Transporting 20 gallons of gas in your trunk and storing in your back yard in the open air question

On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:56:49 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:
> First are you using legal explosion proof container to increase safety
> margin? Do you smell gas when your car is parked in the garage?

To answer your question, I never smell fumes. I'm using those CARB EPA
Blitz gasoline prisons. The gas has been tested to not lose an ounce (they
test loss by weight) even after a year in the sun.

The article referenced says it's safe to store small amounts of gasoline in
the garage or other well ventilated shelter.

It doesn't say anything about transport.

Any ideas what the laws are on transport?

On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:48:27 -1000, dsi1 wrote:
> Buy an old Caddie or two, fill up the tanks and park it in your back
> yard along with your bikes and off-road vehicles

In theory, one could remove the 20-gallon gas tank from an automobile
junker, and, assuming all the hoses and caps are intact, store 20 gallons
in the single gas tank unobtrusively along that fence.

Pouring it out would be by adding 12 volts to the fuel pump, I guess.

But I'd wonder about the legality of storing gas in a gas tank. Seems like
that's what it's made for, but, maybe not legal outside the vehicle.

On 7/20/2010 4:10 PM, Elmo wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:48:27 -1000, dsi1 wrote:
>> Buy an old Caddie or two, fill up the tanks and park it in your back
>> yard along with your bikes and off-road vehicles
>
> In theory, one could remove the 20-gallon gas tank from an automobile
> junker, and, assuming all the hoses and caps are intact, store 20 gallons
> in the single gas tank unobtrusively along that fence.
>
> Pouring it out would be by adding 12 volts to the fuel pump, I guess.
>
> But I'd wonder about the legality of storing gas in a gas tank. Seems like
> that's what it's made for, but, maybe not legal outside the vehicle.

How about converting a small car or a golf cart into a small tanker by
replacing the rear seat/trunk area with a gas tank? A hundred gallons
ought to do the trick. As far as the legality of it all, it's probably
best not to ask such things. We want the option of plausible
deniability. :-)

Bill Murphy wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:56:49 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:
>> First are you using legal explosion proof container to increase safety
>> margin? Do you smell gas when your car is parked in the garage?
>
> To answer your question, I never smell fumes. I'm using those CARB EPA
> Blitz gasoline prisons. The gas has been tested to not lose an ounce (they
> test loss by weight) even after a year in the sun.
>
> The article referenced says it's safe to store small amounts of gasoline in
> the garage or other well ventilated shelter.
>
> It doesn't say anything about transport.
>
> Any ideas what the laws are on transport?
Hi,
I often use surplus army jerry can filled with gas, propane tak say
going camping. I never keep them in a space like confined trunk. If
you have to keep them in the trunk while in transit, I'd keep the lid
open ajar for venting in case. Worst thing happened to me was overfilled
propane tank started hising releasing gas.

"Bill Murphy" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:56:49 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:
>> First are you using legal explosion proof container to increase safety
>> margin? Do you smell gas when your car is parked in the garage?
>
> To answer your question, I never smell fumes. I'm using those CARB EPA
> Blitz gasoline prisons. The gas has been tested to not lose an ounce (they
> test loss by weight) even after a year in the sun.
>
> The article referenced says it's safe to store small amounts of gasoline
> in
> the garage or other well ventilated shelter.
>
> It doesn't say anything about transport.
>
> Any ideas what the laws are on transport?

Your state or local laws may vary

<http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=8&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+ Agencies&L2=Massachusetts+Department+of+Fire+Servi ces&L3=Department+of+Fire+Services&L4=Office+of+th e+State+Fire+Marshal&L5=Fire+Prevention&L6=Office+ of+the+State+Fire+Marshal+Advisories&L7=2005+Advis ories&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=dfs_osfm_fire_ prevention_adv_av_gas_transportation&csid=Eeops>

From: Stephen D. Coan, State Fire Marshal
We are receiving many calls in our office with regard to the transportation
of gasoline in vehicles and whether the use of a "gas-caddy" is legal in the
Commonwealth. As a result of these calls, I am issuing this information.

In accordance with 527 CMR 8.21(5), .gasoline or other flammable petroleum
product may be transported without a permit in any open vehicle or in a
compartment of a closed vehicle separated from passengers, in total quantity
not to exceed 21 gallons, provided such flammable liquid is contained in
approved containers with no individual container exceeding seven gallons
capacity. We request that this information be shared with gas stations in
your area.
Further, the use of "gas-caddys" for the transportation of gasoline and/or
diesel fuel is not allowed in the Commonwealth. The use of "gas-caddys" is
confined to on-site storage at permitted locations



New York State
Safety Bulletin Index - Transporting Gasoline and Diesel Fuel
(Code: SB-96-2, Date: 6/10/96)
Transportation of fuel shall be accomplished by portable fuel cans with a
maximum capacity of 5 gallons each, or cargo fuel tanks. All containers
shall be properly labeled.

Gasoline shall only be transported in approved 5 gallon portable gas cans,
with a limit of four (4) cans per vehicle.

