Propane Tank Door

[grizz272]

The propane tank on the drivers side of our fifth-wheel is empty. I went to pull it out to have it filled and it would not come out. I ended up having the bottle laying on it side and with 2 hands i was able to jerk it out of the door opening.
There is no way I can get it back in the opening like it is now. My thought is to use a floor jack to open the door about 1/4 inch. The weld on the bottle is what got stuck.
Before I start widening the opening, does any one have a better idea?

[drwwicks]

There were recent state and federal regulations dealing with filling propane cylinders and many places are shying away from anything not exactly following the book. That includes checking cylinder manufacturer date code. I think they shortened the 10 year time frames to 8 years before it needs to be re-certified.

[grizz272]

mtofell1 wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:
Not the ideal solution but I fill my tanks at the truck stop down the street. I could see being able to drive the trailer down there and having the tanks filled in place.

I'm pretty sure filling portable tanks while on the trailer is not allowed. Granted, the guys pumping propane often don't care but it's worth keeping in mind.

I saw this done at a couple of campgrounds over the years.

[grizz272]

I measured the dimensions of the tank opening today. The the door is 3/8 of an inch taller than the tank. How ever the platform the tank sets 0n is above the bottom of the door frame actual difference is less than an 1/8 of an inch. The width of the door frame is the same size as the tank minus the thickness of the weld.
I can get the tank in as long as I tilt it towards me about 12". The tank has to be perfectly straight to fit through the frame. However the welds hang up and you have to push the welds past the door frame.
The easiest solution would be to file a slot to accommodate the welds in the door frame. I would need to get some matching paint after the slot s filed though.
The up side is no one will be stealing the tank by opening the door grabbing the tank and running.

[laknox]

mtofell1 wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:
Not the ideal solution but I fill my tanks at the truck stop down the street. I could see being able to drive the trailer down there and having the tanks filled in place.

I'm pretty sure filling portable tanks while on the trailer is not allowed. Granted, the guys pumping propane often don't care but it's worth keeping in mind.

I've done it many times... (shrug)

Lyle

[mtofell1]

Super_Dave wrote:
Not the ideal solution but I fill my tanks at the truck stop down the street. I could see being able to drive the trailer down there and having the tanks filled in place.

I'm pretty sure filling portable tanks while on the trailer is not allowed. Granted, the guys pumping propane often don't care but it's worth keeping in mind.

[grizz272]

I took A close look at the door area. Jacking would do no good. the door frame is right up to the trailer walls. There is no place for the door frame to go. I am going to measure the bottle and the door and see if there is any extra room. I will try the cut out moving that around. Otherwise it will have to go to the dealer. to get fixed.

[Lwiddis]

“Of course this would be after I talked to the dealer about them fixing the issue first.”

Dealer can get to it in September or early October...probably. I’d grind it as fj12 suggested.

[fj12ryder]

I wouldn't do any bending of the framework, that could lead to issues with the non-bending parts. If it's only off about a 1/4", then I would grind 1/8" off each side flange in a small area to allow the weld to clear.

Of course this would be after I talked to the dealer about them fixing the issue first.

[Super_Dave]

Not the ideal solution but I fill my tanks at the truck stop down the street. I could see being able to drive the trailer down there and having the tanks filled in place.

[mtofell1]

Similar on my 2016 Keystone. I finally learned how to rotate the bottle to the cutout section of the top handle area and it will just tip and slide out. Not sure if yours is the same but I was pretty much convinced the trailer had been built around the bottle until I got it just right.

[stickdog]

This is the 2018 trailer in your profile? Take it back to the dealer.