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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 6 Nov 2002
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External fuel stowage
What is the situation regarding the legality of storing jerry cans of diesel externally on the sides of a vehicle in the UK? I am thinking of a mod I saw to a 110 in a certain person's guidebook that I have also seen on a 109 in Cairo... four jerrycans, two slung on either side above the waistline of the car behind the rear passanger doors... is this illegal in Britain and Europe? I guess it's legal in Egypt!

LRN
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Old 6 Nov 2002
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I'm open to be corrected, but isn't that position standard issue on the British Army issue LRs rolling out of Solihul at the moment? I don't know if they have to obey the same rules as us.
Luke
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Old 6 Nov 2002
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Think it is a bit of a grey area. Not sure its illegal but if causes an accident then might be in major trouble. Similar arguement for brush wires - not really illegal and probably not going to get picked up for it but if One has a crash and its seen to cause increase damage, suffering, etc then One might be rather vunerable. Think if using legal fuel containers properly attached so it all looks proffesional then it would be okay. Military have different rules.
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Old 6 Nov 2002
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In the EC I believe it is not allowed being wider than the car - store them inside on the way down and put them out once in the desert - where nothing sensible is illegal.

CS
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Old 6 Nov 2002
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To widen the discussion a bit, is it wise to have such a nickable item in such a clearly visible position? If you have to put them inside every time you park near or in a town imho you'll soon tire of moving them around. This could spark a jerrrican vs aux tanks debate, but once you've paid for the bracketry and the NATO cans I would have thought you're pretty close to the price of a FOAF-built aux tank. Excuse my lack of faith in humanity, but if it's visible someone's going to have a go at relieving you of it.
Luke
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Old 7 Nov 2002
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I agree it's nickable, though this can be moderated by adding hasps on the racks. I carry various bits on the outside of my Landy - shovel, pick, sand ladders, whatever's on the roof etc, and my parking etc can be adapted to suit the location and security factors.

Id always go for jerry cans rather than an extra internal tank of anything bigger than about 50l - should the car get stuck or need jacking (eg wheelchange), jerry cans can be taken out for weight constraints, a big plumbed-in tank can't.

The width thing is a good point... Ill have to get the tape measure out. I have brush wires on my machine and this has resulted in attention from the local ploddery back in the UK, but only of the positive (interested) kind!

*edit*
(Costwise.... jerry can racks 60LE each in Gizeh in Cairo (any decent welder could make them in Europe) that's about 8 quid a throw, well made too.... jerry cans a fiver a pop at Billing, make sure you pick a good one! Altogether 52 quid - on the other hand I got a stainless 50 litre underseat tank the other day for 150 quid ....)

[This message has been edited by LandRoverNomad (edited 06 November 2002).]
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Old 7 Nov 2002
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I have this system : 4 jerrycans on each side
since 1990 on a 110 Defender and the same before on a 109 : In 18 years no problem with police in many coutries : Algeria,Tunisia,Niger,Libya,Italy,France.
I had an accident with this (in France, going back home after a long trip in Algeria ) and I was 100% right .
I think this system is very easy because removeable and good for the stability ...
RR
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Old 8 Nov 2002
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We got 4 x jerry cans for £25 (used) delivered to the front door, no p&p either! This was from www.johncraddockltd.co.uk - website under construction at the moment. Aux tanks are an overlander's dream, but at a price!

On this topic, another insight: how much % of our time do we spend thinking about the vehicle, compared to dreaming about *where* we're going? This is an open question; are we pre-occupied by the means of travel, and reaching our own goals, rather than succumbing to our destinations' mysteries?

Don't get me wrong, I love the preparation and the anticipation. It makes the 9-5 days fly by, but the wonders of Mauritania made work obsolete!

(I'm back at the bank working 9-5...)
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Old 8 Nov 2002
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We mounted 2 x jerry cans and 1 x water can on either side of LR 110 Defender. These were mounted into purpose built holders slung off the roof rack and then bolted to the side of the LR for extra stability. Bolts needed checking continually on graded roads and checked for lock.

I wanted to keep fuel out of car for obvious reasons, smell, leakage etc. Also, I didn't want weight on roof due to centre of gravity being raised and this was also our sleeping platform.

The cans were not filled through Europe and only filled when we considered it necessary that we may need extra fuel through desert sections etc. If we had been stopped at all the whole lot could have been de-rigged and stored on the roof until we were out of harms way.

The carriers/panniers were of a solid steel construction and all cans were bloted into them to avoid and theft problems. Of course anybody with determination will take what thay want.

The main thing is I could still see through my rear veiw mirrors and thus the panniers were NOT wider than the car including mirrors, so if the car coul go through a gap with mirrors then all was well.

We were never given any hassle by any authority.

Jasper

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