I was thinking about putting a 5# bottle on the tongue

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I was thinking about putting a 5# bottle on the tongue

Postby mikeschn » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:51 pm

I was thinking about putting a 5# bottle on the tongue of the Generic ET, like I had on the Lil Diner...

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Now after reading this, I may rethink that! :o

Mike...

====

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:47:16 -0500, "Sparky" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I just purchased a 4.25lb propane tank to use with a Coleman propane stove;
>however, after contacting my local propane supplier about the cost of
>filling it, I am considering taking it back to the store. They want $9.00
>to fill it, which is half the current cost of filling a 20lb tank. I love
>the size of this little guy, but it would be cheaper to buy four of those
>environmentally irresponsible 1lb disposable tanks on sale than it would be
>to refill this one. :-( Is there a way to fill this tank from a 20lb tank?

In general the 20 pound tank is about the most common tank size there
is. As such, everything is geared to it. If you have a tank that is
smaller, then the net price per pound is higher.

I would LOVE to have a 5 pound tank - or 4.25 pound as the case may be
- however I refuse to pay more for a new 5 pound tank than I would for
a new 20 pound tank! And then there is the filling costs too! Strickly
paying for conveinience.

I have observed the filling of the bulk tanks, and in order to get a
near capacity fill, looks to me like you need a pump - which all the
filling stations are equipped with.

I have the adapter that lets you refill the 1 pound tanks from a bulk
tank. Theoretically it is against US law to transport a refilled
cylendar across state lines. What is that crap??? $500,000 fine and up
to 5 years in jail??? You get less for killing someone!

Solution, transport the cylendars empty! and refill them just before
use. :)

Having said that, when you refill a smaller tank with a larger one,
you will NOT get anywhere near a proper fill. my estimate is about 70%
of a regular fill on the small ones. I presume you would get the same
on a small bulk tank. So, if you get a hose with the correct fittings
- which would likely be $30 - and connect the 2 tanks, then put the
small tank on the ground, and a FULL 20 pound tank raise above the 5
pounder - say on a table, then open the valve on the 20 pounder, and
then on the 5 pounder. Give it about 5 minutes for the pressure to
equalize, then close the valves on both tanks, and disconnect the
hose.

If my 70% estimae is correct, then you will get about 3.3 pounds into
your 4.25 pound tank.

All in all, it is a lot of hassle. I did manage to score a 10 pounder
on sale cheap, and the refill is only a little more expensive per
pound than a 20 pounder - at least where I am. So look at your prices
and see if that is an option.

Otherwise just return turn the tank and suck it up - buy the 20
pounder. They are not as conveinient as a 5 pounder, but they sure do
last a LONG time. :)

hth
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Postby exminnesotaboy » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:02 pm

One of our camping buddies paid $12 to get theirs filled. We have filled ours twice since purchasing: $3.20(Uhaul) and $5.80 at a local propane shop. So..... look around as there will be a better deal out there.

Even if I paid $10, it is still soooooo much more convenient than going through those little bottles.
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Postby S. Heisley » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:57 pm

Anthony is right. There are lots of U-Haul places around and they advertise that they don't charge extra for partial fill-ups or for fill-ups of less than 20 lbs. If one company is willing to sell propane that way, others will soon follow. Don't give up on your idea of a smaller propane tank. It's a good one. :thumbsup:
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Postby halfdome, Danny » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:39 pm

Look around for a place that specializes in propane like our "Propane Connection" on South Hill. They sell barbecues and other gas appliances. They charge the same rate no matter what the tank size is. Check out feed & fodder stores too. I have two 5# bottles and try to fill them at the same time. Mine goes in the middle of the tongue box. :D Danny
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Postby Lgboro » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:50 pm

I have a small tank that came with a CharBroil patio caddie grill but I believe it weighs as much a my 20# composite gas tank I purchased for the tear.
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Postby John Boeckstiegel » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:00 pm

The U-Haul near us charges by the gallon not by the weight. They do put it on the scale to be sure not to over fill. You can read the weight on the collar of the tank. So find someone that fills like that ... then (size dont matter)... LOL. That is with propane anyway.....
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Postby mary and bob » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:20 pm

