Original LP Tanks

[05ModPod]

Hi Again;

Here is a picture of the tanks that came with the A/S - they are supose to be original. They are definitely aluminum by Lennox 16.5 (galon or litre? not sure)

My question is.... can these aluminum tanks be brought up to a shinny finish like we plan for "MoonBeams" skin?

Checking with our LP supplier to see if they will re-do the valves for us.

[overlander64]

Greetings GT6921!

My question is.... can these aluminum tanks be brought up to a shinny finish like we plan for "MoonBeams" skin?

Yes, the tanks can be polished and will take on a shine much as the Worthington tanks on my Overlander pictured below:



The Ruth's (P and S Trailer Service, Helena, Ohio) started out a pair of brand new tanks when they polished my Overlander; but the results can be just as good with your originals - - the only type of issue that polishing cannot solve is severe scrape type damage that will still be visible after polishing. There will obviously need to be precautions taken when attempting the procedure with tanks that have been used, but I have seen the process undertaken by Bill Scott (on a 1966 aluminum tank) during a demonstration on the Wagon Wheels Caravan in 1999.

As a side note, you will want to be sure that your propane service technician is aware that the aluminum tanks require an OPD valve with a dip-tube of a different length than similarly sized steel tanks.

Good luck with your tank refitting/certification!

Kevin

[davidz71]

Kevin,
When you take your tanks in to be refilled, do you put anything around them to prevent scraping or the acid from fingers from leaving spots or do you re-polish/wax when you get them home? A shiney tank is a terrible thing to waste!

[overlander64]

Greetings Craig!

When you take your tanks in to be refilled, do you put anything around them to prevent scraping or the acid from fingers from leaving spots or do you re-polish/wax when you get them home? A shiney tank is a terrible thing to waste!

That is part of the reason that I went with the 40 pound tanks - - so far, I have only had to have them filled once per season. My neighbor happens to run the local propane filling station and he takes great care of the tanks when I take them in to be filled. So far, the only special attention they get is Walbernize twice a year with the balance of the trailer - - a lite Met-Al polish for the spots that show any oxidation (but there have only been two small spots on one tank thus far). I would have liked to have had them Plasticoated, but the Ruth's didn't think that it would be advisable due to the potential for damaging the coating anytime the tanks were removed for filling.

Kevin

[davidz71]

Thanks Kevin. I would think that a cardboard box cut to the correct size, wrapped around the tank and duct taped would serve as a sleeve until you got it back from the propane dealer.

[05ModPod]

Hi Kevin

boy are they ever pretty tanks!

Hard to believe mine will even look close to those

We have a fill station in Lakefield - that you actually put your tank on a platform - the guy plugs in and when he is done you take your own tank off.

So when I go with ours for the first time I will be prepared with a pair of white gloves for the fellows hands

I am more worried about the salty roads on our Winter trip down south each year - maybe a special case will be in order as Craig suggests - but I was thinking more along the lines of those big shinny cases with the soft foam inside