Carrying extra Propane

[brholt]

I have been carry 1 lb bottles of propane in the outside storage compartments of the camper. However, they are really "inside compartments" that you access from outside so you are really carrying them in the camper.

For our grill and propane campfire I recently picked up an 11 lb refillable propane tank. The question is where to keep it. There isn't a lot of room in the camper and as noted the outside compartments are really inside compartments. I could carry it in the truck but that doesn't sound the safest either.

So what do others do?

[Redsky]

The important thing is to have the storage space with a bottom hole or vent so it there is a propane leak with a tank it escapes to the outside. Propane is heavier than air so it needs to go down and not up as with a natural gas leak.

[dbertheau]

I built a 30" X 80" platform and mounted a cylinder bracket that holds two cylinders. In addition to propane, we carry the spare tire, lawn chairs, cooler, etc., on the platform.

[Bedlam]

We carry an additional 100 lbs of LPG in our trailer. If we are gone for a week where we need run the air conditioner off the grid is when we use the most. We also have an external heater, fire pit and stove that can burn through the LPG.

[Geewizard]

Super_Dave wrote:
I carry an extra 20 lbs tank in a milk crate stored on the floor of the bathroom until we get to the campground.

Ditto.

[jimh406]

I usually have 2-3, 1 lb nonrefillable bottles in an outside compartment that does not have venting. I can't say I've worried about them too much. I disconnect the tank after using the tabletop grill. In stores, it is typical to have stacks/pallets full of 1 lb bottles in the middle of the store while the refillable types are outside the store. I do have a LP detector in my TC.

My camper has two refillable bottles in an outside sliding compartment. I can't imagine ever using both tanks in one trip since two tanks typically lasts a season. The only exception would be if I was boondocking for a long period with no access to electricity to run my electric heater that has multiple settings.

[ralphnjoann]

We bought a HF trailer and carry a propane tank, portable BQ grill, 2 chaise lounges, 2 folding bicycles, a fan to keep insects away, and some other small stuff. Two more wheels to worry about, license renewal fees, etc., but it's worth it given the very limited storage in our TC and the additional comfort gained when we're out and about.

[Stefonius]

abc40kids wrote:
Mine goes in the back of my truck strapped down so it won't move.

X2! I carry 2x20# cylinders cargo-strapped to the toolbox/tank of my truck when we tow the fiver. DW won't let me tap into the RV's onboard propane supply for our LP firepit, so I need the extra bottles. We also have several propane powered tiki torches, and the 1# cylinders for those reside in the front compartment, which is designed for a generator.

[Super_Dave]

I carry an extra 20 lbs tank in a milk crate stored on the floor of the bathroom until we get to the campground.

[Butch50]

abc40kids wrote:
Mine goes in the back of my truck strapped down so it won't move.

You might want to look at what thread you are in. This is the truck camper one and as such the back of the truck is already full with a camper in it.

To the OP: I would put it in the compartment and not worry about it I carry a little 5# on in my outside storage compartment but it is the compartment that is prepped for a generator.

[abc40kids]

Mine goes in the back of my truck strapped down so it won't move.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Where I live it is illegal to transport propane in an enclosed compartment, unless the compartment is properly vented.

I'd use a rack.

[ejfranz]

I carry my 10lb tank in the back outside compartment of our camper. We have had to issues with it moving around so don't worry about it.

[Francesca_Knowl]

brholt wrote:
I have been carry 1 lb bottles of propane in the outside storage compartments of the camper. However, they are really "inside compartments" that you access from outside so you are really carrying them in the camper.

For our grill and propane campfire I recently picked up an 11 lb refillable propane tank. The question is where to keep it. There isn't a lot of room in the camper and as noted the outside compartments are really inside compartments. I could carry it in the truck but that doesn't sound the safest either.

So what do others do?

An 11 lb. bottle is no more likely to leak/create a problem than the little one-pounders you're already carrying. It may actually be SAFER, in fact- those throwaways have no autoshutoff that stops propane flow if sudden loss of pressure/outgassing is detected.

The refillable cylinder you just bought does have such a feature. Stick it in a side compartment and don't worry about it.

[mlts22]

There are a few ways to handle this issue, as propane is a limiter for me when boondocking, especially in the summer time and I'm running the onboard genset to handle the heat. Here are a few ideas I'm looking at:

1: A hitch mounted cargo rack. Some campers have the ability to have a tow hitch mounted that can handle a couple hundred pounds. From there, hit etrailer, get a propane rack that would bolt onto the cargo rack. Then, drop your bottle on, screw it down, and call it done. Another trick is to get a cargo rack like this which, if the propane bottle is short enough, will ensure it goes nowhere, but is well vented.

2: A mounting for the front of the vehicle. I've seen cargo racks on the front of pickups before... but don't put too much there, as it might affect radiator performance. One can then use a cargo rack there.

3: If neither works and one is a good carpenter (I personally don't have the good skills, nor would I want to drill holes in the side), one could affix a rack to the rear of the TC. I have never tried this, but just throwing it out there.

4: There is always a trailer option and stashing propane on a rack on the trailer's tongue.

5: As a last resort, store it in the truck or truck camper, well ventilated. When I see a propane seller sending bottles to fill up the cages, they don't use anything fancy for a cargo truck... just an enclosed semi trailer with no ventilation whatsoever. So far, I've not read about any of those exploding.

I may be far off base with these, but it is a place to start.