avslash
Full Access Member
Well, after evacuating from Houston about 20 years ago and spending literally 17 hours doing what is normally a 4 hour drive, I built quite a rig and deployed it a total of once.
Let's see if I can describe it so anyone can re-create.
Sorry, on the lack of details, it's been a long time....
Round rail roof cross member top racks
Then v-shaped longitudinal bike racks
4 fire extinguishers, little ones, what 6-8 lb? or so? 2 on each side - hold them down inside the v- rail with rubber stretchy bands - the ones we use for holding ski's together work well.
2 large rectangular fuel tanks - probably 8-10-12 gallons each? These are large gas tanks made for large lawn mowers.
Mine had mounting bolt locations on each corner
I found Yakima round rail universal mounting clamps. Bolt to each corner of the tank and clamp to the round cross rail.
Delivery hardware - I used all aircraft grade hardware/fittings/tubing etc. I used zero dead volume/zero drip quick disconnects and made up an/on off valve.
Filling the tanks.
SAFETY - Remember, never fill any tanks, especially plastic tanks when not completely grounded. Because plastic is such a poor electrical conductor, grounding straps are almost useless and tanks should be in contact with the ground when filled.
The tanks I purchased are bottom drain, so when filling I need 2 2x4 by 1 foot lengths for support as to not put any weight on the bottom fittings.
Mounting the tanks.
Once they are full they are very heavy! I could not lift them now, and even then, it was not easy.
SAFETY - Remember, the caps for these are vented to allow air in so they can drain. That means that when you lift them, and the tank deforms, the gasoline can squirt out the vent hole on the top of the cap. (Ask me how I know.... I am a very lucky boy, missed my face by just a few inches....)
I tested the system with water (which is more dense than gasoline) for loading - do not exceed the loading specifications, and for handling/driving.
That's alot of weight up high, this was on the 2002 Trooper. Never any issues but handled differently.
Even though it never leaked or dripped, I was always very concerned about 20+ or so gallons of gasoline over my head.
It worked, not sure I would ever do it again.
But maybe you can modify....
That evac was crazy. I had friends who left Memorial and it took them over 36 hours to hit The Woodlands. Meanwhile, we left at like 2a.m., never hit a main road from Katy until Hwy 6 at 290 and sat in literally zero traffic. The whole thing was just bizarre.