News

Running out of fuel in a remote location is not just inconvenient, it can be genuinely dangerous. Whether you are deep in the outback on a corrugated dirt track or anchored at a favourite fishing spot further offshore than usual, a quality fuel bladder gives you a smarter way to extend your range without the bulk and hassle of jerry cans.

Jerry cans work. They are widely understood and you will find them strapped to roof racks and boat rails across Australia. But they have real limitations: heavy when full, bulky when empty, hard to stack efficiently and awkward to secure without proper mounting hardware.

A Fleximake fuel bladder offers a genuinely better approach for most setups. Here is what they are, how they work and how to decide which size is right for you.

Browse our Fleximake fuel bladders at Campalot available in 75L and 100L, or read on for the full picture first.

What Is a Fuel Bladder?

A fuel bladder is a flexible, collapsible container made from materials specifically rated for safe fuel storage and transport. Unlike a rigid jerry can, a fuel bladder conforms to the space it is placed in. When full it takes the shape of its surroundings. When empty it folds completely flat.

Fleximake is an Australian manufacturer with over 20 years of experience producing flexible liquid storage solutions. Their fuel bladder range is built for the demands of Australian touring and marine use: corrugated roads, desert heat, salt air and UV exposure. These are not relabelled import products. They are engineered in Australia for Australian conditions.

Why a Fuel Bladder Beats Jerry Cans

Space Efficiency

A 20L jerry can takes up the same volume whether it is full or empty. A Fleximake fuel bladder folds down to almost nothing when not in use, freeing up space in your canopy, tray or boat storage. Bladders also conform to irregular spaces that rigid cans simply will not fit: under false floors, in footwells, alongside other gear in a canopy or into hull storage cavities on a boat.

Weight Distribution

Liquid weight carried low and centred in the vehicle improves handling. A bladder tucked into a low storage area keeps weight where you want it. Jerry cans strapped to an external bull bar or rear carrier sit high and off-centre, which affects vehicle dynamics more than most people realise.

Fewer Leak Points

A well-made fuel bladder with sealed fittings and quality valves has fewer potential leak points than a jerry can with a separate spout, a cap and a vent. Fleximake bladders use marine-grade welded seams and fuel-rated fittings designed to stay sealed under the vibration and flex of rough-road travel.

No Rattle

Anyone who has driven corrugated tracks with jerry cans in the back knows the noise. A bladder filled with fuel does not rattle. On a long day of corrugated outback driving, that silence is genuinely appreciated.

The 4WD and Overland Touring Use Case

For remote 4WD touring, a fuel bladder extends your effective range without the mounting complications of multiple jerry cans. A 100L fuel bladder gives most 4WD tourers an additional 800 to 1,200km of range depending on consumption. That comfortably bridges the longest fuel gaps in outback Australia.

The 75L option suits tourers who want meaningful extra range without committing to a full 100 litres of additional weight. It fits well in setups where total payload is a consideration or where the remote legs are shorter.

The Marine Use Case

Fuel bladders are just as popular on the water as they are on the road. Boats have limited, irregular storage spaces that rigid containers do not fit well. A bladder that conforms to a storage cavity under a gunwale or in the hull keeps deck space clear and weight low.

For boaties heading out for extended time on the water, a fuel bladder stored below deck can meaningfully extend the range of a day trip or allow a weekend away without needing to refuel partway through. No jerry cans lashed to the rails, no fuel sloshing in a container not rated for marine use.

Fleximake fuel bladders are built to handle the movement of a boat underway. Marine-grade welded seams and sealed fittings prevent fuel weeping into hull storage, which matters enormously in an enclosed boat environment.

75L or 100L: Which Size Is Right?

Choose the 75L fuel bladder if you are...

• Wanting meaningful extra range without maximum weight
• Working with limited storage space where a 100L bladder would be a tight fit
• Covering remote legs of roughly 400 to 700km between fuel stops
• A boatie extending a standard day trip range by a comfortable margin
• Keeping total payload lean on a boat or lighter 4WD

Choose the 100L fuel bladder if you are...

• Heading into remote country where fuel stops are 600km or more apart
• Doing a full outback run and wanting a comfortable safety margin on top of your tank
• Running a larger vessel and wanting to extend offshore or estuary range significantly
• Confident you have the payload and storage space to accommodate a full 100 litres

Storage and Handling Tips

• Always use a fuel bladder specifically rated for fuel. Do not use a water bladder for fuel storage as the internal materials are different.
• Fill in a well-ventilated area and transfer fuel using a proper fuel-rated hose or pump.
• Secure the bladder so it cannot shift in transit. A full bladder is heavy and needs to be restrained like any other heavy load.
• Store away from direct UV when not in use. Fleximake bladders are UV-resistant but minimising unnecessary exposure extends service life.
• Rinse and dry thoroughly before long-term storage. A clean, dry fuel bladder stored flat will last many years.

Australian-Made Quality Worth Supporting

Fleximake has been producing flexible liquid storage solutions in Australia for over 20 years. Their products are used across mining, agriculture, emergency services and recreational travel. When you buy a Fleximake fuel bladder, you are buying something that has been tested hard across a huge range of applications in Australian conditions. That matters to us at Campalot and it is exactly the kind of brand we want to support.

  Shop Fleximake fuel bladders at Campalot - 75L and 100L, Australian-made for land and water.