Propane tank age

[Stingray75]

I filled propane over the weekend and the attendant pointed out that the tanks will need recertification in a couple years. Guess I just Took for granted that the tanks in my 2014 unit would be dated 2013/14, not 2006! Check your tanks folks.

[borninblue]

Sounds like what some places do selling old but "new" tires.

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[Camper_bob]

Take your old tank to a tank exchange site and exchange them for tanks with better dates. That's what I plan to do. You'll want to check closely, I know when I used to work where we had one, the vendors try to sneak in tanks with short dates.

Or just have them re-certified. Anyone know how much re-cert costs?

[homer1959]

Get back to Jayco and ask for new tank, they are supposed to be good for 10 years when you buy them new, so you should have new one on the trailer when you leave .....

[clubhouse]

I have had tanks recertified before. It was painless, cost $15 tank when I did it. They apply a decal to the tank indicating it had be done.

If I recall tanks for good for 10 years from the initial manufacture date, then Recert every 5 years there after.

[Jagiven]

First check the date yourself. Keep the tank as long as possible. Then ether buy a new tank or have it re certified. Don't get a tank exchange. Often they are out of date, and you do not know how they were maintained. Re certified tanks have to be re certified every 5 years.

[wags999]

Propane tanks are good for 12 years from date of original mfg. Then they need to get recertified for another 5 years. Also if the tank is damaged, ie dented etc, or rusted or otherwise in poor shape it may not be allowed to be refilled even if it is still within the time period.

Rather than getting a tank from an exchange, that you have no clue how it has been treated, it is better to gets yours checked and recertified. Personally I never exchange tanks. they get beat to heck and I have seen a number that you could not get a good seal.

Good Luck.

[schiguy]

How long is the propane in the tanks good for? Does propane actually expire? My last TT I owned I bought used from a friend and in the 4 years I owned it, I never went through all of the propane in the two 40lb tanks. The only time I used the propane was for the hot water heater. We always cooked over the fire back then.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by schiguy

How long is the propane in the tanks good for? Does propane actually expire? My last TT I owned I bought used from a friend and in the 4 years I owned it, I never went through all of the propane in the two 40lb tanks. The only time I used the propane was for the hot water heater. We always cooked over the fire back then.

Propane is very stable and does not go bad. It will be there when you need it!

[need-a-vacation]

Local propane place will recertify tanks for free if you have then fill the tank. Check your local place, may be the same.

Originally Posted by schiguy

How long is the propane in the tanks good for? Does propane actually expire? My last TT I owned I bought used from a friend and in the 4 years I owned it, I never went through all of the propane in the two 40lb tanks. The only time I used the propane was for the hot water heater. We always cooked over the fire back then.

Our first tt still had propane from '88 or '89 when we got it in '02, used very little until we really started taking trips (few yrs didn't go anywhere due to jobs) in '09 (or '10) I think it was.

Still burned great!!!

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Stingray75

I filled propane over the weekend and the attendant pointed out that the tanks will need recertification in a couple years. Guess I just Took for granted that the tanks in my 2014 unit would be dated 2013/14, not 2006! Check your tanks folks.

Bet you somebody switched tanks before you bought it. JAYCO or any other manufacturer go through tanks too fast to have one sitting around that old.

[schiguy]

2 years ago while I was at a campground, my neighbor came over to inform me that he noticed black soot coming from my hot water heater. I quickly flipped the switch off and turned off the propane tanks and then checked it out. The "camping expert" neighbor said he thought it was because of "old propane separating and causing the black soot". I was polite and told him thank you for his help and proceeded to take apart the hot water heater. Turns out the burner tube was completely clogged with approximately 20-30 stink bugs packed into the tube that were burning . After removing the burnt infestation, I was able to put everything back together and magically no more soot. After this I was still a little curious about the propane going bad.

[Stingray75]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Bet you somebody switched tanks before you bought it. JAYCO or any other manufacturer go through tanks too fast to have one sitting around that old.

Nah, we ordered this one and it wasn't at the dealer 24 hours before we towed it home. This is rig #3 we've bought from them and we trust them. Still, can't imagine an 8 year stockpile of anything, especially propane tanks at any non-government manufacturing facility.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by Stingray75

Nah, we ordered this one and it wasn't at the dealer 24 hours before we towed it home. This is rig #3 we've bought from them and we trust them. Still, can't imagine an 8 year stockpile of anything, especially propane tanks at any non-government manufacturing facility.

Units are shipped with no propane in the tanks. The dealer fills the tanks. I get they just swapped out your new tanks for tanks that were filled already. It may be just the yard kid that did it and not some strategy from management.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by wags999

Units are shipped with no propane in the tanks. The dealer fills the tanks. I get they just swapped out your new tanks for tanks that were filled already. It may be just the yard kid that did it and not some strategy from management.

Excellent point! I haven't checked my tank dates because I've always filled them (gas station, truck stop, etc.) so I was always with them... EXCEPT one time when I filled one at a Camping World. We parked the rig in the service area and went in. They sent a couple of kids out on a cart and they took my tank into the area behind the building. They returned with 'my' tank a short time later. It is possible they had a number of full tanks ready to go and just swapped them. I hadn't given that a thought until tonight. When I fill my next tank, I'll check the dates.

[SmokerBill]

I have one of the Blue Rhino exchangable tanks. I've had it filled many times, and then I tried to have it refilled at an Ace Hardware near Yakima, he checked the date, and told me he couldn't fill it. Thought he was joking at first, but he showed me the stamped date.

I got it refilled later at a place that doesn't check. Seems like most places don't look at the date.

[jloco]

I checked mine this past weekend. They have a build date of 12/15 (trailer built 1/16). . But it also says (stamped on them) they expire in 10 years... Is it 10 years now? I thought it was 12 years?

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by wags999

Propane tanks are good for 12 years from date of original mfg. Then they need to get recertified for another 5 years. Also if the tank is damaged, ie dented etc, or rusted or otherwise in poor shape it may not be allowed to be refilled even if it is still within the time period.

Rather than getting a tank from an exchange, that you have no clue how it has been treated, it is better to gets yours checked and recertified. Personally I never exchange tanks. they get beat to heck and I have seen a number that you could not get a good seal.

Good Luck.

So far that's the only correct answer. Having a known tank (yours) recertified should only cost a couple of bucks and you'll end up with a known good tank.

I've been using propane tanks for over 50 years and never had one fail.