Hey everyone, I am a new full-time RVer and I just now went through my first LP tank on my furnace. It looks to be about a 35-40 lb. (7-8 gallon) tank and is removable. I have my rig parked for the winter, skirted and on boards and was wondering what the best approach is to filling my tank WITHOUT undoing everything and driving it to the service station. An old-timer I know said there are attachments that would allow me to transfer propane from one tank to another, but after researching that, it seems that method is considered dangerous and possibly even illegal? The only solution I could find is to fork out $100 for an "extend-a-stay" kit and attach a second tank to run off of and completely bypass the permanently attached stock tank. Is that all I can do without actually driving the rig somewhere to be filled? Thanks!Mike

Sorry, I meant to say in the first line that it is NOT removable.

Well you can always pay to have a truck come and fill it up - but since you have such a small tank that is probably not going to make good economic sense.For the whole winter I think I would go with the extend-a-stay rigging.I have a permanent 20 gallon tank and a removable 5 gallon tank with an autoswitcher. It gives nice flexibility.

I would like to by a large tank to keep beside my rig and have a company come fill it, but I feel that would only work if I'm parked permanently. There's no way I could find room to haul a large tank if I relocate 1-2 times a year or more. I guess I will buy an extend-a-stay kit, since that will come in handy for gas grills and such when the weather warms up. Please give me any other ideas or tips any of you might have, they are all very appreciated!Mike

If I'm on a tight budget and relying on workamping to make ends meet, what would be the best rout: buy two 20-lb tanks and rotate them, having each filled as I go...or to use one of the exchange programs I out there (Amerigas, Blue Rhino, etc.)? Or does it make a difference?

Worse choice is to use the exchange program. (Blue Rhino, etc.) Often you get 'short fills' and it's always more expensive than having existing tanks refilled.Easiest would be to pay a truck to come in and do refills for you. Least expensive but more work would be to take 20's to a propane fill outfit yourself.

Best ways to fill non-removable LP tank? | Good Sam Community

tatest
Explorer II
Dec 09, 2014
Assuming you don't want to move to fill, or have a LPG supplier visit frequently, what you have to do is feed from an external tank. This is best done with a T-fitting between your gas valve and regulator, which a LPG supplier can install or you can get DIY solutions like extend-a-stay.

To fill from an external tank, you would need an external tank that supplies liquid. I think modern DOT bottles are specifically designed not to do that, it is one of the functions of the OPD.

If you are going to be there long term, and can get a local supplier in, you can usually rent a larger external tank. This can then be filled as needed, less often than small bottles.

If you want to do it with portable bottles, the exchange bottles are the most expensive way to do it. Price for the convenience is often double the price of the gas provided. Having your own DOT bottles is almost always cheaper, unless you run into "minimum" charges or service charges. Handling larger DOT bottles (30, 40 and 100 pound bottles) can reduce the impact of service fees, but it is a matter of what can you handle, i.e. those three are 24, 29 and 68 pounds empty, respectively.

The rental alternative, most likely a residential tank, requires sizing the tank to the consumption. A LPG dealer doing rentals can help with this. I see tanks in the 200-400 pound range trailer parks, where the practice might be one or two fills a season.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2014
olywa1978 wrote:
The $100 extend-a-stay I was referring to was from Marshall Gas Controls on Amazon. I haven't looked around much, just saw this Amazon listing and assumed it was the going rate for these. Is the one in this link different than the type I need?

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Gas-Controls-536-00-Extend-A-Stay/dp/B002UC4T6C
They are all basically the same, just different manufacturers, as you can see in the link I gave you, there is also an Extend-A-Flow, by Camco, which will serve the same purpose.
ronfisherman
Moderator
Dec 09, 2014
robsouth wrote:
If you are in a park with others, ask them what they do. If you are off to yourself, call a propane dealer and they can fix you right up.

If you use "extend a stay propane kit" in a search. Many more options will show up.
olywa1978
Explorer
Dec 09, 2014
The $100 extend-a-stay I was referring to was from Marshall Gas Controls on Amazon. I haven't looked around much, just saw this Amazon listing and assumed it was the going rate for these. Is the one in this link different than the type I need?

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Gas-Controls-536-00-Extend-A-Stay/dp/B002UC4T6C
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2014
RVng ain't cheap..........
SCVJeff
Explorer
Dec 09, 2014
olywa1978 wrote:
I think renting a big tank and having a propane company fill me up would be easiest, but I have a couple questions. Do they make you sign any contracts for specific time frames, (one or two years for example)or is it usually month to month (what I would prefer)? Also, don't propane companies pretty much double the going rates of propane, per gallon? My mom rents a tank from AmeriGas and they charge her over $4.00 per gallon when I've seen stores and service stations advertising as low as $2.10 per gallon. Are the big companies always that much more expensive?
The "big companies" supply all of the small outlets. You're not going to get any of them to deliver for free. It costs to pay the driver, the $100k tank truck, insurance, AND the gas itself. Somethings gotta give...

Don't like the price?, buy small tanks and rotate them yourself
olywa1978
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
I primarily use my 23,000 btu kerosene heater to heat the rig up and only use the propane furnace at night and I only set the stat to about 55 degrees. I haven't used the propane for anything else so far (except the small canisters for cook stove). Point being that I don't go through much propane.
olywa1978
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
I think renting a big tank and having a propane company fill me up would be easiest, but I have a couple questions. Do they make you sign any contracts for specific time frames, (one or two years for example)or is it usually month to month (what I would prefer)? Also, don't propane companies pretty much double the going rates of propane, per gallon? My mom rents a tank from AmeriGas and they charge her over $4.00 per gallon when I've seen stores and service stations advertising as low as $2.10 per gallon. Are the big companies always that much more expensive?
bukhrn
Explorer III
Dec 08, 2014
I don't know who gave you that ridiculous price for the extend-a-stay, but if you want to go that way, try here for about half of that, http://www.rvpartsoutlet.com/index.php?cPath=820_111
mda
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
Do a google search and you will find either an extend a stay or stay longer for less than $100. Amazon lists one for $69, made by Marshall Gas Controls.