A jerry can has handles for a hand but nowhere to bolt it to a truck, which is why the holder is nearly as old as the can. This guide covers the two holder styles Wavian sells, which cans fit which holder, the dimensions and weights you need to plan a mount, where holders are commonly fitted, and what the federal load and securement rules say in their own words.
Two ways a holder holds a can
Every Wavian holder is a powder-coated steel frame that holds the can by its outside dimensions. The difference is the direction the can goes in.
Top-loading
The top-loading holder is an open frame with a floor. The can drops in from above and a lever swings over the top of the can and latches on the far side. Removing the can means lifting it straight up and out, so the holder needs the height of the can plus room to clear the frame above it. Wavian makes this style for the 20L can and the 10L can.
Front-loading
The front-loading holder has a solid back plate, a floor, and a hinged bar across the front. The can slides in horizontally and the bar closes over it with a clasp. Because the can comes out forward rather than up, this style suits positions with limited height above the holder: under a rack platform, on a bed side below the rail, on a wall. Rubber pads inside the frame sit between the steel and the can, the clasp on the bar is adjustable and takes a padlock, and the back plate bolts to either a vertical or a horizontal surface. Wavian makes the front-loading holder for the 20L can only.
Which holder fits which can
| Can | Top-loading 20L | Front-loading 20L | Top-loading 10L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wavian 20L jerry can (18.5 × 13.5 × 6.5 in) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wavian 22L water can (18¼ × 13¾ × 6⅞ in) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wavian 10L jerry can (13.5 × 11.5 × 6.5 in) | No | No | Yes |
Holders are built around one can's outside dimensions. The 10L can has the same width and depth as the 20L but is seven inches shorter, so the two top-loading holders share one footprint and differ in height: the 20L frame's lever closes at 20L height and does not reach a 10L can, and a 20L can will not go into the 10L frame. Other makers' 20-liter cans vary in size, so a Wavian holder is sized for a Wavian can; if you are buying a holder for another brand of can, check that can's dimensions first.
Holder specifications
| Top-loading 20L | Front-loading 20L | Top-loading 10L | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fits | 20L fuel can, 22L water can | 20L fuel can, 22L water can | 10L fuel can |
| Loads from | Above | Front | Above |
| Closure | Swing-over lever | Hinged bar with adjustable clasp | Swing-over lever |
| Overall size (W × H × D) | 14.8 × 19.2 × 7.1 in (377 × 487 × 180 mm) | 14.4 × 19.8 × 7.4 in (366 × 502 × 187 mm) across the side wings; back plate 8.5 in (215 mm) wide | 14.8 × 11.6 × 7.1 in (377 × 295 × 180 mm) |
| Footprint | 13.7 × 7.1 in (348 × 180 mm) | 13.7 × 7.3 in (348 × 186.5 mm) | 13.7 × 7.1 in (348 × 180 mm) |
| Weight | 6.3 lb (2.87 kg) | 9.3 lb (4.2 kg) | 4.9 lb (2.2 kg) |
| Mounting holes | 10 holes, 8.2 mm (clear a 5/16 in bolt) | 8 holes, 10.5 mm (clear a 3/8 in bolt): 4 in the back plate and 4 in the floor, each set on a 4 × 3⅛ in (100 × 80 mm) pattern | 10 holes, 8.2 mm (clear a 5/16 in bolt) |
| Lock hole | 6 mm | 9 mm | 6 mm |
| Mounting hardware | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Padlock | Lockable; padlock not included | Lockable; padlock not included | Lockable; padlock not included |
| Mounts to | Vehicle or wall | Vertical or horizontal surface, through the back plate or the floor | Vehicle or wall |
| Finish | Steel, gloss black powder coat (RAL 9005) | Steel, gloss black powder coat (RAL 9005), rubber pads | Steel, gloss black powder coat (RAL 9005) |
| Spout stored with can | Yes | No | Yes |
What you are mounting: the weight
A holder is light. What it carries is not. The figures below combine the holder weights above with the can weights from Jerry Can Sizes Explained, where 20 liters of gasoline adds 32 to 34 lb and 20 liters of diesel about 37 lb to the 9.5 lb can, based on published fuel densities.
| Setup | Empty can in holder | Full of gasoline | Full of diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20L can, top-loading holder | about 16 lb | about 48 to 50 lb | about 53 lb |
| 20L can, front-loading holder | about 19 lb | about 51 to 53 lb | about 56 lb |
| 10L can, top-loading holder | about 12 lb | about 28 to 29 lb | about 31 lb |
| 22L water can, top-loading 20L holder | about 9.5 lb | about 58 lb with water | |
Two full 20L cans on a rear carrier are therefore around 100 lb of load, plus the carrier itself, cantilevered behind the rear axle. Passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States carry a federally required placard on the driver's door pillar that states the vehicle's capacity weight as "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX pounds" (49 CFR 571.110, S4.3(a)). That number is the vehicle maker's figure for everything and everyone loaded on the vehicle, and cans in holders count toward it. Roof racks and rack platforms carry their own maker's load ratings, typically stated separately for a moving vehicle and a parked one, and the vehicle maker publishes a roof load limit in the owner's manual. Those three documents, the placard, the rack rating, and the owner's manual, are where the answer to "how many cans" lives.
