What do you guys do about fuel on multi day trips into the sticks? Looking at hitting JC and some of the other Idaho strips this year and was wondering about (1) the availability of fuel or (2) taking it with you.

Obviously, if you have to try and take it with you it limits your gear substantially.

Thanks for the input!

The great thing about Idaho you have McCall, Cascade, ,Emmett, your usually not over a half hour away from fuel. Limit how much beer you bring then you'll have a excuse to go back to McCall

I have a couple of AKBW gas bags. They're great to fill up on one of your re supply trips into McCall or Cascade. Then you can leave it at camp. You can fly around until you're nearly empty. Then you'll have an hour +/- worth of fuel to put in to get you back out. It's a nice option to have so you don't have to fly out for fuel quite as much.

robw56 wrote:I have a couple of AKBW gas bags. They're great to fill up on one of your re supply trips into McCall or Cascade. Then you can leave it at camp. You can fly around until you're nearly empty. Then you'll have an hour +/- worth of fuel to put in to get you back out. It's a nice option to have so you don't have to fly out for fuel quite as much.

Ditto on the AKBW bags, though I don't really use them in Idaho very often. It's a quick run for fuel from any Idaho strip.

One of these makes fueling from the bags pretty easy: http://www.airframesalaska.com/Liquid-B ... gvalve.htm

If I was young and wanted to go to all the backcountry strips safely with all the gear and fuel I needed, I would get a CallAir or Pawnee. When I sprayed distant jobs or ferried cross country, I put pump, full plastic gas jugs, and luggage in the hopper. 1200 pounds if you could stuff it in.

contactflying wrote:If I was young and wanted to go to all the backcountry strips safely with all the gear and fuel I needed, I would get a CallAir or Pawnee. When I sprayed distant jobs or ferried cross country, I put pump, full plastic gas jugs, and luggage in the hopper. 1200 pounds if you could stuff it in.

Nice Avatar Contact!

McCall is also a short walk to full shopping center, drug store, outdoor items, etc. or commercial eateries. If the bus is still running there is even more a mile down the road. Ice Cream shop if you can spot it. Full Hardware store that sold USGS maps.

Depending on time of year you can still get into JC or SC well after 9pm.

TxAgfisher wrote:What do you guys do about fuel on multi day trips into the sticks? Looking at hitting JC and some of the other Idaho strips this year and was wondering about (1) the availability of fuel or (2) taking it with you.

Obviously, if you have to try and take it with you it limits your gear substantially.

Thanks for the input!

Like the guys have said....plenty of fuel near JC with reasonable tanks on most planes. Not sure what you have for tanks on your Maule....but if you have at least 50 you'll be flying around with almost too much. I have 74 useable and end up flying around with 40 or so for weight and divert if needed. Nothing to drop into Cascade every couple of days if needed.

If you go this year, drop me a line. I'm tying to line up a couple of trips this year.

Bill

Scolopax wrote:
Ditto on the AKBW bags, though I don't really use them in Idaho very often. It's a quick run for fuel from any Idaho strip.

One of these makes fueling from the bags pretty easy: http://www.airframesalaska.com/Liquid-B ... gvalve.htm

Curious to hear what others have experienced with these spouts when used for fuel. I have two identical ones although they were purchased elsewhere. About 5 years or so from new, the valves became so stiff they required the use of a tool, and soon after the tabs on the handles broke off from the force needed to turn them.

denalipilot wrote:

Scolopax wrote:
Ditto on the AKBW bags, though I don't really use them in Idaho very often. It's a quick run for fuel from any Idaho strip.

One of these makes fueling from the bags pretty easy: http://www.airframesalaska.com/Liquid-B ... gvalve.htm

Curious to hear what others have experienced with these spouts when used for fuel. I have two identical ones although they were purchased elsewhere. About 5 years or so from new, the valves became so stiff they required the use of a tool, and soon after the tabs on the handles broke off from the force needed to turn them.

Yes. And if you ask them about why they stink so bad with MOGAS in them you'll get a good dose of "Alaskatude". [emoji1]

I have used the AKbushwheel bags in Idaho and AK and found them to be a perfect solution for extra range when needed and low bulk when not.

In Idaho I use them to defuel when I want to be light or to bring in extra fuel at the beginning of a trip thus minimize trips to McCall. Having said all that, I agree that for Idaho you don't need them and if you're going to Idaho for the first time, make a stop in McCall part of your visit as it's a great hub of activity with plenty of good food within walking distance.

The spouts that AKbushwheel sells are a bit problematic as the plastic inserts spout that comes with the bag is pretty useless but the valved model posted above has leaked on me from the base attachment from the very beginning. The valve itself becomes difficult to move almost immediately and I have no doubt the tabs would eventually break as others have reported. Even with the valve open I can manage to fill the tank without spilling fuel from the spout as the spout itself is long and flexible enough to keep it elevated until I'm ready to poor. Not the greatest solution but it works. I've seen others use a siphon that would probably make things a lot easier.

