Fire Extinguisher Storage

I posted a few weeks ago asking about mounting or storing a fire extinguisher. I decided I would fabricate a bracket to mount mine in roughly the position you see here. After pondering for a few minutes I came up with this 5 minute fix. I moved the jack tools a little aft of the factory storage position and used the holes in the jack base as my tie down point. I also added a little rubber to the base of the extinguisher and the spot where the extinguisher and jack base come in contact to avoid rattling. I used shock cord set very tight. To release you pull the shock cord down from the bottle neck and pull the bottle out. It's a lot more secure than you would expect using shock cord.

 

I like that with one question--why would you want to make your fire extinguisher harder to access?

 

I agree, although that’s a good out of the way place, and it won’t rattle. But one thing about fire extinguisher accessibility is to make it readily observable by a stranger. If you were in an accident and your vehicle was burning wouldn’t you want someone to able to see your extinguisher hanging somewhere in plain sight and save you?

 

I haven't mounted one in my Runner yet, but in my Blazers, I just mounted the bracket for the extinguisher to the side of the car just behind the wheel 'hump'. over the years, used them three times to help other people. I remember last one on I-10, the guys spare tire was burning, a little too close to the gas tank for me to try any heroics but the dude insisted on getting in there so I tossed him my extinguisher and said a quick prayer for him. He got the fire out without blowing himself up. Divine intervention or luck....

 

I believe there is a balance between easily accessible and protected from accidental discharge. I looked at three different spots. The one I ultimately decided on and two on the passenger side in the little storage "nook". I felt all of them offered the balance I was looking for but the one I chose used an area I did not see being used for anything else.

In its current position, I can't foresee me not being able to open the back hatch and get to my extinguisher in a hurry, even with a relatively loaded truck. Hopefully I never need to find out.

 

Besides mounting it on the exterior or with a big "FIRE EXTINGUISHER INSIDE" sign somewhere I would hold out little hope for a bystander to look for a fire extinguisher I might have in the situation described. More than likely, if that extinguisher ever gets used, I will be the one using it and I know where it is.

Now, at my house and duck camp I follow exactly what you suggest. Guests will easily notice extinguishers mounted in conspicuous places around both structures. The same goes for my boats.

 

I agree with you, I'm all for helping my fellow man and have deployed my extinguishers more than once but...I'm not a fireman and there are limits.

 

Ok, no debate, Over the LINE, but you just never know in an emergency, so why close off possibilities?