Fire extinguisher mounting locations

[dcmdon]

TBH I don't care for it being in its current location, but it beats being buried under everything in the back of the cab so that I can't get to it. I don't run a bed cover so I haven't decided where is good to put it (in the be) that is 'out of sight and out of mind' so it doesn't get stolen or tampered with. That is my ideal (eventual) location since it's an even more convenient grab.

Besides - if on a trip I'm gonna get hit with (potentially):

1) An entire fridge if it manages to pop the strap holding it down.
2) A tablet, a phone, and/or a hand held radio.
3) Literally anything else in the cab that isn't bolted down.

Live with the risks you're willing to take I guess.

If your truck catches on fire, you will jump out.

So now the only thing the extinguisher is doing is saving property, it's not saving lives.

To have a potential 5 lb metal cylinder flying around the interior in an accident presents risk to life. So in my head, increasing the risk to life to decrease the risk to property is simply not worth it. I'd rather have nothing than a bottle mounted in a way where it could fly around inside.

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[Gvsukids]

Trying to figure out why anyone would want to stop the vehicle from burning.

To prevent a forest fire.

 

[ChrisNLA]

If your truck catches on fire, you will jump out.

No kidding? I thought I was gonna sit right there and pop the pin and put it out. Seatbelt on and all.

I don't carry it so much for my vehicle catching on fire, but literally anything else that can. Camp fires, tent fires, or even the unlikely even that someone is trapped in a vehicle on fire and that fire needs to be controlled while someone is attempting to get them out.

Again, plenty to fly around in the vehicle. I'm not worried about an extinguisher anymore than anything else heavy that is in the truck. The back seat doesn't lock in the down position. If I roll the truck over, I'm gonna have 75 pounds of tools flying out from under it, too

 

[ChrisNLA]

Trying to figure out why anyone would want to stop the vehicle from burning.

Merus Adventure Park (where I'm going next week) requires that you have a fire extinguisher on board if you want to enter the park.

Now, whether that is to save a vehicle, prevent wildfire (most likely reason), or to make Tiktok videos having extinguisher fights at camp - that's a different story all together.

 

[ChrisNLA]

It looks like those mounts are a combination of black plastic and hose clamps.

If they are aluminum, I agree, they are probably fine.

The installed fire systems that we installed were mounted much more solidly than what you get with a $50 fire extinguisher.

I'm scrolling back to try and catch all the comments here.

Mine is aluminum with metal pins top and bottom to retain the extinguisher. There is no plastic anywhere in the mount. The hanger that came with the extinguisher is in a trash can somewhere. I wouldn't trust it to keep it from falling off the wall in a house.

To your point - using a plastic mount with a five pound metal bottle in it inside of a moving vehicle would be hilariously bad decision making. I went with the most solid, reasonably priced option that would fit my needs.

 

[ChrisNLA]

To prevent a forest fire.

Remember kids, only YOU can prevent forest fire. Isn't that what Smoky Bear used to say?

 

[HooliganActual]

My background includes small airplanes and auto racing. In both of those pursuits fire extinguishers inside the cabin are harshly frowned upon.

This is because an accident may involve over 100Gs of force and that 5 lb extinguisher will be ripped from its mount with 500 lbs of force and will then become a metal projectile flying around inside our car/airplane.

Look I'm not trying to start a fight here, but your examples are a bit alarmist. I'm not going to dispute the forces exerted in a crash, but you are citing crashes involving vehicles that operate in excess of 140 mph on the average. Even assuming that I am barreling down the highway at the posted speed limit and run into a wall, the forces wont't be as high as a stock car at speed hitting a wall.

I have been unfortunate enough to be in several car accidents (three totals) in my life and not once did something that was suitably mounted break free of it's mount and become a projectile within the cabin. It's the loose things that will become projectiles. Every person in this thread with a mounted fire extinguisher is probably driving around with loose stuff in the back seat or passenger side to which no thought of securing has been given and that's the real danger (actually the real danger is presented by whatever hits them or they hit).

Now before you, starting linking URLs of people who died in car wrecks because of projectiles flying around the cabin, please make the first one a link about a properly mounted fire extinguisher breaking free of its mount and killing someone.

EDIT: Food for thought related to a hose clamp mounted fire extinguisher...
https://www.jcshi-torque.co.uk/just-strong-jcs-clamps/

A 5 lb fire extinguisher in a 65mph crash exerts 325 pounds of force.
F=m * a = 5 * 65mph = 325 pounds force. Even if the hose clamp someone used was half as good as the ones tested in the link above, there would still have to be 5-6 times more force generated to break that hose clamp.

Is it plausible? Sure. Is it possible? Man, that's a stretch.

