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Old 01-03-2021, 12:23 PM   #1
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Want to Trade my 30lb Propane Tanks for your 20lb Tanks

I am working on lowering the tongue weight on my 2019 Airstream Globetrotter 27FB. It came from the factory with (2) 30lb propane tanks. They are both full.
The AS is located in storage in Salt Lake City, UT. I would like to trade my (2) 30lb tanks for (2) 20lb tanks. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Happy New Year!
--Susan
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Old 01-03-2021, 01:24 PM   #2
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I’m sure you are familiar with your own propane needs but have you considered just using one 30 gallon tank?
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Old 01-03-2021, 01:36 PM   #3
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Or upgrade to aluminum tanks.
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Old 01-03-2021, 01:42 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WEBOPS View Post
I am working on lowering the tongue weight on my 2019 Airstream Globetrotter 27FB. It came from the factory with (2) 30lb propane tanks. They are both full.
The AS is located in storage in Salt Lake City, UT. I would like to trade my (2) 30lb tanks for (2) 20lb tanks. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Happy New Year!
--Susan
Not sure about your budget but one thing I did to reduce weight on the tongue was to replace two lead/acid batteries for one lithium. Saved about 90 lbs.

FWIW
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Old 01-03-2021, 02:19 PM   #5
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The plan to reduce tongue weight is:
--Replace the 30lb tanks with either 20lb tanks or aluminum tanks. (looking at composite tanks, but safety is an unknown without further research)
--Replace the batteries with Lithium
--Remove the spare wheel and tire.

Thanks @jondnc for the aluminum tank suggestion.
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Old 01-03-2021, 03:16 PM   #6
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Check the specs ... you will not save much weight with the alum tanks ... most of the weight comes from the propane inside.
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Old 01-03-2021, 05:34 PM   #7
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I don't know the specs. of your trailer, but keep in mind, you do need a certain amount of tounge weight to be safe. Having to little tounge weight can be worse than to much.

Enjoy,
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Old 01-03-2021, 07:33 PM   #8
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What are you towing with that you need to reduce the tongue weight so significantly?
Do you know what the actual tongue weight is? Have you measured it?
I have use composite tanks with success, but there are quite a few modifications that must be made in order to get them to fit properly.
One sure fire way to reduce tongue weight other than removing items from the tongue is to add weight to the rear behind the axles. This of course will add to the overall trailer weight which might also be a concern.
Also if you add weight to the rear it should be done with a scale so you can truly see where the weight is being moved.
Ultimately having your tow vehicle/trailer combo set up by a professional or at least get professional advice is the best place to start.
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Old 01-03-2021, 08:34 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL View Post
What are you towing with that you need to reduce the tongue weight so significantly?
Do you know what the actual tongue weight is? Have you measured it?
I have use composite tanks with success, but there are quite a few modifications that must be made in order to get them to fit properly.
One sure fire way to reduce tongue weight other than removing items from the tongue is to add weight to the rear behind the axles. This of course will add to the overall trailer weight which might also be a concern.
Also if you add weight to the rear it should be done with a scale so you can truly see where the weight is being moved.
Ultimately having your tow vehicle/trailer combo set up by a professional or at least get professional advice is the best place to start.
I'm consulting with CanAm regarding the towing setup. I'm pairing the new Land Rover Defender 110 HSE with a Globetrotter 27FBT. The Defender has a towing capacity of 8201 lbs, but a max tongue weight of 771 lbs. The Globetrotter's GVWR is 7600. I can shave off about 200lbs from the current tongue weight between the batteries, propane tanks, and spare wheels and tires. I'm also having the factory hitch professionally reinforced.
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Old 01-03-2021, 08:53 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WEBOPS View Post
I'm consulting with CanAm regarding the towing setup. I'm pairing the new Land Rover Defender 110 HSE with a Globetrotter 27FBT. The Defender has a towing capacity of 8201 lbs, but a max tongue weight of 771 lbs. The Globetrotter's GVWR is 7600. I can shave off about 200lbs from the current tongue weight between the batteries, propane tanks, and spare wheels and tires. I'm also having the factory hitch professionally reinforced.
Disclaimer....I noe nothing.
Get a tow vehicle that won't need any "improvements". Improve the AS, Never mind, yours seems made-up.

