Hi Folks,My wife and I bought a portable propane BBQ and we are not so sure we want to use the trailer's propane. We are thinking of getting a separate 20 lb bottle, but I'm concerned with transporting it.We have a new 5th wheel and I've read we shouldn't secure it in the basement for safety reasons and transport it in the back of the truck with a tie-down.Any opinions or ideas as to how you may be carrying an extra bottle of propane????Thx!!

If you can find one of those plastic milk crates that distributors use to transport 4 4l jugs of milk. A 20#er fits in there perfectly and then use a strap to keep it form sliding around in your truck box.

Been carrying an extra tank in my pickup for years. Just run a strap thru the handle and tie it down.

The tank is OK in the sun but if you have it inside something like a truck canopy, don't let it get any hotter than about 110 degrees or it may vent.

I keep mine in the basement during travel, but I live on the edge. Some use a quick disconnect to the trailer, but this is low pressure, generally requiring BBQ mods. Another option would be to run a hose from BBQ directly to one of the tanks on the trailer, before the regulator. I don't like that option either so I just throw it in the storage compartment.

If your hitch is the type with rails just slide it in along side the hitch on the right side between the bed rails and I run a bungee cord over the top of it from the front rail to the back rail holes....

Carrying an extra propane tank | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

IH_Fan
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
Hi Folks - Thank you very much for the great perspectives and insight into our question. You've left us with a couple of options we didn't consider which is a good thing! Again, thank you!!
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
another advantage to carrying the spare tank, is if you miscalculate on the amount of gas in Rv tanks, you have backup... great when it's cold and you use more propane than expected.
Campinfan
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2014
I just disconnect one of my two tanks in the fiver and use that. I used to tank a separate tank but not any more.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
"I don't see how that board with 2x4 blocks without a strap would keep a tank in place on any kind of bumpy road. bumpy "

As far as I know, the tank never moved. Of course it had no where to go either. It was somewhat supported by the green tube in front and the wall in back. If it did came out of the cradle, it always rolled back into the same spot.

Like I said, we no longer have this trailer (or the propane tank either), and I'm a little older now, and a little wiser. I wouldn't do it this way again if I had to do it over. I'd keep it upright.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
Dakzuki wrote:
garyhaupt wrote:
Maybe I am missing something. Why carry an extra tank? I use my on-board RV tank, with a T and a 25 ft length of hose. That will run my BBQ or outside Coleman stove and when needed I fuel it up. I just don't see the need to carry extra's. And if nothing else, if it's inside it's a PIA to get around.

Gary Haupt

The ability to operate independent of the RV has its advantages.

Yeah..okay, this I see. I have a 25ft hose and that will have the bbq pretty much anywhere in my camping area.

Gary Haupt
Dakzuki
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2014
garyhaupt wrote:
Maybe I am missing something. Why carry an extra tank? I use my on-board RV tank, with a T and a 25 ft length of hose. That will run my BBQ or outside Coleman stove and when needed I fuel it up. I just don't see the need to carry extra's. And if nothing else, if it's inside it's a PIA to get around.

Gary Haupt

The ability to operate independent of the RV has its advantages.
mlts22
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2014
I bought a clear plastic tub from Wally World. I poked a hole in each side to secure the tub via zip-tie "chains" to the sides of the truck bed. It is big enough to keep two 20# propane cylinders upright. A bit redneck-ish, but it does the job.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
several options at http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3APropane%20Tank%20Holder
I don't see how that board with 2x4 blocks without a strap would keep a tank in place on any kind of bumpy road.
bumpy
buta4
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
big buford wrote:
X2 on milk crate been using same one for years.

DITTO!!
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 24, 2014
DutchmenSport wrote:
I posted this a few years ago and by the responses on RV.net, you'd thought I committed the "unpardonable sin." Come-back responses criticized me for transporting the tank on it's side. Well, I did this for 8 years and never had an issue. Either I got "lucky" or everyone concern was a lot of broo-ha! Either way, it worked for me. I built this and laid in the pass through. The plywood also helped protect the floor from stuff sliding against the linoleum. If I had to do it over again, I'd figure out a way to keep it upright. But this worked.

FYI, we no longer have this camper, and my current camper has an outside stove (built in) with attached connection (built in) for the propane line.

Your probably OK because the tank doesn't get hot enough in there to have to vent.
OTOH by laying the tank down like that you have circumvented every safety feature that's built in to it.
It all just depends on how safe you wan't to be.