Gas can carrier

[Beastmaster]

Well, I just called Olympic. They claim the rack can handle 75lbs with the stock spare tire mounts (on a Jeep Wrangler back tailgate with the stock tire). The rack can handle up to 200lbs of stuff on it when you use a swing away tire carrier.

Now the next thing is to call Hummer customer service....see if they know something about the swing gate max weight (ha!)

[evldave]

Originally Posted by Beastmaster

The other thought process is to modify one of those tire mounted bike carriers and hang stuff off of that.

Or - go the Thule roof rack mount method and get a known good capacity...which is roughly 80lbs per bar. I just hate having a roof rack - it screws with fuel mileage.

If you use the tire mount carrier, you will still see some 'leverage' on the door, that might be an issue.

As for the roof rack, I see ~1-2 mpg difference across the board for mileage w/my rack (with spare). I imagine that will go down when I get around to putting a fairing on it, we'll see. Good luck!

[evldave]

Originally Posted by Beastmaster

Well, I just called Olympic. They claim the rack can handle 75lbs with the stock spare tire mounts (on a Jeep Wrangler back tailgate with the stock tire). The rack can handle up to 200lbs of stuff on it when you use a swing away tire carrier.

Now the next thing is to call Hummer customer service....see if they know something about the swing gate max weight (ha!)

One other thing. I'm 200# and can step on the tire carrier (no tire) with ZERO deflection of the rear gate. I use it as a step to get up on the roof rack. At the door, It's solid, but when I use my bike rack stepping down off the rack (the bike rack bolts to where the tire used to be), I feel deflection, but can't see it. Might just be my imagination.

[Beastmaster]

Well, that was a fast reply - not from Hummer corporate, but from the regional Hummer Product Manager. Figures that corporate is slow...I'll probably get my answer from corporate customer service in 2 months.

The regional product manager says that 33's nearly maxes out the mount on the back door....combine that with other stuff, and you're looking at a max of about 75 lbs hanging off the back of the mount at most.

Sucks, huh? Now I need to find someone that makes a NORMAL swing away carrier for my wife's truck.

Biggest tire they've tried and tested is in trials is a 35" tire with a 20" wheel...specfically a BFG AT TA/KO in 325/60R20. Just the difference in wheel weight plus tire weight is easily 50-60lbs.

[Beastmaster]

Originally Posted by evldave

One other thing. I'm 200# and can step on the tire carrier (no tire) with ZERO deflection of the rear gate. I use it as a step to get up on the roof rack. At the door, It's solid, but when I use my bike rack stepping down off the rack (the bike rack bolts to where the tire used to be), I feel deflection, but can't see it. Might just be my imagination.

That's where the leverage comes into play. Your bike rack is providing a minimal amount of leverage that could translate into flex of the mount.

[Beastmaster]

I found the solution! It's not the one I prefer, but in absence of a proper swing away system, it's the best that I can find that doesn't screw with the mounting system AND it's within the weight range.

There's a bad thing - people who want it has to hop on getting this stuff NOW.

Here's the details:

ConFerr (who is now out of business) makes a fuel can carrier and spare tire adapter.

The spare tire adapter can be had with a 6x5.5 bolt pattern (which is what our H3's use). A picture from a supplier (who still has stock supposedly) is here:
http://offroadrecovery.zoovy.com/c=V...wV/product/G81

You then mate it with a ConFerr fuel can carrier. The fuel can carrier uses Blitz cans (not my favorite brand of fuel cans, but it's usable until I can figure a way to adapt a normal bucket type carrier to the adapter).
http://offroadrecovery.zoovy.com/c=V.../product/G8007

Total cost - about $120 after shipping.

If you want to even attempt sourcing this out yourself and not get it from OffRoadRecovery.com in Colorado, here's the part numbers you'll need:

G8149 - 6 Lug 6x5.5 ConFerr Blitz Spare Tire Can Carrier Mount
G8007 - ConFerr Blitz Can Carrier
And of course - a Blitz branded fuel can. Be aware that the NATO 20L clamshell welded tanks (the ones I tend to personally use) are NOT compatible with this setup.

