Which way to face your Jerry Can?

[RonD2]

Posting this silly poll question for fun and out of curiosity.....pretty sure the answer isn't in the manual...
Not much interaction from 5970 members here lately...what's up with that?
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Ron D.
1951 M38 Unknown Serial Number
1951 M100 Dunbar Kapple 01169903 dod 5-51

“The only good sports car that America ever made was the Jeep."
--- Enzo Ferrari

[JBJeep]

To the left.
The refueling issue makes great sense, but for me there is another reason...
With the fuel cap on the left means the handle is in the right.
That means it is easier to lift if you are right handed.
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1955 M38A1 MD 82551
Former owner/restorer of 1977 CJ-5, stock with factory V-8.
Used as a daily driver for seven years.

[aslanperro]

Lid towards driver
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Anthony
1963 M38A1

[CoastieReid]

Well... I went and looked. Towards the right. I didn’t really pick that because anything, but the CG emblem is facing aft on it. I’m both left/right handed. Parents, older sister, a grandparent on both sides, niece and both nephews are lefties. My younger sister is straight up right handed.

I don’t intend to put fuel in that can if I can help it.
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April
i have a build thread on Youtube. just type in CoastieReid in the search.
MC 66792 5/52
Hood # 20942580
L134 # MC 91518

M100 trailer #01279054

[Naugha]

[RonD2]

Hi Don,
Maybe it's just me, but I see two red cans? And it looks to me like neither one is U.S. military?

Are you asking if the U.S. Army put red-painted gas cans on the M38? I don't think so. They were too invested in OD paint.

I recall reading somewhere that the all-knowing and all-seeing government made laws that all gas cans have to be red in color.
Which makes me wonder if I'm going to get a ticket for having gas in my OD-painted can.

Btw, I run mine with the lid pointed to the drivers side.
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Ron D.
1951 M38 Unknown Serial Number
1951 M100 Dunbar Kapple 01169903 dod 5-51

“The only good sports car that America ever made was the Jeep."
--- Enzo Ferrari

[Naugha]

The red one is on the right. Photoshop may have played with the colors.

These two cans came with the jeep but it sounds like I will need to go shopping. Let me guess, there are only three M38 cans left on the planet .... all in museums.
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Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project

[RonD2]

Don,
Pretty sure there's no such thing as "M38 cans".

True U.S. military issued cans are marked (imprinted, stamped) a certain way, and they have a date on the bottom (last 2 digits of the year made). Meaning that almost any can dated in the 1950's or 1960's would be "correct" on a M38.
It's my understanding that M38's left the factory without cans because the Army stocked them for all sorts of vehicles and put them on at the unit level once the jeep was issued out for service.

With a couple of exceptions, I believe that the vast majority of gasoline cans have a screw-on lid. Water cans have a hinged lid and a special coating that lines the inside of the can for potability.

This might help: https://olive-drab.com/od_mvg_jerry_can_markings.php

They aren't hard to find, but some are in better shape inside and out than others. Good luck!
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Ron D.
1951 M38 Unknown Serial Number
1951 M100 Dunbar Kapple 01169903 dod 5-51

“The only good sports car that America ever made was the Jeep."
--- Enzo Ferrari

[Naugha]

👍

That’s a ‘thumbs up’ on my screen
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Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project

[mdainsd]

[wesk]

[4x4M38]

Wes!

You are back!
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Brian
1950 M38
MC11481
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album372&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[Naugha]