Rotopax

[Buckles]

Anyone have these or ever used one? I'm looking to get one for water storage when I go on extended camping trips. Seems like they would be perfect for mounting on my rola.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Rotopax user...

I've been using Rotopax 3 gallon gas cans (two of them) for a couple of years now. They're expensive but very well made. I strap them flat on my roof rack with ratchet straps. You can see them here behind the Wiffle Ball Bat :

Now, having said that, IMO they're too pricey for water cans. I store gas on the roof rack because I sleep inside my vehicle which means I can't store gas inside (don't want to smell it while I'm driving or trying to sleep, there's also the safety issue of carrying flammable liquids inside.)

OTOH, I have no issues with storing water inside. I have one of those big blue "cube" water jugs I got at Wally World for maybe $10. Since water doesn't have an odor, I'm fine with carrying it in the truck (and when I camp, the water jug sits on top of a plastic crate outside.)

I don't know how much the Rotopax water cans are but my 3 gallon gas cans were $60 each. For the same price as one of them I could buy about 6 wal mart jugs that carry twice as much water.

 

[gaterose]

I have one of models that can be latched with another, to be the same size as the huge one.. I think it's 2.5 gal. I got a while back when I came across it for a great price.

I haven't come up with a secure way to mount it (read horrible reviews about the roto-pax locking brackets) and so it's (mostly) been sitting in my garage.

I must say I was very impressed with the thickness, quality, and overall feel of it. I throw it in the back usually when I go on road trips (just in case) but can't say much more besides that it looks and feels very nice and solid. Still hasn't actually been filled with gas...

edit - is that a wiffle ball bat [MENTION=45517]Martinjmpr[/MENTION]

 

[Martinjmpr]

I have one of models that can be latched with another, to be the same size as the huge one.. I think it's 2.5 gal. I got a while back when I came across it for a great price.

I haven't come up with a secure way to mount it (read horrible reviews about the roto-pax locking brackets) and so it's (mostly) been sitting in my garage.

I put mine on with ratchet straps and they work great. Once I get them cinched down they don't move at all, even after miles and miles of bumpy roads. They also don't leak a drop despite going from 40 degrees outside to over 90 filled with gas. The only precaution I use with the ratchet straps is that any place where the buckle might contact the plastic I put a thick piece of cardboard in between to act as a pad and to keep the metal from rubbing on the plastic.

I must say I was very impressed with the thickness, quality, and overall feel of it. I throw it in the back usually when I go on road trips (just in case) but can't say much more besides that it looks and feels very nice and solid. Still hasn't actually been filled with gas...

They're awesome. Extremely rugged and, as I said, even though mine are mounted sideways, they never leaked so much as a drop. Now, having said that, the "carb compliant" pour spouts SUCK! So I just took the pour spout off of my cheap 5 gallon "blitz" can and used that one instead when pouring gas into the tank.

edit - is that a wiffle ball bat [MENTION=45517]Martinjmpr[/MENTION]

It's an ExPo thing. Go over to ExPo: Adventure and Overland Travel Enthusiasts and search "wiffleball bat." :fro:

 

[gaterose]

I put mine on with ratchet straps and they work great. Once I get them cinched down they don't move at all, even after miles and miles of bumpy roads. They also don't leak a drop despite going from 40 degrees outside to over 90 filled with gas. The only precaution I use with the ratchet straps is that any place where the buckle might contact the plastic I put a thick piece of cardboard in between to act as a pad and to keep the metal from rubbing on the plastic.

Sorry I should've said any way to lock it down, my plan has been to strap it like that all along once it has had some gas in it. Since it still hasn't I just throw it in the cargo area. I just meant something to secure it up there around town.

The wiffleball batt thing is pretty cool. I guess I'd strap it up there too.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Sorry I should've said any way to lock it down, my plan has been to strap it like that all along once it has had some gas in it. Since it still hasn't I just throw it in the cargo area. I just meant something to secure it up there around town.

Ah, got it. Well, mine were strapped on when I left Denver and stayed on throughout two trips, which included stops in Grand Junction and Moab (2012) as well as Green River, Cedar City, and the bustling metropolis of Tonopah, UT and nobody's ever touched my Rotopaxes, so unless you need them for some extended trip into the 3rd world, I'm not sure locking them down is a real issue.

I mean, if you want something you can leave on the vehicle 24/7, even when you're at home, then I guess locking them makes sense.

To me, it's silly to haul your "expedition gear" to and from work everyday, but I see people do it all the time, I guess either because they're too lazy to take it off, or because they want to look "salty" when they're driving through the Starbucks drive in.

My thought is: When I'm going on a long trip (where I might need extra gas), I'll strap the cans to the roof, and when I'm at home they'll sit in the garage, so locking them is not a requirement for me. Having said that, you could easily run a cable lock through the hole in the middle and cable lock it to a roof rack if you wanted to. That wouldn't deter any serious thief but it might "keep honest people honest."

The wiffleball batt thing is pretty cool. I guess I'd strap it up there too.

ExPo This, ExPo That, ExPo with a Wiffleball Bat - that's how we roll over on ExPo!

 

[ebg18t]

personally i use the scepter cans for both fuel and water.

Scepter Military - Water Canisters

 

[Buckles]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The price is really the only thing keeping me from them at this point. I have looked into the scepters as well, however I like the low profile of the roto. These would probably be something I leave on the rack year round. It's nice to have a water reservoir when you need it.

I'm in the process of fabbing up some custom mounting brackets for the rola to make it ride a little lower.