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

[newbury]

There are signs at several gas pumps in the area that say not to do this, but I see people doing it all the time.

I've seen that also. Both the signs and people ignoring the signs.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Ignorance is bliss!
Empty/partially full gas containers can explode because the vapors are within the flammable limits. A full container will not explode because the vapors are too rich/above the flammable limit.

Yup. This was back before the newer style pumps that let more fumes out.

Same situation with the guy that got burned flicking a cig at the gas can. He thought it was empty, it was the fumes that got him.

 

[ultrarunner]

Might be urban legend but a guy was badly burned doing what he always did until one day.

He was a smoker and when ambient is below zero my guess the volume of fumes is greatly reduced… his luck changed in Spring.

 

[Jstpssng]

In 1980 at the local Chevrolet dealership, a newly hired salesman was sent out to help clean the service area. He was filling a repurposed 55 gallon drum with water and leaned out over it with a cigarette lighter to see how full it was.

That was the last thing he ever did. Supposedly it took his head off on the way up, and bounced off the ceiling.