Where holders get mounted
The same three holders end up in very different places. What follows describes each position and the clearance it needs; the ratings that govern how much can go there are the vehicle's and the rack maker's.
Rear bumper and tire carrier
The traditional position. Aftermarket rear bumpers and swing-out tire carriers often have a flat plate or a dedicated jerry can mount, and both holder styles bolt to a flat plate. Top-loading needs clear height above the holder to lift the can out, which a swing-out usually has. Front-loading needs the can's 6.5 inches of depth in front of the holder to slide out, which matters if the carrier folds against a spare tire.
Truck bed sides and bed racks
Inside a pickup bed, the holder mounts to the bed side, to a rack upright, or to a slotted MOLLE-style panel. The photo at the top of this page is a front-loading holder on a bed side; the can comes out toward the middle of the bed rather than up past the rail. Bed racks with a platform overhead are the other place front-loading earns its keep, since the platform blocks a vertical lift. A can in the bed rides inside the load area rather than in the cabin, which is where the fuel supplier guidance quoted below draws the line.
Roof racks and platforms
A top-loading holder bolts to the platform slats or crossbars and the can lifts straight up and out. The weight is the constraint. A full 20L can and holder is about 50 lb at the highest point on the vehicle. The vehicle's roof load limit is stated in the owner's manual and the rack maker publishes a rating for a moving vehicle; those two figures, not the payload placard alone, are the ones a roof mount is planned against.
Trailers
Utility trailers, off-road trailers, and camper trailers commonly carry a pair of 20L holders on the tongue or the front wall of the box, where the load sits ahead of the axle. Trailer makers publish tongue weight and payload figures the same way vehicle makers do. Either holder style works on a flat trailer surface; the front-loading holder's solid back plate is the reason it is often chosen for a front wall, where it spreads the bolts over a larger area.
Shed and garage walls
All three holders have pre-drilled holes for attachment to a vehicle or a wall, and the front-loader's back plate mounts to a vertical or a horizontal surface. A holder on a wall keeps a can off the floor and locked. How much fuel may be kept in a building, and where, is set by the local fire code, which is summarized with its quantity limits in Fuel Storage for Off-Grid, Ranch, and Overland Use. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's guidance is to "Store gas cans and portable fuel containers in well-ventilated, cool areas only" (CPSC).
What the rules say about securing a load
Three federal texts speak to cargo and load, each with its own scope. They are quoted here so you can read what they actually say; which of them applies to a given vehicle and trip is covered in Is It Legal to Transport Fuel Cans?, and none of them is applied to any product on this page.
For commercial motor vehicles, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's cargo securement rules state their purpose in two sentences: "Each commercial motor vehicle must, when transporting cargo on public roads, be loaded and equipped, and the cargo secured, in accordance with this subpart to prevent the cargo from leaking, spilling, blowing or falling from the motor vehicle," and "Cargo must be contained, immobilized or secured in accordance with this subpart to prevent shifting upon or within the vehicle to such an extent that the vehicle's stability or maneuverability is adversely affected" (49 CFR 393.100(b) and (c)). The rule's stated applicability is "trucks, truck tractors, semitrailers, full trailers, and pole trailers."
For carriers of hazardous materials, the Hazardous Materials Regulations require that "Any package containing any hazardous material, not permanently attached to a motor vehicle, must be secured against shifting, including relative motion between packages, within the vehicle on which it is being transported, under conditions normally incident to transportation" (49 CFR 177.834(a)). The same regulations list "Transportation of a hazardous material by an individual for non-commercial purposes in a private motor vehicle, including a leased or rented motor vehicle" among the activities to which they do not apply (49 CFR 171.1(d)(6)).
Fuel suppliers publish their own guidance for consumers. Chevron's guidance is to never carry a fuel container inside the passenger compartment and to tighten the cap and wipe the container down before it goes in a bed or trunk (Chevron). A holder on the outside of the vehicle, in the bed, or on a trailer is the configuration that guidance describes.
Locks and the spout
All three holders take a padlock; none includes one. On the top-loaders the lever latches on the far side of the can and the padlock goes through the latch. On the front-loader the clasp has a hasp for the shackle. A padlock secures the can in the holder; the holder's bolts secure the holder to the vehicle. No mounting hardware ships with the holder, because the size and grade of those bolts is set by what they go through: a 5/16 in bolt clears the top-loaders' holes and a 3/8 in bolt clears the front-loader's.