As soon as my stuff arrives, I'll take pics of the mounting and post it.

FYI - Steve

[Desert Dan]

You might be able to make a gas can rack that fits into the trailer hitch.

Ive seen this done on a Disco but it is a pain to open the rear door. You either have to foldi t down or remove it.

[Sewie]

I've come across that setup before. I like the mounting idea but not thrilled about having to use blitz cans.

I'm curious to know how it works for you though. Keep us updated.

[Beastmaster]

Originally Posted by Desert Dan

You might be able to make a gas can rack that fits into the trailer hitch.

Ive seen this done on a Disco but it is a pain to open the rear door. You either have to foldi t down or remove it.

Bad idea IMHO. That's the first thing hit when you get rear ended. Having Pinto style explosions and a Car-B-Que'd H3 (along with the person that was dumb enough to rear end you) isn't the way to go. Plus, it screws with the departure angle.

That's why I like the can mounted higher up. And - you don't have to remove it to open the swing gate. Plus, I don't have a Hitch on my wife's H3 either, for a slightly better departure angle.

[Beastmaster]

Originally Posted by Sewie

I've come across that setup before. I like the mounting idea but not thrilled about having to use blitz cans.

I'm curious to know how it works for you though. Keep us updated.

Neither am I. I do have an extra "basket" style can carrier that I could (theoretically) adapt to the mount. The only issue is that there's a distinct lack of vertical reinforcement, unlike the ConFerr mount.

I could, of course, have a lip of some sort welded to the ConFerr mount to allow the use of a standard NATO jerry can.

[Beastmaster]

I just got off the phone with OffRoadRecovery.com. They have about 14 (15 minus my order) in stock of the 6x5.5 lug plate mounts.

So - order up. You all know the stock levels now!

-Steve

[dеiтайожни]

Originally Posted by lotus4s

Why not get a gas can that doesn't leak?
Because I didn't know they made those, I've had a lawn care company worry about that for me for awhile, so I'm a little out of it.

You going into the landscaping business?
Yes, I serve the my yard area. Interested?

Anyhow, I didn't have much time, so I just bought 2 of those new-fangled containers, supposedly they don't spill. I trusted them, and they screwed me! Good thing I put them inside a rubbermaid container, so I think it's OK.

Now, I should probably work on the external carrier. I like the rear-end bomb idea, might go with that one. Thanks

[FutureBeachBum]

Something like this would be cool.

[evldave]

Or...the standard cans are 6.5-7" deep. The rear tire mounts (sans tire) stick out 8-1/4" from the rear gate. You could fab up up a mount (aluminum would be best) that mounts where the tire goes, and the cans go INSIDE that up against the door. Would reduce leverage, and would also protect somewhat the cans.

oooo, then you could also mount a small rack on top of that, to put small stuff (like tie straps, etc) above the tire mount. Have the floor be expanded metal so you could put wet things, etc. Or make a lockable box there for your recovery equipment. As long as the weight is up against the door, I think leverage would be minimized and you could put 100# on there.

hmmmm, looks like I have a weekend project!

[evldave]

Something like this I hacked together in visio

[Beastmaster]

Well, after ordering the stuff on the 19th, the items finally reached my doorstep. Considering that the stuff shipped on the 26th from Colorado (and reached Arizona today (on the 28th), I think that was fast shipping, but slow processing.

I'll take pics and detail the install. Hopefully by tonight I'll have everything set.

[Beastmaster]

Well, here's a teaser.

Gas can carrier is installed. If it wasn't for the fact that I was missing bolts, it would have shaved about 20 minutes off the time.

Install time - 50 minutes, 20 of which was spent finding replacment bolts that were missing from the package. So this is realistically a 30 minute job.

Here's some teaser pics:
http://www.azhog.org/h3_gas_carrier/IMG_3998a.JPG

http://www.azhog.org/h3_gas_carrier/IMG_4000a.JPG

I only had yellow colored Blitz cans, so it's not to spec, but you do get the idea.

As soon as I get back from my kid's Kintergarten orientation, I'll post a review and step by step stuff....

FYI - Steve