We are out for the first time with the new TC and had to fill one of the propane tanks and found it to be a bit of a PITA on the mammoth with the tanks back to back rather than side to side which is how all our other trailers were where you never had to shut off both tanks to fill one . I was on the outer tank this time so it wasn't that bad but thinking ahead to having to fill the inside or back tank looks like I will need to remove both tanks and shut the propane off and shut off the fridge in order to fill that back tank , I thought about filling it from the front tank and just keep filling the front one but not sure about the adapters and hoses needed and if that would even work and would still require shutting down the propane , we often stay as we are now at the beach for three weeks off the truck so we do use some propane even more if I need the generator ,what do other do about filling that back tank any ideas are welcome Thanks Mike

Propane fill stations require CYLINDER removal for refilling and the switch-over valves don't hold unused side sealed, so I always had to turn propane off for any tank refilling. My tanks are side to side, but still pita to remove, but to avoid hassle of shutting everything off and then bleeding the air, I removed 1 hose from the switch over and have only 1 hooked up, allowing me taking the other for refilling at convenient time. Also I had to replace hose between switch over valve and camper, so made new one 6' long, just in case I would have to use standard cylinders standing on the ground.

Put the fridge on DC and pull the tanks out.

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.

While I don't go through the amount of propane you do, the convenience of 2 larger tanks buys you more time out camping. It's a trade off that I value more than multiple trips to fill-up empty smaller bottles. Maybe buy a third tank (new light weight composition)? and store it in the basement? I just bought one for our forklift at work and was surprised at the difference.

You can't effectively fill one tank from another. At best you can hope for maybe 1/3 full if that, and then only if you warm the full tank and chill the empty, and hang the full tank upside down over the empty one so liquid will pass, and then I'm not even sure that'll work anymore with the OPD valves.If you run down the inside tank, I'm afraid removing both will be a necessary evil unless there is alternate access to that inside tank that you don't know about yet.

TC back to back propane tank question | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

narcodog
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2017
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.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2017
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.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2017
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.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2017
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.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jul 11, 2017
You can't effectively fill one tank from another. At best you can hope for maybe 1/3 full if that, and then only if you warm the full tank and chill the empty, and hang the full tank upside down over the empty one so liquid will pass, and then I'm not even sure that'll work anymore with the OPD valves.

If you run down the inside tank, I'm afraid removing both will be a necessary evil unless there is alternate access to that inside tank that you don't know about yet.
mike_kellie
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2017
While I don't go through the amount of propane you do, the convenience of 2 larger tanks buys you more time out camping. It's a trade off that I value more than multiple trips to fill-up empty smaller bottles.
Maybe buy a third tank (new light weight composition)? and store it in the basement? I just bought one for our forklift at work and was surprised at the difference.
jimh406
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2017
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.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 11, 2017
Put the fridge on DC and pull the tanks out.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2017
Propane fill stations require CYLINDER removal for refilling and the switch-over valves don't hold unused side sealed, so I always had to turn propane off for any tank refilling.
My tanks are side to side, but still pita to remove, but to avoid hassle of shutting everything off and then bleeding the air, I removed 1 hose from the switch over and have only 1 hooked up, allowing me taking the other for refilling at convenient time.
Also I had to replace hose between switch over valve and camper, so made new one 6' long, just in case I would have to use standard cylinders standing on the ground.

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TC back to back propane tank question

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