Propane Refilling

mdj · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Ottawa, Ontario

I'm looking for information regarding refilling of built in RV propane tanks while set up in an RV park. We have just bought our first motorhome and plan to spend next winter in Florida at perhaps 2-3 different RV parks for up to a month in each place. Seems to me that packing up the rig just to leave the park in order to refill my propane tank can be quite cumbersome. Is there some way to have propane delivered, perhaps in a mobile truck, and to refill my RV propane tank without having to leave the park? Seems simple enough, but perhaps not. Are there safety concerns perhaps for the park? I have seen a thing called "Extend a Stay" made by Marshall Brass but am not sure if that would do the trick. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Smile

Mark

nohome46 · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:12 am Post subject: Propane

Some propane companies deliver in some areas and it costs more, but then you don't have to move.
You can get a 20# tank and connect it via a hose to your vehicle piping and have the tank for emergency use or use it all the time. This keeps propane in your vehicle tank in case you need it.
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elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

On our motorhome, we had an Extend-A-Stay installed to which we could attach a separate propane tank. We used this when we were staying someplace for a long period of time. When empty, we'd simply load the external propane tank in the car, take it to be filled, and bring it back. Never had to move the rig.

mdj · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Ag2000CO · Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 187 Location: MD

Stan Birch · Guest

You would be hard pressed to empty your propane tank in a month. We fill our tank about once a year.

Also, make sure you always get 100% propane; and not a butane propane mixture.

utmtman · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

I have a 24-gallon tank on my RV and it lasts for a long time as long as the furnace isn't running. I also have the extend-a-stay hose connectors that I paid a local propane company to build for me the way I wanted it. I also have two five-gallon tanks that I carry for using on the extend-a-stay. They are easy to haul to a propane site to refill. And when I go to refill them, I can just kick on the main tank till I get them refilled. I use the small tanks first.
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retired and happy · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 303 Location: Stone Mountain GA

There are services that will service tanks on site, but you may find many parks do not allow it.
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Ken
Judy and our Special Angels
1996 37' Itasca Suncruiser
6x12 cargo trailer
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smurf · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 19 Location: B.C.

In reading posts on this issue, I noted that someone replied you are dealing with a compressed gas. This is not totally true. It is called LPG because it is Liquid Propane Gas (LIQUID). A properly filled tank contains 80% liquid; the remaining top portion of the tank IS compressed gas. A problem which can result with propane is overfilling. If a tank contains more than 80%, there is a possibility of liquid coming out of the line instead of gas. The problem here is that propane expands (I believe 20 times) when it turns into gas. Therefore, huge problem in your barbecue tank or whatever. That is why you hear of barbecues, etc. exploding.

THEREFORE it is extremelly important to keep tanks upright or in their proper position to prevent any possibility of getting liquid instead of gas.

I have never checked into their operation but I presume these cheater connections are only allowing the passage of gas and not liquid as you would need a pump to transfer the actual liquid.
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Jnacross · Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

I found a great little thing for taking your propane tank RVing or hunting. It's called the Tank Nanny, and it keeps your 20 lb propane tank from falling over or tipping in your car or truck when you go to get it refilled at the filling station. You can even seat belt buckle it in, which is cool. Great for those weekend barbecue sessions or cookouts. I love barbecuing. You can get it from most stores or at www.tanknanny.com if you can't find it.

Cheers and hope this helps as much as it helped me!

Jess

elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

dave n · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Easley SC

I installed an extended stay kit and bought two 40 lb tanks so I could just switch over to a full one when needed. You close the permanent tank valve and use the same regulator for the portables. An adapter comes with the hose kit that is installed between the permanent tank valve and regulator. If you have any mechanical ability, it is fairly easy to install. Use a soapy water solution to check for leaks after hookup. Hope this helps.
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tantamount · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 211 Location: roaming

Gebrian · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Northern California

What is this extend-a-stay thing? Is it not possible to use a regular propane tank hose to connect another smaller tank to the system, and use that before using the main tank?

utmtman · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:39 am Post subject:

Extend-a-stay is a hose kit for your RV to connect additional tanks to the RV (available at places like Camping World or PPL). I just put my own quick release on my pipe with a standard propane hose built for me by a propane company, and on the end I added a gauge you buy at Wal-Mart for BBQ tanks, and then I use three 5-gallon tanks that I take in to be refilled and use my main while I am getting them refilled. I tried to have propane companies come to the RV parks to refill and they say they don't have a way to adapt to our RV tanks, and that we would have to rent a large tank for them to refill. I know that is a crock but after four parks in four states telling me the same garbage, I chose to make the setup I now use.
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Lee and Fran
Holiday Rambler Vacationer
While traveling down lifes paths, stop to smell the flowers.