Propane Refill

[cjunken]

So this seems like a basic question, but I'll ask anyway because I've seen varying answers. Our new trailer has one 20# propane tank. It generally looks just like a tank at your local Menards you can do an exchange on. However, there does appear to be a raised ridge around the perimeter about half way up. I'm guessing this may help keep it in place. The question is since I've just got what appears to be a standard tank is the best option to simply do a propane swap like I would for my grill? I could see some of the others options come into play if I had a bigger tank or more tanks but for just one 20# that seems the most logical. Correct?

[mooky_stinks]

enblethen wrote:
Like to see them weigh my MH tank if sold by the pound!

They don't actually sell per pound. If it's a 20# tank they charge you for 20#s. 30#, they charge you for 30# and so on.

[aftermath]

Mr. Mooky,

Wow, that is a deal. Living on the west coast I have always paid by the gallon. I have two larger cylinders on my trailer and when near empty I pay close to $30 for a fill. Propane has been hanging just around $2.90 per gal lately. Reading this forum I learned that there are places where they sell by the pound. Weight the empty, fill it, weigh it again and charge accordingly. This really confused me. Glad that I could get even and confuse someone else. 😉

[enblethen]

Like to see them weigh my MH tank if sold by the pound!

[Community Alumni]

mooky stinks wrote:
I find it amazing that in central New York state I have never heard of GALLONS of propane in my 54 years. Our local propane dealer charges $6.99 to refill a 20# cylinder. We run them out, or close to it, and then pay $6.99 + tax to get it re-filled. The exchange centers in front of Walmart, etc. usually charge $20 but of course that only gets you 15#s. Again pounds, not gallons. The only time I've ever heard of GALLONS of propane is on this forum.

That's odd. Every place I've had my tanks refilled sold propane by the gallon. The receipt always notes how many gallons went in and the rate per gallon. The popular places for refills like U-Haul and Tractor Supply all sell it by the gallon.

[drsteve]

mooky stinks wrote:
I find it amazing that in central New York state I have never heard of GALLONS of propane in my 54 years. Our local propane dealer charges $6.99 to refill a 20# cylinder. We run them out, or close to it, and then pay $6.99 + tax to get it re-filled. The exchange centers in front of Walmart, etc. usually charge $20 but of course that only gets you 15#s. Again pounds, not gallons. The only time I've ever heard of GALLONS of propane is on this forum.

If you buy propane for home heating it is always priced per gallon.

[mooky_stinks]

I find it amazing that in central New York state I have never heard of GALLONS of propane in my 54 years. Our local propane dealer charges $6.99 to refill a 20# cylinder. We run them out, or close to it, and then pay $6.99 + tax to get it re-filled. The exchange centers in front of Walmart, etc. usually charge $20 but of course that only gets you 15#s. Again pounds, not gallons. The only time I've ever heard of GALLONS of propane is on this forum.

[time2roll]

Might be a high price but not a rip-off.
Price and quantity is fully disclosed... your choice to exchange or refill.

[aftermath]

I would never do the exchange thing. It is an expensive route but it is convenient at times. I always find the discussions about getting ripped off interesting. Some folks are quick to point these kinds of things out. I choose not to get all worked up about this because, if you pay by the gallon you will always pay for what you get, no more or no less. When you trade in you might have1 or 2 gallons left. You trade in for a full 5 gallon tank only to find out that it only has 4.5 gallons. So, you paid full price and only got maybe 3 gallons.

Avoid trade ins and you won't have to worry.

[avoidcrowds]

I had been having my cylinders refilled at a local rental yard. In 10 years, it went from $11 for a refill, to $18.

I pass a welding-gas retailer on my way home from work sometimes, and I had my cylinder with me (stopped at Camping World for a half-price refill, and still had no refill activity after 20 minutes, and left), so I stopped to see how much they charge. $9! I will be getting them filled at that shop, from now on!

[Boband4]

Let me add to the scare stories. I work at one of the places that recycles the old, rusty, dusty, uncertified tanks. (It is a scrapyard). We received a rough looking 20 lb tank, with an conglomeration of corroded pipe & nipples on the valve. One of our team recognized it as a waste tank from meth production, that had explosive characteristics. We had to quarantine the area, the bomb squad removed it, and then it was eventually disposed of (very expensively!) as hazardous waste. I tell this short story as a warning about picking up rusty, dusty unknown tanks from a forrest or field.

[beemerphile1]

mike-s wrote:
New cylinders (they're not tanks, which are different) are good for 12 years. Why recertify or mess around when they expire? $25 every 12 years is mice nuts.

Maybe because 30# and 40# bottles are a lot more than $25.

If you have a 20# bottle that is expired take it to an exchange location and get a newer one that includes 15# of LPG. The exchange company will certify it before sending it back out.

[mike-s]

New cylinders (they're not tanks, which are different) are good for 12 years. Why recertify or mess around when they expire? $25 every 12 years is mice nuts.

[Passin_Thru]

I think the ridges is just the weld line on the tank maybe. I hauled propane and never saw an odd tank. They are standard, for weight and different apps.

[rbpru]

Since I have swapped out tanks any number of times at a number of propane exchanges, if someone asked me if my tanks were certified I would have to send them to the local filling station for the answer.

I have also had the local LP dealer fill it at about half the price. They would probably notice an expired tank. A tank is tank to me. Old and dusty or new and shiny, it looks the same under the big white tank shield.