I recently tried to have my 20lb propane tank refilled and it wouldn't fill. The person filling it determined it must be a bad valve. She proceeded to fill a second tank I had without issue. So my question, is there any reason NOT to just exchange the cylinder for a full one (at Menards, Walmart, etc)? I understand it's more costly, and you get less propane than if I did a refill. But is there any reason to keep the original that came with my TT? Or just exchange it and move on?

Exchange and move on. The one gotcha is that those exchange tanks are usually old, and some places won't refill them due to age. Most places will fill without a second glance, but a few won't.

Exchange it and move on. The other option is to buy a new tank. That will cost you more than than exchanging and getting a 2/3 full tank.

When I last had a tank go bad, the replacement had a different height collar on it. So I needed to buy two in order for them to mount on the tougue tightened down properly.This was with 30s but, I have 6 extra 20s that I bring along for extended cold weather trips, and the collars on them vary as well. Not a big deal for me, as I just remove the 30s when I set up camp, and set the 20s in the tray. I use the 20s first, so I can have the 30s mounted in place for the trip home.So that is the only potential problem I see with your plan.

I've switched old tanks for new ones at exchange places a couple times. Years ago, when "they" changed from the rounded valve knob to the triangle valve knob style, my old tanks with the rounded knob could not be refilled. So I just exchanged it at one of those places for a new one with the triangle valve knob. End result, I had a tank I could now get refills on, and didn't have to exchange. I cleaned up all dirt and gunk on the new tank and it was still on the ol' pop-up when we sold it. Did the same thing for an old tank on a BBQ grill. No one was the wiser, and I didn't have to buy new tanks. Besides.... if you don't exchange the tank and you buy a new one, how are you going to dispose of the old one that's defective? You'll need to find a recycling place for hazardous materials, which most cities have. But still, that's going to take extra effort and time away from CAMPING!

If you are going to replace with new, I suggest getting one with a built in float gauge. The gauge makes it simple to get an idea of how much is left in the tank. I really like the 2 I’ve got.

exchanging propane cylinder that came with TT | Good Sam Community

GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2019
If you are going to replace with new, I suggest getting one with a built in float gauge. The gauge makes it simple to get an idea of how much is left in the tank. I really like the 2 I’ve got.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Dec 05, 2019
I've switched old tanks for new ones at exchange places a couple times.

Years ago, when "they" changed from the rounded valve knob to the triangle valve knob style, my old tanks with the rounded knob could not be refilled. So I just exchanged it at one of those places for a new one with the triangle valve knob. End result, I had a tank I could now get refills on, and didn't have to exchange. I cleaned up all dirt and gunk on the new tank and it was still on the ol' pop-up when we sold it.

Did the same thing for an old tank on a BBQ grill. No one was the wiser, and I didn't have to buy new tanks.

Besides.... if you don't exchange the tank and you buy a new one, how are you going to dispose of the old one that's defective? You'll need to find a recycling place for hazardous materials, which most cities have. But still, that's going to take extra effort and time away from CAMPING!
Huntindog
Explorer
Dec 05, 2019
When I last had a tank go bad, the replacement had a different height collar on it. So I needed to buy two in order for them to mount on the tougue tightened down properly.

This was with 30s but, I have 6 extra 20s that I bring along for extended cold weather trips, and the collars on them vary as well. Not a big deal for me, as I just remove the 30s when I set up camp, and set the 20s in the tray. I use the 20s first, so I can have the 30s mounted in place for the trip home.

So that is the only potential problem I see with your plan.
schlep1967
Nomad
Dec 05, 2019
Exchange it and move on. The other option is to buy a new tank. That will cost you more than than exchanging and getting a 2/3 full tank.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2019
Exchange and move on. The one gotcha is that those exchange tanks are usually old, and some places won't refill them due to age. Most places will fill without a second glance, but a few won't.

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exchanging propane cylinder that came with TT

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