Mounting Jerry Cans on Factory Roof Rack

[mike5]

Folks,

I have a trip coming up that might require me to carry gas. I have the factory rack with the two crossbars. What kind of solution exists if I want to have the gas cans mounted or secured to the factory rack? Keep in mind that there will be hundreds of miles of highway driving as well as a lot of miles off highway.

The only thought I have so far is to buy a jerry can holder and secure it to the cross bars by having the crossbars close and drilling though the bars to secure the holder.

 

[propain]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. My parking garage @ work is 6'6", so no gobi rack for me, not yet anyhow, and no rear bumper mod yet. I'd like to carry some gas on my overland trips, i was thinking maybe Rotopack would be easier to work with than jerry cans, they just look thinner. https://rotopax.com/rotopax/fuel-packs/

 

[mike5]

I agree on the Roto solution. The 4 gallon might work. But I need to look into the mounting hardware they offer. Their site on mobile is not great. I'm not impressed with the cost though.

 

[Vinsil]

Where are you traveling that requires that much fuel without a station?


Rotopax's leak. I would not put containers on my roof that leak.

I'd use a hitch mounted basket before throwing jerry cans up there. Yeah it's not overland approved but seems like a better approach IMHO.

 

[JSparky]

I'm afraid you're going to have to get real creative with fitting rotopax to the factory crossbars, although I'm excited to see what you come up with.

If it were me I'd probably check craigslist for something like a Yakima Megawarrior. Mount that to your factory crossbars and the, ratchet strap some rotopax or jerry cants to that. Nice thing with the Yakima stuff is that there's always a market for it so if you install a full rack alter you could recoup your money.

I don't know where you're located specifically, but here's one in OC.
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6025122468.html

 

[Bodie the Dog]

2.5 gallon cans

I've heard it's preferable to put gas on the back of the vehicle, so if you roll over you don't smash the cans on your roof and get gas all over your gear. I do know people who have rolled their truck and still driven out 50+ miles to a cheaper tow bill.

But when I put gas on my roof, I used two 2.5 gallon plastic gas cans, on a blanket, cinched down with straps. The 2.5 gallon cans are small and squat enough that they will stay put. Then again, I have scratched the crap out of my roof carrying other stuff this way. Get a basket cage.

Regarding the need for extra gas: in the deserts of California and Nevada? Hell yeah! Gas stations ARE that far apart, and sometimes you'll find the road washed out at about the worst possible distance from town, requiring you to backtrack and essentially double the amount of terrain you have to cover. It happens.

 

[mike5]

I'm going to be in the southern parts of Utah. Between some really long trails and availability of gas stations I'm playing it safe.

Because of vapors and spillage my requirement is to keep it outside the car.

I have an ok roof basket that I could mount and then put the cans in it and secure with straps. Just trying to avoiding doing it.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Gear on stock roof rack

Unfortunately, putting heavy hard gear on your roof will scratch the roof paint. Put down some cardboard, plywood on a blanket or an old thick blanket before you tie it down. You can also place 2x4 across the rails and the gas cans on top of that. Tie the 2x4s to the rack or cross rails with thin rope or heavy line at each end. Put your cans on top of the boards. Then tie down your cans to the rails and cross bars. Tie everything so it can't move around.
This is why I bought a Baja Rack flat Utility Rack. It's low and nothing sits on the roof.

 

[Spenny]

Having sold my Gobi and not having a rear bumper, no option other than inside the 4Runner existed for carrying extra fuel.

I have 2 wavian NATO cans that I'll strap down inside, just finished my second trip with them inside and I have zero fuel smell inside. I even slept inside the 4Runner and almost used the cans as pillows.

It's all about the seals and not spilling on the outside.

 

[SierraMare]

I use the low profile Yakima Basketcase on Yakima cross bars to carry my 4 gallon Rotopax horizontally. It has worked great for me, no leaks. Yakima has discontinued the Basketcase, but you can probably find a used one online. It can fit Thule, Yakima, and factory crossbars (with Yakima mighty mount adaptors). Either sitting "on" the crossbars, or nestled in-between them if you slide the bars to nest them. Dimensions: 30 x 2.5 x 40.2 inches ; 16.8 pounds. Google them...

 

[Simpleman74]

the whole "you gotta pay to play" comes to mind here... why not outfit your rig properly before going? at a minimum:

https://www.wilcooffroad.com/shop/hitchgate/

 

[jwkilgore]

1) A hitch carrier is the simplest and easiest to use, but it will hamper your offroad capability. It will likely drag going through dips.
2) You can get a roof basket for <$100 that will attach to factory crossbars. Not an optimum solution, but better than nothing and 1/10 the price of a full-replace roof rack.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...15735241,n:15735311,n:491447011,k:roof+basket

Also, if mounting to the roof, I second the recommendation to get a "squat" gas can instead of a jerry can. Just strap through the handle and they're secure. https://www.amazon.com/No-Spill-145...=UTF8&qid=1488547187&sr=8-2&keywords=fuel+can

 

[e60ral]

I would just do a cheap basket

and i would do 2 2.5 gallon cans instead of 5, 2 2.5 gallon cans side by side will sit lower and be easier to load/unload.

and for your plastic gas tanks get ez-pour spouts

placing them on the roof like others suggested also seems like a good solution, i think their issue of scratches could probably be avoided with a $20 piece of 3M automotive vinyl under the blanket.

 

[sponsoredbywifey]

Rhino rack steel mesh platform sz small fits inbetween the factory rails and has a low profile.

 

[e60ral]

Rhino rack steel mesh platform sz small fits inbetween the factory rails and has a low profile.

dang, that fits well. is that mounted to the cross bars or to the side rails. it looks like cross bars but in the second pic it looks like its sitting too low for that

 

[mooshu]

Rhino rack steel mesh platform sz small fits inbetween the factory rails and has a low profile.

How does this rack attach? Do you need to buy Rhino cross bars?

 

[sponsoredbywifey]

dang, that fits well. is that mounted to the cross bars or to the side rails. it looks like cross bars but in the second pic it looks like its sitting too low for that

it mounts to the cross bars.

 

[Liquidmantis]

i think their issue of scratches could probably be avoided with a $20 piece of 3M automotive vinyl under the blanket.

That's the only way I would consider putting anything directly on the roof. Cardboard is basically a fine grit sand paper, even a blanket is going to get road grit and trail dust under it and turn it into a slurry. If you at all care about the paint on the roof don't put anything on it at all. If you just have to do it, wrap that rascal.

 

[sponsoredbywifey]

How does this rack attach? Do you need to buy Rhino cross bars?

it mounts to the factory cross bars. etrailer sells them for $157 right now. mounting hardware is sold separately. and I also recommend getting a wind fairing. I just sold my setup this week. I miss it already lol

 

[stphnman20]

Rhino rack steel mesh platform sz small fits inbetween the factory rails and has a low profile.

Sponsoredbywifey?