cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Propane Bottles

dadof6
Explorer
Explorer
We completed our 6th voyage this past weekend with our TT purchased this past spring. Our left tank ran out Sat morning. No problem since I have 2 tanks but I was thinking 6 trips was fast for a bottle to run out. Our normal practice is to turn gas/fridge on a few hours before departing so fridge can cool. We run fridge off gas the entire trip. 4 trips have been Fri-Sun, 1 was Fri-Mon and the longest was in Gatlinburg - 5 days total.

Any y'all think this is fast for a bottle to empty also? Does it matter where we get the bottles replaced?
14 REPLIES 14

dadof6
Explorer
Explorer
Many thanks. I'll get it filled. It'll be interesting to see if it lasts longer. If so, I'll know it wasn't full when purchased. We only have 3 more trips scheduled this season but will probably add another 3 or 4 since we're hooked. (We should've tossed the tents years ago.)

DutchmenSport, yes, I still live in Greenwood.

thomasmnile
Explorer
Explorer
beachlovingmom wrote:
Dumb question-- How does one know if we have the automatic switchover? What does it look like?

Also we were told the propane tanks cannot be refilled after ?10 years? Person made it sound like this was a law? Our trailer is a 2005 so this will be applying to us. If this is true, can the larger tanks still be purchased?

Thanks!


Link to DOT propane cylinder requalification HERE

Likely can be done by any bulk propane dealer, like Suburban, Amerigas, etc. Yes it is a Federal DOT regulation.

vic46
Explorer
Explorer
beachlovingmom wrote:
Dumb question-- How does one know if we have the automatic switchover? What does it look like?

Also we were told the propane tanks cannot be refilled after ?10 years? Person made it sound like this was a law? Our trailer is a 2005 so this will be applying to us. If this is true, can the larger tanks still be purchased?

Thanks!


Welcome to the forum. A little etiquette!

Rather than hi-jacking a thread, start your own. Your query is not related to the OP's thread. A thread is specific to the OP's query.

Thanks;
Vic
[COLOR=]Never argue with an idiot. You will be dragged down to their level and then beaten with experience.

beachlovingmom
Explorer
Explorer
Dumb question-- How does one know if we have the automatic switchover? What does it look like?

Also we were told the propane tanks cannot be refilled after ?10 years? Person made it sound like this was a law? Our trailer is a 2005 so this will be applying to us. If this is true, can the larger tanks still be purchased?

Thanks!

JJBIRISH
Explorer
Explorer
If you know how much your fridge uses you can figure out how low a tank will last…

Total heating values after vaporization:
(a) Btu per cubic foot 2,488
(b) Btu per pound 21,548
(c) Btu per gallon 91,502
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet

hddecker
Explorer
Explorer
We did a 55 day trip last year and refilled one tank while on the road and the second one when we got home.

Fridge run on propane most of the trip, cook top used 2 times a day for meals, oven half a dozen times and hot water exclusively on propane.

I am surprised at the number of people that say they don't use their automatic switchover. I wouldn't go back to the old days without it. It works exactly like it should, turn on both tanks, the switch is set to the tank to be used, when that one is empty it automatically switches to the second tank and the indicator turns from green to red.

I made it simple to check the indicator by cutting a 2 1/2 inch hole in the cover at the indicator level and glued a piece of clear Lexan on the inside of the cover. Takes 2 seconds as I'm walking by to check the tank status.

BigSkyFamily
Explorer
Explorer
That seems fast to me. Our trailer has two 30lb tanks. We have 5 trips on the same bottle so far. Three 3 day weekens, and two 4 day weekends. We use fridge, hot water, and heater for the first couple of trips.

stickdog
Explorer
Explorer
We're fulltime and use the stove daily and oven at least once a week, pizza, only run the fridge on gas while on the road if we don't use heat we use two 30# once a year.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
FULLTIME SINCE 2010
17 DRV MS 36rssb3
17 F350 King Ranch CC DRW 4x4 6.7 4:10 B&W hitch
John
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu

wcjeep
Explorer
Explorer
Was your tanks evacuated first before filling? Are you site they were full? Hot water and propane gen will greatly increase use.

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
I went back and checked some of your old posts. You purchased your camper in April and have a few trips under your belt now. I also checked Keystone's web site, your Passport should have come equipped with a 30 pound tankT.

First, you will not be able to exchange the 30 pound tanks at convenience stores, hardware stores, and grocery stores like you can a 20 pound tank (like on your barbeque grill). They just don't exchange 30 pounders.

You live in Greenwood. Camping world will be able to refill your tank, as can any RV dealership that sells and services RV. I get my propane from Modern Trailer in Anderson, simply because they are only about 5 miles from my house and their price is as good as anywhere. I also pass an ACE hardware on my way to work every day, and they also fill tanks. Shop around, or do a search in on the internet for "propane refill Greenwood, IN" and you'll find something.

(I'm assuming you still live in Greenwood.)

About your usage, 30 pound tank. If you are running your refrigerator on Propane, and using your gas stove and oven, then your usage is pretty typical. I usually go through 4 tanks a Spring, Summer, and Fall cycle. Usage is much more if we run the furnace or do more driveway camps in the Fall.

If you use heat, don't be surprised if you go through a tank a week or even less.

I also only turn on one tank at a time, even though I have the auto switch over. I much more prefer switching tanks myself, than having both run out at the same time on a cold Fall night!

Once again, your usage sounds pretty typical. Tip: If your actually not using the camper (parked at home), turn your tanks completely off. Sometimes, (I don't know how), but sometimes, they do leak over time. I have on a couple occasions left my tanks on in the winter and come spring, it was empty. It went somewhere.... but who knows where?

Good luck. FYI, just pull the tank and take in in your truck or car. You don't need to take the entire trailer from a refill.

Lantley
Nomad
Nomad
Do you know if tank was totally full to start with? 6 weekend trips with fridge only use does seem fast.
Have that tank refilled, not exchanged. Then you will know you are starting with a totally full tank
19'Duramax w/hips, 2022 Alliance Paradigm 390MP >BD3,r,22" Blackstone
r,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,Prog.50A surge ,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan, Sailun S637

dadof6
Explorer
Explorer
Good input. I hadn't thought about hot water heater, stove and oven although oven isn't used much thus far. We have also used outside kitchen twice.

The dealership said they were filled but being a rookie I didn't think to ask if they were full.

I'll check around to see who fills bottles around this area.

Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Explorer II
Seems like normal use as I imagined the stove and water heater were used as well. We get our propane tanks filled as opposed to exchanging tanks that are not completely filled to begin with.

ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Explorer
Don't need to replace the cylinder, just get it refilled. Propane exchanges usually give you 16lbs of liquid propane, where a propane company will give you 20lbs.

Also,what else are you running on propane? Hot water? Oven? Furnace? Stove? Grill? And, did your dealer actually fill them? Or did they just give you a partial tank and said they did?
Great American Anti-Towing Conspiracy
2015 Ram Truck 1500 Ecodiesel Tuned By Green Diesel
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD Tuned By Green Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
2015 Rockwood Roo 183
Stop on by and read my Camping Blogs
Nights Camped in 2015 - 19 and Winterized