I purchased a couple 5 gallon jerrycan's about 8 months ago. Along with the cans I purchased a bendable pouring spout.

I decided to rotate the fuel in them this weekend (non emergency.

I very quickly discovered the jerrycan's didn't have a vent hole and neither did the pouring spout. It took me about 30 minutes to empty each can by tipping it up and back then up and back to let air into the can.

Now I will purchase a spout with an air vent incorporated into it.

Would have been a real bummer trying to fuel my car in an evacuation situation.


What have been your experiences with gear that you are glad you tried out before you needed it?

CO

Thirty years ago, I worked at place where we filled the trucks from those cans. If you don't screw the nozzle in real tight, air will pull in through the threads so the can will drain. If you have it too loose, it'll really drip, or worse...

Which jerry cans? The US variety with screw threads or the euro can with the cam latch lids. Have a few of the euro cans and had the same problem. Finally found the "correct" military spout at swissarmyvehicles.com (standard disclaimer) has a built in air vent and empties a can quickly. The down side is it is expensive, cost more than the cans and will not fit the restrictor plate in the gas tank of a car.

Elk hunting 8 years ago. Took the camp trailer in to get it all cleaned up. Cost me $300+. Filled the water tank and took it into the hills. Went to run water, found out the pump was bad. Then found out no drain spout on the water tank. Then tank full of water freezes hard. Should've tested the pump at home first.

my first Coleman stove 25 or so years ago..the Peak model.
i never used a gas camping stove before. took out on the deck and fired it up---Whooosh..well ok thats how they start but i'm glad i found that out before i took it out on the trail and thought i could light it in a tent or under a tarp.

Frankly, if the gear is for some emergency use, I won't have it in my pile of stuff for emergencies unless I'm already comfortable using it. I've had too many experiences like yours on camping trips.

I had a collapsible water carrier that I used to keep around in the emergency kits. I decided to give it a workout on a camping trip. We filled it with 3 gallons of water (it was supposed to hold 5) and at the campsite, it rolled off the picnic table (ok, it wasn't "camping" as I used to do with my brother) and split open immediately. DOH!

They are the US variety with the screw on threads.

All of it?

My packs, so I know how they'll ride before even the slightest soreness becomes a problem.

Ferrorods, or I'd be doing the whole "still rod, moving KNIFE" thing like the directions show, rather than "still scraper, moving rod" that works really well.

I think food can be included. Just cause somethings on sale and looks really tasty doesn't mean you should buy 10. Buy a little, try it, then go back for more.... learned this the hard way. The last thing you want is to be stuck on a pit toilet in some remote camp site.