Aluminum propane tanks, yea or nay?

[FarFetched]

When I was last at my dealer, I spotted aluminum propane tanks.

Who's done the swap, and are you glad you did?

Where'd you get yours? I have to assume there's a cheaper source than the dealership.

Will the 40# tanks I see online that are sold as being for forklifts fit in a 2018 27' Serenity's existing compartment?

Is there a substantial weight savings?

[PKI]

Expensive and not that much lighter in weight - 5#s? High on cool factor, but light on value. Vintage Trailer has them for about $220. Would like to have a set, but can't justify the price of admission. Pat

[wkerfoot]

Aluminum tanks do not rust, but must be inspected just like steel tanks and must have OPD valves. We have the original aluminum tanks on our 1979 Safari. They are cool and can be polished. We obtained the aluminum tanks for our Liner from Vintage Trailer Supply.

Bill

Originally Posted by FarFetched

When I was last at my dealer, I spotted aluminum propane tanks.

Who's done the swap, and are you glad you did?

Where'd you get yours? I have to assume there's a cheaper source than the dealership.

Will the 40# tanks I see online that are sold as being for forklifts fit in a 2018 27' Serenity's existing compartment?

Is there a substantial weight savings?

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by FarFetched

When I was last at my dealer, I spotted aluminum propane tanks.

Who's done the swap, and are you glad you did?

Where'd you get yours? I have to assume there's a cheaper source than the dealership.

Will the 40# tanks I see online that are sold as being for forklifts fit in a 2018 27' Serenity's existing compartment?

Is there a substantial weight savings?

Fork lift tanks are normally horizontal tanks. Tanks on most trailers are vertical, though some are not. One cannot be changed with the other since the internal mechanism that collects the vapor have to be in the correct orientation. If the orientation is not correct liquid propane will be collected instead of vapor (LP gas). RV appliances are not designed to use liquid.

The 30 lb steel tanks are shorter than the 30 lb aluminum tanks.
The 30 lb aluminum tanks are shorter than the 40 lb aluminum tanks.
If you change from either 30 lb tank to 40 lb the cover will not fit correctly.
I changed from 30 lb aluminum to 40 lb aluminum on my 34'. Even though there is some flexibility in height, the cover is 4-5" to short now.
I decided to stay with steel tanks on my 25'.

add edit:
You can find the dimensions of various tanks here
http://worthingtonindustries.com/get...m.pdf?ext=.pdf

[tabney0315]

While I understand PKIs stance I'm planning on buying the 40# aluminum tanks. The aluminum weigh 21# each vs steel at 32# each.

But it is over twice the price.

[tabney0315]

You can get them from VTS. http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/...-p/vts-172.htm

[PaulnGina]

I really like the aluminum tanks. IMHO, an aluminum trailer needs aluminum tanks. Our 1987 Avion has 30# tanks, not sure if it came with them, or 40#. I really wish they were 40#, just so they would have that little it more propane onboard.

If I was spending $50K-$110K+ on an Airstream, and maybe $2000 on a hitch, a few hundred on some aluminum propane tanks would be a no-brainer.

[Dan and Liz]

We have a pair of 40# aluminum tanks for sale -- not pretty (one is scratched up) but recently re-certified and with new style valves. Can't see them under the tank cover anyhow. Right now they just take up space, so anyone interested can make an offer.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by FarFetched

Will the 40# tanks I see online that are sold as being for forklifts fit in a 2018 27' Serenity's existing compartment?

Most forklift cylinders are designed to deliver liquid propane to the engine. The pickup is at the bottom of the tank, not the top. They cannot be used for any RV, let alone an Airstream. Some forklift cylinders are designed for vapor service, and could be used for RVs. But configurations vary. When buying forklift cylinders, you have to specify liquid or vapor service, with or without fill valves (not all forklift cylinders are designed to be removed for refilling; some are permanently mounted and filled from a port on the machine), with or without gauges, horizontal or vertical orientation. There is no one standard configuration for forklift cylinders as there is for the recreational propane cylinders.

A W Warn is correct in that respect, as usual.

[perryg114]

If your tanks are under a cover is does not matter what they are made of. I lost my cover in a tornado and have not replaced it. I have the original 1980 aluminum 30# tanks that are painted silver. It is way down on my list of things to worry about. I think the 30# tanks will save you about 7lb per tank. You can also find them used. It will probably cost you $100 per tank to have them inspected and upgraded to OPD valves which is really a down grade since they don't have the float gages on them. You can get a double bung aluminum tank that gives you the gage in one hole and the OPD fill valve in the other.

Perry

[Streamracer]

I wouldn't take anything for my aluminium tanks. I have 9# saving in weight on each 30# bottle. A a local gas dealer they carry them and are cheaper than Vintage.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by PKI

Expensive and not that much lighter in weight - 5#s? High on cool factor, but light on value. Vintage Trailer has them for about $220. Would like to have a set, but can't justify the price of admission. Pat

I do have a 30 lb left from my 73 avion, ....$100

[Bas&Wen]

We have a 1995- 34 Classic Limited that has old Non-OPD Worthington 40 # aluminum tank that cannot be re-valved to an OPD valve. The only option that JC gave us was converting to vertical tank that requires a total renovation of the front of our AS. I worked hard for almost a year to maintain the front of our AS and kept the front intact at a price. The tank were costly but no worst than the renovation that JC suggested. Vintage Supply were a great help in keeping our AS in it's original form. We would not trade the non-corrosive nature of our aluminum tanks to any steel tank.

[oldsaff]

Originally Posted by perryg114

If your tanks are under a cover is does not matter what they are made of. I lost my cover in a tornado and have not replaced it. I have the original 1980 aluminum 30# tanks that are painted silver. It is way down on my list of things to worry about. I think the 30# tanks will save you about 7lb per tank. You can also find them used. It will probably cost you $100 per tank to have them inspected and upgraded to OPD valves which is really a down grade since they don't have the float gages on them. You can get a double bung aluminum tank that gives you the gage in one hole and the OPD fill valve in the other.

Perry

IMO it does matter what they are made of depending on where you live. I live on the coast on a barrier island plastic rust's here.

[slowmover]

The price of rust negates steel tanks.

[Don McKelvay]

We have a 1994 34 Limited with two 40# aluminum tanks. They do not and cannot be refitted with OPD valves. There is an exemption for such tanks and always carry the exemption notice with us. Only one problem - in Canada there is no such exemption - only in the USA. Normally I get them refilled in the US with no problem. Not sure what experience our US owners have in trying to get theirs filled in Canada? Two years ago I had the tanks recertified in Texas and found they do not stamp them but rather apply a sticker.

[wolf146]

I had my two 30 lb. aluminum tanks re-certified at a welding shop last year. For the 2 tanks I paid $54.00 for re-certification and they refilled them both for $64.50.

Wolf146

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by Don McKelvay

We have a 1994 34 Limited with two 40# aluminum tanks. They do not and cannot be refitted with OPD valves. There is an exemption for such tanks and always carry the exemption notice with us. Only one problem - in Canada there is no such exemption - only in the USA. Normally I get them refilled in the US with no problem. Not sure what experience our US owners have in trying to get theirs filled in Canada? Two years ago I had the tanks recertified in Texas and found they do not stamp them but rather apply a sticker.

Aren't those tanks on your Limited horizontal?

[rjmaype]

Could you post the exemption notice for me to review?

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by rjmaype

Could you post the exemption notice for me to review?

the last article on the page
http://www.nfpa.org/public-education...ention-devices