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11-11-2019, 02:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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Plumbing an External Propane Tank
I want to be able to live in my motorhome for an extended period of time. I have a 120 gal propane tank that is the fuel source for the furnace in my shop that I would like to connect to the motorhome. I have seen the Extend-a-Stay setups and understand that concept. My motorhome has a quick connect outlet for a grille. Can I run a hose from my external propane tank (downstream of it's regulator) and plug it into that grille quick connect and supply propane to the motorhome that way?
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-11-2019, 03:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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That quick connect maybe low pressure from your units regulator. You would have to look and see where it ties in, either before the regulator(high pressure) or after the regulator( low pressure).
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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11-11-2019, 03:55 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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Yes the quick connect is low pressure and I would be feeding it with low pressure from the external tank.
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-11-2019, 05:18 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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Need to know the pressures of the regulators first.
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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11-11-2019, 06:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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The external tank regulator label says 9.5-13" WC. There are no tags or labels on the Motorhome regulator, so not sure, but some looking online says 11" WC is common.
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-11-2019, 06:53 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,354
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Only real reason not to "back feed" the propane system with low pressure gas through the grille QD is pressure loss over any distance. If the large supply tank is close, probably no big deal. If not, better to feed high pressure from Aux tank valve directly to one of the pigtails that connects to the vehicle mounted tanks.
This way the LPG is transported to the regulator and the distributed from there.
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11-11-2019, 07:25 PM
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#7
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Rookie
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Selden, NY
Posts: 393
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Why not disconnect your on-board and run an extension from the 120lb tank to your regulator?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KF7LSQN..._vUFYDb32PNAZP
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2006 Chevy Trailblazer
2020 Geo Pro 16BHG
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11-11-2019, 08:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
Only real reason not to "back feed" the propane system with low pressure gas through the grille QD is pressure loss over any distance. If the large supply tank is close, probably no big deal. If not, better to feed high pressure from Aux tank valve directly to one of the pigtails that connects to the vehicle mounted tanks.
This way the LPG is transported to the regulator and the distributed from there.
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I would need to go 15 feet or so.
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-11-2019, 09:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrprovy
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That is a possibility. My fittings look different than that I think. It sounds like I may need to go to a propane supply business.
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-12-2019, 01:16 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 20
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120 lb propane
Be sure the extention hose can handle propane from 120 lb source.
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11-12-2019, 01:44 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Haughton LA
Posts: 68
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I had a tank added to my stationary 5th wheel so I would have to deal with pulling and filling the 30 gallon tanks. I let the propane company do the hookup to the trailer to guarantee a safe connection and proper install. They charged parts and a small fee, but well worth the piece of mind.
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11-12-2019, 01:52 PM
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#12
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,146
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To answer your question, yes it will work as long as you regulate the tank you are using to feed the low pressure disconnect.
It has been reported here several times the factory (in some divisions) use the low pressure disconnect and a portable tank to test the LP system during manufacture. You may want to close the valve on your on-board tank if you want to keep that as a reserve.
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11-12-2019, 02:22 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 606
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake5er
I had a tank added to my stationary 5th wheel so I would have to deal with pulling and filling the 30 gallon tanks. I let the propane company do the hookup to the trailer to guarantee a safe connection and proper install. They charged parts and a small fee, but well worth the piece of mind.
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I agree with this completely. Propane is dangerous and if you aren't certain you know what you're doing, have a pro do it.
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DrLewie
Flemington, NJ
Former: 2007 Cardinal 30W LE
Now:2018 Arctic Fox 27-5L
2008 Ford F-250 Long Bed Diesel
Total of 30 Months on the Road Since 2008
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11-13-2019, 10:56 AM
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#14
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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It's EASY to get this wrong. As I understand it, propane should only be regulated ONCE. Start by watching the RVGeeks YouTube video. Then talk with a CERTIFIED propane professional.
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11-13-2019, 11:49 AM
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#15
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Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greenwood, In
Posts: 528
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Back feeding thru the grill low pressure quick disconnect will work maybe. Maybe because the line size and length from your 120 may not be big enough in id or too long for the id to handle your load. If it is properly sized it will work. the existing regulator should remain closed (no flow) because of the downstream pressure however I would close the tank valve also. You might do this if you are not going to be on-site all winter. The most common practice in the field is to replace the existing inlet "pigtail" with a longer one and direct feed high pressure into the existing system. Your supplier can set you up with the correct system for your area as he is ultimately responsible as he supplied the gas.
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Jim & Debbie England
Do you have Gas? 2015 F350 6.2L CCLB DRW 4.30 axle.
2020 Keystone Cougar 364BHL ,Gone 2012 Yellowstone Ridgeline 34RLT Fifth Wheel
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11-13-2019, 12:11 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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Thanks for all the suggestions everybody. I went to a local propane supply place yesterday and was able to see an Extend-a-Stay setup. My initial concern with using this device was it's size. I don't have very much room to install this device. That's why I was looking for an alternative method to get gas to my rig. After seeing it, it is much smaller than it looks in the pictures and I think it will fit just fine. The other issue I have, there is an earthquake shutoff valve on my external tank, so no premade hose has any of the right fittings on them. The propane supply place can make me a hose with the ends I need.
It's going to be a week or so before I get everything installed (hopefully) but I'll update with some photos then.
So a word on the earthquake shut off valve. I live in the Northwest. They say we're sitting on a potential 9 earthquake. While the device isn't required here in Oregon yet, I think it makes a lot of sense to have. I also have one on my natural gas meter for the house.
https://www.faucetdepot.com/faucetde...yABEgIfkvD_BwE
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2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
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11-13-2019, 07:45 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoenig24
It's EASY to get this wrong. As I understand it, propane should only be regulated ONCE.
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Sorry, but most all home tanks have two regulators on the system. There is a red colored high pressure regulator that take tank pressure and regulates it down to 5 psi. From there the line runs to the side of the house to a brown colored regulator. That one drops the 5 psi down to 11 inches of water column(just under 1/2 psi). You can get a residential regulator that is called a two stage, but the distance from the tank to the house can be a problem at low pressure.
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2005 Dodge Ram
2017Salem Hemisphere 346RK
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11-21-2019, 07:28 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
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So my final setup is an 'extend-a-stay' at the motorhome end (picture 1). I had to add an elbow to the downstream side of the regulator to get enough room to make it all fit. I also added a bracket to support the regulator as I had read a few reviews that said they had trouble with the extend-a-stay breaking. I was hoping for a 20' hose, but the longest hose the propane store would make was 15', apparently the gas can re-liquify in certain conditions with a long hose. I was not able to have the earthquake valve right at the tank because they are only rated for 5psi and it has to be located downstream of the regulator (picture 2). The tank end of the hose has a standard left hand thread propane tank end on it and takes the place of the copper tube that feeds my shop furnace when in use as an external tank for the motorhome (picture 3)
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