Counting propane as tongue weight.

If there is propane in the tank it IS tongue weight, if not, then not. It isn't a matter of "counting it or not" whatever propane you have in the tanks will be close to 100% added to tongue weight. You don't get to "decide" to count it or not. Whatever propane is in the tanks is on the tongue. If you only travel with 1 full tank, why not just take the other one off and save another 30lbs or so???

In my case the difference is 60lbs full or empty, same thing for water, it's there or not. full fresh tank =250lbs on the tongue in my case.

Terryallan wrote:

W.E.BGood wrote:
Why wouldn't you consider it, two FULL 20 lb. tanks weigh 78 pounds total (38 each), two 30 pounders like I have on my Outback weigh 108 pounds together when full.

But how often are that both full. that is what I was getting at. Often one of mine is empty.

Both mine are full at the start of each and every road trip. Assuming that what you might do is common is from my experience generally wrong and some of the comments in this thread alone seem to bear out that observation.

Larry

Stupid question. When someone states "no propane" for the tongue weight. Does that mean no propane in the bottles or no bottles all together? I keep hearing these quotes but I've never actually heard for sure, what exactly they mean?

Are you planning on dumping LP if you need to travel when they're full? You SHOULD be able to tow under ANY conditions of loading. Those cutting it close enough to need to empty ice cube trays to travel usually aren't that happy doing so :)

Terryallan wrote:

W.E.BGood wrote:
Why wouldn't you consider it, two FULL 20 lb. tanks weigh 78 pounds total (38 each), two 30 pounders like I have on my Outback weigh 108 pounds together when full.

But how often are that both full. that is what I was getting at. Often one of mine is empty.

For the record. I try to keep my propane tanks full. granted it's less critical during warm weather. Nevertheless the fridge and water heater are using propane all summer long. What's the point of having 2 tanks if you keep one empty?:@
The idea is to use one tank until it is empty then switch to the 2nd full tank. If the 2nd tank is empty there is no reserve to switch to when the first tank runs out. By keeping one tank empty at all times you have no reserve capacity.
When you first tank empties and your 2nd tank is already empty you are just SOL and out of propane. Of course this may lower your tongue weight but it will not help you have hot water or cold food while traveling.

We never run with an empty tank, unless it just ran out while on the road. Generally start any long trip with both tanks full, and we're more than 20Lbs as we have dual 40Lbers, so approx 150 Lbs of propane and approx 100 Lbs of Batteries. As a general rule, if you read the fine print on the weight sticker it WILL NOT include propane, water, and batteries.

W.E.BGood wrote:
Why wouldn't you consider it, two FULL 20 lb. tanks weigh 78 pounds total (38 each), two 30 pounders like I have on my Outback weigh 108 pounds together when full.

But how often are that both full. that is what I was getting at. Often one of mine is empty.

Why wouldn't you consider it, two FULL 20 lb. tanks weigh 78 pounds total (38 each), two 30 pounders like I have on my Outback weigh 108 pounds together when full.

It depends on the manufacturer. Jayco states their dry weights include everything as it comes from the factory including propane. Others may, but I don't know. 20 lbs here and 20 lbs. there adds up. It all contributes to the tongue weight of the trailer and also into the payload of the truck, that possibly being critical if you are towing with a half ton.

I do, along with the batteries. I suspect it depends on the trailer though - for lightweight trailers these are a more significant contribution to the tongue weight than they would be, as a percentage, on heavy trailers.