Disposable Propane Bottle Safety

[JaceBeck]

With apologies for a rather basic question, I just bought a portable gas grill for our family travels that uses the 1# propane bottles. I changed from my old Coleman stove and charcoal grill because I don't like hauling cans of "white gas" fuel for the stove, nor lighter fluid for the grill.

So...has anyone heard of problems transporting these small propane bottles in the storage compartment of a trailer (or anyhwere else for that matter) due to heat, movement, etc? I don't want to carry them in the truck with my kids strapped in the back.

Any thoughts or experience? How volatile are these things?

Can I leave them in the trailer in the summer heat between trips?

P.S. I have considered a hook-up to the 30# bottles on the trailer but find that it is either too restrictive on where I can cook based on the types of locations where we camp, or I will have to have too long of a hose.

[BobbyW]

Attached is the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) from Coleman for the Handling and Storage of Propane Bottles. You will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. http://www.acrobat.com

I cut and pasted the answer to your question below

Handling and Storing
Handle and store propane in accordance with NFPA 58 and local fire codes.
· Keep containers away from heat sources or temperatures exceeding 130 degrees F.
· Do not drop or roll any container.
· Store and transport containers with relief valves in vapor space.
· Keep all container valves closed when not in use.
· Keep protective caps (if applicable) on containers when not in use.

The MSDS is below

-BobbyWright

[alan]

Something you might want to consider is buying a small propane tank and connecting hose to replace the little green propane bottles. The small bottles seem to run out at inopportune times (like halfway through cooking the baked potatoes). Not to mention they are pricey (about $10 locally for 4). I bought a 5 lb tank (which is quite compact) and a hose for connecting to the grille (also works with propane stoves). It is the equivalent of about 4-5 of the small bottles. Cost to fill it locally is about $1, so in two fillups I've paid back the cost of the 5 lb tank.

[davidz71]

Jace,
I've used an 11 lb. tank for over 20 years with a catalytic heater in tents and a 3 burner Coleman propane stove. I still take it along when I want to cook outside the Excella and a grill is not available. I smelled propane one hot afternoon after returning from a trip so the tank is taken out and stored in the garage for safety reasons. If I were using smaller cylinders, I would be inclined to keep them in a plastic milk crate just like I have done with 20 lb. tanks for years. That keeps them from tipping over and they don't roll around. It also enables you to take them out at the end of a trip. You might consider a 5 lb. tank which is what I bought my 21 yr. old. when I got him a protable grill to take on trips. It is much cheaper than the cylinders.

[Allan]

In an RV Mail-order Catalog I saw an attachment/hose/fittings that allow you to fill the small 1# bottles from your main (30# - 40#) tank. I believe it only cost about $10 and if it works OK would pay for itself pretty fast. Has anyone used one of these or know anything about them?

Allan

[davidz71]

Jace,
I noticed that the previous owner of my '77 had put a T near the valve going to my frig. My guess is that they had a flexible hose connected there at one time going to an outside grill or stove. It is capped off now. If working off the front of the trailer is not an option then you might consider tapping off one of your other lines under the trailer.

[JaceBeck]

Thanks for the helpful hints. From this forum and other discussions, the bottles seem to be relatively stable, so I believe that I will put them in a small crate-like container and remove them when the rig is not in use.
My goal is to minimize the amount of junk in the truck and inside the trailer that has to be shuffled around and at the same time have the flexibilty to grill without long LP hoses that would ultimately become a jumprope for my two little girls.
Thanks again!!
Jace