Budget $400
Will be in the middle of nowhere. Filling up slowly doesn't matter to me.
Extra baggage not required.

What I'm really interested in is the temporary use nature of the extra fuel. Every day I don't need to drive with all the capacity. A few times a year I will need it.

I tried searching for a fuel bladder system and got nothing.

So it sounds like my options are as follows:
- install extra fuel cell
- get gas cans that fit in the trunk

10 gallons of extra fuel would be 60lbs in the trunk. Well within the 400lb safety limit of 2 passengers plus extra fuel I will be driving with.

Best way I can describe my needs. Think of thunder run but without the need to drive at crazy speeds. I need the gas on hand to allow me to keep driving and increase the range. I would fill up when we stop for food, using the reserve fuel. Then find gas filling up the reserve tank plus say half a tank in the car.

 

You might want to get military grade fuel cans. You can find a five gallon can at www.cheaperthandirt.com. I think they are about $20 each. You will also have to buy a nozzle for about $5. I use the cans to transport diesel for my tractor. The cans do not leak sliding around the back of my Integra. To fill the tractor you do not need the clip-on nozzle, but you will for a standard vehicle.

 

best idea ever

 

Gumball rally!!!

 

Go to various autoparts stores near where you live (Pep Boys, Oreilly, NAPA, etc.) as well as WalMart or whatever. Measure your trunk, and compare that to the gas-cans you find. For sure you can fit a single 5gal tank in the trunk. I have no idea about a second. You'll just have to experiment. The interior WILL fill up with gas fumes if you don't do something to bring fresh air in. (Just put the recirc button to bring in outside air.) The interior will stink after the car sits still and turned off.

 

Why would the interior fill with gas fumes? Are gas cans not air-tight? (You'd think they would be...)

Also- to the OP, you regularly fill up your tank with 12 gallons? Wow, I lose the final bar on the gas gauge around 11.5, and have never driven much past that.

 

nope they are not are tight, gas needs to vent as it expands and contracts with temp. like on a hot day when mowing the lawn and the gas can bows out because you left it in the sun.

 

No I don't regularly run to empty, but when getting the max out of a tank on a first car I do try. Or when needed.

I am exploring the gas tanks. I'm wondering how much the fumes will be an issue and since I always run the cars fan with fresh air maybe not an issue.

oxihixo - I ordered a can you recommended. From my measurements it seems I could get 3, or 15gallons of extra fuel in the trunk with room to bring extra stuff.

 

Are you planning on running top up or down?

I recall once driving top down with some fried chicken in the trunk, and still being able to smell the chicken at freeway speeds. I'm guessing some sort of air pocket was pulling air from around the trunk and circulating it into the passenger cabin.

Just something to consider.

 

I guess I'll have to see if the gas smell enters the cabin.