Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2013 15:29:13 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Good customer service experience, Rotopax
In-Reply-To: <xvKT1l01808X5Fr01vKVQ5>
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That's all well and good, Mr. Squirrel. I am glad the company is sending you a new container. But when I perused the Rotopax web site, I was definitely made to believe that these things are (1) indestructible, and (2) made to mount in all kinds of crazy ways on vehicles. I can understand the venting with temperature or altitude increases, and will do so when and if I get the containers I am considering. But I, like you, would mount them in the luggage rack. BTW, more information on how you mounted them would be useful to me. Thanks, McNeely
---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> A couple of years ago I purchased a spare fuel container from Rotopax
> (www.rotopax.com) in the 3-gallon size and mounted it in the luggage
> rack of the Westy. I pulled it down two months ago and dumped the fuel
> into the van's gas tank and refilled the container and put it back up.
>
> Two weeks ago, during a hot spell, I smelled gas and traced it to the
> container, which was making a hissing sound and spilling gas down the
> front of the van. The van was parked in the driveway at the time.
>
> Inspection revealed a hairline crack which had opened up on the side of
> the container. After I removed the container I sent an email to the
> company describing the problem. I received back a contact name at the
> company and I called and left a message.
>
> Twenty minutes ago the nice lady returned my call and explained that the
> containers have a one year warranty but because I wasn't yelling at her
> or anything, she'd send me a replacement container.
>
> I inquired about whether this was a common failure and she said that on
> hot days one should vent the container.
>
> Now I note that their website has the following in all caps:
>
> PLEASE NOTE: WHILE ROTOPAX STANDS BEHIND ALL PRODUCTS AND ANY FAILURE WE
> CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DUE TO FUEL LEAK. A LARGE NUMBER OF
> CUSTOMERS CARRY OUR FUEL PACKS ON TOP OF OFF ROAD VEHICLES WITHOUT ISSUE
> BUT THIS IS AT YOUR RISK. PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER TO VENT THE FUEL PACK
> ONCE PER DAY IF THE ELEVATION OR TEMPERATURE CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY.
>
> But since it's on the roof of the van and laying on its side, she agreed
> that that isn't really practical and said that the next best thing is to
> not fill it completely. So it's just something I'll need to be aware of.
>
> Anyway, I'm pleased that she was willing to ship a new container to me,
> no charge, even though I didn't follow the instructions.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
--
David McNeely
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