We are putting in the "goods" in view of the current situation - "just in case". One thing that we know we will need is gasoline. We would like to keep enough to run the generator, plus extras for the tractor, etc., and enough for a "get outta dodge" (if the need arises). How much emergency gas do you keep and how do you keep the large quanities. We are new to this and the storage of so much gasoline has me nervous. Also, how do you get that much gasoline to the homestead? Details please. I hear of others doing it (like in Y2K, etc., but can't figure it out, saftey wise. Thanks a million!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), October 15, 2001

Answers

my truck had 2 tanks,, one was full at all times. during the winter I keep 10 - 15 gal for the gen and chain saws ans stuff. Just use some type of stabilizer with it. Army "jerry" cans work great.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 15, 2001.

Karen, farmers keep home gas tanks that hold about, oh, 150-250 gallons or so for the small ones. You can get delivery of farm diesel and gasoline just like home fuel oil, in fact, those trucks usually have two tanks on board and are delivering different fuels at different stops. The tanks just sit on a concrete pad in your yard. I don't use stabilizer because I use a lot of fuel right along, but if I didn't use a whole lot it wouldn't hurt to use something like Stabil in the tank.

Note that home delivery adds quite a few cents to the gallon, which small users might not want to pay.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 15, 2001.

First thing to figure out is how much gas do you need? What is the generators gal/hr rate? How much do you plan on using the generator. This will depend on what you use it for and what your powering. What about your tractor, How much do you use it? What kind, garden or farm? How much gas do you put in it in a year? "get outta dodge", Where you going? what is the likely hood that you would have to leave. How far is dodge? How much gas today would it take you to get to dodge? Figure 4x your normal usage to "get outta dodge" when you have to. How will you carry the fuel when you do "get outta dodge"?

As for storage, this will depend on where you live, what code will allow and more importantly what will your insurance all!!! Most home insurances prohibit the storage of bulk fuel. Anything over a couple of 5 gallon cans for mowers may run you afoul of your insurance agreement. Read it.

If your even considering carrying the fuel, then no more than 5 gallon containers, more likley 2 gallon. Gas weights is approx 8lbs/gal. so A 5 gallon pain is 40 pounds. thats a lot of weight for some. I like the 5 gallon non containers with handles on both the top and side. Makes pouring a lot easy to pour. Skip the military can, They just add weight and many are rusted out and contaminate the fuel. New "RED" plastic cans with vents are the best.

If you have the option then get a bulk fuel tank. 100-500 gallons. They can be purchased at farm stores (Quality,TSC,etc) Have your local fuel man come and fill it up. By using it to fuel your car and tractor up, you self roate the fuel and always have a fresh supply on hand.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 15, 2001.

have to dissagree with Gary about using the military 5 gal tanks verses the plastic one. The plastic one arent designed for any kind of impact, they will split or force the fuel out m,aybe onto you or a small flame nearby just from being dropped. Fine for home use but carrying them on a trip is a NO WAY. They make new "jerry" cans if you cant find used. Any there are holders for them to keep them from shifting arouns and tipping over. If /when I need to get out of Dodge, Im taking those secured in place. But for home storage, I do have a plastic one, dont like it though

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 15, 2001.

Until we sold our ranch last month we had 2-300 gallon tanks one for gas the other for diesel. the diesel would last a year and a half the gas would last 3-6 mounths. We our price delivered was usually .05- .20 cents a gallon cheaper than at the pump. Tho when I farmed in western NY. gas delivered cost more.

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), October 15, 2001.

We have two bulk fuel tanks that hold about 275 gallons each, one for diesel and one for gasoline. We put Stabil in the gas bulk tank to stabilize the fuel because we generally take a year to use it up, the diesel needs no stabilization, and even comes winterized from the co- op supplier that delivers it. Here in SE Ohio, delivered fuel, provided you purchase over 200 gallons or get a "fill up", is a few cents cheaper than at the pump, and you can get a better grade of fuel for less money.

Farmers all over the country keep quantities of bulk fuel for their own use, have never heard of any catastropies occuring because of it. We do have our bulk tanks about 150 feet from the house and barns, that is about the common distance everyone has them around here.

