Food storage drums-can fuel be stored in them?

[oz in SC]

Boss is going to try and head to Louisiana and take gas to his parents house on the north shore of the lake.
Their house is fine and IF they have more fuel they should be okay.

He is going to drive down and was wondering what to carry it in(apart from a truckload of 5 gallon cans) and we thought a 55 gallon drum would last a while...

So any thoughts on WHERE to find a drum and IF food quality drums are safe for fuel storage?

Also on a side note,would it be better for him to take my diesel truck or his gas truck?
I am wondering if gasoline will be in short supply down there...

Thanks.

[BobK]

Oz, why not go to a bulk fuel supplier to get the drums of gas? Gas weighs about 6.25-6.9 lbs per gallon...depending on temps...but a bigger consideration is how ot move the fuel around once you get there.....lots of hand operated and motorized pumps that run on 12 volt. If your traveling then use one of the drums for the vehicle and have a pump on hand to transfer...they also make bed-mounted fuel tanks......

[oz in SC]

He is CHEAP...LOL.

I also thought about that once he gets there...he could carry one empty drum and transfer the fuel into that after putting it in place on the ground.

One thing for everyone to take note of-his parents HAD 30 gallons of gas and are now running out.

They run the generator a few hours a day to keep the freezers okay and to cool one room with a small window A/C...and they are running low.

We are trying to do this quick and relatively cheap so perhaps that is what I should have posted...

I have 4 6/gallon gas cans(and four 5/gallon diesel cans) and he has about 30 gallons stored but the more the better I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion and I will relay it to him.

[Gary in ohio]

NO!!!! food grade containers are not ok to move gas. Even metal drums are not acceptable if your going to be traveling with them. You need a DOT approved container. Otherwise your driving a bOMB.

[oz in SC]

So what about a bed full of 5 gallon gas cans??

[bearkiller]

Oz,

I use a fair amount of diesel and have never wanted the hassles of a legal above ground tank. SO all mine is handled in 55 gal drums.

For empty drums, that is easy. When I go to the local wholesaler to get red diesel (for off road use) the dealer sells me used drums for the grand sum of $4/drum, But be careful that the bungs match the drums. Sometimes they are not too fussy and the wrong bung will leak. Also check the gaskets. The drums also must be labelled...the seller has self-stick transfer type labels at no charge. The red diesel is stained with a red dye to mark it as off road use only. DO NOT put into your truck because a tiny amount will stain a full tank of clear undyed diesel. Fines are pretty ugly for on road use.

Best to stand these tanks upright in the bed of your truck before filling. I've hauled as many as five without problem. The CA Highway Patrol has never bothered me about them.

When you get where you're going, one out of shape, tired, old man (even me) can tip it onto its side in the pick-up bed. Place two or three old junk tires, stacked up, behind the tailgate where the drum will land when you roll it off the truck. There is enough "give" in the tires that the drum kinda falls onto the tires and bounces. At this point be ready with a directional nudge and it will almost self right back as it was in the truck, but now it's on the ground.

Once to this point, tip the trum onto an angle and simply roll where needed. If you are on concrete or asphalt it is very easy. I mean, I can do it, and remember I'm an old fart.

If 'twas me, I'd use the diesel truck and buy one drum of clear diesel and four drums of red diesel. Can do the same with drums of gas (and I have), but gas is much more dangerous than diesel. But what you take depends on the needs at the other end.

Best of luck with it.

bearkiller