Difference between tanks?

[1953 Flying]

I have a friend that can give me couple of aluminum propane tanks that are used for a forklift. I was wondering if there is a difference between propane tanks used for forklifts and those used for trailers?

[markdoane]

Forklift tanks are made to deliver liquid propane to the engine, propane tanks for trailers deliver gaseous propane.

Won't work as is, I don't know if they can be converted by replacing the valve and siphon.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Forklifts Powered by Propane - National Propane Gas Association

[overlander63]

The tanks forklifts use are horizontal mount, the ones Airstreams use are generally vertical mount.

[eubank]

Dang! I saw this post, then decided later to go back and respond, but used the search function and wound up posting to a different (and, I guess, much older) thread on the same topic. Duh.

So here's the post again:

It's a pretty complex thing, but here goes:

RV appliances (refrigerator, stove), grills, and the like all operate on gaseous propane. And so do motors on forklifts, LPG-cars, etc.

So what's the difference? The difference is essentially the point at which the conversion takes place from liquid to gaseous state. In your RV, the conversion to gaseous state takes place right inside the propane cylinder. By contrast, in the forklift (and like motors) the propane is delivered under pressure as a liquid from the tank to the motor, at which point the conversion to gaseous state takes place in (or very close to) the motor's intake sytem. (Of course, there's lots and lots of complex technology involved, and these will make a difference in the end, too.)

Bottom line: No, you can't just use a tank from an LPG-powered motor in the RV or your grill.

Second bottom line: If you've followed so far, you'll also recognize the danger of attempting to use an RV bottle in its incorrect position: A horizontal cylinder must be horizontal, and a vertical bottle must be vertical. Failure to do this will permit liquid propane into your RVs propane vapor distribution system, a very, very bad idea.

In fact, it's kind of hard to locate good info on this stuff, but one place to look is at the Wikipedia under the term "autogas."

Sometimes I get it right, but often I don't.

Lynn

[1953 Flying]

Thanks for every ones answers. This is what I thought. DARN, I will just have to keep looking on Craigslist for some gently used ones.