Forum Discussion

bryanc's avatar
bryanc
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013

Not getting propane in RV -- bad regulator?

So I have a 22 foot KZ MXT22 Toy hauler. Pretty standard type of travel trailer, and it has 2 20# propane tanks on the front. again, fairly standard setup, the tanks both have pigtails that go into a single 2-stage regulator. I've only had the RV for a couple of months, so I am still getting used to where everything is.

Took it tailgating at PSU this weekend and we didn't have any propane at all in the trailer. None for the fridge pilot, none coming out of the cook top, and nothing coming out of the quick disconnect that is on the back side of the trailer, where you can hook up a grill.

I searched the entire line, no leaks, didn't smell anything at all while I was looking around. No kinks in the line either.

I'm thinking -- can it be the regulator? Do these go bad and, if they do, is it common that they will just not allow any propane at all?

I've already ordered a new one - $30 Camco job from Amazon with the lever so you can switch the tank. But I am curious if anyone has had this happen.

Bryan
  • PenMan's avatar
    PenMan
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    The lever on an auto switch regulator has nothing to do with with tank is in service....it is just a means of 'indicating' which tank is in service and allows the red/green indicator to function.
    You could never change lever position and still both tanks will be drawn from.
    When one tank is emptied the regulator switches over to the other tank.


    That's assuming it is an auto-switchover regulator. I have had regulators that did not switch over automatically. In that case, you move the lever to change tanks. I know a lot of people like this because it lets you definitely know when a tank is empty. Personally, I prefer auto switchover and just check to see if indicator is red or green on a regular basis.
  • Bob_Landry's avatar
    Bob_Landry
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    It's not uncommon for a regulator to go bad. The only symptom I had was that it leaked out a whole tank of gas because I forgot to shut off the tank.

    The odds of both tanks OPD valves and the pigtails feeding the regulator from the tank all going out at the same time is pretty small. I would suspect a bad regulator, and make sure you have gas in one of the tanks.

    After all of this is done, buy a spare regulator for your parts box. They're cheap.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    I've had several regulators fail. Always at the worst possible time. The last on was when turkey hunting on the Kaibab this spring. Had to make a 300 mile round trip to get a new one.. I now carry a spare.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 19, 2013
    The lever on an auto switch regulator has nothing to do with with tank is in service....it is just a means of 'indicating' which tank is in service and allows the red/green indicator to function.
    You could never change lever position and still both tanks will be drawn from.
    When one tank is emptied the regulator switches over to the other tank.

    IF both tanks have propane, both tanks valved in and you have no propane flow then problem could be with regulator, could be with the pigtail lines from tank to regulator (they have a small ball that stops flow when excessive flow happens---can get stuck sometimes).

    As suggested..try valving tanks out then slowly open valve fully.
    If you do not get flow (check by lighting stove top burners) then have it checked at a bulk propane shop........or throw parts at it (regulator, pigtails)
  • calamus's avatar
    calamus
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    any propane place should be able to test it for you or you have a leak in your system and opened the bottles to fast they have a leak detector in them. And also make sure you have propane in the bottles they run out fast if there is a leak or you run your furnace.
  • campigloo's avatar
    campigloo
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    When I first bought my trailer in 2011 both hoses coming directly off the tanks were bad. Replaced those and haven't had any problems since.
  • PenMan's avatar
    PenMan
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    The only problem I have had with my new TT was a bad regulator which Open Range quickly replaced. It would draw from one tank but not the second tank, even if I manually switched over to the second tank. Have you tried switching to the second tank? If it draws from one and not the other, it could be the regulator or it could be the pigtail from the tank to the regulator. Hope this helps. I carry a spare regulator like TucsonJim stated he does.
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Nov 19, 2013
    Yes, regulators go bad. I've replaced three of them in the last eight years. The symptoms of a bad regulator can be either very low fuel flow or none at all. I carry a spare regulator in my parts box now.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Nov 19, 2013
    Has the propane worked just fine, in the last two months of ownership? You didn't mention the obvious, that there is propane in the tanks.

    Did you have the tanks shut off, and then open them too fast? You could try closing the valves, and then reopen them very slowly.

    It could be the regulator, but not likely, if no problems in the past.

    Jerry

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