 

[Minty JL]

Helpful hint.
If you live in an area where dirt dobbers are prevalent be sure and put something over the discharge nozzle to keep them out. I use vacuum caps that are snug but will blow off when extinguisher is activated,

I like your resourceful solution

 

[Minty JL]

It comes with some hose clamps that have rubber sleeves to attach everything.

Ok, sweet. Thanks for the info!

 

[punk'n]

I mounted my Element fire extinguishers on the driver's seat adjuster rail of all of my vehicles (aside from my antiques where I still mounted them by my seat). That way they easily accessible at all times.

My main thought is not to save my vehicles, but to have something within reach in case I'm trapped after a crash and the vehicle is on fire (or if someone else is trapped in their vehicle after a crash). It probably won't put the fire out, but may provide some extra time until I can get free. As a bonus, the Element, once activated, does not need you to hold a trigger to discharge and they produce no harmful vapors.

 

[sharpsicle]

Look I'm not trying to start a fight here, but your examples are a bit alarmist. I'm not going to dispute the forces exerted in a crash, but you are citing crashes involving vehicles that operate in excess of 140 mph on the average. Even assuming that I am barreling down the highway at the posted speed limit and run into a wall, the forces wont't be as high as a stock car at speed hitting a wall.

I have been unfortunate enough to be in several car accidents (three totals) in my life and not once did something that was suitably mounted break free of it's mount and become a projectile within the cabin. It's the loose things that will become projectiles. Every person in this thread with a mounted fire extinguisher is probably driving around with loose stuff in the back seat or passenger side to which no thought of securing has been given and that's the real danger (actually the real danger is presented by whatever hits them or they hit).

Now before you, starting linking URLs of people who died in car wrecks because of projectiles flying around the cabin, please make the first one a link about a properly mounted fire extinguisher breaking free of its mount and killing someone.

EDIT: Food for thought related to a hose clamp mounted fire extinguisher...
https://www.jcshi-torque.co.uk/just-strong-jcs-clamps/

A 5 lb fire extinguisher in a 65mph crash exerts 325 pounds of force.
F=m * a = 5 * 65mph = 325 pounds force. Even if the hose clamp someone used was half as good as the ones tested in the link above, there would still have to be 5-6 times more force generated to break that hose clamp.

Is it plausible? Sure. Is it possible? Man, that's a stretch.

I think you've misinterpreted his posts. He was raising caution around the need for proper security of them. He was merely referencing the high-speed activities as his basis of experience for the comments. I don't think he was ever implying they would need to plan for that amount of force in a Jeep. In fact, he cleared that up pretty well where he talked about the specific ways he would or would not mount a fire extinguisher and the options that he would encourage people to consider. He also made it clear it was a personal preference based on his level of comfort with the possibility of it coming loose at any point. You cut all that out in your reply for some reason.

It's not a bad thing to make sure people take securing something like this seriously. I think it's good that he mentioned the possible injury aspects so people are aware of it. I would rather say it's irresponsible to try and downplay it. Mount it right, or don't mount it at all.

And yes, it is possible for anything in the cabin to become a projectile. How plausible it is, though, is debatable and based on the precautions you've taken to secure it.

 

[dcmdon]

I'm scrolling back to try and catch all the comments here.

Mine is aluminum with metal pins top and bottom to retain the extinguisher. There is no plastic anywhere in the mount. The hanger that came with the extinguisher is in a trash can somewhere. I wouldn't trust it to keep it from falling off the wall in a house.

To your point - using a plastic mount with a five pound metal bottle in it inside of a moving vehicle would be hilariously bad decision making. I went with the most solid, reasonably priced option that would fit my needs.

your solution sounds very reasonable.

The heaviest thing I'm carrying around stored in the interior of my Jeep is a 3 way draw bar for the receiver hitch. I've got it behind the locking rear seat. That should contain it, though who knows.

I keep it behind the 1/3 portion of my rear seat and have teh seatbelt buckled over it to help retain the rear seat in case the latch breaks. If you pull your seatbelt all the way out when it goes back in a ratcheting mechanism is triggered. (this is for child safety seats) So I can pull it tight.

Who knows if this is enough. But I've got all my heavy stuff behind that seat.

 

[HooliganActual]

You cut all that out in your reply for some reason.

You are right. I did leave out some of his post because I was specifically focusing on his comment about the forces needed to dislodge a properly mounted fire extinguisher:

that 5 lb extinguisher will be ripped from its mount with 500 lbs of force

He raised this in response to several posters showing a properly mounted fire extinguisher in the cabin. My intent was to talk about the forces needed to dislodge a properly mounted anything because the math doesn't bear that out.