POI do not go by the AS published tongue weight, the loaded for travel AS will be heavier.

Sweet Streams.

Bob
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Old 01-04-2021, 09:35 AM   #11
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I guess I'm in the Robert Cross camp in lots of ways - buy an AS that matches the factory spec of the vehicle as it stands or buy a vehicle that can safely tow the AS you want. Three words -Safety, Liability, Lives. But what do I know, I've seen pictures of an AS being towed by a bicycle (I wonder what modification they did to do that?)
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Old 01-04-2021, 09:40 AM   #12
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reducing tongue weight

Quote:
Originally Posted by WEBOPS View Post
The plan to reduce tongue weight is:
--Replace the 30lb tanks with either 20lb tanks or aluminum tanks. (looking at composite tanks, but safety is an unknown without further research)
--Replace the batteries with Lithium
--Remove the spare wheel and tire.

Thanks @jondnc for the aluminum tank suggestion.
I did also did all of the above. I moved the spare to the roof rack of my SUV, but it created too much wind noise, so I moved it back. Some travel with no spare since they have road service, as I do. Not quite ready to do that.

One other change - I carry my Honda 2200 propane generator in a rubber maid case over the rear axil, rather than in the the TV. Use 2 spring loaded shower rods to hold it in place. I may figure out a more secure holding system, but did not want to modify the floor by routing in a hold down. Little bit of a hassle, but not much. I am older and moving 50 lb items is a bit much, but I will stick with it. I ordered my generator pre converted to propane. No gas issues carrying it inside the TV or AS.

I have not been able to find reasonably priced aluminum tanks. I purchased 2 new 20 lb, but now I just carry one 30 lb if I need to drop the weight 35. I use the 20's for my grill.

From my experience towing about 3000 miles in the past year, is I need to not have the tongue wt too low. It gives it a slight bobbing. If I run at 12-13%, it tows very nicely. I also switched to a ProPride 3 hitch. Pricey, but I have not had any sway since I made the change. It also does not move when trucks pass or I have a strong cross wind.

e
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Old 01-04-2021, 09:52 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS View Post
Get a tow vehicle that won't need any "improvements".
I concur. Tongue weight and overall load balacing is fundamental in avoiding trailer sway (see video). Lots of vehicles can tow a 7600lb 27' (I think it's actually 27' 11") Airstream, but doing so comfortably (no white knuckles) on more challenging roads and grades is another matter.

In addition, if you are to camp during the shoulder seasons, you will need that extra propane; two 30lb tanks is not a luxury when your furnace is running to keep the inside temperature and your water lines from freezing.

But then, I will not argue with Can-Am RV and Andy Thompson on matters of rig setups...

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Old 01-04-2021, 10:00 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL View Post
What are you towing with that you need to reduce the tongue weight so significantly?
Do you know what the actual tongue weight is? Have you measured it?
I have use composite tanks with success, but there are quite a few modifications that must be made in order to get them to fit properly.
One sure fire way to reduce tongue weight other than removing items from the tongue is to add weight to the rear behind the axles. This of course will add to the overall trailer weight which might also be a concern.
Also if you add weight to the rear it should be done with a scale so you can truly see where the weight is being moved.
Ultimately having your tow vehicle/trailer combo set up by a professional or at least get professional advice is the best place to start.
Adding weight behind the axles of any RV leads to dangerous sway conditions.Thats how these new to towing drivers roll combination rigs.
Giving that advice , especially to those new to towing, is not a good idea.Especially if they have a single axle trailer.The weight is much better forward.
Jus sayin...
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Old 01-04-2021, 10:03 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WEBOPS View Post
I am working on lowering the tongue weight on my 2019 Airstream Globetrotter 27FB. It came from the factory with (2) 30lb propane tanks. They are both full.
The AS is located in storage in Salt Lake City, UT. I would like to trade my (2) 30lb tanks for (2) 20lb tanks. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Happy New Year!
--Susan
If you need to worry about tongue weight like that, you need a real tow vehicle.Dont let your trailer drive your rig.
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Old 01-04-2021, 10:11 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WEBOPS View Post
I am working on lowering the tongue weight on my 2019 Airstream Globetrotter 27FB. It came from the factory with (2) 30lb propane tanks. They are both full.
The AS is located in storage in Salt Lake City, UT. I would like to trade my (2) 30lb tanks for (2) 20lb tanks. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Happy New Year!
--Susan
If you need to worry about tongue weight like that, you need a real tow vehicle.Dont let your trailer drive your rig.
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Old 01-04-2021, 11:39 AM   #17
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tongue weight

