I hate searching out propane

I know it doesn't help when on the road, but I always fill mine at my local propane dealer. They offer a punch card for every fifth fill free. Between the 2 30s on the fifth wheel and the 2 20s I rotate between home and the camper I get a free 20# fill a couple of times per year.

rk911 wrote:
was your tank gauge malfunctioning? no advance warning??

When I fill my tanks and reinstall them, I only open the valve on one tank. This prevents me from ever emptying both tanks at the same time. When 1 tank emptys, I opened the valve on the other tank and go fill the empty tanks as soon as possible. I also wrap a paper tag on each tank and write down the date each one is been filled up.

'TANKS'? i have 2 30 pounders but I always try to run just one tank at a time. i simply turn the other tank off. sometimes it is a pain in the middle of a cold night with the furnace running but i'd rather run outside and turn the second tank on than not have any gas.

do one tank at a time.

just learned today the Menards store by me has a 24 hour tank exchange machine out in front of the store, a pretty handy thing once you know they have it, but if you were looking to exchange a tank after closing hours and werent aware of it, youd just drive by. Exchanges on the 20 pounders were $15 and change there.

edbehnke wrote:
'TANKS'? i have 2 30 pounders but I always try to run just one tank at a time. i simply turn the other tank off. sometimes it is a pain in the middle of a cold night with the furnace running but i'd rather run outside and turn the second tank on than not have any gas.

do one tank at a time.

I used this method as well. It is a foolproof way to avoid being caught with 2 empty tanks.

tsetsaf wrote:
6:30pm the tanks ran empty... 1.5 hours later I finally found a station to fill them.

Such a pain finding propane

; or should I say such a pain finding someone to fill the propane bottles.

Google CG's near you. Easy peasy.

You don't have to be staying there to buy propane from them.

the Allstays Camp and RV app for iPhone has a filter for propane search that shows places that will fill your 30 or 40 lb. tanks - not exchanges on the small tanks.

I usually just look for an equipment rental place, thay usually fill propane tanks or know who does.

Another option is to look for a Flying J/Pilot that has RV services, they usually have Propane also. Check them online, they display the price per gallon.

Weird. Every gas station in this state seems to have propane. Is it really that hard to find elsewhere?

Also, I keep hearing people say they ran out. Or tricks to prevent it. I top off my tanks after every single trip. Regardless of how long I'm using them. Use one tank at a time, so only top off the one I used. Unless, of course, I used both.

Is this really that hard? Like many, I have two 30lb tanks. Even if I only used $5 worth, it's worth it to me to KNOW for a fact I start every trip completely full.

pira114 wrote:
I top off my tanks after every single trip. Regardless of how long I'm using them. Use one tank at a time, so only top off the one I used. Unless, of course, I used both.

Is this really that hard?

In many jurisdictions propane fill is by weight, not volume, including here in Ontario where I am. If I take a 20 lb tank in for a fill I pay for a 20 lb fill whether the tank is completely empty or still has some left in it ... aside from the inconvenience no way would I refill after every trip. I have dual tanks and do what many others do - run just one tank until it's empty, then manually switch over to the second tank. Although there's no reason for it to happen, if I ever did run both tanks dry I could run our trailer off the stand alone 5 lb tank I use to run our Weber Q grill or even a couple of 16.4 oz canisters I always carry as spares using a Second Chance Adapter. There's absolutely no reason to ever run out of propane and no reason to ever have to refill until the tanks run completely empty ... it this really that hard? :S