Shop this guide — 20L (5.3 gal): Red · Yellow (Diesel) · OD Green · Black · Blue
Smaller sizes: 10L (2.6 gal) · 5L (1.3 gal) — all five colors linked from each page
Free U.S. shipping & free 30-day returns — plus 10% off your entire order with code RVSAFE10.
Strapping spare fuel to an overland trailer or RV tray is one of those decisions where the cheap option can cost you dearly — a split seam or a leaking spout next to your camper is a genuinely dangerous failure. Here's an honest look at the three fuel-can styles you'll actually be choosing between: the steel Wavian NATO can, the Scepter military plastic can (MFC), and the racing-style plastic utility jug.
What actually matters in a fuel can
- Sealing: a fuel can lives on corrugations, in heat cycles, and on its side in a rollover. The closure design is everything.
- Legality: to legally transport fuel on U.S. roads, a can should be EPA and CARB compliant. Many racing “utility jugs” are not certified fuel containers.
- Durability: UV, abrasion on the mount, and impact resistance decide whether the can lasts three seasons or thirty years.
- Pouring: a proper spout system beats a funnel on the side of a track, every time.
Wavian NATO steel can — the original, still the benchmark
The Wavian jerry can is the genuine NATO-spec steel can: 0.9 mm cold-rolled steel, fully lined interior, a three-handle carry design, and the spill-proof locking bayonet closure the military design is famous for. It's EPA and CARB compliant for fuel transport, and the internal breather tube gives a fast, glug-free pour with the matching spout. Steel also means no fuel-vapor permeation and no swelling in the sun — the reason NATO cans strapped to expedition vehicles routinely outlive the vehicles themselves.
We stock all five colors (use yellow for diesel, red for gasoline) in 20L, 10L, and 5L sizes — every can includes the matching spout system. Priced below the big overland gear shops — check the live price on the product page.
Scepter MFC — the military plastic alternative
The Scepter Military Fuel Can is the genuine plastic canister developed to U.S. Army and Canadian Forces requirements, molded from heavy HDPE. It's lighter than steel, will never rust, and is famously tough — if your cans live somewhere they'll get dropped on rocks, the Scepter is the right buy, and we'll say so plainly. The trade-offs: plastic permeates fuel vapor over time, can swell in heat and altitude, and genuine MFCs often sell at or above steel NATO can money — surplus-market pricing is volatile, and lookalike knockoffs are common.
Racing utility jugs — cheap, but know what they are
The square racing-style jugs (VP Racing and similar) are inexpensive and pour fast, which is exactly what they were designed for: dumping fuel quickly in a race paddock. Most are sold as “utility jugs” because they are not EPA/CARB-certified fuel containers — the vented caps that make them pour fast are the same reason many aren't legal or safe for transporting fuel on the road, and thin walls plus UV exposure age them quickly on an outdoor mount. Fine for the track trailer; not what we'd strap next to a camper full of family.
Bottom line
- Mounted on an overland trailer, RV, or roof rack for the long haul: the Wavian NATO steel can — compliant, sealed, and effectively permanent.
- Maximum impact resistance, weight matters, rust is a concern: a genuine Scepter MFC is a worthy alternative.
- Race-day fuel dumps on private property: a utility jug is fine — just don't road-trip with it.
FAQ
What do the colors mean?
Convention: red for gasoline, yellow for diesel, blue for kerosene, OD green/black are traditional military finishes used for either (label the can). The can itself is identical across colors.
Is a NATO can legal to transport full in the U.S.?
Wavian's NATO cans are EPA and CARB compliant fuel containers. Always follow your state's rules on how much fuel you may carry and secure the can properly.
20L, 10L, or 5L?
The 20L (5.3 gal) is the standard for extending range. The 10L and 5L are ideal where weight or mounting space is tight — a full 20L steel can weighs over 40 lb with gasoline.
All Wavian cans ship free from our Upland, CA warehouse with free 30-day returns. See the full camping & overland gear range.