Propane...

[nike_holley]

We have dual propane tanks on the tongue, under a plastic cover...

What's the easy way to check levels & not run out of propane..??..

Thanks...

Nate

[deltabravo]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Watch the RED/GREEN indicator.......
When Green turns to RED then 'in service cylinder' is now empty (that would be the one lever is pointing to) and auto swap reg has changed over to other cylinder

Flip lever to other cylinder.....RED goes GREEN

Remove empty cylinder and go get it filled.

Repeat when Green goes RED...cylinder is empty...swap get MT one filled

Ditto.

I always run with just one tank turned on, and the selector valve set to that tank. If my furnace, fridge or water heater stop working, then I know I'm out of propane on that tank. After camping for a number of years, you get a pretty good feel for how long a bottle will last. Fortunately every time one bottle has run out of gas, I've been in camp, and heard the fridge keep trying to ignite, so I switched bottles.

I also take a sharpie pen and write on the bottle the date is was filled, and make a note on it if it's empty.

When both bottles are full, I always start with the left hand bottle. When it's empty, I switch over to the right bottle. If I continue using that side for a few more trips, I will typically fill both bottles at the beginning of the next season.

[Rookiecamper]

The trick that Tiger4x4RV said works fantastically. My wife and I had run our "Band Boosters" football game concession stand for several years when my kids were involved in HS Marching Band. We had two 100# tanks outside and pouring hot water on the side told the tale. We had no auto-switch over regulator and couldn't afford to run a tank out during the half time rush, so we checked using that method before every game.

[time2roll]

Do you have an automatic regulator with the green/red indicator?
If so wait for the red. There will be a pointer indicating the empty tank.
Move the pointer to the other tank and refill the empty.

If you do not have such a regulator... get one.

[B-n-B]

I use this and in my experience it has been 100% accurate.

http://www.levelcheck.com/us/

[oldcat1]

Lakeland Bob wrote:
I have one of the auto changeover regulators and the plastic cover. Since I leave the heat on in the winter I needed an easy way to check the fuel.

I cut a 3" hole with a hole saw over the gauge and now I can glance at the gauge any time I am walking past.

I did the same, then used pop rivets to attach a piece of plexiglass on the inside of the cover to make a "window". Made a habit to check it every day or two while camping. I also made a small metal tag that says "full". I hang it on the tank when I fill it. My memory needs all the help it can get 🙂

Safe travels.

[stevemorris]

the problem is that propane in the tanks is a liquid, it evapourates in the tank as you are using it. so the pressure in the tank doesn't change as the propane is being used until its empty and too late

a mechanical level guage is the only reliable way, similar to a gas guage in your vehicle

the ones at Costco are the only rv sized tanks ive seen that have them and no, I don't use them. when a tank runs dry, switch over and fill up

[Lakeland_Bob]

I have one of the auto changeover regulators and the plastic cover. Since I leave the heat on in the winter I needed an easy way to check the fuel.

I cut a 3" hole with a hole saw over the gauge and now I can glance at the gauge any time I am walking past.

[_1nobby]

I bought 3 - 20 lbs tanks at Costco...and they came with some sort of majik gauge.....

[VoodooMedicineM]

You might try one of these.

[Mark_and_Linda]

My tanks don't have indicators....you can tell be lifting one up or when the flame goes out. Mine last through a whole season of camping. I just changed out a tank from last year that I used, when it was empty. I even used it some to run my heater during the winter when I was out there working on the inside of the trailer. I don't know what size your trailer is though...mine is a 25RS. One thing to check is if your tanks are older they have a date stamp on them for re inspection.

[wanderingbob]

Leave both open , watch the red 'green , tanks will last a long time , When gauge turns red you are then running on a fresh tank . Look at gauge every 2 or 3 days . Only a real dummy will run out !

[ryanw821]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
When we had a huge propane tank for the house, we would go out and throw a bucket of hot water over it, then run hands down the side of the tank. The empty top part of the tank was warm, the part with the liquid propane in it was cold. Primitive, but it worked.

They make temperature color-changing stickers to apply to the tank that work similar, a little more visual, but still pretty primitive.

I do how Iraqvet05 suggests, I leave one tank closed, when first one runs out, I know I still have a full reserve and manually open the 2nd one, and then I have plenty of time to go get the other one filled.

[Tiger4x4RV]

When we had a huge propane tank for the house, we would go out and throw a bucket of hot water over it, then run hands down the side of the tank. The empty top part of the tank was warm, the part with the liquid propane in it was cold. Primitive, but it worked.

[Iraqvet05]

How large are the tanks? I have dual 30 lb tanks and never had to fill one after the first season. I'd suggest just opening one tank then let it run out completely that way you know you have a full reserve. The easiest and most reliable way to determine the level in the tanks are to lift them...you can tell by the weight when you are getting close to empty. Don't buy those stick-on gauges, they are junk.