Quick answer: A jerry can holder gives you extra fuel or water range for remote travel, without the can sliding around loose in your tray or canopy. For most utes, a standard jerry can holder built from 3.0mm aluminium with a safety chain is enough. If your ute is parked at camp sites, work sites, or anywhere with public access, a lockable jerry can holder is worth the extra cost, since it prevents the can (and the fuel in it) from walking off. Either way, where and how you mount it matters as much as which one you buy.
This guide covers why extra fuel capacity matters for off-road travel, how to mount a jerry can holder properly on a ute, and how to choose between standard and lockable options.
Why Off-Road Utes Need a Jerry Can Holder
Most factory fuel tanks are sized for city and highway driving, not for the distances between fuel stops on outback tracks or remote 4x4 routes. Once you're touring through areas where the next servo could be 200km or more away, or you're running a diesel engine with heavier fuel use off-road, a spare 20L can stops being optional gear and starts being part of the trip plan.
A jerry can holder solves the problem a loose can creates. Without one, a full 20L can (weighing around 15-18kg once filled) becomes a hazard in a moving vehicle. It can slide, tip, or leak against other gear in the tray. A proper holder keeps it upright, secured, and in a fixed spot every time you load the ute.
How Much Extra Range Does a Jerry Can Actually Give You?
A standard 20L jerry can typically adds somewhere between 150km and 300km of extra range, depending on your vehicle's fuel consumption. A ute burning 12L/100km off-road gets roughly 165km from a full can. A more economical setup burning 8L/100km stretches that closer to 250km.
For trip planning, a simple rule works well: if your route has a fuel gap wider than your tank's safe range, carry enough jerry cans to cover the shortfall, plus a buffer for rough terrain, headwinds, or a detour. Most serious tourers run at least one 20L can as standard, and two on longer remote legs.
Mounting a Jerry Can Holder on Your Ute: What Actually Works
Where you mount the holder affects both safety and how easy it is to use. Common mounting positions include:
- Canopy-mounted, bolted to the side or rear of an aluminium canopy. This keeps the can off the tray floor and out of the way of other gear.
- Tray-mounted, bolted directly to the tray wall or headboard. This works well on utes without a canopy, or where canopy space is already committed to storage.
- Tow bar or rear-mounted, using a hitch-style carrier. This suits utes where tray and canopy space is already full, though it adds length to the vehicle and needs checking against local towing and load rules.
Whichever position you choose, keep these points in mind:
- Keep it clear of the exhaust and any heat source. Fuel cans should never sit near anything that gets hot.
- Mount to a solid structural point, not just sheet metal. A jerry can holder needs to handle constant vibration on corrugated roads and have it’s weight supported.
- Check the can doesn't block door swing, tailgate operation, or rear vision.
- Use a safety chain or locking latch, not just the holder's cradle shape, to stop the can from lifting out over rough terrain.
If you're already speccing a canopy for your ute, it's worth planning jerry can holder position at the same time. Our Ford Ranger canopy fitment guide and wider aluminium canopy range both have mounting points suited to this.
Standard vs. Lockable Jerry Can Holder: Which One Do You Need?
Both options are built from 3.0mm aluminium flat plate and designed to fit most standard 20L fuel or water jerry cans. Not all jerry cans are the same size, so check yours against the holder’s dimensions. The difference comes down to security and where you're travelling.
| Feature | Standard Jerry Can Holder | Lockable Jerry Can Holder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $130 | From $240 |
| Material | 3.0mm aluminium flat plate | 3.0mm aluminium flat plate |
| Capacity | Fits most standard 20L can | Fits most standard 20L can |
| Securing method | Safety chain | Twin stainless steel over-centre latches, padlock compatible |
| Finishes | Alloy (raw), black, white | Alloy (raw), black, white |
| Best for | Private property, low-theft-risk touring | Camp sites, work sites, remote parking, shared or public areas |
If your ute is mostly on private land or with you at all times, the standard holder does the job at a lower price. If you're stopping overnight at camp grounds, leaving the ute at a trailhead, or working on sites where tools and fuel routinely go missing, the lockable jerry can holder is the better investment. For a closer look at what the lockable version offers, see Lock It Down: Why Every Adventurer Needs a Lockable Jerry Can Holder.
Beyond Fuel: Other Uses for a Jerry Can Holder
A jerry can holder isn't limited to fuel. The same holder works for:
- Water storage, useful for camping, remote work sites, or as a backup supply
- A second can for a different fluid, such as diesel for a generator alongside petrol for the vehicle
- If your setup also needs LPG, a gas bottle holder or lockable gas bottle holder mounts the same way, and many tourers run a jerry can and a gas bottle holder side by side on the same canopy.
For a broader look at why secure fuel and water storage matters for bush and remote travel, see The Importance Of Jerry Can Holders.
FAQ:
Do I need a jerry can holder, or can I just carry a jerry can loose in the tray?
A holder is strongly recommended. A full 20L can weigh between 15-18kg and can slide, tip, or leak if it's not secured, especially on rough or corrugated roads. A holder keeps it upright and fixed in place.
What size jerry can do these holders fit?
Both the standard and lockable jerry can holders are built to fit most standard 20L fuel or water jerry can. Please note you will need to confirm the measurements to ensure it will fit your specific jerry can.
Is a lockable jerry can holder worth the extra cost?
If your ute is ever parked at camp sites, trailheads, or work sites where other people have access, yes. The lockable version adds twin stainless steel over-centre latches and padlock compatibility, protecting the can and its contents from being taken.
Where's the best place to mount a jerry can holder on a ute?
Canopy-mounted or tray-mounted positions work best for most setups. Keep the holder clear of the exhaust and any heat source, mounted to a solid structural point, and positioned so it doesn't block the tailgate, doors, or rear vision.
How much extra fuel range does a jerry can give me?
A 20L can typically adds 150km to 300km of range, depending on your vehicle's fuel consumption. Utes with higher off-road fuel use will get less range per can than more economical setups. This will vary.
Can I carry more than one jerry can on my ute?
Yes. Many tourers run two or more jerry can holders side by side, particularly for remote trips with long distances between fuel stops. Just check total payload and make sure each can is properly secured.
Kit Your Ute Out Properly
Browse the Jerry & Gas Holders range, or compare the standard and lockable jerry can holders side by side.
Not sure where a jerry can holder fits on your canopy or tray setup? Get in touch with our team and we'll help you plan the mounting position before you order.
