What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the US?

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

Good points on all posts. 2fewtoyz nice blackout, new bosch relays out that handle 40 amp with no problem , 30,85,86,87 only , found in euros 2000---2007. 3/8 10mm lugs .

Im going to be asking questions here for a Gridtied , battery backup system. This winter after all the birds/bugs/ critters have left , I will drop 40 trees (200' plus ) to open up the solar collection area.

VT

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

I keep a few 5 gallon gas cans full at all times. They are in a row. I always use the closest can. When it's empty, it is refilled, and put at the end of the row. All fuel is treated with StaBil, Pri-G, or Seafoam.

I also have an ADDITIONAL ten 5-gallon gas cans on hand. These are empty. Since I'm in hurricane prone FL, we have plenty of warning when a big storm is heading our way. I fill up all the gas cans at that point. I don't bother with fuel stabilizer. It either gets used during the storm, or dumped back into the vehicles once the threat is gone.

One of the big selling items when a storm approaches is gas cans. Walmart usually has stacks of them. Two days before a storm, good luck finding any.

Each 5 gallon can represents about 1 days worth of running my A/C all day. Between the 900 Watts of solar, and a thrifty inverter generator, I have more than two weeks of comfortable living. Granted, I'm only keeping one bedroom cool with the 5000 BTU A/C unit, but that's fine.

Also, if we have a BIG storm coming, the gas cans will go into the back of my pickup truck, along with my generator. We'll be pulling our 25' travel trailer, and getting out of the storm's path. Worry about returning after the dust settles.

My truck gets about 17 MPG on a good day, or 10 MPG when towing. It has a 36 gallon gas tank. When the gas cans are factored in, I can go about 1000 miles before needing fuel.

One thing that's happened during a bugout in the past is someone had gas cans in the bed of their utility trailer, and it was stolen when traffic slowed down. So would you get out and fight some desperate person for YOUR gas? The take away lesson for me was to hide all my resources.

The gas cans are shorter than my generator. Some trucks have a bed that's too shallow to hide my generator, especially if a roll up metal cover is used. The F150 has a deep bed, ideally suited for my hardware. These pics were from a camping trip, not a bug out, so the row of gas cans are not shown:



Lid pulled shut, cover (I made) slipped over the generator:



I can tell you first hand, these gas cans don't pour worth $%*!, especially when trying to get it into a vehicle. I found that using a metal funnel works very well. I used a spring clamp to the gas fillup access door, resting the funnel in the "V" of the clamp.





Last thing is to remove the stupid fill spout on the gas can, and simply pour the precious juice into the funnel.

I recommend that everyone tries these sort of things. You don't want to find out during an emergency that your plan doesn't work. FWIW, my F150 doesn't have a gas cap, and came with a special funnel. The gas pump nozzle presses two little latches inside the fill port on the truck, which opens a valve, allowing the nozzle to go into the truck. Without the special funnel, it would be a challenge to get the valve to open.

Did I mention it's hurricane season here?

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

race fuel cans still have real spouts and vents. I own 4 of them!

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/containers

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

The race fuel cans are enticing, but at $30 each, ouch.

Thanks for the siphon suggestion, but I need a pump. One of the things I need to do is move fuel directly from vehicle to vehicle without a gas can intermediary. Plus from my bleepin' gas cans into a vehicle.

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

2manytoyz wrote: »

The take away lesson for me was to hide all my resources.

The gas cans are shorter than my generator. Some trucks have a bed that's too shallow to hide my generator, especially if a roll up metal cover is used. The F150 has a deep bed, ideally suited for my hardware.

Isn't it a bit dangerous to have gas cans and generator in an enclosed space beneath the roll up metal cover? --vtMaps

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

westbranch wrote: »

like this, they were 'the thing ' last summer...http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/CuttingChopping/ChainsawAccessories/PRD~0283022P/Flo+N+Go+Gas+Pump.jsp?locale=en

That is still basically a siphon but with a built-in squeeze type pump to start the siphon. Using the pump continuously would be a drag.

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

vtmaps wrote: »

I understood that you would not operate the generator under cover. I was worried about fume buildup in the enclosed space. I know boaters worry about gasoline fume buildup in their hulls. I thought it was dangerous to store gasoline in a tight shed or enclosed trailer. Do I worry too much?
--vtMaps

The roll up cover is also anything but air tight. It keeps most of the rain out, but plenty of gaps for it to sneak in. There's also no seal on the tailgate/bed interface.







Having hauled gas cans & generator multiple times, I can tell you there's no gas fumes when I drop the tailgate.

I'm not concerned about this method of hauling fuel. Better than hauling it in the cab, and better than placing it in the trunk of a car... the way most everyone without a truck or trailer haul gas cans!

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

Some related pics found online:

Um, don't do this:



Here's a good reason to have fuel stored:





Another option for those with SUVs:



Got your gas cans yet?



Heck, I might buy another 10 cans to store empty until a storm approaches. Good barter material if nothing else...

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

Years ago as a teenager I transferred many gallons of gas with one of these: http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=6314

They work very well for rapid movement of gas from one container to another.

Don't ask how I know.....:roll:

Re: What of the millions of people without power because of the severe storms across the

inetdog wrote: »

I have seen similar in auto supply stores that are specifically rated for gasoline. They are a pain in the arm to operate, but other than that reliable.

This one, for example, looks pretty much like the others, but is supposedly manufacturer rated for gasoline and mixed fuel use: http://www.gemplers.com/product/7722/Hand-Siphon-Pump?pfx=OAWP#TAB-REVIEWS

The difference is in the seal material and the hose material.

The description calls it a "hand siphon pump" but since it is described as "double acting" I have my doubts about that part and one review also says no to siphon operation.