So, I thought that it might be a good idea to have one of the extend-a-stay valves installed on our coach. We have talked about some work camping and it would make things easier at least for the propane side of things.Our coach has a center mounted propane tank that is behind a screwed on cover in the center of the main pass through storage compartment, not easy to get at. Camping World decided to install it between the manual shut off valve and electrical shut off valve. That seemed a little odd to me but went ahead anyway. They then mounted the tank supply line and fed it through the compartment panel.It was about a week or so before we went back to pick up our coach and when I checked the compartment it stunk of propane. Turned out that the Extend-A-Stay manifold has a membrane check valve that is known to leak. The leak drained our entire propane tank into the compartment and now the compartment smells like propane. I am airing it out and with time i will get the smell out of the compartment. Apparently, the supply hose should be disconnected or attached to an external propane tank which ours wasn't.We had them remove the valve and restore out system to the original configuration and refund our money.Keith

Your propane tank is WHERE? I thought they all had to be in compartments with open floor, easy access with no lock for shutoff, etc.Barb

If the external tank supply hose was leaking that wasn't the fault of the Extend A Stay but rather a supply hose problem. When the hose is connected to an external tank an internal valve in the hose end is opened. When the hose is disconnected it is supposed to close.I have had to replace a couple of them over the years. If I am taking a tank to be refilled I leave the hose connected to the Extend a Stay but when traveling I remove it and put the seal cap on the Extend A Stay.

The installation of the external supply hose was done as a permanent install due to the fact that the on board tank is difficult to get to. I would have to empty my storage compartment and then unscrew the panel to get to the propane tank valves. If you are relying on check valves that have been shown to leak to keep things safe it is unsafe in that application. Now, for those with side mounted tanks that can easily be accessed, then yes the Extend-A-Stay is fine. It is easy to turn off the on board tank, install the external hose and hook up to an external tank. When not in use the hose can easily be removed and the plug re-installed to stop any leaks.As it was set-up on our coach it was a bomb waiting to go off.Keith

The location of your propane tank would have been a no go for me when looking at it. Not venting to the outside is just asking for problems. I can't imagine that a manufacturer would do that on a coach.Barb

The compartment that the on board propane tank is in is not completely enclosed. It is open on the bottom so it can vent to the outside world. It does have a manual shut off valve and an electrically operated shut off valve. They can be accessed after some work of removing the contents of the bay and unscrewing many screws holding a pannel in place. It is located between the frame rails of the Freightliner chassis. The access to it is the problem. That is why they tried to mount the external tank line for the Extend-A-Stay in a permanent manner. The hose was place on a hook in the main pass through storage compartment. The leaking check valve in that system leaked the entire contents of the 126lb propane tank into that compartment. Now, everything that was down there stinks of propane.Keith

Extend-A-stay | Good Sam Community

blakduk01
Explorer
Jun 21, 2013
I currently have an Extend-stay hook up on my Georgie-boy. The compartment is on the side of the coach so easy access. I have the ext valve mounted just before the regulator. So when it comes time to use an external tank (a 20lb for emergency or 100lb for predetermined long stay) I wait until the main tank is empty, then close of the main tank valve, plug in the aux tank Extend-stay hose and turn on the aux tank.
When the aux tanks empty out I swap them out with fresh ones. I fill up the main tank when I can usually when I get home. So far have never had a leakage problem. When using the main tank there is a screw in plug to close the extend-stay line.

ALK
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
wa8yxm wrote:
If you T in on the low pressure side with a regulated line and do not use CHECK valves then unless the two regulators are EXACTLY the same pressure (And this is not even possible, even if you set them with very accurate test gear because as they cool, it will change, just a little) the lower pressure regulator will vent propane.

This is very likely what happened to the O/P

I have seen it happen, this is why I strongly recommend only the Original Genuine Article.

Oh, by the way. If you hook up an external tank.. odds are it will provide most of the gas during the day. (The Genuine article has Check valves in it).

The leak was not from the regulator. It was coming from the permanently mounted external supply hose into the storage bay. That bay absorbed at least 18 gallons of propane over a 10 day period and boy does it stink. I am just glad it was sitting on CW's lot away from any flame source or someone would be buying us a new motor coach.

By using a tee into the low pressure side with a regulated external source, I will be able to use the electric shut off valve and stop the flow from the main tank. Granted, this has not been done at this time and only should we need it in the future.

