Propane Tanks: Gas Valves Question?

[Lexicon7]

Hi Guys, I picked up an older 1995 Lance Squire 4000 in pretty good shape but one of the tanks is not so hot. The guys here in SD will not fill this tank because they tell me the valve body is old and the wrong config. Today, I went by Uhaul and checked with them hoping to fill both tanks and they would not fill either because of that valve. In their words.. the tanks are "tethered" together. He recommended I replace both tanks so that they are both up to date.. I'm not made of $$$ so thinking of just picking up a new Amerigas tank at Home D.
Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

[Marshfly]

Lexicon7 wrote:
Tony... so I wonder if the newer Lance's have "Stand-Up" tanks...?

My 2013 855 has vertical tanks.

[tonymull]

Not sure. I have a 1998 Pastime. The horizontal tanks give easier access to the works than vertical in this application. They are a bit different inside and won't fill as much. But the huge difference in cost is mostly just gouging I think. Some places will fill them in the camper, others want them taken out, some are set up so the hose won't reach outside of a perimeter near the tank anyway. I've replaced one $160, and plan to just replace the other when it is empty. Traveling BC and Alaska I'd just as soon not argue with pump jockeys. Propane tanks also are supposed to be recertified every 10 years, I think, but I've never heard of anyone enforcing that one. I usually only fill up once a year. We do all the cooking outside and only use the propane to run the refrigerator or heat the occassional tank of water.

[Lexicon7]

Tony... so I wonder if the newer Lance's have "Stand-Up" tanks...?

[Lexicon7]

Continued/ so when I decided to purchase the rig, at $4,250.00 it was a good value as it is really nice inside, he stared at me for a moment and then said.. "I'll just give you the other horiz tank so they are both the same config!" I knew nothing about the possibility of gas valve certifications and what-not... Oh well!

[tonymull]

Not vouching for accuracy, but last time I got my horizontal tanks filled, last fall, I was told that all vendors are going to new nozzles and they won't fit the old style tanks so they can't fill them anymore. Maybe that's only WA state, don't know. But I did notice that the price of horizontal tanks jumped $15....

[Lexicon7]

Butch.. interesting point which brings back a recollection of my first encounter with this rig before the purchase. This guy was definately not a DIY specialist. I have found so many things that were done in a more than puzzling, indeed a stupid way. For instance, one tail light on the TC had electrical tape on it that was a good distance overlapping onto the hot bulb. I thought that was odd so pulled it appart and found that the pot metal sheathing the bulb locks into was a bit out of shape. I got a good laugh out of that one & it began to show a picture of a D/A who should not be allowed near any tools. I grew up working in the garage with my Dad and became a Contractor with so many tools I am burried in them... Of course, I simply took out my best needle nose and grabbed it securely with a grip all the way back to the rear of the socket and nudged it in a bit.. Problem solved.. But I digress!
When this individual showed me the LP bay, there was one horiz and one vert tank in there. He had a big hook on the side of the camper to pull the vert tank out and hang it there when drawing from that tank. Since I'm still very new to RVing, I had a very strong inkling that an LP tank hanging over the side sounded a bit wonky but just listened and watched.

[Butch50]

Just suggestion before you take the tanks to be recertified is make sure the they are in good condition. If there is any rust on them wire brush them and then repaint them before you take them in to get the certification dons on them. If they are rusty they well not do it. A recertification is good for 5 years. But DO NOT try to replace vertical with horizontal tanks. The gas pickup tube are in a different location and you would be trying to bring liquid propane into you system instead of gas, not a good thing.

[Lexicon7]

WC, I did speak to them by phone yesterday and they said they did fill TC bottles however I neglected to mention the horiz config.. I'll just stop by over there. Just doesn't seem smart to do a lot of $$$ upgrades on this if it can be avoided. I have much more urgent issues with my TC and now my engine as well... It never ends...!

[wcjeep]

Not all Airgas locations fill Propane. Be sure to pick a large location. I recall the metal in BBQ style propane tanks is thinner than what one would find in an RV. RV Propane tanks have to be DOT legal. Again, I recall reading this sometime ago.

My older camper had Horizontal tanks. No local place would refill regardless of what the law said.

[Lexicon7]

We have "Airgas" here in my area. Perhaps I should let them take a look...

[JumboJet]

Super_Dave wrote:
It isn't always about the valve either. I've been turned down with a current valve but the tank had an old date stamp on it.

There are LP Gas businesses that can certify the older date stamped tanks. I was told the same during my last refill for one of my tanks.

[MN_Ben]

The blue rhino exchange will be virticle takns, not horizontal. So don't exchange them at one of thise stations.

[Reality_Check]

Lexicon7 wrote:
The tanks are horizontal. Forgot to include that...

Then assuming they were produced before 1998, they're exempt from the OPD rules.

Use to run into that problem every once in awhile. I just carried a copy of the NFPA rules with the exemption circled. One can argue all day long, but it was just easier to educate and get them filled.

Here's a link that I think is still good:

Linky

[okan-star]

The horizontal tanks may be exempt from needing OPD`s if they are the correct year, but they may need to be re-certified to fill
The horizontal non OPD tanks in my 97 lance , I was able to replace the O-rings in the valves and get them re-cert
I plan on replacing them with new OPD tanks and using these as spares ,but the horizontal tanks are very expensive , about 130.00- 150.00 each
Opd valves wont fit into the non OPD tanks as the valves need to be off center to allow the swing arm for the OPD device to fit in the tank
Not really something to mess around with unless your comfortable with it