Old fuel oil tanks, put on some kind of support, make dandy, often free bulk fuel storage, we made ours out of those tanks gotten for free. You can purchase the taps and fuel lines from any farm co-op store or farm supply type stores, and they have holes so you can keep them locked.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), October 15, 2001.

I keep gas in several containers. Got a 55 gallon drum I got from the oil company that I keep full with Stabil in it - and keep it a few hundred feet from anything that can get hurt. Also have a 5 gallon steel jerry can, a 5 gallon red plastic, (2) 1 gallon red plastic (1 for the chainsaw and 1 for the weed eater), and a 2 gallon steel I use for 'bout everything else. I like the 2 gallon steel the best. It rides well in the bed of the truck without tipping over, doesn't strain anything when lifting it if it's full, etc. I do admit though that I like the side handle on the plastic can, but I like the jerry can better for moving larger quantities - because it's solid, won't split open on me, doesn't "swell" in the warm weather, and it has a flexible steel pour spout I can attach.

I also try to keep the vehicles as full as possible, and if I hit a 1/2 tank, I top it off.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), October 15, 2001.

Gary; Yup ...what happens to those folk [city?] when their *half way out of dodge* and there's no more fuel to be had???????...Karen; I did the 275gal fuel oil tank bit ...works great....BUT put a filter on the out let hose...get it at a "Farm & Fleet"

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), October 15, 2001.

Eric in Tn,

How do you keep the 55 gal drum filled? Do you haul it to the gas station and how do you move it when full? When you have a metal drum filled with gas, how do you keep it cool during very warm days? I recently went to H.Depot and could not find but one 5 gal can and 2- 21/2 gal cans (red plastic). I bought them. Pls give some info for us nonfarmers who do not usually deal with a larger amt of fuel. (larger than a vehicle gas tank full). Thanks, June.

-- June H. (GJHOL909@aol.com), October 16, 2001.

Karen, I don't know if it'd work or not but this was suggested to me back before Y2K turned out not to be a threat. It was suggested that a person could go to a junk yard or find some old abandoned cars somewhere and get the gas tanks. I guess they all hold 10-20 gallons. You'd probably want to add stabil. When Y2k flopped, I kept all my red gas cans from Walmart, all my food, and water barrels and everything. I run a food pantry and a lot of people donated their Y2K stuff and I just added it to what I already had and my "stash if much larger." I guess they might all be looking around now, wishing they'd kept it. If anything bad happens,I'll share with anyone and every one. (Of course, I'll be telling them about Jesus while they eat). Hope the suggestion about the "gas tanks" helps. Eagle (Ed)

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), October 16, 2001.

5-gallon gas cans with handles on top and side. PRI-G will hold gas for 6 months. Most 5000w generators run 8-10 hours on 5 gallons. We use ours to cycle the freezer twice while charging batteries during power outages.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have more than 4 cans on the back of a pick up you may get some strange looks and some weird questions. Seems a lot of store clerks are nosey so 'n so's.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

I keep all tanks on the equipment full, 2 tractors 15 gal in one and 12 in the other. I keep 2 gal in each of the garden mowers and 2 steel safety cans of 5 gal each. The safety cans cost about $20. each but they are great, if for any reason they tip, they won't spill. They can be had at places like WW Granger.

-- Paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), October 16, 2001.

First point, as a burn suvivior please realize that 1 to 2 ounces of gas can do serious damage to a homesteader. If you breath flames you are a statistic (dead). So remeber to use common sense and be aware of static electricity. Don't fill a plastis gas can in a plastic lined truck bed (bed liner).

For a good write up on PRI-G (gas preservitave, cheaper than stabil) see www.theepicenter.com.

I keep 50 gallons on hand in a 55 gallon drum. I get 10 gallons at a time, in the fall and use it throughout the summer. In this area that is when I am least likely to use the generator. I get the gas out of the drum by using a drum pump, axvailable from www.harborfrieght.com. Often these are on sale for 9.99. I do not 'keep my gasoline cool'. I do not keep the gasoline cool in my truck when I am the movave desert, either.

As far as transporting the gasoline in the vehicle, to and from the gas station, I use Rubbermaid 5 gallon tanks from Walmart. These seal very well and do not smell of gasoline. In my experience meatal tanks do leak some gasoline fumes

-- Mark (toymeister@hotmail.com), October 18, 2001.