Portable five (5) gallon cans transported on any Department vehicle or
equipment shall be fastened in a vented box, or lashed to the body of the
vehicle with web straps, using eyebolts through the side of the body backed
up by a 3 inch x 3 inch x 3/16 inch steel backing plate. There shall be two
eyebolt anchor points for each can.

Only steel or aluminum Type I or Type II safety cans shall be used to
transport gasoline.

"Bill Murphy" > wrote in message
...
>I have a typical back yard, open mostly to the sun, where I store five
> 5-gallon jerry jugs of gasoline for my bikes and equipment and off-road
> vehicles.
>
> I don't see that it's all that much of a danger, considering we keep two
> cars in the garage with twice that much gasoline essentially inside the
> house - while this is outside along the fence.
>
> But, my neighbor noticed the four jugs recently and asked about them. I
> said I never knew gas to spontaneously explode and he said the sun could
> cause it to happen. He also said it's illegal to transport more than a
> single five-gallon can in your trunk (is that true?).
>
> Is it all that dangerous to keep 20 gallons of gas in the back yard?
> Is it illegal to trasnsport more than 5 gallons (California) in a car?

If you are referring to 5 gallon metal jerry can's, that's about all you can
do for them. I would put them in the shade, though. Leaving any breather
opening is an invitation for condensation from the can "breathing" by
getting alternately hot and cold. I would make an effort to "hide" these
from this neighbor, or move them to an area that does not abut his property.
These aren't inherently dangerous or unstable, but scary. Gasoline combusts
at +260C. It would be damn hard to reach that temperature. But, any spark,
slight brush fire, or lightning strike could be disastrous.

I was standing in a screen porch area of my house one time, and lightning
hit the pecan tree out side. It came down the tree, jumped to my truck,
blew off diagonal hubcaps on my truck, jumped to a cow, killing it, fried
the dryer I was standing beside, and killed a TV in another room. So, I can
say, after having lightning strike within 10 feet of me then and three other
times in my life, **it happens.

Is this spot on the fence away from structures, or out in the country, a
hundred feet away from structures? Or is it in a neighborhood, close to the
houses?

For me, it would almost be better to keep it in the garage. And do you use
enough to justify keeping 20 gallons on hand? Do you have a backup power
generator that you need to keep a supply for? And what about Stabil? I
know it's a hassle, but how about filling up the night before the ride?

I used to poo poo the stories of gas catching fire at filling stations, then
I saw videos, and then a guy two aisles over at the gas station did it.
Man, was that scary. So, the guy does have some valid concerns.

And if you DO have a spark and a gas fire/explosion either in your car, your
yard, or in your garage, it's going to be nasty, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
MIGHT NOT BE COVERED BY YOUR INSURANCE DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS. Whatever the hell that means. They do have fires at gas
storage yards all the time in the industry, so essentially, there's no safe
way to handle this stuff, and when it's your turn to have an "event", it's
just your turn. You can argue all you want that they were in OSHA MSHA DOT
approved containers, but the fact that there was a fire proves right there
that something was not right.

I wouldn't want my neighbor to put twenty gallons along my fence.
Especially if it is within 100 feet of any structures of mine. **it does
happen. He may be a royal PITA, but he does have somewhat of a point. And
you have to live next door to him. I also personally wouldn't carry that
much gas in the trunk. Too many idiots on the road, and if they rear-end
you, it's going to be nasty. Or there's just a spark from the lights
...............

Steve

visit my blog at http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

Buy one of those auxillary gas tanks you see in the bed of the pickup
truck. Looks like chrome plated skid plate and there about 300
gallons...

Harryface

On 2010-07-21, Bill Murphy > wrote:

> Is it all that dangerous to keep 20 gallons of gas in the back yard?
> Is it illegal to trasnsport more than 5 gallons (California) in a car?

Whatever you do, don't ask a govt agency!

When I still lived in CA, my buddy wanted to buy av-gas for his
stroked HD. The airport, jes down the street, wouldn't sell it to him
until he a).... b).... c)... etc. He then tried to comply with
those requirements and called the Fire Dept for info. It got real
regulatory and really expensive very quickly. Only if stored in yada
yada...! He finally went with low compression heads for his stroker.
CA is real anal about that kinda stuff. I went one better and moved
to CO.

nb

> wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:30:14 -0700, "Steve B"
> > wrote:
>
>>And if you DO have a spark and a gas fire/explosion either in your car,
>>your
>>yard, or in your garage, it's going to be nasty, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
>
> Yea, take an example from BP. After all, they are experts at blowing
> up gas and oil.

You ignorant slut. Why don't we just take an example from everyday Joe
Average who burns up several houses, gas stations, cars, and businesses a
day from the improper use of gasoline? The business of oil drilling is
hazardous. Anything to do with oil is hazardous. I worked in the oilfields
for ten years. What do you base your statements on? BP is in the business
of providing oil. That's translated to gasoline so you can drive
unnecessarily 65% of the time. It is bad business for them to blow up
anything, which they did not. They were careless, and there was an
accident, just like the OP has the potential to do if he handles gasoline.
Sooner or later, everyone has at least one accident.

Except you, who are perfect.

Steve

visit my blog at http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

And don't forget the possibility of the curious (or destructive) teen
who comes upon these cans and decided to light a match to see what
happens.