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12-19-2011, 06:00 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
2009 25' FB Flying Cloud
Portsmouth
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 16
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Gauging amount of propane in tanks
I have two tanks on my 2009 Flying Cloud 25FB and, because it is necessary to spend quite a bit of time in it this winter, thus running furnace a lot, I am wondering how one tells how much propane is actually left. Are there any "tricks" that anyone has learned, short of actually running out of gas? Thanks in advance!
Jack
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12-19-2011, 06:08 PM
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#2
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Restorations done right
Commercial Member
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,547
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In the winter you can pour hot water on the tank and the fluid line will show up instantly. As soon as you empty a tank go fill it and you will never be empty.
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12-19-2011, 06:23 PM
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#3
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Full Timers/Diesel power.
1983 31' Airstream310
Cactus Hug
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,540
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A dual gauge would be a good idea. However, we took on 25 gallons when we were north on Oct 14th and fueled again with 20 gallons on December 5th. Granted, we have electric where we stay, so the propane use was for our hot water heater, range and furnace, not the fridge. We run the gen-set on propane, but have not used it much other than to exercise it. Hope that helps.
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"A settled wisdom, plus the itch to be elsewhere"
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12-19-2011, 06:27 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master 
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Pour a pint of very hot water down the side of the tank. Run your hand down it, you will feel the hot vs. cold line. That is the liquid level in the tank.
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12-19-2011, 08:20 PM
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#5
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,216
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There is a small device that will give you visual indication inside the TT of when the switchover happens. The sender part replaces the clear little cap on your regulator, and a thin wire runs into your cabin where a small (~1½" square) black box screws to the wall.
When the changeover happens, an LED (powered by a AAA cell) blinks.
Go pull the empty tank and put it in the truck. Done.
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12-19-2011, 09:51 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage
There is a small device that will give you visual indication inside the TT of when the switchover happens. The sender part replaces the clear little cap on your regulator, and a thin wire runs into your cabin where a small (~1½" square) black box screws to the wall.
When the changeover happens, an LED (powered by a AAA cell) blinks.
Go pull the empty tank and put it in the trunk. Done.
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Just make "SUPER SURE" that the tank is indeed empty, especially in the summer, should you put it in the trunk.
Heat makes the LPG expand, and when it expands enough, the pop off valve will blow off some of the excess pressure.
THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN especially in a trunk, since more than likely an explosion will occur.
Andy
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12-19-2011, 10:24 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Spokane
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,162
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Why don't you just use the switch over feature on your propane tank setup? I mean, going out and pouring water on the tanks during the cold sounds like a lot of trouble to me. Fill both tanks and open both valves. Keep your eye on the glass indicator and when it turns red take the bottle that the valve is pointing toward in and refill it. Don't forget to turn the switch toward the reserve tank before you remove the empty bottle. You can get a feel for how long a tank will last this way.
No water, no guessing, no hassle.
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12-20-2011, 05:17 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member 
2011 30' Flying Cloud
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 397
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I read somewhere that when an LPG tank empties, the propane system will begin drawing from the other even though the switch has not been moved over the the fresh tank. True?
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12-20-2011, 05:42 AM
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#9
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CLOUDSPLITTER "Tahawas"

2003 25' Classic
Zanadude Nebula
, Milky Way
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 11,283
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No real tricks...
The panel monitors have proved fairly accurate and we have always opened both valves to take advantage of the auto switch-over feature of the regulator. When the panel indicates low just check the tank window for the red indicator and fill when needed.
Bob
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Sandra wanted to go to Cleveland on vacation,
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Step aside Starbucks, this is a job for alcohol.
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12-20-2011, 06:16 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master 
1977 Argosy 24
Currently Looking...
Milltown
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,075
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack46
I read somewhere that when an LPG tank empties, the propane system will begin drawing from the other even though the switch has not been moved over the the fresh tank. True?
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It draws from the tank that the arrow is pointing to, until that tank runs out of LP. Then it automatically switches over to the full tank provided that you have opened the valves on both tanks. Then when it has switched tanks and one is empty, the window in the regulator turns red to signify that the tank that the arrow is pointing to is empty. Switch the arrow to point to the full tank, and remove the empty tank and get it filled. Replace it and open the valve and you are good to go again.
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12-20-2011, 06:21 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,705
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My obsolete tanks have a gage on them. If I have them upgraded to make them legal to fill then I will have to remove them and put the newer valves on that won't have gages. Progress is wonderful. There maybe new approved valves that have gages. Andy might be able to chime in here. So Andy are there new valves with gages on them? The hot water trick should work.
Perry
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12-20-2011, 06:52 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 811
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aftermath
Why don't you just use the switch over feature on your propane tank setup? I mean, going out and pouring water on the tanks during the cold sounds like a lot of trouble to me. Fill both tanks and open both valves. Keep your eye on the glass indicator and when it turns red take the bottle that the valve is pointing toward in and refill it. Don't forget to turn the switch toward the reserve tank before you remove the empty bottle. You can get a feel for how long a tank will last this way.
No water, no guessing, no hassle. 
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This is what I do.
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12-20-2011, 06:53 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,705
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I wondered what that glass indicator was that is now fogged up on mine.
Perry
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12-20-2011, 07:19 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master 
2003 22' International CCD
Kiln
, Mississippi
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,780
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In situations like the one the OP posted - I would have a 3rd tank full at my camp site. This way WHEN (not IF) I ran out of propane in the middle of the night in a snow storm, I would have fuel to get through the night. The tank I rotate to get fuel would not be that critical in my living needs. BTW - When the weather turns bad the availability of propane becomes a problem - nobody seems to be open.
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Michael & Tina with Layla and Preston BZ The family has grown. 2003 22' INTERNATIONAL CCD
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