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Both Tanks Open Or Only One At A Time?

WoodGlue
Explorer
Explorer
Propane. Who here leaves open both tanks and let's the switch over do it's job and who only uses one tank at a time, and waits until it runs out to switch over?

I always leave both tanks open and let it do its thing.

WoodGlue
2002 Land Rover Discovery II
2014 Lance 1685 - Loaded - 4 Seasons - Solar - 2 AGM's
When Hell Freezes Over - I'll Camp There Too!
Lance Travel Trailer Info - Lance 1685 Travel Trailer - Lance 1575 Trailer

32 REPLIES 32

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
rockhillmanor wrote:
Maybe you'all don't get why most of us leave just one tank on. Until they put a indicator lever INSIDE the RV it is more prudent to leave one tank on so that you 'know' when it is switching over to the other and can plan for when you will need to get the tanks refilled.

But you guys keep going out every hour and checking that lever and on that cold day you forget to check and run out of both tanks, have not heat and can't get them refilled, get back to us! :B


I find once a day is plenty. Even in subfreezing temps with the furnace running 75% on duty cycle. Every hour is ridiculous. Twice a day would be belt and suspenders.

JJBIRISH
Explorer
Explorer
Only those that donโ€™t pay attention should run out, and if you do a lot of really cold weather camping, it is just smart to be prepared and have a spare bottle in addition to the already available for emergency use grill tankโ€ฆ

Starting out with two full thirty pound tanks you would have enough propane (approximately one million three hundred 18 thousand BTUโ€™s of heating power) more than enough to do a normal full weekend without running out even in cold weatherโ€ฆ almost enough for the full weekend in very cold temperatures with a almost continual running furnaceโ€ฆ
No matter how you look at it, if you far from a filling station or there for longer weekends under these extreme conditions it shouldnโ€™t be a choice to carry some extra propaneโ€ฆ

Someone claimed these changeovers donโ€™t work well but I would guess since most campers go to their grave using the original one, that they canโ€™t be too bad or to unreliableโ€ฆ

If itโ€™s too hard to check yourself, you can install a remote indicator inside the trailerโ€ฆ
http://www.rveparts.com/rv-lp-propane-remote-changeover-indicator-rci-24/

Product Description
The Remote Changeover Indicator allows you to monitor the gas supply from a 254 regulator to LP gas appliances. The sensor clip easily snaps onto the indicator window of the Marshal Gas 254 automatic changeover two-stage LP regulator. The sensor recognizes when the 254 regulator is drawing from the reserve cylinder and signals the light box installed in the RV. The blinking yellow light shows when the service cylinder is empty and needs refilling.

If I heard someone at 3 AM lifting the bottle cover, I might think there is a thief in the areaโ€ฆ
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet

pasusan
Explorer
Explorer
smkettner wrote:
Both open for me. I like automatic stuff and using it as designed. Have never run out of propane because it tells when a bottle is empty.
I agree.... How simple is that?


Susan & Ben [2004 Roadtrek 170]
href="https://sites.google.com/view/pasusan-trips/home" target="_blank">Trip Pics

K3WE
Explorer
Explorer
As usual, there is an interesting middle ground in a thread full of opposing posts that say either "Yeah, I open my tanks one at at time too" versus somewhat condescending posts that ask "why in the hell do you not use the automatic switch over to automatically switch over"

I also have a leak in my LP plumbing and understand why someone might want to open one tank at a time- but then why not- when both tanks are totally full, keep the one you're not using turned off.

then when the feeding tank starts to get low turn on the "backup tank" and then the auto switch can do it's thing, as intended.

And an important note- you would have to be familiar with your LP consumption, and track it a litle- or you could have an unpleasant, cold wake up...not the end of the world but...

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Explorer III
Our toyhauler came with 3 tanks, one is a spare, so we leave both tanks on and if we run out, we can put on the spare. It happened once when I forgot that I had switched the handle thinking I would replace the empty tank, and didn't. Oops.
Howard and Peggy

"Don't Panic"

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
exeter_acres wrote:
Atlee wrote:
What is unsafe about having both cylinders open at the same time?

