Is It Safe to Store Camping Stove Gas Canisters in the Trunk?
3 Answers
Short-distance transportation with safety precautions is acceptable, but long-distance travel may pose safety hazards. The reasons are as follows: 1. Trunk heat absorption: The car trunk is an enclosed space with poor heat dissipation but excellent heat absorption. Data shows that under direct summer sunlight, the internal temperature can quickly exceed 60°C, and high heat may easily cause explosions. 2. Risk of explosion from gas canister collisions: If liquefied gas canisters are stored in the trunk and subjected to severe jolts, they may collide with each other. This can cause internal pressure to exceed safe limits, leading to mechanical damage or rupture of the canisters. In the event of a rear-end collision involving these canisters during driving, combustion or explosion may occur.
Having driven for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous incidents caused by storing gas canisters in car trunks. Butane canisters used for portable stoves are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures – during summer, trunk temperatures can skyrocket to over 60°C in minutes, increasing internal pressure three to fourfold. If the valve ages or the canister gets deformed by luggage, even slight contact may cause leaks. What's more alarming is that having lighters or electrical short circuits generating sparks in the trunk could instantly trigger ignition and explosion. Fleet drivers I know mention that transporting such flammables requires explosion-proof containers – ordinary folks should never casually toss them in trunks. For camping gas canisters, it's safest to purchase new ones on the day of departure and return used canisters directly to retailers for proper disposal.
As a mom who frequently takes my kids camping, gas canister safety is my top priority. Those compact portable stove gas canisters may look small, but they pose significant risks when left in cars. The trunk experiences drastic temperature fluctuations, with winter-to-summer variations up to 50°C, causing metal canisters to expand/contract and potentially deform. I learned this the hard way when a canister got pressed against a valve by camping chairs and started hissing - we all jumped out in panic. Now my rule is: any trip over 2 hours requires canisters to be stored in fireproof containers securely strapped in a corner. Never leave partially used canisters overnight in the vehicle - I always bring them home to ventilated basement storage. Pro tip: keep a car fire extinguisher handy. Last year, my neighbor's car caught fire and burned the rear bumper due to a leaking canister.
