Extra fuel idea - what do you think?

[ollicat]

Hey folks, I have an idea and what to run it by the expert minds we have here on the forum. I have been considering ways to carry extra fuel for longer runs and for peace of mind. Some carry fuel on the back seat, some on the rear luggage rack, etc. What about using the rear floor boards? (assuming no passenger) Rotopax makes these great fuel containers in 1, 1.75, 2 and 3 gallons that have the ability to lock to a mount. They are designed to be mounted externally to Jeeps, ATVs and even offroad bikes so they are certainly rugged enough for a floorboard installation. The key would be developing a mount that would attach to the rear floorboard. I have looked under the rear floorboard and there are two screws that might be able to be used. One could develop an "L" shaped bracket in which one side would fit under the floorboard and the vertical portion would engineered to have a hole that would accept the Rotopax locking mechanism. The floorboards are certainly strong enough to hold 3 pounds of fuel on each side. This solution would keep fuel smells from your clothes and still allow you all the room you need to pack the other parts of the Spyder.

I have posted some very crude pictures to give you more ideas.
* underside of floorboard
* crude cardboard to show what the bracket may look like
* cardboard with a Round Up bottle to show how it would fit
* gas tank on the floor board. I don't own an Rotobax container
* Rotopax mounted to a motorcycle - to show that people do this
* Rotopax with an "L" mount, though this would have to be reproduced for our application


Lastly, I spoke to a guy at Spyder Extras and he said that if there is interest, he would consider manufacturing an "L" plate like I am talking about. Thoughts?

 

[Navydad]

Not a bad idea. My only concern is how substantial are the two screws under the floorboard? I know the floorboard will be supporting the weight, but if a sideways action happens such as accidently hitting the container with a foot or something will those screws hold up to that force being applied? Something to prevent the container from contacting the paint would be in order as well. Paint durability on new vehicles including Spyders is pretty pathetic wouldn't take long for the container to rub the paint away. Maybe remove the floorboard entirely and use that mounting point for a bracket. That is a pretty strong mounting point.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Not a bad idea. My only concern is how substantial are the two screws under the floorboard? I know the floorboard will be supporting the weight, but if a sideways action happens such as accidently hitting the container with a foot or something will those screws hold up to that force being applied? Something to prevent the container from contacting the paint would be in order as well. Paint durability on new vehicles including Spyders is pretty pathetic wouldn't take long for the container to rub the paint away. Maybe remove the floorboard entirely and use that mounting point for a bracket. That is a pretty strong mounting point.

" Screws " ????? .... I just adjusted mine for a short rider ..... I used a socket that was 13mm ...... my RT doesn't have screws ..... good luck .... Also you live in Tn. I've traveled thu that State. .... I don't recall finding gas even at night as being an issue ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[UtahPete]

That's a good idea, I think. I'm just not sure there are that many of us who carry extra fuel. Maybe a poll is in order.

I don't understand how your bracket would differ from the one shown in #5.

 

[ollicat]

Yes I thought about the paint issue. With the lock that Rotopax provides, the can would hug the bracket and not touch the paint.

Blueknight911 - yes, fuel in TN is easy to get. But I do travel and i like getting remote.

Concerning the bottom screws, I had that same thought. Not sure if strong enough. But I supposed an engineer could find a reinforcement mechanism of some sort, even if bracing at a 3rd point.

Lastly, the bracket I showed in pic 5 is from some place in Australia. Sooooo, I don't think I will be trying out that one.

 

[UtahPete]

L-bracket made in Utah

https://rotopax.com/l-bracket.html $40

 

[pegasus1300]

I really like the idea. I have run out of gas one time and was rescued by a"Good Sameritan". I would not like to try and depend on that bit of luck very often. I already carry a 1 gal jug of water (motojug.com) on one floor board so it shouldn't be too hard to rig up a carrier. As I remember from the website Rotopax has several several different bracket types or an L bracket is not that hard to make. If you don' t have screws under your floor boords drill a couple of holes a put some in.

 

[RayBJ]

On the '20 RT Base model I mounted the rotopax on the rear deck for my 6100 loop to Yellowstone last spring.
Note my avatar pic with the can inside a helmet bag.

 

[UtahPete]

View attachment 198359
On the '20 RT Base model I mounted the rotopax on the rear deck for my 6100 loop to Yellowstone last spring.

That's my intent.

