Propane supply valve is stuck

Propane dealer as it is likely you will need a new valve tank purge and refil. BTW it is OK to leave it open when traveling to supply gas to the refer. It is also OK to run the refer on gas when traveling

If it's the shutoff valve on the tank, I'd probably go to a place that does propane stuff.

You can probably take it directly to the propane guy in Weatherford and have them look at it in five minutes. That is what I would do. Waiting on an RV dealer could take much longer, and this beautiful first day of fall in Oklahoma is not to be missed. Happy camping.

Paul

Really not tryin' to be a smarty pants here, but since you say this was your very first trip with the rig:

Is it at all possible that you (and the ranger) were turning the handle the wrong way? I well remember the first time I ever used a propane tank and discovered that everything works backwards- lefty is NOT loosey when it comes to propane valves...counterclockwise is usually "on", and clockwise is "off".

What FK said, and I should point out that it's good practice to "backseat" these valves. Clockwise till snug to shut off, but Counterclockwise till snug when turning the LPG on. Reason I was given is the valve is less likely to leak that way.

E

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Really not tryin' to be a smarty pants here, but since you say this was your very first trip with the rig:

Is it at all possible that you (and the ranger) were turning the handle the wrong way? I well remember the first time I ever used a propane tank and discovered that everything works backwards- lefty is NOT loosey when it comes to propane valves...counterclockwise is usually "on", and clockwise is "off".

Counterclockwise is normal way to 'open' a valve. Clockwise is normal way to 'close' a valve.

Left-handed threads on 'gas' is the hose connection. Turn left to install and turn right to remove hose. (except for newer ACME pigtails)

OP......if you could not open propane supply valve on tank then have valve replaced at a propane bulk dealer. They will have to empty tank before valve can be removed/new one installed. Then purge tank due to being opened to atmosphere and then refilled with propane.
Have it done by folks that do propane for a living......not some wannabe mechanic

Thanks for everyone's advice, especially those who told us to go to a propane dealer rather than a rv shop. Our problem appears to be solved, and we're cringing a little thinking what could have happened. As per your advice, we took it to a propane dealer. At first he thought we would have to empty the tank, but he kept working on the valve and was able to close it. Here is what he told us probably happened. The RV dealer probably torqued the valve while opening it and never closed it. So we traveled home over 200 miles with the propane going full blast, never knowing the propane was on. We then stored it for a few days before taking it out last weekend. The park ranger thought the propane valve was closed when it was actually all the way open, so when he used his channel locks it made it open even more. Now the propane is off and everything works correctly. No Kaboom! However, I do feel like blowing up at the rv service dept. for their incompetence.

stargirl96 wrote:

The park ranger thought the propane valve was closed when it was actually all the way open, so when he used his channel locks it made it open even more. .

:h
Lemme get this straight- the propane was already on, but no one knew it. Is that right??? Didn't you try to light something, or did you just assume the gas was off?

Like I said, we had just recently bought the unit from a rv dealer. We took the motorhome on a weekend campout close to home when we discovered the issue.