude variations will subject it to huge swings in pressure including vaccuum when it gets cold. The gasket condition will degrade over time.

Keep in mind that every material will have a fatigue limit, steel included. Some people seem to leave full fuel containers on their vehicles 24/7/365, which subjects them to constant cycling of pressures. Even the mounts themselves could fatigue the materials where it expands against contact points. In these conditions, I’d expect eventual material fatigue failure.

I don’t see any benefit worth the risk of carrying external fuel full all the time. If I had to carry fuel, I’d rather get it into the vehicle’s gas tank as soon as it would fit.

 

Thanks. I will carry them only when I need them. And I will fill them with 8 gallons each, not 10. 16 gallons of fuel is more than enough.

 

The shorty is more manageable, ordering three.

 

The shorties might also make it easier to carry them upright. I’m not completely sure about this, but wouldn’t a can filled to capacity generate less gas pressure than a half-filled one?

 

Yes that's what I am thinking, the shorties can stay upright on the roof. And as for the pressurr, I wasn't good with Chemistry and Physics

 

me either, which is why i phrased it in form of a question lol.

 

The thing you’re hinting at is vapor pressure and it doesn’t change with volume or surface area.

Temperature will increase VP by way of ambient temps and / or agitation.

But don’t listen to me, I was a biology major/Chem minor dropout! I ran out of money

 

Glad you dropped out, now you can afford a thirsty truck.

 

Yeah it’s funny how that works. I eventually found my way into IT and now I’m working as a Network Architect - Have pity on my employer