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Old 05-16-2018, 01:10 PM   #21
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In some states (I.e. Wyoming) dealers are required to fill the tank by weight, others (i.e. Idaho) will cheerfully sell it by the gallon.

In Yellowstone (no surprise) filling a pretty empty 30# tank is about $28. Just filled one in Blackfoot Idaho and got 7 gallons for $16.
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Old 05-16-2018, 01:10 PM   #22
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We have been living in our trailer since December with Low temps in the low 20's to low 50's. We use about 1 gallon of propane for heating and cooking and hot water per day. Inside temp about 65. We have paid anywhere from 2.87 per gallon (about 4 pounds) to 3.75 all across the southern US Florida to Arizona and up the east coast from Florida to New York. Tractor Supply is good and so is Ace Hardware. It all depends on what state you are in.

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Old 05-16-2018, 01:24 PM   #23
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Cheapest I've found is Costco, where they sell propane. Just returned from there with my 20# grill bottle and I think the price was $2.08 a gal. Anyway it was $7.07 to fill.
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Old 05-16-2018, 02:32 PM   #24
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prices all over

I switched my 30# propane tanks to 40# tanks for easier convenience of not having to deal with it as often. I paid at Ameri-gas $105 for each tank and that was filled! Camping World wanted $110 for the tank empty.When we were out in Montana in October last year I emptied 1 tank in three nights for heat and hot water. We traveled all over the southwest and northwest for 5 months. Propane was within a dollar of each competitor. However gas for the truck was $2.29 in Nevada and $3.89 in California, Ouch. And that"s per gallon not per pound.
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Old 05-16-2018, 03:23 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turk123 View Post
I was pleasantly surprised that when I filled up at Tractor supply, they charged me for what the tank took, not a flat charge for a full tank. That means you can take both tanks to fill up at the same time and only pay for what you get.
This is why I only fill the two 30 lb. aluminum propane tanks on the Sovereign and two 20 lb. steel tanks dedicated to my Weber Q grill at Tractor Supply.
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Old 05-16-2018, 03:47 PM   #26
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Tractor supply charged me just under $20 to fill our 40# tank (Classic 33').
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Old 05-16-2018, 03:51 PM   #27
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I'm doing a propane presentation at the International Rally in Salem and will explain exactly what the confusion is here, among other things.

Lynn



Quote:
Originally Posted by n2916s View Post
In some states (I.e. Wyoming) dealers are required to fill the tank by weight, others (i.e. Idaho) will cheerfully sell it by the gallon.

In Yellowstone (no surprise) filling a pretty empty 30# tank is about $28. Just filled one in Blackfoot Idaho and got 7 gallons for $16.
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Old 05-16-2018, 08:17 PM   #28
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If you can look at gas prices and predict propane prices, and since gas prices always go up in the summer travel months, does propane prices rise when the number of "heating" days increases, aka winter?
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Old 05-17-2018, 01:16 AM   #29
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Pricing Depends On Where You Live

Here is a source for residential propane pricing over the last five years. The data does not support a theory of "heating days" alignment:

https://ycharts.com/indicators/us_re..._propane_price

Comparing regional/state versus national average bases, there is a much higher range of pricing for the NorthEast versus other areas:

https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Researche...Propane-Prices

http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/86.html

More eye opening is the difference in wholesale versus retail pricing:

https://ycharts.com/indicators/kansa..._propane_price
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Old 05-17-2018, 05:00 AM   #30
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If you are exchanging 20# tanks be aware lots of places only put in 15 or 17lbs, check the label, that's why they are cheaper.
That and many places won't fill the exchange service tanks.
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Old 05-17-2018, 06:45 AM   #31
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Our local prices have risen to $1.70 per gallon, up $,20 from a year ago.
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Old 05-17-2018, 07:34 AM   #32
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Propane

Let me start with the basics, Propane is a UNREGULATED industry. Natural gas, gasoline, diesel are regulated. There is no way to accurately compare
price.

