[Mike-in-WV]

Over the years I have noticed some fire extinguisher's mounted on roll bars, Truck bed tool boxes and even mounted to the outside of the cab.
Will the hot sun or freezing winter cold hurt them? We get at right around 100 here but in the direct sun it can get much hotter than that and the coldest I have seen it here in Clay county, WV is about 10 below with the average being much warmer than that over the winter months.
I would really like to mount one on my tool box for quick access if needed. It won't do me much good if it wont work due to the weather. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks. Mike

 

[atwinda]

bump.

Mines on my swing out, but if it snows it goes into the back seat.. I don't know if it has effected it, as I haven't had to use it. So I would like to know as well.

 

[mudferret]

In the industry I worked in all vehicles had to have one mounted outside the vehicle. The temperature range depending on the season was huge, anywhere from +80 to -80 (on rare occassions). These were the CO2 (with dry chem) type where the compressed gas was stored in a small vessel within the extinguisher, a lever had to be pushed down to break the vessel and "charge" the extinguisher just before use.

Whether this type was used because of the temperatures (and ranges), I'm not sure.

Just call a local shop, they'll be able to set you up better than we can.

 

[Mike-in-WV]

TTT

Thanks guy's, Maybe we will get a fireman on here who can give us more info.
I have the dry powder type and it seems that they would be safe in most weather. My buggest concern is that I park outside all the time and it may be in the direct sun for an hour or so at a time.
I just don't want to have one blow up!, Lol. Thanks again, Mike

 

[kamaaina1]

According to Amerex (fire extinguisher manufacture), the temperature range is: -65F to 120F for their ABC dry chem & Halon 1211 extinguishers.

http://www.amerex-fire.com/main.asp

 

[DesertTRD]

Over the years I have noticed some fire extinguisher's mounted on roll bars, Truck bed tool boxes and even mounted to the outside of the cab.
Will the hot sun or freezing winter cold hurt them? We get at right around 100 here but in the direct sun it can get much hotter than that and the coldest I have seen it here in Clay county, WV is about 10 below with the average being much warmer than that over the winter months.
I would really like to mount one on my tool box for quick access if needed. It won't do me much good if it wont work due to the weather. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks. Mike

Mike, last year racing we had one strapped to the outside cagework, we had to use it once, and it worked fine.. remember in the desert the temp can get up to 110+ and especially strapped down to a cage. I think it will be fine in that kind of heat.

 

[Mike-in-WV]

Thank's for the info guy's. Looks like I'm going to mount it to my tool box and see what happens, Mike

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Fore extinguishers are very durable as long as yuo keep the safety pin secured, so you don't have an accidental discharge and don't allow it to sit in standing water in your bed for example, corrossion is bad for the pressure rating. That being said the fiore extinguisher is a very good idea to have on you vehicle.

 

[Mike-in-WV]

Fore extinguishers are very durable as long as yuo keep the safety pin secured, so you don't have an accidental discharge and don't allow it to sit in standing water in your bed for example, corrossion is bad for the pressure rating. That being said the fiore extinguisher is a very good idea to have on you vehicle.

We keep a fire extinquisher in every room of our house except the bathroom and one in each section of my work shop and in the front of our vehicals, one in my wifes trunk and one in my truck tool box. They are all the dry chemical and checked every six months or so. May be over kill but you never know when they may save your life or someone elses and they take up very little room.
The one I was going to mount outside my truck has a plastic gage on it and I think I'll get one without a gage. That sun may melt that gage. Thanks for the info, Mike

 

[jon_7248]

... so you don't have an accidental discharge and don't allow it to sit in standing water in your bed for example, corrossion is bad for the pressure rating...

That would be fun to watch the aftermath! Well, from a distance, and not while driving along side it.

 

[stinkycoon]

It's a lot hotter in the summer inside the truck than outside. I have had an extinguisher inside the truck at 115 degrees outside, not sure about inside (probably a lot worse). That being said, I still worry about it exploding or something, so it's in the camper, not the cab...

BTW, I have to carry an extinguisher for work. Just be sure to get the 5-lb ones or larger with the metal fittings.

 

[Koke]

Temperature shouldn't affect the extinguisher at all. The dry chem in the extinguisher is just that. Dry. It will not freeze. Having it move around with the truck is actually good for it. It prevents the chemical from settling and becoming compacted. In order to keep the extinguisher itself from corroding you can buy covers that go over them. That will prevent water from getting into the hose or around the pin and then freezing. I'm a full time firefighter and we have had extinguishers mounted on our trucks in the past.

 

[jayotto4]

You will be fine. Just check the guage periodicly. We store our extiguishers on the out side of our firetrucks and we get to 100 and below 0 temps. once the extiguisher has been used once get a new(or if it can be recharged) one even if it was a short squirt.

 

[twblanset]

I used to service fire extinguishers and they are extremely durable. The Death Valley School District has a number that are outside and the temperatures there get outrageously hot. I've never seen one build up undue pressure, leak, or weather strangely. The earlier advice about not letting it sit in standing water is good. There are some small steel parts that could rust. Most of the good ones have aluminum heads (so they won't rust) and the cheap Kiddie type have plastic heads. Watch out for people walking by and pulling your pin. This happens a lot.