Gasoline is lighter than water (6#/gal vs 8.4)

 

[UtahPete]

Lastly, the bracket I showed in pic 5 is from some place in Australia. Sooooo, I don't think I will be trying out that one.

Thats a Rotopax L-bracket, made in Utah for $39.99. Would your design be different in some way?

 

[ARtraveler]

Gloom and doom here. :bowdown:

I would be worried about what happens if someone else hits that part of the bike. I would be afraid of a conflagration happining.

The good side, most of the country has gas stations much less than 100 miles from each other. I know there are places, (TX, AK, etc.) that may not. I have never run out of gas, but came very close on the AK highway by Destruction Bay in the Yukon Territories.

The gas can you show does not seem to be a "safety" type.

Back to the original intent of the thread. :bowdown:

 

[UtahPete]

On the '20 RT Base model I mounted the rotopax on the rear deck for my 6100 loop to Yellowstone last spring. Note my avatar pic with the can inside a helmet bag.

I didn't think that avatar pic was taken in NJ somehow :joke:

 

[pegasus1300]

But Pete and I both live in the west and many of us travel extensively in the west and gas stations many times are not that close together or one you used use is no longer in business or closed early. Yes we learn early in our riding careers to take the chance to fill up when it presents itself but occasionally we forget or miscalculate or whatever and it becomes longer then our tanks can reach.

 

[UtahPete]

But Pete and I both live in the west and many of us travel extensively in the west and gas stations many times are not that close together or one you used use is no longer in business or closed early. Yes we learn early in our riding careers to take the chance to fill up when it presents itself but occasionally we forget or miscalculate or whatever and it becomes longer then our tanks can reach.

So far, despite my best intentions, I have experienced this 4 times on the Spyder, most recently in SW Wyoming. Have been saved twice by good Samaritans, once by the spare fuel I carried, and the fourth time I had to push the bike down the shoulder of the freeway 1/4 mile mile, at night, in the rain when no-one stopped to help, not even a Utah State Trooper!

 

[FrogmanDave]

If I felt the need for extra gas, I would probably just strap something to my rack on the top case but the floorboards would probably work as well. You'll figure something out I'm sure.

 

[Motorcycledave]

The one gal units on the floorboards is a good idea, here is another,
Get a trailer hitch receiver and a small rack and put your gas can on it out back
away from your legs, exhaust & engine you could easily carry 2 gal 3 gal even 5 gal.

 

[UtahPete]

The one gal units on the floorboards is a good idea, here is another,
Get a trailer hitch receiver and a small rack and put your gas can on it out back
away from your legs, exhaust & engine you could easily carry 2 gal 3 gal even 5 gal.

I've considered that, Dave, but that hitch bounces a lot more than the floorboards.

 

[2dogs]

Sorry but I have to oppose the idea and the practice of carrying extra gas in any container other than the OEM gas tank. Accidents however unintended do happen. An impact fracturing an exposed container of fuel and the risk of igniting if a driver or passenger were splashed would be unthinkable and NEVER be worth the risk. An incident like that wouldn't be worth a lifetime of enjoyment of owning and riding a spyder or motorcycle. I've carried extra fuel in the past but I no longer do. I've found that careful planning is far safer than exposing yourself or passenger to the horrable risk that can result from injury and fire. Preplanning is your best investment in any function you engage in. Safety always first.

 

[UtahPete]

Sorry but I have to oppose the idea and the practice of carrying extra gas in any container other than the OEM gas tank. Accidents however unintended do happen. An impact fracturing an exposed container of fuel and the risk of igniting if a driver or passenger were splashed would be unthinkable and NEVER be worth the risk. An incident like that wouldn't be worth a lifetime of enjoyment of owning and riding a spyder or motorcycle. I've carried extra fuel in the past but I no longer do. I've found that careful planning is far safer than exposing yourself or passenger to the horrable risk that can result from injury and fire. Preplanning is your best investment in any function you engage in. Safety always first.

The Rotopax containers do mitigate that risk somewhat. They're double wall roto-molded vs single wall blow-molded, which is why they're so expensive.

But, as a former LEO, I'm sure you have some very good reasons for feeling that way.

 

[bigbadbrucie]

I echo 2dogs sentiment. Accidents can, and do, happen and can be caused by you, or the other driver. Know your ultimate location and PLAN ACCORDINGLY. In all the years that I have been riding....first was in 1959, I have NEVER run out of fuel. If you have a section that is iffy for distance ....... ease up on the throttle, you don’t need to be WFO all of the time!