Keith
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
Dutch_12078 wrote:
kedanie wrote:

The only problem with this set-up, at least in my application, is that I would have to empty the bay, crawl inside, remove a panel and then shut off the main tank if I wanted to use an external tank. If you can't shut off the main tank, you would be drawing from both tanks until they were both empty. That doesn't seem to be a very smart option in my application.

How do you shut off the tank service valve to refill the tank?

The tank has a manual shut off valve and next in line is an electrical shut off valve. Flip the switch and the tank is shut off. CW tried to install the Extend-A-Stay valve between the 2 shut off valves. The tank fill port is on the side of the coach.

Keith
Pixguy
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
Not to hijack this thread but this reminds me of my last use of my Extend A Stay. We were using it to dry camp for heat, avoiding having to move rig to fill up. When I unhooked 20lb.tank and was driving home, I smelled the propane. I had to unhook the whole thing and I've been unable to see what went wrong.
Isn't there a check valve to stop it from leaking or a cap to cap it off when removing just the hose?

Thanx
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2013
If you T in on the low pressure side with a regulated line and do not use CHECK valves then unless the two regulators are EXACTLY the same pressure (And this is not even possible, even if you set them with very accurate test gear because as they cool, it will change, just a little) the lower pressure regulator will vent propane.

This is very likely what happened to the O/P

I have seen it happen, this is why I strongly recommend only the Original Genuine Article.

Oh, by the way. If you hook up an external tank.. odds are it will provide most of the gas during the day. (The Genuine article has Check valves in it).
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
kedanie wrote:

The only problem with this set-up, at least in my application, is that I would have to empty the bay, crawl inside, remove a panel and then shut off the main tank if I wanted to use an external tank. If you can't shut off the main tank, you would be drawing from both tanks until they were both empty. That doesn't seem to be a very smart option in my application.

How do you shut off the tank service valve to refill the tank?
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
emorris548 wrote:
I had an extend a stay on my last coach, which we use all winter. My new FW also has the center tank with the electric shut off. Checking out the fittings I saw they were all different from the Extend a Stay. Talked to my local shop, found the owner had the same set up. So he plumbed the unit as it is instructed (between the gas valve and regulator) and ran a shielded access line to the side, where I can remove the plug and attach my hose and tank. It's working great. Cost one hour labor plus parts.

The only problem with this set-up, at least in my application, is that I would have to empty the bay, crawl inside, remove a panel and then shut off the main tank if I wanted to use an external tank. If you can't shut off the main tank, you would be drawing from both tanks until they were both empty. That doesn't seem to be a very smart option in my application.

As said previously, when I actually need to I will tee in on the low pressure side with a regulated supply.

Keith

p.s. Camping World tried to charge me over $400 for that setup. They removed it at my request and ate the cost.
emorris548
Explorer
Jun 11, 2013
I had an extend a stay on my last coach, which we use all winter. My new FW also has the center tank with the electric shut off. Checking out the fittings I saw they were all different from the Extend a Stay. Talked to my local shop, found the owner had the same set up. So he plumbed the unit as it is instructed (between the gas valve and regulator) and ran a shielded access line to the side, where I can remove the plug and attach my hose and tank. It's working great. Cost one hour labor plus parts.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2013
The Genuiine Marshall brass Extend-a-stay had no such valve, However it's also (I am told) no longer made.

Where they put it (Just after the manual tank valve) is where it belongs.

The Genuine article had a Tank fitting (POL male) an outlet (POL Female) (POL by the way means Prest-O-Light even if most folks call it Put On Left, due to the left hand thread) and a "Quick Disconnect" the valve in this is like a automotive valve stem (NOT the same, but looks like one) it is not a membrane valve.

There are also check valves and perhaps a safety valve, but again NONE are membrane, all are brass. The onlyl non-brass is the seal on the quick disconnect.

Yes, I have seen throw-away bottles leak (That is the same exact valve).
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
Thanks for the tip on skunk deodorant.

Talked to a good propane guy locally and he suggested connecting in after the gas pressure regulator with a regulated external tank. It looks like there are quite a few places to to tee into the low pressure gas system. I'll probably do that if and when we actually need it.

Man that smell gets into everything!!!!!! Good thing we're not going anywhere soon.

Keith

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