I have a couple of the 9 or 11 pound tanks. Nice convenient size, not too heavy, and they fit nicely into a plastic milk crate. They are expensive to buy, but I got these free. Bob
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Postby stomperxj » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:02 am

If you have a Harbor Freight Tools in your area you might check this out. I am going to get one soon and try it out. You can refill the small bottles off of a bigger tank:

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http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=45989
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Postby moreforles » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:41 am

I'ld say go with the larger tank, unless you really liked the look of the smaller one, which in that case, you could always refill your little tank your self, from a standard grill tank with an adapter hose, I planned on refilling the little ones, for backpacking, with an adapter hose that I stripped off an old RV, my guess is that it was used for a back up, to be able to use small grill tank in place of, or in addition to the on board tank of the RV.

it's a 5' hose with fitting for older style tanks, so I'll need to replace that end or find an adapter, the hose was attached to a T in the line from the large tank on the RV, that fed the furnace, stove, refrigerator and water heater (still trying to get my mind around using a flame from propane to cool the refrigerator...... mind boggling....)
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Postby Dale M. » Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:57 am

stomperxj wrote:If you have a Harbor Freight Tools in your area you might check this out. I am going to get one soon and try it out. You can refill the small bottles off of a bigger tank:

Image

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=45989


It's my opinion that is the most dangerous thing you can have in your camping supplies... I had one, it sat on work bench for several years never being used, then I finally threw it away...... To many ways things can go wrong fooling with that device....

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Postby Dale M. » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:04 am

moreforles wrote:I'ld say go with the larger tank, unless you really liked the look of the smaller one, which in that case, you could always refill your little tank your self, from a standard grill tank with an adapter hose, I planned on refilling the little ones, for backpacking, with an adapter hose that I stripped off an old RV, my guess is that it was used for a back up, to be able to use small grill tank in place of, or in addition to the on board tank of the RV.

it's a 5' hose with fitting for older style tanks, so I'll need to replace that end or find an adapter, the hose was attached to a T in the line from the large tank on the RV, that fed the furnace, stove, refrigerator and water heater (still trying to get my mind around using a flame from propane to cool the refrigerator...... mind boggling....)


You want to be very careful using kludged to gether adapter hoses... Remember pressure in tank are aboput 125 psi at 70° f.... Pressures go higher as temperature increases....

Generally RV's have a regulator right at tank and system presure to appliances in RV is probably 1/4 to 1/2 psi (7 to 14 incyhes water column) ...

IF you are going to "connect" things together and try transferring fuel from one tank to another, do it outside in open space preferable on breezy day so any leaks will dissipate... Remember propane gas is a heavier than air gas and pools in low places (like garage floor) and may ignite if it comes in contact with a flame (like a water heater pilot)...

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Postby Camping Embers » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:25 am

I have one of the small tanks and love it. It was less than $4 to fill at a local RV dealership. I wouldn't patronize somewhere that charged me extra to fill it!

Besides its soooo cottin-pickin cute! :lol:
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Postby dmb90260 » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:27 am

I have managed to collect 5-6 20# tanks and also a 10# that I use for a space heater and some special cooking. Most of the refill places around here have a fixed rate for the first fill and per # for the rest. When I need propane in the 10# I always take an empty 20# along and get that filled first. If I need only the 20# filled I swap out at Home Depot.

I also have a couple old style high collar rusty 20# free to the first taker. :lol:
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Postby Mark & Andrea Jones » Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:25 pm

We use a 5 lb tank on the tongue of the TD. We ran out of propane camping in NC last year and had to make a trip to fill it up. I don't remember what it was to fill up, but the charge was "per lb", so it couldn't have been much. I topped it off at home a year ago and it was only $2. :lol: It didn't need much!

There are always places around that will fill it up on a per lb rate. Sometimes ya just gotta ask.

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Postby Mini Renegade » Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:15 pm

so do you guys get the same bottle back then? Over here we buy a full bottle then when it`s empty we take to a dealer who exchanges for a full one and charges the refill price. I got an empty one with the valve missing from a scrap yard, and took that for exchange, saved about £35
If evvr tha dus owt fr nowt, allus do it fr thissen
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