Propane

[RE-TE]

Why is it the Propane companies cannot/will not fill the propane tank on motor homes while parked in a campground? Must go to propane companies place of business.
Small tanks I understand as they must be weighed.

[mowermech]

TubaPete wrote:
Off topic, but small tanks (40 pounds or less) are not weighed anymore. Or at least they don't have to be.

Apparently, it depends on where one lives. Some people insist it is the only legal way to dispense propane to small cylinders.
Every time I have bought Propane for years it has been by the metered gallon, no scale used.
The company that I rent my 80 gallon tank from filled the motorhome tank once while delivering to the big tank. The next time, different driver, and he said he could no longer do that do to current company policy.
If I ever buy my own tank, I'm thinking it might pay to get a liquid withdrawal system installed so I can fill my own small bottles.

[TubaPete]

Off topic, but small tanks (40 pounds or less) are not weighed anymore. Or at least they don't have to be.

[Dutch_12078]

The propane company that fills the tanks at our cottage also does our coach tank at the same time if we ask. I've also been to a number of campgrounds where you notify the office that you need a propane fill, and the truck from whichever company they deal with comes around once a week or so and fills everyone up that requested it.

[SRT]

The propane company that fills our S&B tank has topped off our motor home tank with no problems.

[klm]

It is hit or miss with propane delivery. I am currently in Maine, called 3 propane companies - first 2 don't deliver to cg's - third one does - with no delivery charge!! wow. The cg has a propane fill, but as you know, with a motorhome, that means moving to their fill location - a lot of work. The cg does not allow their propane company fill guests tanks, that profit thing 🙂

When I am in the north for part of the winter, I use an aux 100 lb tank (rent from cg) supplemented with my own aux 30 lb tank hooked up with an "extend a stay" - very convenient. You might want to look into that, then you can just take your aux tank, 20-30 lbs to the fill station.

[eubank]

I think it has to do with the profitability of doing so. Filler trucks regularly do 250, 500, and 1000 gallon tanks. Those pumps run very fast, so they're able to pump a lot of propane in a very short time. By selling a lot, the companies involved are able to make up for the expense of buying/maintaining the fairly specialized delivery vehicle and paying the salary of the filler/driver, who, in many states, must have a special license to handle propane in this way.

Now take the same vehicle and same driver, and have the person go out and fill, say, 30 or 40 gallons per stop. It's going to take a whole lot of stops to create the income necessary to maintain the business.

🙂
Lynn

[naturist]

You can't paint ALL propane companies with the same brush, my friend. I can think of a number of reasons why a particular propane company might have that policy in general, as well as a number of reasons for eschewing a particular campground at a specific time. I've no idea why you suffered this problem, this time, however.

[Snomas]

Depends on where you stay. I have had mine filled in campgrounds in Calif, Texas & Colorado!

[wildtoad]

Could be a liability issue. If something should happen it's one thing to take out one rv another to take out several. Related, I was at a KOA getting some propane and the attendant said everyone must be out of the RV while filling. The folks that fill my propane tank at my house will fill my RV which is parked in my driveway.

[midnightsadie]

loose all profit in transporting.