Date:         Wed, 26 Apr 2000 19:07:55 -0500
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker@URONRAMP.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker@URONRAMP.NET>
Subject:      Guinea Pig Speaks!! Sportsman's Guide $12 gas cans ...
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well ... i went and did it. yup. foolishly spent money i didn't need
to spend on a 20-liter fuel container. but it was sooooo cheap! :)

this was the gas can offered by Sportsman's Guide, at
http://www.sportsmansguide.com  (put 'gas can' in the search box and
click Go).  the can is number W99-23686 Swiss 5gal Gas Can ...$11.97
and the flexible nozzle (that fits those cans) is W99-13473 Gas Nozzle
...$6.97.  i just noticed they have a red 5-gallon gas can now for
$6.97 ... plastic, different colors.

anyway, i ordered the swiss can and the nozzle.

and i found out why they were so cheap: they really are Swiss (or
German ... they have writting in german on them, and stamped warnings
about Fire Danger in german) ... but they are USED. yup. mine is
slightly rusty from where it was lying on its side, under a Unimog or
Pinzguaer or something, and when you open it, guess what? it smells
like diesel fuel (mine has a little sticker on it saying "Diesel").

ok, big deal. mine is an appealingly stunning olive drab (with just
the right arrangement of rust here and there) and is made of some
pretty heavy metal. i was expecting some flimsy tin thing, but nope.
this looks to be a real genuine army-issued fuel container.

the cap on these things is NOT screw-on. it's the rather strange (to
us americans) hook-thingie ... but when it's clamped down, it is not
coming off there. my gasket looks good and i have every reason to
suspect that it will NOT leak.

the gas nozzle has the same hook-thingie cap/latch and is made to fit
the gas can. the nozzle IS new ...never been used. it flexes to an
almost 90-degree bend, but is a rather small opening so you're gonna
be standing there, holding up 30+ lbs of gas can and gasoline, for a
rather long time. :)

anyway, my total expense for gas can and nozzle and shipping (gotcha!!
that can is heavy, remember? cost more to ship it than the cost of the
can!) was $31.92. still and all, i think it's a pretty good deal ...
good touch can. now all i have to do is figure out where to put it!!
:)

joel