Is a Poly Drum legal for fuel?

[Phred]

I do it all the time and have never had anyone say a word.
I bought an old 55 gallon drum that was used for soy sauce for $5.
After all the HDPE that gas cans are made out of is what the drums are made out of.

As mentioned above, label it clearly and tie it down properly and your good to go.

Clearly you can be liable if the drum falls out and hurts some one. This is easily avoided by proper strapping.

How can you be liable if the drum ruptures in an acident? A 5 gallon can of gas is probably more dangerous than 55 gallons of diesel in a major accident, and the gas is legal to carry in the bed of a truck.
A metal drum or even the gas tank in your truck can also rupture.

One thing I have learned is do not leave the pump in the tank when you transport it. The bungs on the plastic drums can strip out easily.


To get the bungs tight a barrel wrench helps. They make special wrenchs for this.
I use the barrel wrench for an AR-15, works like a charm.....

Fred

[SageBrush]

Around here you can get a ticket for an unapproved plastic fuel container if you put it in clear view. Usually, you'll get a warning first. Kinda stupid, considering the fact plastic fuel containers are sold almost every where. I've never seen an "approved" metal drum, but they seem to be ok to the people i've dealt with. I can't use metal drums on construction sites because of the lack of UL labels. Yet, you can purchase fuel by the drum at my local oil company. Go Figure.

All my work (commercial) tanks must have a UL number to be legal, but for personal use those 55 gallon metal drums work great and the chance of someone having a problem with it is not great in a personal truck. I've hauled 4 at a time for personal use around NC, GA and AL with no problems. But maybe I wasn't noticed. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[DiskDoctr]

A "plan ahead" note for everyone looking to use large containers such as 55 gal drums for fuel...

Think about how you are going to unload it from your vehicle. It will be very heavy! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Also, a good hand pump is a must...

I used to use a steel drum in back of pickup truck, then use a strap and FEL (full sized backhoe, so lift distance and weight no problem) to remove it.

One last point is to make sure to secure your container in the transport vehicle, and not to fill it completely full (always left it about 3-4 inches below top).

-JC

[Inspector507]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

[Bob_Skurka]

Nobody has said it yet, so I will: "It is unlawful to dispense fuel into an unapproved containter . . . " That is actually written on the side of most fuel cans.

So is what you want to do legal? No.

Will you get in trouble for it? Unlikely.

If you are doing it for personal use it is probably not an issue.

If you are doing it for commercial use your insurance will probably drop your policy.

[Phred]

Ok Bob I hear what your saying, but...

It would be very hard to prove my 55 gallon poly drum is a hazzard.
Its made out of HDPE. Look at the bottom of the "approved" container....also HDPE.
The drum I use is much thicker HDPE. And in my case at least I have an approved cap, basically one of those the spring loaded caps that are used on the metal pickup truck tanks.
I thread it into one bung and seal the other bung.....
so in the unlikely event of an accident I feel comfortable.

The drum I use is even blue, and since off road diesel and keronse are basically the same thing.......

Fred

[dixiedrifter]

I wouldn't be worried about the container.. it would be if it ever spilled or ruptured.

The way the EPA is on stuff nowadays who knows how much the cleanup cost would be.

[WilliamBos]

Hi,

Not sre about the rules up here either. I am going to have to try it out and see. But if those gas barons and the governemnt want and require fiberglass or a poly type underground tank for gas stations, then we should be aloud to use them too!!

Take care

Will

[SheriffSRB]

Maybe it is just Georgia....but here is my 2 cents worth. I have been a cop in Northeast Ga for 27 years. I have yet to see any enforcement action taken for transporting fuel UNLESS their was an accident or spill....then, the State will usually take whatever action is taken. I have 65 employees and in the 12 years I have been the boss I havn't seen a single ticket for fuel transporting. I have seen folks fined for spilling it....dumping it, etc.....
Around here, just get the stuff home and don't spill it everywhere and no one will care....

[Inspector507]

That may just be the way I go.....take it easy and play the "dumb homeowner" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Besides, they transport hazardous and corrosive chemicals in those things....