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

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2013
Check at a sporting goods store to see what they have for removing skunk odor. The propane additive is related to the chemicals in skunk spray, and the same deodorant works for both. If you still want an external cylinder hook up option similar to the Extend-A-Stay, I'd suggest talking to a propane dealer about having a 'T' installed at the tank valve, with a hard line run to a convenient location with a manual valve on the end that mates with a hose for the cylinder.
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2013
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
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Jun 10, 2013
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
kedanie
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2013
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
Clay_L
Explorer
Jun 10, 2013
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.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Jun 10, 2013
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

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