The spout is the other thing that needs a home. The can ships with a clip-on spout holder that rides on the can, and on the top-loading holders the can goes in with the spout in place. The front-loading holder is a closer fit: the spout does not fit inside it with the can, so the spout travels separately, in the cab or a bag. Spouts are on the Wavian Fuel Can Spout page.
The full holder range is at Holders. Capacities, weights, and dimensions for every can are in Jerry Can Sizes Explained, the closure and the breather pipe are explained in What Is a NATO Jerry Can?, and shorter answers to common questions are in the Jerry Can FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a top-loading and a front-loading jerry can holder?
A top-loading holder is an open steel frame. The can drops in from above and a lever swings across the top and latches. A front-loading holder has a solid back plate; the can slides in from the front and a hinged bar with a clasp closes across it. Top-loading needs clear space above the holder to lift the can out. Front-loading needs clear space in front. Both Wavian 20L holders take the same 20L can; the choice is about where the holder is going. Details are in the holder comparison above.
Will a Wavian 20L can fit a holder made for another brand?
Not necessarily. Jerry can holders are built around one can's outside dimensions, and 20-liter cans from different makers are not all the same size. The Wavian 20L measures 18.5 by 13.5 by 6.5 inches; compare that with the holder maker's stated fit before buying. Wavian's holders are sized for Wavian cans, and the same caution applies in reverse.
Does the 22L water can fit a 20L jerry can holder?
Yes. The Wavian 22L water can measures 18¼ by 13¾ by 6⅞ inches, close enough to the 20L fuel can that it fits both the top-loading and front-loading 20L holders. It is also heavier when full, about 52 lb, which matters for where the holder is mounted. See Water Storage in a NATO Can.
Can I store the spout in the holder with the can?
Not in the front-loading holder; the spout does not fit inside it with the can. The can ships with a clip-on spout holder that rides on the can, and the spout stays there in the top-loading holders; the Wavian Fuel Can Spout page has the current spout options.
Can a jerry can holder be mounted on a wall?
Yes. All three holders have pre-drilled holes for attachment to a vehicle or a wall, and the front-loading holder's back plate mounts to a vertical or a horizontal surface. Where a fuel can may be kept indoors is a fire-code question, not a hardware question; the quantity limits and the CPSC guidance are covered in Fuel Storage for Off-Grid, Ranch, and Overland Use.
Can I mount a jerry can holder on a MOLLE panel or bed rack?
MOLLE panels for truck beds and rack systems are slotted steel or aluminum plates, and their makers publish which bolt-on accessories and hardware they accept. Wavian holders are bolt-on steel frames with pre-drilled holes; whether a given panel or rack is rated for a holder plus a full can is the panel or rack maker's specification to confirm, along with the vehicle's load placard.
Is it legal to carry a jerry can in a holder on the outside of my vehicle?
Federal hazardous-materials regulations list "Transportation of a hazardous material by an individual for non-commercial purposes in a private motor vehicle, including a leased or rented motor vehicle" among the activities they do not apply to, and states, ferries, tunnels, and parking garages set their own rules. The regulations that do address securing a load are quoted, with their scope, in Is It Legal to Transport Fuel Cans?.
About this page. Holder dimensions and weights are taken from Wavian USA's factory assembly drawings, which mark dimensions as for information and state a general tolerance to ISO 2768-c; fit statements are Wavian USA product information as of September 2026. Both may change; check the product page before buying. Regulatory text is quoted from the linked sources as of September 2026. This article is not legal advice, it is not a statement about how any product is classified or treated under those regulations, and it is not a substitute for your vehicle's load placard and owner's manual, the rack or panel maker's ratings, the instructions and warnings supplied with your container, or the requirements of your state, local fire authority, or carrier. Wavian USA sells fuel containers and holders and has an interest in the subject; read the sources for yourself.
Sources
- 49 CFR 571.110, Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information. S4.3(a), vehicle capacity weight statement on the placard.
- 49 CFR 393.100, Applicability and general requirements of cargo securement standards. Paragraphs (a) through (c).
- 49 CFR 177.834, General requirements for loading and unloading. Paragraph (a), packages secured in a motor vehicle.
- 49 CFR 171.1, Applicability of Hazardous Materials Regulations. Paragraph (d)(6).
- CPSC, Fuel Container, Gasoline and Other Liquid Fuel Safety. Storage guidance.
- Chevron, Motor Gasolines Technical Review. Consumer guidance on carrying fuel containers.
- Wavian product listings: Top-Loading Holder 20L, Front-Loading Holder 20L, Top-Loading Holder 10L. Current specifications, pricing, and availability.
