believer in aluminum tanks!
Hey gang...
I had a rather harrowing experience on a trip last weekend that has made me a believer in aluminum lp tanks. I was cruising down the interstate at 70 mph, and heard a strange bumping and hissing noise. I checked my mirror, and to my horror, saw a white cloud of propane spewing out from under my trailer. I pulled off onto the edge of the road, got out and found both my original 1977 vintage 30 lb. aluminum tanks UNDER the front of the trailer, connected only by the rubber hoses to the regulator. They were still spewing propane from the holes that had been rubbed in them by the road surface. And of course, they were both full! Apparently, the pin that holds the bottom of the upright threaded rod that secures the tanks had broken, and the tanks decided to "take a walk"....I could have lost it all, I guess, but my theory is that the aluminum didn't make any sparks as it was dragged along the road. The only other damage was the copper gas line under the front of the trailer was smashed flat for a couple of feet by one of the dancing tanks, and I've noticed I have no trailer brakes now. Probably pulled a wire somewhere, maybe in the truck interconnect cable. I'm glad I had just replaced the rubber tank to regulator hoses, as if those had broken, I can only imagine the damage to the trailer had the tanks gone all the way under it. Not to mention the "surprised" motorists behind me!
"Hey Martha...did you see that?? That trailer just laid two eggs!"
I'm still shaking a little bit, so I haven't done any repairs yet...other than to order two more ALUMINUM tanks!!!
breathing a sigh of relief here...
JG
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