RamTX wrote:
Just for safety purposes, I use one tank at a time, i.e. keep the cylinder valve closed on the tank not in use.


my question as well


I will third that question and add that i leave my propane tanks open 24/7/365.
I believe that this system should be as tight as a house gas system, so should be able to be charged all the time. We also try to get out at least once a month year round. If it is going to leak what better way to find out? I have a battery disconnect so no ignition source while store. I open door smell then activate the disconnect.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

jamnw
Explorer
Explorer
I used to leave both open. Had a leak and ran out two full tanks, and the power went off in the middle of the summer and we had stuff in the refer.
It took several months to get the smell out of the refer. Charcoal, vinegar, baking soda.

The clear plastic indicator is what leaked. Trailer was under warranty, had the valve assembly replaced, and the second one did the exact same thing. The third one has lasted several years now.

I smoked at the time, lucky I hadn't been lighting a cigarette near the front of the camper, plus cost me three tanks of propane, food and a nasty refer.

I store my camper at my home, and I keep a closer eye on those things now. You know that HIND SIGHT thing.

To each their own, I keep one closed for safety and to ensure I always have a full tank.
MARRIED WITH 2 BOYS: AGES 11 AND 13 years!
2000 F250 PSD/CREW CAB (301000 original miles)
2014 Keystone Springdale 320FWFBH
USN Veteran, Aegis FC

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
camperpaul wrote:
Dave H M wrote:
I really do not get the auto run out of propane deal.

When one tank gets empty the indicator shows red and it automatically switches over.

Soooooooooo, if the indicator is red the lever is pointing to an empty tank.

:S

I seem to think that a lot of folks do not know how to make good use of the auto change over. :h


X 2


Maybe you'all don't get why most of us leave just one tank on. Until they put a indicator lever INSIDE the RV it is more prudent to leave one tank on so that you 'know' when it is switching over to the other and can plan for when you will need to get the tanks refilled.

But you guys keep going out every hour and checking that lever and on that cold day you forget to check and run out of both tanks, have not heat and can't get them refilled, get back to us! :B

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

noe-place
Explorer
Explorer
WoodGlue wrote:
Propane. Who here leaves open both tanks and let's the switch over do it's job and who only uses one tank at a time, and waits until it runs out to switch over?

I always leave both tanks open and let it do its thing.

WoodGlue


I only have one so I don't care.:B

notruffinit
Explorer
Explorer
I leave both tanks open and let the changeover valve work as it is designed. I do check the tanks regularly because it is on my "pre-flight" checklist. I also have a 20 lb tank in the truck because I have portable gas appliances (grill and stove) that I use it for. If I DO run my 2 30lb tanks empty, I have a mostly full 20 in reserve. Just the way I do it.
'11 Ram 3500 Cummins
'12 Cameo 34SB3

dahkota
Explorer
Explorer
We winter camp a lot so we only open one at a time. We have an auto change over but, from experience, the gauge doesn't work too well. I'd rather walk out in the cold to switch it over than freeze until 6AM and then try to find an open propane dealer.
2015 Jeep Willys Wrangler
2014 Fleetwood Bounder 33C
States camped: all but Hawaii
more than 1700 days on the road

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Both open for me. I like automatic stuff and using it as designed. Have never run out of propane because it tells when a bottle is empty.

mlts22
Explorer
Explorer
I exchange my propane tanks weekly when boondocking if the amount is 1/2 or below (keep two on the TT, have two in my truck's bed and switch them out), so I leave both open. On a very cold weekend where the weather was in the teens, I've gone through two bottles before.

camperpaul
Explorer
Explorer
Dave H M wrote:
I really do not get the auto run out of propane deal.

When one tank gets empty the indicator shows red and it automatically switches over.

Soooooooooo, if the indicator is red the lever is pointing to an empty tank.

:S

I seem to think that a lot of folks do not know how to make good use of the auto change over. :h


X 2
Paul
Extra Class Ham Radio operator - K9ERG (since 1956)
Retired Electronics Engineer and Antenna Designer
Was a campground host at IBSP (2006-2010) - now retired.
Single - Full-timer
2005 Four Winds 29Q
2011 2500HD 6.0L GMC Denali (Gasser)