So how bad of an idea is it to mount a jerry can up front? I'm aware of the obvious "crashing into someone up front" explosions and all... but I dont' drive in the streets with my cans full of fuel... only when i trail.

Back to the question, if it blocks the radiator at all, would that be bad news bears for my vehicle? there should be a 3-4inch gap between the can and the grill. would that still be bad?

 

Make sure your insurance is all paid up before mounting gerry cans unto the front of your jeep weather your on the main roads or trails it isn't a good idea. Mount in rear makes much more sense.

 

What would explode? A jerry can Steel or Plastic would just bust open.
Only if it was exposed to a heated source in an enclosed space.

Personally blocking the air flow to the radiator would be more adverse than having your spare fuel in front. Would rather it was at the rear, I don't know about you, I fuel from the rear and the less distance I have lug some heavy Jerry around the happier I am !!!

 

why hang extra weight on the front of a nose heavy vehicle i would mount them on the back

 

I remember a friend of mine was pee'd off when his father ordered him to clean up the garage. In a foul temper he gave the metal gas can for the lawnmower a good boot. It exploded, he received some burns while smothering the fire with an old mover's blanket. I suspect a spark was generated at a critical point and time, say at rupture point just as the fumes were escaping. Anyway, his dad never found out.

 

Right the enclosed space is the Jerry can and the spark is what ignited.

Sucks to be him, hopefully he learned his lesson. I put a 10" burn hole in my parents basement as a kid and thought I could hide it by moving the chair on top of the mark.

Yeah 10yrs old and not think they would notice the chair in the middle of the rompus room!!