Fire Extinguishers; The Good, Bad & the Ugly

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
I am not worried about the. Settling because they are attached to the buggy and get jostled around on every ride.
I tested 3 of the ones on my Jeep at different times over the years just to see if they worked and 2 of them were completely packed solid. They gave a little poof and that was it. So don’t count on the buggy keeping them from settling is what I’m saying. And gauges all said they were good (of course)
 

STAG

On my grind
Location
Pleasant Grove
I tested 3 of the ones on my Jeep at different times over the years just to see if they worked and 2 of them were completely packed solid. They gave a little poof and that was it. So don’t count on the buggy keeping them from settling is what I’m saying. And gauges all said they were good (of course)
I would think the steady vibration and small jostles of a buggy would be worse for settling than if an extinguisher was just sitting on a shop wall
 

jpndave

Member
Location
Hyde Park, UT
Would mounting the extinguishers horizontally rather than vertically help with the packing of the agent? I would think the cylinder sideways would be better than as the cylinder upright? Does anyone have suggestions for a way to secure them to prevent dirtbags from stealing your expensive Extinguishers? It seems like the very qualities that have them accessible makes or easy work for thieves on rigs that see some street use.
 

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
Would mounting the extinguishers horizontally rather than vertically help with the packing of the agent? I would think the cylinder sideways would be better than as the cylinder upright? Does anyone have suggestions for a way to secure them to prevent dirtbags from stealing your expensive Extinguishers? It seems like the very qualities that have them accessible makes or easy work for thieves on rigs that see some street use.
I have extinguishers mounted both ways and they both still failed just the same.
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Would mounting the extinguishers horizontally rather than vertically help with the packing of the agent? I would think the cylinder sideways would be better than as the cylinder upright? Does anyone have suggestions for a way to secure them to prevent dirtbags from stealing your expensive Extinguishers? It seems like the very qualities that have them accessible makes or easy work for thieves on rigs that see some street use.

Horizontal vs vertical makes no difference. The siphon tube sits about 1/2” off the bottom of the cylinder and gets blocked by caked chemical.

If your not maintaining the extinguisher at least annually then none of them will work when it matters.
 

kmboren

Recovering XJ owner anonymous
Location
Southern Utah
I tested 3 of the ones on my Jeep at different times over the years just to see if they worked and 2 of them were completely packed solid. They gave a little poof and that was it. So don’t count on the buggy keeping them from settling is what I’m saying. And gauges all said they were good (of course)
Well you hardly drive your XJ.🤷 Our buggy is out at least once a month if not more.
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
What about these water based ones?

In theory it won’t need any maintenance due to compaction, good range of safe store temperature…
Also, thoughts on the aerosol ones? Good in a vehicle, or not enough to do anything?
Well it’s better than nothing. I think it’s marginally better than just plain old water. I wouldn’t expect it to touch a fuel or oil related fire.
 

Coco

Well-Known Member
Location
Lehi, UT
I threw an element on my SXS for its ease of storage. Shortly after dropping the money someone posted a bunch of vids of them failing 🤬. Not sure why they didn’t surface while I was researching. I haven’t added an additional yet, but I intend to add a traditional extinguisher.

Following

Also yeah yeah it’s a sxs don’t put one on and let it burn to ground. One less in the world 😂
Same. I saw and heard so much on these things that I finally bought one. Now they are failing and are junk. Back to regular extinguishers I guess.
I am really glad I had what I had or the buggy probably would have burnt to the ground. Normal red powder extinguisher. I am not worried about the. Settling because they are attached to the buggy and get jostled around on every ride.

I mount them with Drake mount but there are many similar styles out there. https://www.amazon.com/Drake-Off-Road-FIREX-MNT-DAG-FIRE-CLMP-L-DAG/dp/B06WGQJ19C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=38HMAERFBO65L&keywords=drake+fire+extinguisher+mount&qid=1699876294&sprefix=,aps,198&sr=8-3
I rinsed the buggy off as soon as I got it home and more after I had the panels off. I won't wheel the buggy without them. You never know when something like this will happen.
I like these mounts, but just make sure you take them off periodically and clean them out. I checked mine one time, and I could barely get the things out of the mounts! Had I needed them, I would have been screwed. I cleaned them really good, then sprayed some dry silicone on them occasionally. After that, every time they were good and useful.
^ is that why you go on your lid now and then? To stir up the powder? 😁
That's why I did! It had nothing to do with my poor line choices. :rofl:

I am glad this thread came up though, I think it is definitely something that has been missing on the forums.
 

STAG

On my grind
Location
Pleasant Grove
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100+ year old bromocloromethane extinguisher ‘grenade’.

I watched a few videos where they did prove that elements could put out fires. However you do have to get like right up in the flames with the end of the element. I still don’t think I’d ‘invest’ in one at all.

I think most any extinguisher has the opportunity to be a dud time to time.
 

bryson

RME Resident Ninja
Supporting Member
Location
West Jordan
Remember that Halon and Halotron are not the same thing...

Halon exists only in limited quantities now as it's against EPA regs to manufacture more, so the existing supply is all there will ever be, and once it gets used on a fire it's gone forever. It's expensive to buy for these reasons.

Halotron is a substitute that is more environmentally friendly and still legal to manufacture, and is supposed to be nearly as good at extinguishing fires. I don't know specifics, but there is plenty to read on the web if one is so inclined.

All I'm saying is don't buy one and expect the other.
 

Hickey

Burn-barrel enthusiast
Supporting Member
Remember that Halon and Halotron are not the same thing...

Halon exists only in limited quantities now as it's against EPA regs to manufacture more, so the existing supply is all there will ever be, and once it gets used on a fire it's gone forever. It's expensive to buy for these reasons.

Halotron is a substitute that is more environmentally friendly and still legal to manufacture, and is supposed to be nearly as good at extinguishing fires. I don't know specifics, but there is plenty to read on the web if one is so inclined.

All I'm saying is don't buy one and expect the other.
They both sound like Transformers. Decepticons, to be specific.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I played around with a Halon fire extinguisher years ago and it was impressive how well it worked and did not leave any messy residue. I believe it displaces the oxygen and doesn't allow a fire to breath, thereby smothering it.
 
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