The jerry can is an essential gear for carrying extra fuel. Few travelers would head out on a road trip without a reliable container for spare gasoline. The universal jerry can has become such a standard item that you seldom consider its origins or development. However, the history of the jerry can is far more fascinating than you might expect.
That ubiquitous rectangular fuel container found strapped to the backs of 4×4 vehicles worldwide has a fascinating origin story. Its development and evolution are tied closely to the history of mechanized warfare in the early 20th century. This article will trace the origins of the Jerry Can from its military development through its widespread adoption for overland travel to becoming an iconic symbol of adventure.
1. The Humble Beginnings of the Jerry Can
The story begins in Hitler’s Germany in the 1930s. As the German military began planning for expanded operations, the need arose for a sturdy portable container that could hold fuel for vehicles and aircraft. The German military asked for designs from various manufacturers that could meet detailed specifications. A German engineer named Vinzenz Grünfeld submitted the winning design in 1936.
Grünfeld’s design genius lay in his judicious blending of the technical requirements outlined by the military. This design enabled expanded military travel operations by the Germans. The can had to be lightweight yet durable enough to handle tough treatment. It needed an opening large enough for quick pouring yet leak-proof when shoved around. The jerry can handle it to provide a secure grip without allowing the contents to slosh or spill. Grünfeld’s innovative jerry can design succeeded on all counts.
He came up with the idea of flattening the sides of the can to make stacking easier and reduce the chance of punctures. The ridged design along the sides added strength, allowing users a solid grip for pouring.
2. Spreading Around the Globe
The Germans put the jerry cans to effective use during World War II. Allied forces noted their superiority and began producing versions modeled on the German design whenever they could capture examples. They referred to them as “jerry cans” as soldiers’ slang for anything produced by the Germans, akin to calling all tissues “kleenexes.”
True to their purpose, Jerry Cans underwent wartime mass production and soon crossed every war theater. Durable, portable, and easy to pour from, they were a huge logistical advantage for mobile troop movements.
After the war, surplus jerry cans flooded the market. Automobile enthusiasts realized their utility for overland journeys where petrol stations were few and far between. Adventurous motorists setting out to cross deserts or jungles started carrying multiple jerry cans to extend their vehicle’s range.
The humble jerry can enable more ambitious and far-ranging road trips for a new breed of explorer. They were an icon of overland adventuring by the 1950s, strapped to Land Rovers and Series trucks tackling rugged terrain. Companies manufacturing outdoor expedition gear took note and began producing their own lightweight, stackable fuel containers modeled on German inspiration.
3. Evolution for Off-Road Use
Modern plastic and metal jerry cans have excellent durability and corrosion resistance properties for carrying volatile fluids like gasoline and diesel. Their rectangular shape maximizes storage efficiency, an important consideration when loading a 4×4 vehicle for a remote expedition. Standard 20-liter sizes are common, ensuring compatibility with vehicles using custom jerry can holders.
Some modern innovations improve convenience and safety. Nozzle caps with integrated measuring cups allow users to track fuel consumption. Ventilated discharge tubes prevent spills and reduce pressure when pouring. Locking nozzle caps deter siphoning or accidental openings.
Rotomolded plastic construction results in nearly indestructible jerry cans surviving harsh conditions. Used as auxiliary fuel tanks or for carrying water, they continue to enable ambitious off-road journeys far from civilization. Rugged, reliable, and road-tested, jerry cans remain essential for overlanders.
4. Jerry Cans as a Platform
The success of the jerry can has spawned new cylindrical designs optimized for different uses. Smaller 5-10 liter sizes make carrying fuel less burdensome over long distances on foot. Tall and slim 20-liter designs prioritize stability during transport.
Some overlanding enthusiasts use banked sets of identical jerry cans to create seating areas when stopped. Strapped together in rows, they make sturdy and portable benches.
Larger square tanks with integrated taps serve cold drinks and cocktails at parties. Repurposed cans might find new life as storage bins or barbecue grill bodies. The simplicity and versatility of the rectangular prism shape make repurposing intuitive.
With the rise of adventure motorcycling, compact fuel carriers are necessary. The narrow “slims” tuck neatly against bike frames, supplying vital range extension. Solid metal exteriors prevent bulging or deformities when heavily loaded.
5. Photogenic Icons
The jerry can has reached icon status in overlanding and outdoor circles. The cans signal a spirit of rugged independence strapped to the hood or sides of a dust-covered 4×4 crunching along desert sands. They imply adventure in remote locales and preparedness to handle whatever challenges the next arduous mile might bring.
Social media is filled with perfectly staged jerry can glamor shots highlighting wiped-down stainless steel Canonbies and spotless Rotopax containers. The aesthetics of adventure are irresistible to many modern explorers. Perhaps they harbor a nagging worry their vehicle will never actually need the surplus fuel capacity but enjoy projecting an image of capability and self-reliance.
Wrapping Up
Regardless of the motivation, the jerry can remain an iconic accessory within the overland culture. Vinzenz Grün’s WWII-era creation spawned an entire market segment. One remarkably durable fuel container design transformed global logistics and still plays a starring role in rugged expeditions. Wherever four wheels chase horizons across forbidding terrain, the jerry can surely tag along.
