Grounding portable gas caddy

[Bruce]

Just got a 14 gal. gas caddy for my b'day. My truck has a spray in bed liner and the gas caddy is plastic. Therefore if I am to leave it in the truck when I am filling it up it should be grounded. Anyone come up with a device? My first thought is to just grab a jumper cable hook it to the metal on the caddy lower the tailgate and hook other end to where the tailgate cable attaches. Any suggestion/observations?

[bigmac]

Just got a 14 gal. gas caddy for my b'day. My truck has a spray in bed liner and the gas caddy is plastic. Therefore if I am to leave it in the truck when I am filling it up it should be grounded. Anyone come up with a device? My first thought is to just grab a jumper cable hook it to the metal on the caddy lower the tailgate and hook other end to where the tailgate cable attaches. Any suggestion/observations?That oughta work, although bear in mind that often the static charge in the portable container isn't just from the flow of gas as you fill it, it can be in the gasoline itself from sloshing as it goes down the road unable to discharge to ground because of the insulated bed. IMHO, you'd probably be safer to have a grounding cable from the container to some metal part of the truck all the time.

[JimN]

Just being on trunk liner doesn't mean it will build up static. Some materials build it up when they're together and some don't. If they are susceptible to it and the caddy slides on the bed, you may have some buildup but it's not like winter, when you slide on cloth seats and touch the truck body. If you want to use the jumper cables, go ahead. I would be more concerned with the gas nozzle coming into contact with the mouth of the caddy if it has a static charge.

Touch the nozzle to the caddy before pumping or opening the caddy and you should be OK.

[Rich_G]

I have been using a gas caddy for 13 years and never had a problem. My current truck has a heavy rubber mat bed liner. Just ground "yourself" to the vehicle with your free hand; the nozzle being in the other. That's what was recommended on Dateline or some similar show. It is also mainly an issue in cold, dry months; not as much during hot humid ski season. You will love that caddy btw.

[Bruce]

Jim once again you da man! I know the odds of a fire are pretty slim but it is a small town and I am a fire capt. Even worse I am the Safety Officer so if someone pulls up beside me and I am gassing up with the tank in the bed--well you get the picture.

[Bruce]

Rich more great advice. Many Thanks!