Help securing propane tank!!!

if it won't fit under a tonneau in a milk crate standing upright, you can secure the tank in the crate then lay the tank on it's side. I have a shell so it's not a problem for me.

 

@omaguz Thanks man!

Here's another solution for holding down the tank.

$15 Camco 57236 Cylinder Stabilizing Base for 20 lbs and 30 lbs Propane Tank

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-57236-Cylinder-Stabilizing-Propane/dp/B007772I54

If you don't already have a tank you can look into horizontal tanks like the ones used in foklifts.

 

I'm about to add some D-rings in the same location. Is there a nut on the backside of each bolt that I need to worry about, or do they simply screw/unscrew in a threaded hole behind the panel?

 

No nuts back there. Factory put a little loctite on the screws, so they might be a little tough to remove the first time.

 

Propane tanks have a dot number stamped on them. If you look up it’s requirements, there’s information on how they need to be secured for transportation. I don’t think a cop would pull you over just for having it in a milk crate but if you mouth off to him he might.

 

That's what I use (milk crate) and secure it with bungee cords when transporting it. Works Great, perfect fit!

 

Awesome, thanks!

 

Has anyone thought of what happens in an accident when that bottle of explosive gas comes loose from the wimpy little bungee cords.

 

I’ve seen an propane fire ball up close, very close, so did my eyebrows, for a split second before they disappeared.

 

Obvious... That field isn't all that is barren


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7RNYw11XHM

 

Yep. every time I'm driving with 20 lb. tank that's bungeed in the back so I drive like I'm carrying a live bomb, slow and cautious. I go get it filled an bring it straight home. Thank goodness it's short drive!

 

You shouldn't transport a propane tank on its side, not even the ones that are mounted to a forklift on their side. Always transport them standing up.

If anything goes wrong with the valve or the pressure relief valve opens, a tank on its side can leak liquid instead of gas. Liquid is much more concentrated than gas, so a liquid leak empties the tank much faster, making a bigger fireball when the leaked propane ignites. There's a pin on a forklift that forces a horizontal tank to be installed at the right rotation to prevent liquid at the gas port, but the tank could be at any rotation while being transported.

A forklift propane tank has different fittings that will not mate with the propane fittings of grills or heaters. They look similar, but they aren't the same size. You either have to make an adapter out of a bunch or expensive pieces or you have to install a different fitting.

 

crosspost bump

Is there an ELI5 for this?

Consensus seems to be 10-11lb is best. That 1lb doesn't last long, and likely costs more.
I do see a few 6lb's though.
Some things only take 1lb, like small Heater Buddy. Not sure how fast it uses it.
So I assume you keep at least one 1lb bottle, for a device like that which only works with it.

But not dual burner stovetop, which I see people fuel with big tank.
Where do you get the hose accessories needed to connect the big tank to stovetop?

What's the best place and price to get 10-11lb?

How is refilling?
Last time I had a big tank for a grill, you go to where has it (grocery store) and they trade it for another unit.
So I'm not sure how that works if it's an atypical size (10-11lb vs regular home grill 20) if they may have it, and the grocery store likely gets what they have in a cage delivered from somewhere else
Trying to imagine buying a tank for $50, putting some stickers on it, then being told no one can refill it or there's no matching tank to trade for what you own and personalized

 

Propane tanks are dot regulated. Every x amount of years they need to be recertified. I don’t have the exact time table but it’s something like 5 years when new, then 2 years after that.

I’m not certain but I think the grocery store tanks don’t have a liquid port. Forklift tanks have a liquid, vapor, and separate bleeder ports. They use the liquid port to feed the engine. I had a small grocery store tank and made my own adapter to attach to a forklift. I had to get some parts from the welding store, modify one with a threading tap, then use a female forklift coupler. What’s odd is it worked fine using vapor on forklifts.

If you want to keep your personalized for at least until it needs to be certified, you can go to a place that fills them instead of doing a swap. Welding supply shops, gas stations, equipment rental, or go straight to a place that sells propane and has tank trucks to deliver refills to various locations. These places look at the tank stampings, if it’s past the certification date, they won’t fill it. You could possibly find a gas station to fill it because the guy doing it doesn’t know any better.

 

I'll call and ask around who does it, just to see if sub-20lb is even a possibility
I'd imagine date stamp would be fine, if ordering a new smaller one (5, 10, 11) online that it would hopefully be brand new

 

Something to further complicate your decision. You can also get aluminum instead of a steel tank. Maybe even fiberglass. Aluminum tanks are much lighter. A modern forklift with an injected engine is supposed to use an aluminum tank to help keep the fuel system clean. But I see steel tanks on them all the time.

 

got a #20 for 59.99 then filled up at TSC put in a $7 milk crate
Damn this thing is big
Might keep it in the cab and pray to God nothing bad happens
right now I only have one $40 CO + gas alarm in the bed

Ignik 10lb growler with the cover bag from REI looks really nice but dear lord, $200 + tax and fill

 

If you peruse the second hand or thrift stores they may have a metal version, much better/safer than plastic.