Is there a safe way to pump gasoline into a plastic tank in the bed of a truck?

[JCoastie]

I'm currently using 5 gal poly fuel cans for gas and diesel and put them on the ground when I fill them.

I'm contemplating going up to 10 or 15 gallon cans, and I know they make 50+ gallon poly tanks with pump that have fork slots in them. All those sizes pose a problem getting back into the truck when full at the gas station.
Is it safe to fill those larger tanks in the bed of a truck? Gasoline especially since I use more of that than diesel. If so, do any special precautions need to be taken?
I have a spray in bed liner in my truck if it matters.

 

[RandyT]

The main issue with filling gas cans in the back of trucks was the rubber bed mats that prevented the static from disipating.

 

[mrmikey]

I would say a ground strap from the bed of the truck/cans to the fuel nozzle so they're at the same potential.

 

[Rockbadchild]

install a ground or static straps.

 

[sandman2234]

I am no expert on this!
I would consider an aluminum tank with the proper grounding set-up if I were planning on leaving it in the truck during fueling! I would also use chains and binders to tie it down rather than straps.
Does your bedliner remove easily? Some do, some don't but if it does, remove it to get the best conductivity between the tank and your truck.
David from jax

 

[RjCorazza]

Definitely use a grounding strap or mat.

 

[oosik]

Static discharge is the main reason I still use five gallon poly jugs for gasoline. Set on the ground - fill - huff back into the pickup.

 

[jyoutz]

Even though I gave a long bed truck with plenty of room, when I’m filling gas cans, I attach a metal hitch haul basket to the receiver hitch and strap my cans there. For diesel, they go in the back of the truck. I know someone who was seriously burned by filling gas cans in the bed of his truck. Of course he didn’t have grounding straps ( how do you ground a plastic can?)

 

[2manyrocks]

I don't know what you really gain by switching to larger fuel containers. 5 gallons is heavy enough to lift, IMO. The racing fuel style cans hold slightly more and claim that you can store more fuel in the same space, plus I think they are slightly more stable in transport. I fill them on the ground. The larger opening makes it easier for me to fill them without spilling any fuel.

 

[4570Man]

If your truck bed is metal and doesn’t have a plastic liner I seriously doubt you would ever have problems. I’m sure someone is going to say that the truck tires isolate it from the ground and they’re not wrong but the same is true for the regular fuel tank. I fill my lawnmower on the trailer all the time and so do most other people that transport their lawnmower. Is the lawnmower going to burst into flames? If anyone wants to be extra safe wrap some copper wire around the can and attach the other end to a conductive weight. Then put the weight on the ground when you’re fueling.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

( how do you ground a plastic can?)

Same way you ground your body, touch some metal. Doesn't have to be metal to hold a charge.

 

[jyoutz]

Same way you ground your body, touch some metal. Doesn't have to be metal to hold a charge.

So you wrap a metal wire around the plastic can handle and ground to the truck?

 

[CalG]

The truck is on rubber, so "grounding to the truck" is non-sense.

And yet we transfer gas into plastic vehicle fuel tanks all the time.

Maybe the idea is to let the tank and the fuel hose nozzle "touch" as the fuel flows between.....

 

[garry1p]

I would strongly advise against it as you will unlikely get a second chance.

Due to age I now have difficulty picking up a full 5 gal container. I used to fill 2 containers per trip.
I now take and extra can and fill each with 3 gallons.
As a former fireman I know better, gasoline is dangerous and very unforgiving.

Oh yeah, NEVER SLIDE and open gas container around in the back of your truck without securely tightening the gas cap the sliding effect creates static electricity. With the gas cap closed there will be no fumes and the fumes are what causes an explosion and fire.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

So you wrap a metal wire around the plastic can handle and ground to the truck?

Can on ground, or touch it against the pump to discharge any buildup before filling it. Events are rare, but do happen.

 

[Jstpssng]

when I’m filling gas cans, I attach a metal hitch haul basket to the receiver hitch and strap my cans there.

Every time that I see this on the road I'm reminded of the Ford Pinto. I once drove 50 miles, and over the course of the trip saw several gad and fuel cans along the side of the road. I've always suspected they had come from one of those carriers.

 

[ultrarunner]

My equipment trailer has riding mower, tiller, walk behind edger, etc.

I top off on the way home knowing I will use again next week.

It would be time consuming taking everything tied down out of the trailer to fill and then load back

Friend boat is filled on trailer... it has a brass fill port.

 

[BlueKnife]

Most gas fires that are caused by static electricity happen because the person fueling got in and out of their vehicle during fueling, creating static between their clothing and the seat. I didn't spend a ton of time looking but I didn't find any that were caused by sliding fuel cans around in a pickup bed. Here's a report on the subject. https://pei.org/app/uploads/2014/09/refueling_fire_incidents.pdf

 

[JCoastie]

Every time that I see this on the road I'm reminded of the Ford Pinto.

Yup, my sister had one, and my neighbor was killed by one.

 

[5030]

Static discharge is the main reason I still use five gallon poly jugs for gasoline. Set on the ground - fill - huff back into the pickup.

A large poly container with gas in it and a static discharge equals a death dealing explosion, not to mention a huge insurance claim and possibly criminal proceedings for not following the filling instructions that are prominently displayed on every fuel pump.

Why I have a bulk diesel tank and have it filled and when the delivery man fill it, he connects the tank to his delivery truck to equalize them. When I fill my poly gas cans, they come out of the truck and get filled on the ground, always and if I transfer fuel to my pickup truck tank (diamond plate aluminum and grounded to the truck frame), I make sure the nozzle is at all times in contact with the truck tank and the transfer pump from the truck tank has a ground wire from the pump head to the nozzle and the nozzle is always in contact with the metal filler neck on the tractors. It only takes ONE TIME and it could very well be your LAST TIME.

Fuel weather it's warm diesel or cool gasoline, there is always the potential for it to ignite and explode.