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flathead1984 View Post
I did also did all of the above. I moved the spare to the roof rack of my SUV, but it created too much wind noise, so I moved it back. Some travel with no spare since they have road service, as I do. Not quite ready to do that.

One other change - I carry my Honda 2200 propane generator in a rubber maid case over the rear axil, rather than in the the TV. Use 2 spring loaded shower rods to hold it in place. I may figure out a more secure holding system, but did not want to modify the floor by routing in a hold down. Little bit of a hassle, but not much. I am older and moving 50 lb items is a bit much, but I will stick with it. I ordered my generator pre converted to propane. No gas issues carrying it inside the TV or AS.

I have not been able to find reasonably priced aluminum tanks. I purchased 2 new 20 lb, but now I just carry one 30 lb if I need to drop the weight 35. I use the 20's for my grill.

From my experience towing about 3000 miles in the past year, is I need to not have the tongue wt too low. It gives it a slight bobbing. If I run at 12-13%, it tows very nicely. I also switched to a ProPride 3 hitch. Pricey, but I have not had any sway since I made the change. It also does not move when trucks pass or I have a strong cross wind.

e
My TV is a ford f250. I recently took the truck spare tire and put it into the bed of the truck, forwards of the rear axle. My understanding is that anything behind the rear axle needs to be included in the tongue weight. Truck tires weigh alot ,80 lbs+. When traveling I put all of the heavy stuff in front of the rear axle. I am also considering removing the trailer spare and placing it on top of the truck spare. Not sure what a 15 inch GYE weighs with rim but probably 50-60 lbs. That, according to my calculations removes 140 lbs of tongue weight.
Just remember when calculating tongue weight, to add what you carry in your vehicle that is placed behind the rear axle to that weight. It's not just the actual trailer hitch weight that needs to be figured into the calculation. You want to avoid overloading the rear axle. If you take too much weight off the front of the vehicle you will create steering problems.
What is your vehicles payload ?? I think you need a more capable tow vehicle.
What class is your hitch ?? Read the sticker and see what the ratings are with and without weight distribution. You may be making a mistake that puts your safety at risk.
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Old 01-04-2021, 12:12 PM   #18
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I think you maybe chasing the wrong numbers. My understanding is tongue weight is the additional weight added to the truck when you connect the trailer. So if you take your truck to the CAT scale loaded for camping no trailer you have a base weight on the truck. Connect the trailer no weight distribution. Go to CAT scale weigh the rig, your have a new set of front and rear axle weights. Add them up, subtract weight with no trailer. That’s the effective tongue weight you added.
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Old 01-04-2021, 12:13 PM   #19
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You could also save weight using your existing tanks by just not filling to full capacity. Tell the LP station that you only want them to fill to four (4) gallons.

The weight difference between a steel 20 lb tank and a 30 lb tank empty is only two (2) lbs. So you would only be saving a total of four (4) lbs. by doing the swap.
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Old 01-04-2021, 12:17 PM   #20
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Get the composite tanks. Same end game, bit more costly, but meets all your criteria.


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