I think the only commercial option is an aftermarket bumper with a tire carrier, where you could ask them to mount a jerry can mount. Tactical Armor Group is one outfit that manufactures aftermarket rear bumpers for Patriots in the U.S., you could ask them.

Well, that, or else you could put the can on the roof with a roof rack.

(I've just carried mine inside the cargo space. I do agree though that it's not optimal, but luckily I've never had any fumes or spills or anything like that.)

 

Yea, the 13.5 gallon tank is a tad on the small side, but you can still go almost 325 miles on a tank when cruising the highway. About the same distance as my wifes GMC Sonoma can go with it's 18 gallon tank.

 

not on my FDII,
my low light comes on around 200 miles,
sometimes as low as 180,
i generally get low 200's before i fill up with 11-12 gallons,

 

Something to think about, jerry cans are not DOT approved nor are any plastic cans. So beware that you could be fined for not having the proper equipment, enforcement may depend on areas and officers.

That said yes I do use plastic cans but not for longer distances. I don't have any DOT approved cans but do have a few DOT compliant ones, there is a difference. DOT compliant cans can be had for under $50, DOT approved cans are usually $150+.

 

250 miles is a very safe range for me in my FDII, and have done 275 already. I hit the trip meter every time I fill up, and I keep an eye on the miles more than on the fuel gauge.

 

Transportation of a hazardous material (e.g., gasoline) by an individual for non-commercial purposes in a private motor vehicle, including a leased or rented motor vehicle is an activity that is not subject to regulation by the DOT. If the can was produced after 2009 then it must have a carb compliant spout and it must have a "child proof" lid, but that's about it. It doesn't even have to be red, but it's probably good common sense that it is. Your local fire marshal, the BLM and the ranger district you're going into may have different regulations about fuel cans, but most of it is common sense stuff.

Now, I don't believe carrying fuel cans on the back of your vehicle in the impact zone of an accident is generally a good idea. But I did weld up a mount on a tire carrier for my old TJ and I carried an extra can when I was going long distances into the back country. I never once needed it and on my new TJ I don't have a tire carrier so I haven't thought about mounting one. If I was going to carry a jerrican (jerry can?) or two on a Patriot I would do so with a universal mount (about $100) on a roof rack. They have designs that carry the jerrican laid down on their back so they wouldn't have a horribly tall profile and it keeps them out of way in the event that you get rear ended.

 

Extra weight in a vehicle is one of economy's worst enemies, In fact have a monthly " Junk out"& dont carry anything you dont need. If you carry a 5gall can of fuel around with you its almost the same as driving around with an unwanted passenger. Unless you are on an expedition into the outback/boonies travel light.

 

If you carry a 5gall can of fuel around with you its almost the same as driving around with an unwanted passenger.

Gas is 6.073 lbs per US gallon, so 30.365 lbs per 5 gallons. A can is what.... 3 - 5 lbs? some mounting hardware.... you're up to 40 lbs max for one jerry can. The EPA says if you drop 100 lbs you could increase your mpg by up to 2%. So half that, 1% on 23 mpg, you'll get nearly a quarter of a mile farther per gallon if you don't carry that one jerry can.

But yeah, if you're in town it's probably unlikely you'll need your jerry can so empty it into your tank and leave your can at home or mounted and empty.

 

Not for range or anything, but I often have a 5 gallon can of gas or kerosene in mine, going home from town, maybe 6 miles, and I put the fuel can into a large rubbermaid container. Keeps me from having to smell it on the trip, and if anything spills a drop, it's not inside my vehicle. Of course if I use the pick-up, I just put the cans in the bed.

 

THANKS, folks, for the good info -- I especially wasn't up on container regulations.

I only used a spare gas can on my TJ for very remote ghost town prowling in the desert. The can would get emptied into the fuel tank as soon as there was room in there, limiting the time that a "live" can was strapped on.

An embarrassing confession: I ran the new Patriot out of gas. It's not like it didn't warn me, but I thought, based on the old TJ's range, that I could get that extra 10 miles out of it. ("The hurrier I go...") The tank evidently wasn't topped off, and it was only good for 251 miles.

NOTE: For those who may not have tried this, the red line at the "E" really does mean empty. As in empty.

 

I am comfortable going another 20 miles after the low gas warning beeps. If that helps.

I also wouldn't worry about the loss in mileage from carrying 5 gal of fuel around. Although I doubt I'd have a can with me unless I was out in the bush and thought it would be good to have along. Most of the time if I have one with me, it's because I need it at home for equipment, and travel maybe 6 miles or so with it on board.

Makes me wonder how many folks follow the off road guidelines of using premium fuel for off road driving in their FDII's??

 

Makes me wonder how many folks follow the off road guidelines of using premium fuel for off road driving in their FDII's??

OOPS! So glad you mentioned that. I got disgusted with the owner's manual (hands down the least useful I've seen), and overlooked the fact it might contain some real info, other than "how to work the radio, volumes 1-5".

So, I didn't know about the fuel requirement.

 

I just know some folks have said things about bogging under heavy load off road, and I think that's why they recommend premium fuel for off road. I've not used it, yet, but my off road forays are only an hour or so, and not real steep or rocky.

 

I just know some folks have said things about bogging under heavy load off road, and I think that's why they recommend premium fuel for off road.

Not trying to drag this thread out too long or anything, but it makes sense. Doesn't the low gear 4WD setting automatically alter the spark? (Hold me back here, I'm getting into stuff I really don't know about.)

 

I wouldn't think it would alter the spark it's gear reduction used for 4low... when you engage the 4low (off road mode) it puts the transmission in a lower gear so no matter how much gas it's still slower then standard hi range gearing.

just my 2cents.

 

The spark is controlled by the powertrain computer with a knock sensor to prevent engine damage. If the knock sensor senses knock, the computer reduces the spark advance. With premium fuel, more spark advance can be run, with more low RPM grunt. With less octane, one gets less low RPM grunt.

IMO and YMMV.

 

I need to find a bike carrier with two spots for extra jerry cans

 

Yep. And for the peace of mind it offers, 10 gallons of added weight is hardly worth loosing a few pennies over.
***K.I.S.S.**


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if running out and and needing gas is a consideration,
instead of a 5gallon jerry can, how about a smaller 1-2 gallon container?
i know sometimes when your low, gas station can be scarily far.

 

In years past, folks with class c motor homes (those built on a van front, 1 ton chassis) had limited gas capacity--I believe 36 gallons--and driving a Dodge 440 was about 10-12 miles per gallon. Anyway, the bumper on these rigs is a lightweight steel square tube. I think they made it a tad deeper--but at 8' in length, it held another 10 +/- gallons, which had to be transferred to the main tank with a small electric fuel pump. that sort of arrangement could be made on the Patriot to give another 5 gallons, I think...

But now we have all sorts of emmissions and air quality issues to content with. My advice is similiar to what Senator Huey Long said about voting: "vote early and vote often!" Fill up when you're 1/2 full instead of running on E....

And by the way, my Pat. low fuel light comes on and says I have 33 miles to go, if I slow down, I can get that number up to 40. But once it drops below 30, it just shows the low fuel symbol.