i think the 50ltr size would be a bit different. depends on where you fuel up . some places wont let people fill 44's while on the back of a ute or truck. if your going to go to the same place to fuel up , go and speak to them to find out if they will allow it to be done

it relates to static electricity build up. It's important to have the portable tank on the ground whilst refueling so that the electricity is grounded. There may be ways around this... I'm sure someone can elaborate.

If you have an earth strap (or something similar) attach it to the tank/drum and to a metal surface (unpainted) such as the main support. This will give any static electricity a path to discharge into instead of accross to the handpiece (possibly igniting the mixture).

But as the faulkners said, I would go and see the Servo crew as they would more than likely be under instructions not to allow the filling of the drum in situ as a rule as apposed to deciding on what is acceptable. Similar to mobile phones - most dont have enough spark potential to cause the ignition of an explosive atmosphere, but we are still told not to talk on them whilst filling up (probably more a concentration thing).

Good luck

to do with static electricity. I've had a few servo operators have a go at me for not placing jerry cans on the ground.

I guess it's one of those things you wont care about untill it happens to you.

its also to do with the petrol fumes being heavier than air, as well as them being an explosive.....

there was a story on this stuff not too long ago on the news. thermal imaging shows the amount of fumes exiting the hand peice of the bowser pump, even when simply filling up your car (although here they simply fall to the ground and dissapate).

you can not fill any jerry cans in the back of utes or boats, etc, because the fumes end up being "contained" within the sides of the ute/boat. the static electricity can (and has) ignite these fumes.

even though it is rare, the consequences are pretty bad, and people have died from this.

that's what i thought. Some of that footage was a little concerning to say the least

Just get 2-3 25 lt containers. I used to use plastic fuel containers with the outboard quick connect fittings on them, best way to use fuel, you allways know what fuel you have, always can use the oldest fuel first, and filling with the containers on the ground is no hassle. Why make it hard for yourself?.

And yes you must put the portable fuel containers on the ground at service stations. I reguarly (weekly) fill 5-7 20 lt containers and the rule is they must be on the ground.

Thanks to all replies - and Merry Christmas  - I thought it would be easier but apparently not!

the first time they had a go at me, and i went in and explained and after that they have been fine. I cant see static being to much of a prob on a plastic tank with a plastic filler hole. Maybee if it was a metal fill hole it would be a different story!

Thanks for that - its probably worth an ask at the local servo!

100litre fuel tank in boat and two 25ltre plastic fuel tanks he fills up at the servo, then when the big tank gets down to 15litres he stops the boat, unclips the big tank then clips the fuel line onto one of the 25litre tanks to get home.  Think I got it right fellas, that side I leave for him to sort out.  We always have 25litre spare plastic fuel tank in boat, just in case or find somebody on the water that has run out of fuel.