Quote:
Originally Posted by STX4Runner
Late to this thread, but agree with the above post. 99% of people offroading or "overlanding" with fuel cans either don't need them and want the look or have somehow convinced themselves they need them. I've only needed to carry one once, and that was a trip down to the Dollhouse in the Maze section of Canyonlands. 110+ miles one way in, all on dirt from the nearest gas and then a couple of days of driving around and then the same distance back out, a good amount of it in 4LO. 5 extra gallons was just enough to get back. Unless you're spur of the moment leaving for something like this while in the middle of around town errands you don't need to carry around fuel cans all the time. And on the trip I mentioned, I filled mine up as we left civilization, put it on the roof rack and used it as soon as I had room in the tank. That way I got the heavy fuel down low as soon as I could.
I laugh when I see people going to Big Bend NP with extra gas (there's multiple gas stations in the park) or Padre Island (island is only 60 miles long and gas is available right outside the park), but I suspect they're new to offroading or camping and see people with all the overland farkle on Instagram and think they need 10 extra gallons of gas to leave pavement.
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I appreciate this sentiment, and agree, might not be needed on a lot of trips. The fun for us, in building our 4runner was to build something we could take literally anywhere we wanted, and stay out as long as possible.
We have 13gallons of water on-board and 35 gallons of fuel, we're adding a frontrunner rack and a RTT this weekend, and have a well-built rear storage area, with cooler/fridge slide.
Having had 4x4's with rinky-dink setups before, I think our plan is to have something that can be slicked down for city use, or lightened for heavy rock-crawling, but then can also be safely and securely loaded up with provisions for several weeks of back-country exploring.
Do I love the look? Heck yes. I LOVE the look. I also love the idea that everything has it's place and can be locked for security and safety from rough road bouncing and sticky-fingered thieves.