TJ Jerry Can Mount

SimonsTJ · 10-24-2009, 10:10 PM

I have been planning a trip to Moab in late November with the intent of doing some light wheeling and camping. I have been trying to figure out how to bring along some jerry cans for extra fuel and water, but i have no way of mounting them, and a swing out carrier is not in the budget atm.

I decided to make a mount that attached to the 2" receiver in my bumper. Using Solidworks, I came up with this concept.

On Wednesday I bought my first welder

a Hobart Handler 140. I would have gone for a 220V welder if there was 220 service in my garage, but that was not an option. I have some TIG experience from working on the formula SAE team at my Lehigh University, but hardly any experience using MIG or Flux core welders.

Here are some pictures of the mount so far. Currently it is hanging in the garage drying so I will update in the next day or so with the finished product.

Let me know what you guys think

WebWheeler327 · 10-24-2009, 10:12 PM

Looks good. Where did you get the straps from?

SimonsTJ · 10-24-2009, 10:15 PM

Thanks Red, I got the straps from home depot. I cut them to length and the singed the ends with a soldering iron

builder · 10-24-2009, 10:51 PM

I have used straps like that before and they always would there way loose after a short time. So careful and check often.

**BESRK** · 10-25-2009, 07:47 AM

Looks good! If the straps become an issue, maybe you could pick up a couple of those small ratchet straps from Northern... they crank down nice and hard.

SimonsTJ · 10-25-2009, 11:15 AM

I finished painting it last night so I put it on the jeep to see how it looks.

Deezelweazel · 10-25-2009, 11:59 AM

You carry a nice bomb in the rear. Ever thought about what happens if you get rearended? The jerrycan gets real nice squished with the bumper.
You may have a nice fire in the rear...

Just kidding, try to get a better support to avoid unexpected loss of the cans. The tie down won't be enough. Everbody following you will be happy not getting those cans under the underbody...

I have still those lockable military carriers. I will make a picture if you want, to give you some ideas

pmccoy9876 · 10-25-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deezelweazel

You carry a nice bomb in the rear. Ever thought about what happens if you get rearended? The jerrycan gets real nice squished with the bumper.
You may have a nice fire in the rear...

Just kidding, try to get a better support to avoid unexpected loss of the cans. The tie down won't be enough. Everbody following you will be happy not getting those cans under the underbody...

You've never heard of this before? It's the ever popular "Pinto" mod. All the fun of a Jeep, with the exquisite crash performance rating of the Ford Pinto!

sgv, I like it! I'll hopefully be making a new rear bumper some time soon, hoping to have enough room to mount some jerry cans behind the spare tire on the swingout, that way they won't fall out even if they come loose.

**TNeustadt** · 10-25-2009, 12:08 PM

Looks good, I could only suggest some sort of fold down ability, maybe similar to bike racks ,so you can open the tailgate.

SimonsTJ · 10-25-2009, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the comments. I am working on figuring out a secondary mounting system to prevent the cans from falling off in the event that a strap breaks/loosens. I might even go with ratcheting straps like Besrk suggested. I had thought about the folding down feature and could not come up with a clever way to make it work with such little room between my receiver and the spare tire. Even my Thule bike rack can fold down, but it doesn't clear the spare tire.

I'm surprised that I didn't get the bomb comments sooner, honestly. I do not intend to have the cans full for highway use, just for extra fuel on long trails.

SimonsTJ · 10-25-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deezelweazel

I have still those lockable military carriers. I will make a picture if you want, to give you some ideas

Pictures would be greatly appreciated

By the way, the lip on the bottom of the cans locks into a slot near the back of the mount, in case that wasn't clear from the pictures.

Deezelweazel · 10-25-2009, 01:01 PM

Ok, I will take some pics then. They consist of a frame, supporting the can. In the inside of thr frame are rubber grommets to prevent rattling, there is also a solid steel lever which flips over the sprout. So nobody can open the can and steal the gas. You can also mount them together and lock them with one steel rod and one lock. Sounds difficult, but is very simple and smart.

Update: Have taken the carriers out of the barn today. Will post them tomorrow!

**Bisqwik** · 10-26-2009, 09:42 PM

I like the simple square tubing and flat strap on the bottom to hold the cans. Nice Job.
John

SimonsTJ · 10-26-2009, 11:47 PM

Thanks John.

I am planning on adding a locking mechanism to prevent theft as well as having a backup in case a strap loosens. Here is my Idea.

A padlock will go through the hole in the horizontal rod, keeping tension on the strap holding the cans.

Deezelweazel · 10-27-2009, 06:59 AM

As I promised I have taken some pics:
( I'm sorry for the low quality, but it's the web cam

As you can see, it has a movable flip lid to lock the can in place. Rubber grommets prevent rattling. The lid of the can shows into the front of the carrier.

Maybe it looks skinny, but it is a heavy construction. You can bolt it on the ground, and to the rear.
I will take three of them ( I have eight of them!

) and mount them onto my trailer to carry Diesel and Water.

I hope it will give you some ideas of fabricating a cool carrier. If you need dimensions, let me know.