If you just have it sitting on the back seat, which no poster recommended, then yes, all bets are off.

And since you called me out on it, here's the full quote. He's not, as you said

raising caution around the need for proper security of them.

He's very specifically advocating not having them placed in the cabin. Nowhere in the post does it say make sure it is securely mounted.

My background includes small airplanes and auto racing. In both of those pursuits fire extinguishers inside the cabin are harshly frowned upon.

This is because an accident may involve over 100Gs of force and that 5 lb extinguisher will be ripped from its mount with 500 lbs of force and will then become a metal projectile flying around inside our car/airplane

I'd suggest that you all think of this when you are planning where to place the extinguisher. Would it be better off in the bed? Behind the seat at least??

The way I look at it, to increase the risk to humans inside the truck in the interest of reducing the chance of damage to the truck is not worth it.

The chance of an extinguisher dislodging during a crash and hurting someone is much greater than the chance of you actually saving a life while using it inside the truck.

IMHO - if you want one and you don't have an open bed, come up with a way to mount it in back.

While you can say he was just expressing his personal opinion, perceptions become reality. People read that stuff from a seasoned member of the forum and will assume it's gospel. And where does that stop? Is it safe to mount my CB in the cabin? WIll the force of an impact turn my BullerProof Phone mount into a projectile? ad infinitum

Bottom line is it takes a lot of force to rend a hose clamp or a bolt or a nylon strap. As long as your cabin mounted items are installed properly and in good repair, there is minimal risk.

 

[ChrisNLA]

your solution sounds very reasonable.

The heaviest thing I'm carrying around stored in the interior of my Jeep is a 3 way draw bar for the receiver hitch. I've got it behind the locking rear seat. That should contain it, though who knows.

I keep it behind the 1/3 portion of my rear seat and have teh seatbelt buckled over it to help retain the rear seat in case the latch breaks. If you pull your seatbelt all the way out when it goes back in a ratcheting mechanism is triggered. (this is for child safety seats) So I can pull it tight.

Who knows if this is enough. But I've got all my heavy stuff behind that seat.

I carry too much junk Behind the seat and under the seat is slam full of tools mostly. Not so much for my new truck but I do all fixing for my girlfriend and mother and there is no telling when I need to respond so - it stays loaded. My rack is accumulating a fair bit of junk, too.

A buddy of mine has his four door JK loaded with so much stuff (from radios, to EMS gear to a fridge, a stove, and firearms) I told him if that thing rolled over on the highway they'd need to bring a Bobcat and a dumpster to clean up the scene.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If your truck catches on fire, you will jump out.

So now the only thing the extinguisher is doing is saving property, it's not saving lives.

To have a potential 5 lb metal cylinder flying around the interior in an accident presents risk to life. So in my head, increasing the risk to life to decrease the risk to property is simply not worth it. I'd rather have nothing than a bottle mounted in a way where it could fly around inside.

DC beat me to it.
You aren't really saving the truck in most cases. Slow a fire, or if you are quick to notice, you may prevent it from being a bigger fire (happened to my first wife with one of our case when it was noticed by another person who reacted really fast and confined the damage to hoses and plastic bits in one area. So never say you can't save it)

But what I really came to say was -
We used to tow a lot of vehicles, and it's amazing the damage flying objects can do.
That being said again and again, repeated, etc. - one needs to be wary of some of the cheaper mounts, and locations. Jeep took pains to ensure the roll bar structure wasn't anything more than a fairly flat blunt object should you come in contact with it. Some - SOME - mounts are not only weak, but put something in the path of your body in case of an accident.
One group of professional firefighters say the only safe place is under the passenger seat - so the driver can reach it, but it won't become a head injury in a crash.
Other groups say "as long as it's secured with a stout holder or bracket", and not where a passenger tossed about, even in their belts, don't come in contact with it.

So - all one has to do is imagine the possible accident scenarios, figure a place that a properly secured passenger is not likely to come in contact with it (note how the roll cage in Jeeps is designed - a lot of LARGE radius and flatter surfaces) and the bracket you use can hold the force of a heavy metal mass (if that's your choice of extinguisher) when hit by another vehicle doing 40+ mph.
Sit and think it out. Very possible to do it safely. But at least one firefighter group says "under the seat" so the driver can reach it. They are captain of the ship and responsible for safety of all passengers and others in the area of their Jeep fire. Think physics, objects in motion and so on, and where will your head by if hit by someone else from various angles.

Finally - let's hope your work is wasted and you never ever need one. On our trip earlier this month, we passed areas where something was obviously a total loss to fire - big black marks, still bits of debris. And I mean areaS - plural.

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