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Homestead_or_Bu's avatar
Jun 06, 2016

Newbie -help? LP tank rust and service valve

Hey every body. Newbie here.
I have just made my first foray in to RV land. Glad to have found you all! I'll put a little about my rig and me down below just to give you a peek here.

This, my second post on this forum, is regarding my on board motorhome LP tank--
Pre-purchase inspection in FL passed a drop test fine. They cited no issues with the system, and they did cite really detailed things, even like a discolored AC cover.
Second place I took it to after purchase, about 2 weeks later says the service valve is bad and they can't even test it until that is fixed - $450 price tag for that. But part delivery would take too long so I headed up north and just didn't use it.
Third place I take it to near home (upstate NY) says tank is corroded and they don't know how long it will last- probably ought to replace it - $1250 price tag! ( for tank and labor) Yikes.

I called up first 2 places and they each said tank itself was okay.
What's with the 3 different opinions? and more importantly, how to discern whats really needed?

I don't know if it is just surface rust or pitted. I will go to the shop and have them show it to me.

Well, I sure don't want to be foolish with an LP system because of potential danger, so I wonder if I can do any of these things - find a cheaper tank, aftermarket - or even wire brush the heck out it and use a de-ruster or rust converter paint - or even a salvage place that might have them - or even an alternative "out of the box" repair place. Not sure where to start. Right now I feel between a rock and a hard place., but hoping you all can shed a little light.

Many thanks in advance, Jenn



My RV adventure -
Plan is to travel and then find land to create a permaculture homestead, living in the RV while building natural building. Big adventure!
I have an old 1998 Coachmen C class 22 footer. I have put pretty big bucks into it already, and looking to do a few things myself, because man o' man is RV tech labor expensive! I value their work, but honestly I feel I could do some myself. I'm handy, and gotta slow down the money pipeline.

5 Replies

  • Instead of going to a RV dealer I think I would be calling an independent RV mobile service technician. I have used them several times in the past and found them to be honest, proficient, and easier to get service from. They even come to you! :)
    Barney
  • Thanks DrewE. I really appreciate the response.

    Yep, all RV dealers. I like the idea of propane dealers. I have tried a couple Propane dealers, but so far no luck for RVs. They don't do them. I will try more such places. I wonder what other kinds of places that service propane tanks might exist that could fill and tell me if I needed a service valve repaired ...hmmm...???
    (I'm in upstate NY)

    Do you know exactly what I'd be looking for on the tank to determine it's integrity? Would that be pitting, or?
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer III
    What kind of places have you been taking the RV to be looked at? If it's an RV dealership or service place, try going to a propane dealer, the kind of place with trucks that deliver propane to houses and rent tanks and such. I would expect more reasonable prices (if it needs a new valve) and more competent servicemen since that's what the specialize in.

    Repainting a built-in tank is certainly something that can be done yourself, assuming the rust is not compromising the integrity of the tank. I generally gather that failure of built-in tanks due to corrosion or whatever is not at all common. Valves etc. needing replacement is somewhat less rare.

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