Looking to install a horizontal propane tank into my bus and not sure how to determine what size I need. Will have a fridge, furnace and possibly a water heater (if I don't get an Aqua Hot). Where is a good place to find a tank? Would like to get one that has the fill valving on the end instead of the middle.
Any ideas? how long with these items running will a 100# tank last?
Ken
Fridge and water heater use insignificant amounts of propane. The furnace uses quite a bit more if it is cold out.
I have a horizontal tank, but would prefer 2 or 3 20 or 30 pounders that can be taken to town with the towed for refill. We have had to pull up stakes just to go refill the bus. One of these days, I'll go back to portable cylinders.
JC
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Manchester is one manufacturer of RV tanks, and eBay sometimes has used or even new ones for sale. Why not have a biggish tank and some 20 lb cylinders, then you're covered either way. Because propane doesn't go bad with age, you could have a tank as big as will fit - who cares how long the propane sits in it until you use it? Actually, that's been my overall criteria for deciding how big tanks, how many batteries or solar panels, how much propane, etc, to have in the bus - I simply have the most that will fit! When do folk ever complain about having too much of anything in a bus, whether storage space or consumable supplies? It may be overly simplistic, but it works for me!
John
I bought a Manchester 20gal DOT approved propane tank on line for a lot less then new. The DOT chassis mount tanks do not have a recertify date on them like portable tanks do.
I have a 20 gal tank that runs just my stove and furnace. We go out about 3 weeks a year. I just fill it once a year. Good Luck, TomC
We had a 30# mounted tank under our last bus. Capacity was okay for cooking, refrigeration and water heating, but the bus saw only occasional use. The problem was that it got to be a pain to get in and out of many refil stations.
The Gillig does not have under floor space to fit a mounted tank, but we wanted to use portables this time. Currently carrying four 20s, but I'll replace that with three 50s. Was going to use three 40s, but I recently learned that 50s are available, and they will fit my space. I keep two tanks on a switching regulator, and the third gets refilled each time. 150 lbs is plenty for full timing. We cook, heat water and dry clothes occasionally. I have no idea what it would take to run a furnace. We don't have battery capacity for the fans.
Jim H
We have 35 gals built into the bus and a portable tank hookup in the forward bay separated from the rest of the bay so it can be vented down through the floor. It holds a 10 gal that we can portage into town with the towed. We use catalytic for heat and the 10 gal lasts almost 2 weeks with just cooking and heating (temps in the 20-30's F). Fridge and water are usually on electric if possible.
Will
If you are close to AZ I have 2 - 14x38 inches tanks you can have one for free.It makes no difference where you mount the tank the remote fill can be anywhere the tank does not need to be accessible to fill
I always carried a 20 lb for emergency use.You can take a hose between a frame mounted tank fill and turn a bottle upside down to fill a frame mounted tank I have done that many times on propane fueled vehicles
I recommend using two portable tanks with automatic changeover regulator. Much easier to get them filled and less likely to run out of propane.
I have two 40 lb tanks in my bus. I only use it for cooking, so it lasts a really long time (i.e. years) before I have to fill one. I could easily have used 20#ers.
With heat and water heater on LP, I would go with the 40#ers.
That is, unless you can get that free tank from Cliff, and have an easy way to get it filled.
Great information guys! I like the idea of being able to pull the tanks and refill them. The BBQ 30# tanks are available almost anywhere so I might go for the tank switch idea and carry 4 of them.
Ken
I just pulled out our 23 gallon tank put in 2 slide that hold two tanks each and put in 4 20 lb tanks. I change them when I need to and don't have to move the bus.
Well I have had vertical tanks.. horizontal tanks,... short tanks... Tall tanks..Had problems getting in to refill stations or getting out, Now thats if you can find someone to fill them, a lot of independents wont fill a tank in a vehicle, So after spending shivering nights cold dinners from no propane. Problem solver this coach now has 2 20lb refill exchange tanks, one runs out you switch then get another, you can find refill tanks 24hrs a day almost in every town, from Walmart to 7-11, do your own thing we won't be there to help in the middle of the night,.
Tank exchanges are convenient if you like paying for 20 lbs and getting 15 lbs it's the biggest rip off in modern day but convenient it is at 6 bucks a gal
I know there are six places within a two mile radius of my current location that can exchange portable propane tanks. Now, ask me where I can fill a vehicle mounted tank. *shrugs* ..... Camping World 35 miles away? Maybe? I don't honestly know. ...And that is why I have four 30lb portable tanks plumbed in pairs to a switching regulator.
Reading the comments here would make one think that having a built-in tank is a major headache when it comes to getting it filled. Except for the inconvenience of having to move the bus if all you need is propane, I've never encountered a problem finding it or getting near enough the tank to get filled. Most hardware stores, RV parks, fuel stations all seem to offer propane these days. I agree with Luvrbus about using the exchange services, they are the most expensive route to go and many don't give you a full bottle. If you're just using it for your barbecue and only exchange about once a year, yeah, the convenience is probably worth it. Or as my daddy liked to say, "Some people just have more money than sense." Hooraw for you if the shoe fits.
fyi: http://www.orangecoat.com/the-truth-about-filling-20-lb-bbq-grill-propane-tanks (http://www.orangecoat.com/the-truth-about-filling-20-lb-bbq-grill-propane-tanks)
U-haul fills propane tanks, however I don't know whether that includes vehicle tanks. Also RV service centers, Suburban Propane dealers. You'll need to check with them.
Cheesie- That was an eye opening read. I usually exchange 1 or 2 30# tanks per year. The yearly cost is so low, I never gave it much thought. Your post made me wonder how much I could save by refilling portable tanks instead of exchanging tanks. I found this:
"A pretty standard average when exchanging a propane tank is about $5.75 per gallon. Most U-Haul locations (excluding Hawaii) charge less than $3.99 a gallon. It's a clear choice."
http://movinginsider.com/2012/06/22/propaneprices/ (http://movinginsider.com/2012/06/22/propaneprices/)
Is the price per gallon the same for vehicle mounted tank refills as portable tank refills? If it is the same price, refilling portable tanks is the way to go. They could be unhooked and refilled from the side of the bus, like a permanent tank, or tossed in the toad and refilled individually when it is convinent to do so.
In Yuma i can get my built-in tanks filled for the same price as the portables if i go to them. If they come to me to fill the tanks it is a higher price.
Same price here in AZ the wife's rv has a propane generator and we are all over the country never a problem finding propane all F/J sell it so do most Loves and TA's This summers trip we paid $2.29 here at home the most we paid was $ 3.33 in CA the lowest was in Utah at $ 2.05 with the F/J card
I did it also because if we need extra room for storage we simply remove a tank or two and gain a lot of space. The tank took up a lot of room. In a 5 we only have two bays so you need options sometimes. The other option we used when we had the big tank was to put a second hook up and if we ran out while parked we would just call a local propane company and have them bring us a sit on the ground 50 or 100 gallon tank and ran a hose to the second fitting with its own shut off.
Just priced out the 30# tanks and they are 70 bucks each. I'm thinking of a dual 2 tank setup with an auto switch so i can pull 2 tanks for refill. Is black iron piping about the best way to run a manifold for the furnace, stove, fridge and hot water heater?
Ken
Black iron pipe is the accepted way to run propane.