A Simple, Bolt-On Holder For Water, Fuel & More!
I like to experiment with designing and building my own parts. However, I usually end up over-building and over-designing the simplest things. This results in added weight and eventually finding the next failure point. It’s a vicious cycle.
Backwoods Adventure Mods‘ Universal Dual Jerry Can Holder is simple yet functional, but the engineer in me had doubts about how well the lightweight aluminum design and rivets would hold up to the weight of liquid sloshing around on the trail.
I am happy to report that I was completely wrong, let’s get into why.
The Design
There are many ways to describe this holder. If you were to ask me to sum it up in just a few words, I would say “thoughtfully over-engineered.” This becomes evident when examining its key features, including mounting solutions, swing-over latch, additional accessory mounts, and construction.
Starting with the mounting solutions on the back, there’s a mix of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal slots. This allows the holder to be universally mounted on various bumper designs. I have mine mounted on an older CBI swing out bumper.
The Latch
Moving on to the latch, instead of the typical twist-down plate, strap, or thumb screw, Backwoods designed the front section of the unit to swing down. This not only enables easy accessibility but also accommodates more than standard jerry cans. Additionally, there are side cutout slots to mount shovels and other accessories.
Lastly, the overall construction of the unit is top-tier. While I initially planned to build one out of steel for strength, this full aluminum design is plenty strong and ultra-lightweight. It’s powder-coated black, and surprisingly, riveted together rather than welded. I was initially skeptical about this, but the rivets have a shear strength of a couple hundred pounds.
What Can It Hold?
Not only can this carrier hold traditional cans, but also RotopaX, Scepter cans, FrontRunner Water Jerry, LifeSaver Jerry Can, and other Wavian Style Cans.
The ingenious design allows for mixing different solutions for water and extra fuel. For instance, on longer road trip expeditions, I bring two Scepter cans equating to ten gallons of water. For trips that take me further off the beaten path, I bring one Scepter can with water and (2) two-gallon RotopaX for extra fuel.
Mounting Solution
All of the hardware required to mount everything is included. This includes screws, washers, and nylon locking nuts. The hardware facing outwards is all black, providing a sleek appearance. The attention to detail in this regard was a nice touch.
In my setup, I opted for a slightly more robust mounting solution. The last thing I wanted was to risk damaging my new cans on the trail.
I upgraded from the included black washers to larger fender washers sourced from the local hardware store. On the back, I even doubled up on some of the washers for added strength. While some of the holes on my bumper did not align perfectly, the beauty of the aluminum design is that drilling more holes was much easier than with steel.
Welds Vs. Rivets
Some people may be harder to convince, but after getting hands-on experience with the product, I actually prefer rivets over welds. Let me outline a few reasons why.
Firstly, and most importantly, the rivets are serviceable. If one becomes loose or needs replacing, you can easily do so without the need to powder coat again. It’s also worth noting that rivets are used in the aviation industry for assembling planes. If they’re good enough for them, they’re good enough for me.
Another advantage is that welds can potentially crack over time. With two water jugs totaling around 80 pounds, the dynamic weight could cause stress on the welds, leading to eventual failure. Each rivet holding this unit together has a shear strength greater than 310 pounds. There are plenty of them, too.
Furthermore, rivets allow for a slight amount of movement between the panels. This flexibility permits the panels to shift, bend, and move slightly during rough driving conditions. This reduces the likelihood of failure points and additional cracking in the metal.
Strength
With 80 pounds of water hanging off the rear bumper, you can feel it from inside the cab. In addition, there’s the dynamic weight aspect of liquid shifting around while driving. Fortunately, the holder seems to be unphased by this.
A video by Backwoods Adventure Mods demonstrated that an average adult man can stand inside the holder without any issues. I tested this out for myself and it didn’t budge, even under 200 pounds of load.
The thickness of the aluminum, oversized rivets, and latching system used to secure the whole bumper swing-out is completely overbuilt, which isn’t a bad thing. With this level of design and construction, this holder will hold to pretty much anything you throw at it.
Final Thoughts
After having hands-on experience, I can confidently state that it is one of the most well-designed options on the market. Few other jerry can holders offer such versatility in accommodating a variety of containers.
Moreover, the clamp-over design and locking mechanism prevent theft or cans from falling out on the trail. Having this installed on the rear swing-out close to the cooking and shower area has also greatly increased my efficiency at camp.
While it has a slightly higher price tag, the versatility and quality of construction justify the cost. Considering how most of us evolve our builds over the years, I recommend investing in an adjustable unit such as this one that can keep up.