Most states I have traveled in do very oversight in the sale/delivery of propane. That means they can flat fee a fill up based on tank size regardless of amount of propane actually dispensed. Some locations sell by volume/gallons dispensed some do it by weight. when selling by weight they do not account for difference in basic(empty) weight of steel vs aluminum.

I am of the opinion I will get best value when I go to a supplier who sells by volume/gallons dispensed. Locally I use tractor supply (I pay for what is dispensed) rather than Southern States (flat fee on tank size)

If buying exchange tanks be wary of inspection date on tanks, if out of date you will have problems if dispensing store follows the rules. Trying to locate a supplier who will inspect tanks can be very difficult.

Just my 2 cents
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Old 05-17-2018, 07:54 AM   #33
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Looking at that historical data site ... I am trying to figure out what happened in Kansas on Jan 27, 2014 that caused wholesale propane to spike from less than $1 to over $4/gallon!


Propane weighs 4.2 lbs/gal. Gasoline weighs 6.3 lbs/gal.
Propane delivers about 92,000 BTUs of energy. Gasoline = 115,000 BTUs.

Propane prices here in central Texas are about equal to gasoline on a per-gallon basis if shopped carefully. TSC is a good re-fill place. They sell by the gallon. Large propane dealerships are some of the worst for small tanks such as on campers. They sell by weight in most cases. A 30 lb tank (7 gal capacity) is $24-$30 at current prices. TSC charged me $15 for 7 gals.

It'd be nice/convenient if gasoline would vaporize as readily as propane... there's good reason to run every outdoor piece of equipment on it. IMO.
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Old 05-17-2018, 08:23 AM   #34
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I filled up in Texas at a campground for $3/gallon.
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Old 05-17-2018, 09:34 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mansderm161 View Post
I filled up in Texas at a campground for $3/gallon.
Since I've never done this, can they refill the tanks IN the Airstream, or do you need to remove them and carry to the supply?

I always see propane stations at Flying J's just beyond the RV fuel dock.
When I sold the motorhome, then new owner was incredulous that I owned it for 10 years and never needed to refill the 60 gallon propane tank. I was usually in a campground with power and if not I had a generator.
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Old 05-17-2018, 10:07 AM   #36
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Costco

Costco is by far the cheapest - almost half the price we see elsewhere. When we ask them why so cheap, they say they purposely sell as a loss leader to get more people into the store. Tractor Supply is consistently reasonable vs. non-Costco alternatives. Both outfits charge by actual amount which we prefer as we have 40 lb tanks. Keep in mind that not all Costco and Tractor Supply stores sell propane so best to call or check on Internet before you go.

Cheers!
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Old 05-17-2018, 04:57 PM   #37
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Propane tanks need expansion room because the gas expands and contracts with whatever the ambient temperature is as well as sitting in the sun or shade.

Running hither and yon searching for "the best price" also has a cost in time, energy and gasoline/diesel. Unless where I am is STUPID costly, I get it where I am as I need it. If you save $3 bucks per tank but spent 2 or 3 hours to do it...did you really save anything?
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Old 05-17-2018, 09:03 PM   #38
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My home is heated with propane. It is delivered for $1.70 per gallon. 200 gallon minimum.
When I take the tanks to my home supplier (Coop) they charge double or $3.40 a gallon. What a rip off.
They fill the tanks by weight, but meter and charge by the gallon. Just filled two 20 pound tanks and one 30 pounder. Cost was $51 and change.
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Old 05-18-2018, 09:43 PM   #39
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If near a Bretz RV in Missoula They sell it for $0.99 a gal all the time each day.
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Old 05-20-2018, 10:30 AM   #40
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A earlier post asked about filling propane tanks on your airstream. That depends on the distributer you are using and in they have a hose long enough to reach. Only 1 time did I full up at a place capable so I would say NO to that question. Fortunately they are easy to remove but they are a little heavy to put back on. I have 40# tanks so if you have 30#'ers yours are a bit lighter.
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