Extending your fuel range has advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side - apart from going further you can stock up on fuel where it's cheap, and skip it where it's not. On the downside you are going to carry far more weight, which will adversely affect your fuel consumption, your suspension and shocks, and may mean you are going to get bogged down more often. Moreover your vehicle may be less stable if you're carrying your extra fuel on the roof (not to mention the strain on the roof rack and gutters).

The reality is that you will rarely use this extra capacity anyway - mostly you will keep a small reserve for emergencies, and only in extreme situation carry a full fuel load. But as the adage goes, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Jerricans
Understand the issues of a lot of weight at the highest point of the vehicle. If you can live with that then ensure the cans are strapped down - ideally using the LR11/LF jerrican securing frame shown here - laden jerricans which move will damage other equipment as well as themselves. Cans can be filled in-situ, but to use them you will either have to manhandle them down from the roof, or siphon fuel down using a hose. The hose will need to live outside of the vehicle unless you like the pervasive smell of diesel - get a dust proof box or bag for the purpose.

If you don't want to siphon from the jerricans you will need a good strong back and a filler spout that you know actually fits your jerricans - there are variations out there. Avoid ex-MOD cans - as cans get older or when they are damaged they may lose their internal coating and start rusting into you lovely clean fuel. We offer great deals on new jerricans, and our spouts fit!

You can get funnels for filling with diesel, but in dusty or sandy conditions these are going to encourage contamination. And on the subject of dirty fuel - and there is a lot of it out there - We'd recommend a filter for filling from other people's drums or jerricans - A bit of wire gauze and fine cloth on a funnel will do the job.

Secondary Tanks
Jerricans are cheap, and flexible in that you can off-load or cross load them as you need to, but for convenience, and a lower centre of gravity, secondary tanks are unarguably a far easier option. We can advise on the types of tank available for your vehicle, as well as costs for supply and installation.

Fuel Tips and Tricks

• Work out the fuel costs and availability of the next country you're going to visit, and plan accordingly. Turkey boasts fuel that is as expensive as in the UK, but next door in Syria they practically give it away.
• Always fill up at the smartest looking big-name gas station you can see - their tanks may be cleaner.
• Unless you're sure about availability, never pass a gas station by on less than half a tank.
• Avoid filling from drums and jerricans - the fuel may be contaminated and the jerricans may hold less fuel than you think.
• Keep a rag under your filler cap flap, and use it to clean dust away from the fuel pipe before you fill up.
• Never tilt a jerrican to fill it all the way - the air space allows heat expansion.
• Always carry spare seals for your jerricans.
• Never completely drain your jerricans unless you are sure your fuel is clean.
• Change your fuel filter and drain your sedimenter often in dusty conditions.
• Ethiopian diesel is notoriously bad - use it sparingly!
• Diesel from hot countries may go waxy in cold conditions, and your vehicle will run badly or refuse to start. Diluting diesel with up to 10% petrol can resolve this as a temporary fix (at your own risk!)