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Old 09-08-2016, 08:44 PM   #1
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How to remove 1 of 2 propane tanks?

I see no need to carry around with 2 propane tanks.

Has anybody removed a tank?

What does it take?
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Old 09-08-2016, 08:50 PM   #2
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Cut a 4x4 the same length as the tank is to the handle hole and put it in place of the tank and tighten the cross bar down against it. Might have to add a plate to the bottom of the 4x4
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Old 09-08-2016, 10:26 PM   #3
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Can also use 4 inch pvc pipe cut to length of tank and use it in place of the tank.
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Old 09-09-2016, 04:51 AM   #4
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Has anyone tried two 11 gall tanks?
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Old 09-09-2016, 09:31 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mickrock View Post
I see no need to carry around with 2 propane tanks.
Depends on your usage, but it kind of sucks to run out on a cold night on accident.
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Old 09-09-2016, 09:58 AM   #6
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Depends on your usage, but it kind of sucks to run out on a cold night on accident.
X2...

picture this, camping on a cold fall night. You have 1 propane tank and you run out in the middle of the night. How is DW gonna feel about that? I only had 1 tank on a popup when it happened to me but I can only guess how the new conversation would go...

"So you decided that we didn't need the second tank? Were you drunk or just stupid?"

my 2 cents, its always best to have a back up. Either way, have fun and good luck
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Old 09-09-2016, 04:12 PM   #7
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Always camping with 110v shore power,

so between the coolcat heater, a backup catalytic heater, and the propane furnace, we are covered for most situations.

What about the regulator/hose? Do I need a new single tank hose setup, or can I plug the unused tank fitting?
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Old 09-09-2016, 04:26 PM   #8
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If losing 37 lbs is that important to you, you can just remove the one pigtail and plug the port.

It would be better to replace the dual auto-changeover regulator to a single regulator, but plugging the unused port works just fine.
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Old 09-09-2016, 04:29 PM   #9
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So you want to remove a tank, and put something in its place when you could simply keep it there? Sorry, but I don't understand the reasoning behind this. We ran out of propane once during a weekend on a non-electric site, and no resource to fill our tanks until Monday. We were not happy campers. We now keep much better tabs on this situation. It costs you nothing to keep the 2nd tank in place. But if you're talking new hoses, regulator, etc. it will cost you. The old adage comes in here "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." JMHO
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Old 09-09-2016, 04:53 PM   #10
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Do not understand why you don't think you need to take two propane tanks with you?? What would be the benefit? Maybe you can explain that to me I/'m kind of slow
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Old 09-09-2016, 05:07 PM   #11
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Ok, my notion idea is not going to happen.

Thanks for all suggestions, both for and against.
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Old 09-09-2016, 05:11 PM   #12
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Run one tank empty and then leave it that way.

@ dts3204

I am not sure what 11 gallon tanks cost in your area but here they cost more than a 30 gallon.

Two tanks without propane is right at $120.00 plus sales tax.
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Old 09-09-2016, 09:30 PM   #13
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I'll have to admit...I'm perplexed as to why anyone would WANT to remove half of your propane storage. /me scratches head.

Heck, while shopping for an RV, I automatically discount any that only have one!
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Old 09-09-2016, 11:43 PM   #14
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Alright, I'll bite from my perspective. I installed 200 watts of solar panels on the front (tongue side) of my trailer. I also installed a custom battery box with a huge 4D AGM battery just behind the propane tanks. I'm seriously considering getting a Dometic CFX-50US compressor driven refrigerator and putting it in place of my factory frig. I won't need any propane for refrigeration. Since I've added quite a bit of tongue weight to my rig with my solar setup, bringing the tongue weight back down would be a benefit.

I live in Arizona - it doesn't get that cold when I camp most of the time. DW does not camp with me very often. When I do try to run the furnace, it won't start anyway. Yes I've taken it in to be fixed, they tell me its fixed, but when I try to run it at camp, it still won't fire up. Oh well, grab a backup wool blanket.

I prefer to cook and grill on my Coleman Grill-Stove that runs on one-pound canisters than on the grill or stove that came with the trailer. Though I often do like to use the inside stove burners for hot chocolate in the evening.

Now do I really need two huge weights on my trailer tongue? I could get by with one half-filled easily for a week or more.
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Old 09-10-2016, 07:11 AM   #15
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Is there any real reason to question the wisdom on only one tank? I refill my tanks about once a year weather they need it or not. It's a technical question not a philosophical one.

It is perfectly reasonable for a very small camper like an AFrame that uses very little propane. Double that for people who live in warm areas of the country or camp where there is electricity. It can make a difference in towing on tongue heavy AFrame campers and swapping tanks is easy enough.
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Old 09-10-2016, 07:16 AM   #16
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Is there any real reason to question the wisdom on only one tank? I refill my tanks about once a year weather they need it or not. It's a technical question not a philosophical one.

It is perfectly reasonable for a very small camper like an AFrame that uses very little propane. Double that for people who live in warm areas of the country or camp where there is electricity. It can make a difference in towing on tongue heavy AFrame campers and swapping tanks is easy enough.
Well said! To each his or her own!
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Old 09-11-2016, 11:13 PM   #17
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I have both tanks on my A122BH, but have only ever filled one to save tongue weight. I actually just refilled that one tank after three years, and it still had 5 lbs in it.

I'd love to ditch that second tank, but probably only if I could have a new single-tank mount of some kind.

The furnace is the only reason I could see needing more than one tank on a trip. I do boondock a lot, but have only run the furnace once so far.

Otherwise, I'm only using propane for the stove and the fridge. The fridge has probably been on for about a month total with that one tank. It doesn't use much gas!
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Old 09-11-2016, 11:52 PM   #18
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If your reasoning for doing this is to save weight, you could always switch to 2 20# tanks (I'm assuming you're starting with 2 30# tanks?). You would lower your overall tongue weight but still be balanced. Plus then when you run out on one tank, you have backup and know that it's time to refill.
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Old 09-12-2016, 01:32 AM   #19
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I don't use much propane either so I can understand why not to fill and keep the second tank. However, I have decided to keep both tanks on the trailer anyway. Part of the reason was that the tank cover fits snugly over bit tanks. Not sure if the fit would be different while traveling with only one tank in place. The advantage with 2 tanks is that you need not worry about being out of propane when the first tank hits empty.
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Old 09-12-2016, 01:32 PM   #20
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If I were doing looking to lose some tongue weight, I'd use 11 lb tanks, mod the hold down and cut down the tank cover to fit. I already have an 11 lb tank sitting around mostly unused from my car camping days. But even one 11 lb tank would do me for several months as I tend to use an quiet electric space heater in the winter time rather than the noise furnace or coolcat. As long as I remember to refill regularly, it wouldn't be a problem. I'm sure a hold down bracket could be fabricated from readily available parts.
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