I have packed more fuel behind my seat than I care to admit. While not Idaho conditions you still better think about static when fueling from jugs or bags. Plus in the event you go from low altitudes and have to climb 6 or 7k those jugs and bags will make you do a double take when you turn and look at them in mid flight!

I got lucky.....I purchased one Alaska Bushwheel's bag and the spout pictured above a few years ago. The outlet of the bag leaked from day one. The spout leaked from day one. In any position but vertical, the thing leaks. ABW gave me a coupl of new gaskets...no charge. Still leaks.

A lot of folks have had great luck with these bags, and I'm not bashing ABW at all....they make good stuff generally.

My point is, these things are rubber and plastic. Before you load them in your plane, make absolute certain that they do not leak. Mine leaks any time gas is against the spout, no matter which cap/nozzle is screwed on. I won't use it for any purpose.

Not looking for a fight....as I noted a lot of folks have had great luck with these bags. But gas can be dangerous. Be careful out there.

MTV

roamak wrote:I have packed more fuel behind my seat than I care to admit. While not Idaho conditions you still better think about static when fueling from jugs or bags. Plus in the event you go from low altitudes and have to climb 6 or 7k those jugs and bags will make you do a double take when you turn and look at them in mid flight!

I always squeeze all the air out so the fuel is at the top of the cap before I tighten it.

Yup, squeeze all the air out, then hang them from the handle so they can't tip over. I even squeeze the sides of steel jerry cans to get as much air as possible out before I cap them, and I only fly with them completely full or completely empty.

My theory on the poor seal with the ABW bag is that both the spout and the cap deform when they get warm, then hold that shape when they cool. In any event, it's a pretty crappy system. I've been meaning to try and find a brass or aluminum cap with the same threads. The spout should hold the proper shape if it was screwed into a non-pliable metal cap.

My valve has lasted pretty well so far...maybe it's the MMO. If I were making another one I'd just use a longer hose and forgo the valve entirely.

Turtle Pac's are way better...way more expensive, too.

If you want to cary fuel and space isn't an issue, stick with metal jerry cans. Rig a cap that has a siphon hose long enough that you can just put the can on the wing and run the hose to the tank. Instead of sucking to start the siphon, rig a second smaller hose into the cap so you can just blow on it to start the fuel flowing. Obviously the hoses have to be somewhat sealed where they go into the cap, or the air will just go out around the hoses rather than push the gas up through the hose. It's not that hard to rig.

I guess I've been lucky so far as the 3 ABW bags I've had have not leaked from the cap. When fueling I always under fill them enough to keep fuel from resting against the cap which will allow you to squeeze some air out (allowing for expansion) before securing the cap. Using this method still allows for 5-5.5 gallons of fluid in the bag. I've bought all my bags in the last 2 years so perhaps my luck with the caps is related to a production run or maybe they just haven't gotten old enough to break down the seal yet.

mtv wrote:I got lucky.....I purchased one Alaska Bushwheel's bag and the spout pictured above a few years ago. The outlet of the bag leaked from day one. The spout leaked from day one. In any position but vertical, the thing leaks. ABW gave me a coupl of new gaskets...no charge. Still leaks.

A lot of folks have had great luck with these bags, and I'm not bashing ABW at all....they make good stuff generally.

My point is, these things are rubber and plastic. Before you load them in your plane, make absolute certain that they do not leak. Mine leaks any time gas is against the spout, no matter which cap/nozzle is screwed on. I won't use it for any purpose.

Not looking for a fight....as I noted a lot of folks have had great luck with these bags. But gas can be dangerous. Be careful out there.

MTV

My experience exactly, from day one. I still use them, hauling many a gallon in a courtesy car or even bike trailer, I just make sure to keep the caps elevated. I gave up on pouring out of them long ago, I made up a screened dipstick for my on board transfer pump and pump them into the plane's main fuel system. I can't remember the last time, years, when I stood on the tire and poured fuel in the wing tanks.

contactflying wrote:If I was young and wanted to go to all the backcountry strips safely with all the gear and fuel I needed, I would get a CallAir or Pawnee. When I sprayed distant jobs or ferried cross country, I put pump, full plastic gas jugs, and luggage in the hopper. 1200 pounds if you could stuff it in.

Callair is a heck of a plane, be great in the backcountry, just a matter of the single seat thing.

Thanks for all the info - I can only carry 40 gallons and that's only about 3hrs flight time with reserve. I may be a little over zealous but I would hope to get in 3+ hours in a day.

Bill, are you going to the SC deal again? That's what I am looking at going to in June. There's a Maule gathering in your neck of the woods also next weekend if you have any interest.

Nine Three Kilo,

I trained pilots in a homemade A5 four place. The right side hopper was removed and side by side dual controls installed. Great flying airplane though. Wide gear made it a Teddy bear to land. Backward facing sling seats in rear. Club seating. Open cockpit made it really windy back there according to students willing to get some free, backward, training.

Contact