Newbie question re. refill of propane tank

[jpfromla]

Must the tanks be removed from trailer to refill? Seems I could save a lot of trouble by leaving tanks in place and pulling up to refill station?..Please advise..Thanks!

Johnny P
wbcci #27309

[wkerfoot]

Depends on the refill station. I have had my tanks refilled on the trailer and off. Not really a hassle to take them off, then you don't have to pull the trailer to the propane dealer. Depending on where you have them filled, ther may not be room for a truck and trailer.

Bill

Originally Posted by jpfromla

Must the tanks be removed from trailer to refill? Seems I could save a lot of trouble by leaving tanks in place and pulling up to refill station?..Please advise..Thanks!

Johnny P
wbcci #27309

[Arcticfox]

It has been my experience that they will ask you to take them off as they weight the tanks as they fill them as it tells them how much they are putting in.
Hope this helped

Cheers
Doug

[switz]

Some stations fill without scales. The bleed until liquid propane comes out the bleed hole and then stop filling.

[cwf]

I would rather have the tanks off... that way I do not have to concern myself as much with potential damage done by refill operator..

Should a valve malfunction, I would rather my AS not be anywhere around it..

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by cwf

I would rather have the tanks off... that way I do not have to concern myself as much with potential damage done by refill operator..

Should a valve malfunction, I would rather my AS not be anywhere around it..

Ditto that! Each year before the start of our fall camping season, one of my two propane tanks is empty and I remove it and place it in our truck, along with any other smaller propane tanks used for cooking, and haul them to our favorite U-Haul dealership for refilling. I would never want to pull our trailer into a lot for refilling propane tanks.

I have the same feeling about gas stations. Fortunately, we are content in camping in San Diego County, where we have beach, mountain and desert camping options year round. So I refill the truck's diesel tank prior to each trip and have only had to stop once while hauling a trailer at a gas station in the past 8 seasons of camping.

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by switz

Some stations fill without scales. The bleed until liquid propane comes out the bleed hole and then stop filling.

True, but then they charge you for a full tank even though it may have been half full.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Ahab

True, but then they charge you for a full tank even though it may have been half full.

The most convenient fueling - at my home campground:

• remove the tank(s) and place them in front of the trailer
• go to the office and get a tag/authorize credit card use
• go shopping, take a nap, enjoy life as usual
• If I'm at the trailer when the filled tanks are delivered the work camper usually offers to mount them for me, if not I put full tanks back on the airstream/grill/etc.

They don't use a scale but do charge by volume (cubic foot I believe) so it's quite convenient to have even partly empty tanks filled prior to taking a trip.

Paula

[ghaynes755]

If your propane refiller is still using the screwdriver/bleed valve method on newer tanks they haven't been properly trained. All newer tanks, the ones with the three sided knob, are auto shutoff when full. This OPD (Overfill Protection Device) valve was made a law in 2002 for all tanks 40lb down to 4lb.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by switz

Some stations fill without scales. The bleed until liquid propane comes out the bleed hole and then stop filling.

If you have a built-in ASME tank, such as on an Airstream Interstate, that's the only way.

Originally Posted by Ahab

True, but then they charge you for a full tank even though it may have been half full.

They should be metering the flow rate, and charging you by the gallon. Again, that's what they do with ASME tanks. If they're not filling by weight and not charging by the gallon either, then report them to whichever state agency licenses propane dispensers in your state, because they're in voilation of state regulations and could lose their license to sell propane.

[eubank]

Ah, not quite. The OPD valves are to prevent home-fillers from overfilling a cylinder. However, if you look at the big book on propane (NFPA 58) that states use to set up their laws, you'll discover that professional fillers are not supposed to be relying on OPD valves as a means to determine full. And for good reason: Unlike professional filling stations, which are inspected, an OPD valve is never inspected again after original installation.

Lynn

Originally Posted by ghaynes755

If your propane refiller is still using the screwdriver/bleed valve method on newer tanks they haven't been properly trained. All newer tanks, the ones with the three sided knob, are auto shutoff when full. This OPD (Overfill Protection Device) valve was made a law in 2002 for all tanks 40lb down to 4lb.

[TBRich]

We have only had to pay for propane on a flat rate for the tank once ... in a mountain town in NM. We usually buy our propane at home ... it is metered and charged by the gallon, which I prefer. Then I know I am paying for what I am actually getting.

[eubank]

Yep, I think I got rooked by that once, too. Paid 30 bucks for my stupidity for not asking first. Oh, well, if that was my last error in judgment, then I sure don't have much longer to live.

Lynn

Originally Posted by TBRich

We have only had to pay for propane on a flat rate for the tank once ... in a mountain town in NM. We usually buy our propane at home ... it is metered and charged by the gallon, which I prefer. Then I know I am paying for what I am actually getting.