30# propane tanks....refilling

[redsnapper]

Do propane filling stations require the tank be removed from the trailer tongue prior to filling?..

My trailer is equipped with 2 30# tanks.
The "tare" weight is a listed 25# per tank, empty.
With the tanks full, add about 30# for a real world weight of about 55#.

I sure hope the propane station attendant can give me a hand lifting those tanks up into the base mount, if it's required to fill off the trailer.

Have yet to refill these tanks....thanks

[nma33]

When I had my TT I would take the tans off since they were filled when on a scale, Now with my Motorhome, fixed Tank, I pull up to the filling station, my tank has a gauge, the attendant fills is to what is considered full(actually 3/4 full allowing for expansion). I would guess that you will have to remove the tanks. I could be wrong, but I always did.

Good Luck!

[North of 49°]

Originally Posted by redsnapper

Do propane filling stations require the tank be removed from the trailer tongue prior to filling?..

The place I go to does. They charge by the amount they put in, not a flat rate, so they have to weigh the empty tank to begin with, and fill it up to 80% capacity, as per regulations. Since we have the auto switch-over and go through about one 30-lb tank in a season, I only have to take one tank in per year.

I can lift the full tank into the back of my truck myself no problem, but if the young kid at the station wants to show off, I let him.

[ifallsguy]

The tanks do have to be removed from the trailer. The person filling will probably help, if you ask. The reason, those tanks are filled by weight.

FYI, Camping World discounts LP on Tues, Wed for Good Sam Members. I think the discount is 25%.

[RedHorse1]

My filling place told me they have to be out. After filling they require a bit of a "grunt" to get them back into the rack. Fortunately I don't have to fill one very often.

[Seann45]

It depends on the station.. If the one you go to has a scale for the tanks then you have to remove them but if it is a newer station they can fill it till the OPD shuts off flow and that can be done on the tongue if they have a long enough hose.

[TWP723]

I've always taken them off the trailer.

[sennister]

I agree. My old camper had 30#ers and I would pull them to be filled. They would charge based on how much they filled them. So if they only filled half the tank it was less expensive to fill unlike tank swaps. Not that swaps are very common with the 30# tanks.

[Camper_bob]

I pull them off for two reasons. The place I go uses a scale, and I don't want to have to tow my whole trailer over there to fill propane. Both of the places I use would be a bit tight with my trailer anyway.

I'm still strong enough to lift the tanks myself, but I'm old enough not to deny the help of a younger, stronger lad (or lass) if offered.

[Rustysocket]

I have never experienced buying propane by weight. Everyplace in the PNW i have purchased sells by the gallon, so if the hose will reach and there is enough room they will fill them in place.

If your buying where it is sold by weight then the tanks would obviously have to be removed to put them on the scale and I would think that the attendent would be accustomed to assisting with lifting the tanks into place as part of the process. I _can_ lift them but as I age it's not as easy as it used to be.

[redsnapper]

Every place I have been to has a meter that measures gallons.
Fills the tank until it blows out the overflow valve, shut it down, pay for the amount the meter indicates in gallons.

Have yet to encounter a filling station which goes by weight.

Empty tanks, or near empty, shouldn't be much of a problem getting off the tongue.....getting that full tank back on the tongue mount might be a grunt or two.

Hard to imagine a strapping young attendant lad or lassie telling me "Do it yourself old man, I just pump the stuff"

[Rmgrose]

With inspections needed, extra tougne weight and 20# "new" bottles available readily why don't you swap them? I have noticed newer and smaller campers making the switch. If you use a lot of propane, or want a better price refilling them you will want to stick to 30#. A 30#bottle lasted me 2years in my old Jayco with little furnace time but lots of stove use. Your hoses should flex enough an you may need to change the mounting bracket.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Rmgrose

With inspections needed, extra tougne weight and 20# "new" bottles available readily why don't you swap them? I have noticed newer and smaller campers making the switch. If you use a lot of propane, or want a better price refilling them you will want to stick to 30#. A 30#bottle lasted me 2years in my old Jayco with little furnace time but lots of stove use. Your hoses should flex enough an you may need to change the mounting bracket.

That's a decent suggestion. We don't go through enough propane to justify twin 30s on our trailer. But that's what it came with, so that's what we use. I just can't see spending money to change them out. I just don't care that much.

Also, if you're talking about exchanging them with those tank exchange programs you see outside gas stations and drug stores, those things are a complete rip off. Sure they're convenient, and if you need it and that's all there is, you just do it and eat the extra cost. But those bottles are not "full", and it's EXPENSIVE. It cost me half as much to fill an empty 30# tank as it does to exchange a 20# tank.

With twin tanks and an auto-changeover, I will never be in that position though, so I will always have time to find a place to economically fill my tanks.

[Rmgrose]

Originally Posted by Rmgrose

With inspections needed, extra tougne weight and 20# "new" bottles available readily why don't you swap them? I have noticed newer and smaller campers making the switch. If you use a lot of propane, or want a better price refilling them you will want to stick to 30#. A 30#bottle lasted me 2years in my old Jayco with little furnace time but lots of stove use. Your hoses should flex enough an you may need to change the mounting bracket.

If I could clarify my thinking, the op was wondering about need to remove bottles and/or commenting on the weight of the 30# bottles.
I collect my grill & Rv bottles and take them to a local refilling station. They charge by the gallon and don't use a scale. If the hose is long enough to fill a motor home, I would think they could fill them on the trailer too; just ask, they may help you move them also. With the new safety valves and need to recertify tanks$$, a friend of a friend always have an old 20# bottle(s) you could change out at a store for a new tank. Of course if you use a lot of propane you may want to keep the bigger bottles and deal with the weight. The 20#ers could then be refilled however convenient and if weight is a concern, I guess a 10#+ weight savings per bottle on you and the tongue of Rv.

[Dropnaduece]

Originally Posted by redsnapper

Do propane filling stations require the tank be removed from the trailer tongue prior to filling?..

My trailer is equipped with 2 30# tanks.
The "tare" weight is a listed 25# per tank, empty.
With the tanks full, add about 30# for a real world weight of about 55#.

I sure hope the propane station attendant can give me a hand lifting those tanks up into the base mount, if it's required to fill off the trailer.

Have yet to refill these tanks....thanks

I went a step further because the tanks are so big and awkward taking off. I sold them for a $100 and bought 2 20# tanks for $50 at Costco that have a gage on them that tells you what's in the tank. Also this reduced my tongue weight a little bit much but I also removed the extra battery that it came with so I reduced my tongue weight by 75#'s. I don't dry camp so extra battery is not needed and I go an entire summer if camping on one tank so two smaller tanks will be sufficient.

[DaveT]

Have been waiting to see if composite/fiber tanks gets suggested by anyone. Other than cost being significant (and it is) they do reduce weight a bit. Are those tanks not in favor with RVers?

DT

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by DaveT

Have been waiting to see if composite/fiber tanks gets suggested by anyone. Other than cost being significant (and it is) they do reduce weight a bit. Are those tanks not in favor with RVers?

DT

I thought those were all recalled...

[ShawnR]

I swapped the 30's from the RV with the 2 20's that I use for my BBQ and generator. It's much easier to wrangle the smaller bottles in and out and reduces the coach weight a little.