Looking for 5 litre Fuel Tanks that can be stacked

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richardm47

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The problem with deep cockpit lockers is that the contents spread out messily over the floor, and the vertical space isn't fully used. Mine contains 3 fuel cans that don't stack on top of each other. I need to replace them. And get back some of the floor area they use. So I googled them.

I found this £30 metal can that the seller says will stack several high. But there is nothing to hold them laterally, so not ideal.
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I found this £19 plastic can, they could probably be made to stack in a small frame. But it's only 1.5 litres, not really big enough, again not ideal. And expensive!
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I'm also thinking about adapting these £7 HPDE plastic cans, by adding a home-made moulding underneath each can. The moulding would be shaped to fit the top of the can below. And to sit flat on the floor. But what can I make the moulding out of? It must stick to that plastic stuff.
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Any thoughts? Other ideas?
 
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those plastic ones identified above are the same as the one that agric chemicals come to us. They only "stack" properly if supported e.g. within a cardboard box. I'd hesitate to try and stack any plastic can whose height was greater than its width; it's a recipe for falling over.
 
I think they were called jerricans (though they held 25 l). I've seen them for sale in one or two places.
I use a plastic equivalent, bought in the Co-op des pecheurs in Tréboul in 2000. It's compatriot had it's cap lost by an idiot yard worker in Malta.
If you don't feel you can stack them on end stack them on their side.
I think your hope for a 5 litre stackable plastic container is doomed to failure - none of them nest and none are entirely square.
 
Good find Cliff, that Rotopax tank is pretty much exactly what I want. Only thing is I need a lottery win to buy it! Expensive as you said.

And for pennies more than a (losing) lottery ticket, the £2.35 ones from Ampulla are worth a trial. I'll get going on that.

Alahol's plastic cans on Amazon (£18 for 6) seem to have locating bumps on them to help with the stacking.

Thanks to all for your ideas and help. Haven't forgotten Sarabande's comment about stacking.

I'm still toying with the idea of adding a DIY moulding onto the base of something like the Draper can in my first post. But this one looks more suitable - squatter and squarer - than the Draper.

View attachment 44684

Moulding ideas: what if I turned one of those cans upside down, added some temporary upward side extensions with cardboard and tape, forming a sort of trough on the base of the can. Fill the trough with say expanding building foam, cover that with plastic sheeting, then push the top of a second can (without its filler tube) down into the sheeting/foam to mould the foam to the right shape. Leave to set. Then release the second can, remove the cardboard from the first can, and tidy up the foam. Hey presto! the first can has a new base that allows it to be stacked securely onto the second, and also sit squarely on the floor. In theory! Comments?

I'd first need a test to see if builders foam would stick to the base of the can. Are there any better types of foam? Something more durable yet still workable with normal tools?
 
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