TC back to back propane tank question

Bought a 4 foot propane pig tale for the front tank , I can now set the front tank on the ground still connected while removing and filling the back tank . Thanks for the suggestions and ideas.
Mike

Devocamper wrote:

It was not they did not need to be removed on previous trailers it was that they were able to each be removed without disconnecting or moving the other tank because they were side by side and could run off the full tank while filling the empty. Never mentioned filling while the tanks are in the camper , the reason for the extra use of the propane is because we are off the truck at the beach for three weeks 3 times a year, I think a longer pig tale on the front tank would allow it to be set on the ground while off the truck while refilling the back tank and keep things running I have seen 4 foot long pig tales. I don't have the height to add a tray which would be the best solution in fact it is pretty tight getting a full tank in the compartment in the front position . Thanks for the ideas and help
Mike

Ohh .. got it, a little dense- removing rear tank while front in use, and not disrupting flow.

Longer hose to allow setting front tank on ground to retrieve rear tank would work- if you have room for the extra hose-I dont. Probably take an 8' hose on ours. Seems might be difficult getting tank back in with that much hose attached. For the few minuets it would take, shutting down to swap tanks, retrieving rear empty I dont see issue. system will re pressurize pretty quick.

But, as convenience if the auto switch-over is pointing at front tank- it will be the one that empties first, (I also keep rear tank closed until needed). Then switch changover to rear tank, removing front to refill.

That would give you 3 tanks without removing rear-with one refill.
Or indefinitely as other have mentioned, without removing rear tank, if you keep switching to front.

Cool...

I go through propane quickly in the winter when boon docking. We are drawing on it for heat and generator. If your fridge does not have a DC mode, turn it off before shutting down your propane. If you let it run without the bottles, the lines will be purged of LPG and take a long time to fill back up (causing relight problems). The amount of time the fridge is turned off during refueling will not cause temperature problems if you keep it closed.

I carry two 30 lb and two 20 lb bottles in my trailer and either size will fit in the Arctic Fox and Host. The AF required lifting higher to access the tanks, but the Host requires removing both tanks to get to the second one. If you want to make tank swaps easier, you can run the shorter tanks knowing you only have 2/3rds the supply. A slide tray for the bottles would be ideal in the Host, but it would require a deeper storage area and a bigger access door if you want to continue using the taller 30 lb bottles.

AnEv942 wrote:
Not sure I'm following. Sounds like though previous 'trailers' tank didnt need to be removed? I also read, sort of, refilling without removing or some other means of filling back tank. Even IF they would refill in TC cabinet, I wouldn't let them. I cant imagine doing that-if for no other reason camper would stink for a week from the bleed off when filling.

Ours are front to back also. I don't use the auto switch-over valve in auto position, I manually switch. I 'use' the outside tank. If it runs out or know it is low & needs refilling, switch to back tank, remove front tank to get filled. However when putting back I pull out the rear tank, whether or not it was connected & opened to use and place fresh tank in back, closed. Switch valve to front tank.

In theory back tank should always be full. In theory shouldn't need to remove back tank on the road. Its a real pain when camper on truck. Deviation from my SOP has only left me with no propane 3 times, (inconvenient to swap tanks or forgot to switch valve...)

Yes filling/changing tanks takes some time, can be a pain- but is what it is.

It was not they did not need to be removed on previous trailers it was that they were able to each be removed without disconnecting or moving the other tank because they were side by side and could run off the full tank while filling the empty. Never mentioned filling while the tanks are in the camper , the reason for the extra use of the propane is because we are off the truck at the beach for three weeks 3 times a year, I think a longer pig tale on the front tank would allow it to be set on the ground while off the truck while refilling the back tank and keep things running I have seen 4 foot long pig tales. I don't have the height to add a tray which would be the best solution in fact it is pretty tight getting a full tank in the compartment in the front position . Thanks for the ideas and help
Mike

narcodog wrote:
When I have to refill both tanks I just pull them and then replace when filled. I have never turned anything off nor used the 12v. The fridge relights on its own.

yup and the fridge isn't going to warm up in the time it takes to get the tanks refilled unless you leave the fridge door wide open.

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
I've never seen any propane fill place fill an OPD tank in place. Reason being is, when they fill the tank to it's full condition a tiny bit of liquid escapes the OPD port.

Why horizontal tanks on MH's mount where the air can reach the tank, not in a confined area.

The OP wasn't asking about filling in place from a propane fill place but from the outside cylinder to the inside one.

Really I would have never guessed that...lol

My comment was in response to this:

Some propane filling stations require removing the tank. Some don't. Not sure why, but that's an observation. You could just refill the front when it is low and switch to the back. If you keep refilling the front, the back should last a long time. I usually keep the back tank shutoff, but I don't go through that much propane either.

Try the quote button next time. Yours wasn't even directly below the one you were responding to. Lol

Not sure why anyone was discussing filling in place when the OP was asking how to fill between them.

If you read the ENTIRE thread you'd have gotten what my comment referred to....

Not sure I'm following. Sounds like though previous 'trailers' tank didnt need to be removed? I also read, sort of, refilling without removing or some other means of filling back tank. Even IF they would refill in TC cabinet, I wouldn't let them. I cant imagine doing that-if for no other reason camper would stink for a week from the bleed off when filling.

Ours are front to back also. I don't use the auto switch-over valve in auto position, I manually switch. I 'use' the outside tank. If it runs out or know it is low & needs refilling, switch to back tank, remove front tank to get filled. However when putting back I pull out the rear tank, whether or not it was connected & opened to use and place fresh tank in back, closed. Switch valve to front tank.

In theory back tank should always be full. In theory shouldn't need to remove back tank on the road. Its a real pain when camper on truck. Deviation from my SOP has only left me with no propane 3 times, (inconvenient to swap tanks or forgot to switch valve...)

Yes filling/changing tanks takes some time, can be a pain- but is what it is.

Is there room to add a slide out tray under the tanks? Maybe that plus long enough hoses would allow you to remove the inner tank, leaving the outer one connected. Otherwise only using the inner one when absolutely needed to minimize refilling it seems like the best option.

SidecarFlip wrote:

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
I've never seen any propane fill place fill an OPD tank in place. Reason being is, when they fill the tank to it's full condition a tiny bit of liquid escapes the OPD port.

Why horizontal tanks on MH's mount where the air can reach the tank, not in a confined area.

The OP wasn't asking about filling in place from a propane fill place but from the outside cylinder to the inside one.

Really I would have never guessed that...lol

My comment was in response to this:

Some propane filling stations require removing the tank. Some don't. Not sure why, but that's an observation. You could just refill the front when it is low and switch to the back. If you keep refilling the front, the back should last a long time. I usually keep the back tank shutoff, but I don't go through that much propane either.

Try the quote button next time. Yours wasn't even directly below the one you were responding to. Lol

Not sure why anyone was discussing filling in place when the OP was asking how to fill between them.