Fuel for Bug Out...Or Bug In

[altermoor]

While I am currently planning to ...gulp... bug in here in a small-town suburb*, I have long considered the invitation by my sister who has a relatively remote bug-out home 900 miles south in Alabama. If I should chose to undertake such a long journey, fuel would likely be a major consideration. Even if a bug-out down south is not in the cards, having fuel available to bug in here in Pennsylvania seems a prudent move.

Aside from a large underground tank (which would likely be a zoning nightmare), the only reasonable solution I can come up with is storing 5 gallon gas cans. I recently bought four of them and intend to buy six more, giving me a total of 50 gallons of stored gasoline (buying in seperate trips at Walmart, because it made me very self-conscious buying that many cans at once). I intend to keep track of the cans, using up and refilling them with fresh fuel three times annually: in April, July and October each year.

I feel use of the fuel at the end of a three-month storage cycle would ensure that it would not have significantly broken down. The reason for the six-month hiatus between re-stocking in October and April is that I understand that in colder climates, fuel additives make fuel purchased in the autumn and wintertime more effectively stored for longer periods. But is six months TOO LONG?

Yes, I have considered Sta-bil. Honestly, if I can do without that, I figure it will keep the cost down some.

One other possible side benefit is that buying fuel could be like buying a short-term CD. If you buy 50 gallons now and the price goes up by $0.50 in three months, you will have saved yourself $25 on 50 gallons of gasoline. (Frankly, I don't see the price going down anytime soon, so it's a no-lose proposition.)

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this... Storage location? Safety concerns? Maintenance of quality?

* "Small town suburb" might be a misnomer, but it's the best descriptor I can muster.

[Lowdown3]

PRI is the way to go. You are correct about buying the "winter blend" to store. Here's a little video that might help you get started-

[altermoor]

Great video. Thanks.

I'm still interested in additional thoughts on fuel storage. In particular, I'm interested in ideas on where to store. I mean, it's gasoline, so there are safety issues.

[eeyore]

If you are truly planning to bug in, i would put the fuel in a fifty five gallon drum, i guess you would have to check you insurance policy for the house. Easier to disguise, protect and store.

It is a lot of weight to put on a vehicle to move, but if your cans where you could off load it into smaller cans for handling.

I would plan on using an additive if you were not going to rotate it regularly.

[monkeybird]

I have enough gasoline to get to where I want to be in case I need to bug out. The only place I have to store it is in my garage. While it is not ideal, the new safety caps prevent fumes. I have never smelled gasoline.

I discovered quite recently that the spout on the gas can was not long enough to fit into my gas tank! I have bought an extention. I'm glad I was only rotating my gas and not actually bugging out with it.

[altermoor]

Thanks again for the information. Two things...

1) What about rules prohibiting gasoline storage of more than 5 gallons?

I am getting ready for my first fill-up, but I am hesitating because I am concerned about the legal issue of storing 50 gallons of fuel on my property. To illustrate my question, here's an analogy...

I "occasionally" find myself edging over the speed limit, thereby breaking the law. While I know the risks of speeding, I do this when congestion isn't too severe and knowing my car is in good working order. I know the speed limit is there to encourage safe driving, but I take a calculated risk at doing something dangerous.

Similarly, I recognize that rules established prohibiting more than 5 gallons of reserve gasoline on residential property exist for a reason. There is an inherent danger with combustable fuel. However, do I take a calculated risk in doing it anyway? (...With the caveat that I store it as safely as possible?...)

2) Where should I store?

I can put a shelving unit in the back of my garage (and drape a tarp over the front to conceal from any nosey neighbors), or... I have a cool, dank basement area underneath the side porch of my home (where I believe there is an old water well I need to get familiar with very soon). I like the idea of storing here. As long as the gas cans are sealed tightly, would anyone anticipate a problem with a vapor build-up in a small (5' x 6'), unventilated room?

[Tofu]

I just recently purchased 4 of these Super Siphon hoses. They are amazing and I don't have a mouth full of gasoline.



Here it is in action:

[1Admin]

I bought a similar device, maybe the same in 98. I couldn't get it to work correctly.

[Bearman202]

You need to be aware that if you're storing gasoline, and there are vapors, you run a real risk if there is anything in the area that has a pilot light, such as a water heater. I read that several people have managed to burn their houses down because they set off a bug bomb in an area with a pilot light. Seems the hot water heater was the ignition source for most of them. Be aware.

[Klayton]

I know you run a risk of static electricity when filling auxillary fuel tanks that our not grounded (placed on the ground not in your vehicle, especially on a rubber mat in your vehicle). I wonder if the same goes with draining said fuel tanks? It looked like that may be a bad idea, but again, simulating SHTF I myself would probably avoid the static electricity warning. :)