Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-27-2012, 09:00 AM   #1
Steve Jackson
 
sideout1961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
Duel LP Tanks

Just looking for advice or ideas on any devices out there to monitor the levels on my duel LP tanks. The panel in the camper doesn't have this option. Just looking to take the guessing game out of the equation.
__________________
2011 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI
2011 Flagstaff Classic 29bhss
sideout1961 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 09:05 AM   #2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Not being sarcastic, but are they cylinders or tanks (i.e. portable or permanent)?

If they're cylinders (portable) you can buy them with levle gauges built in. You won't get a remote reading but you'll know how much is in them by looking at the gauge.

If they're permanent and they don't already have level senders installed you can have them installed and you can have a remote readout from it. If your indicator panel has the function it can be added to it.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 09:12 AM   #3
Steve Jackson
 
sideout1961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
They are portable. They just have the standard bracket to hold them down. Will the level gauges fit with the cover that's on the tanks?
sideout1961 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 09:21 AM   #4
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by sideout1961 View Post
Just looking for advice or ideas on any devices out there to monitor the levels on my duel LP tanks. The panel in the camper doesn't have this option. Just looking to take the guessing game out of the equation.
I often wished for a way to monitor the levels in my 30 pound bottles. Retrofitting my 30 pounders with gauges is out of the question.

Additionally, they don't work all that well as I have one on the 20 pounder I use for the BBQ. My experience has been that by the time the internal pressure drops "into the yellow" you won't have enough time to finish the steaks (JK).

I found that the automatic switching regulator coupled with a daily peek behind the door is the secret to effective cylinder management. As soon as I see the regulator switch to the "reserve" tank (red pops up), I switch over; pull the empty bottle; and get it serviced. You have to look to see the gauge in any case.

The only time I got caught with 2 empty bottles was when the heat quit because I left on the camping trip with a partial (almost empty) bottle and the full one selected as Primary. I had some trouble getting the gas to flow before we left and while switching back and forth to ensure solid gas flow from both bottles, lost track of which one I should be feeding from. My mistake caused us to be pretty cold that night.

If I had a motorhome with a permanent 50 or 100 pound tank; I thought they came with a propane level monitor...
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 12:44 PM   #5
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
The pressure type level indicators ain't worth using as a trotline weight!

The portable cylinders with the built in level gauges actually use floats magnetically coupled to a gauge. They're pretty accurate.

There are also systems out there that weigh the tanks but they're not very accurate either.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 06:39 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
lindy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Jamestown NY
Posts: 588
I've found that with the auto change-over valve that comes with the dual tank set-up, when it changes from one tank to the other I just get the empty tank filled, that way I never run out and never have to worry about the level of one tank of the other.
__________________

2012 Winnebago "Journey To Insanity" 40U
2008 Dakota Sport 4x4
2004 Subaru Baja - DW's
2006 Honda Shadow Aero - TOAD for now.
F.R.O.G. member
lindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 06:48 PM   #7
Steve Jackson
 
sideout1961's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
Very true Indy, I forgot about the change over valve. So when the center dot changes to red that means that it has switched right? Then you just turn the switch to the other side.
__________________
2011 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI
2011 Flagstaff Classic 29bhss
sideout1961 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2012, 11:18 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Twisty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,137
Quote:
Originally Posted by sideout1961 View Post
Very true Indy, I forgot about the change over valve. So when the center dot changes to red that means that it has switched right? Then you just turn the switch to the other side.
Yup.
__________________
FOR SALE 2014 BOSS 6.2L F350
2012 Surveyor SV264
NW Oregon
Twisty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 08:37 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 337
I use to use the auto changeover regulator indicator, but when the TM got eaten by a 2000 Camry the indicator went with the hulk. The new Puma has the changeover regulator, but no indicator. I leave one bottle off so at least I know when one is dry.

That has not caused me any problems with refer (it seems the refer will still run, not well, but run on low gas long enough for us to use the stove which reveals low gas), but I have had to get up at 2 AM on freezing nights to open the other bottle.
__________________
Foard County News & Sassy Schoolmarm
with Lady & Chloe, 2013 39 days, 2014 59 days
2017 GD Imagine 2800BH
'07 GMC Sierra 2500HD Diesel 4x4
Why I got into RVing & More Fun
ng2951 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 08:47 AM   #10
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by ng2951 View Post
The new Puma has the changeover regulator, but no indicator. I leave one bottle off so at least I know when one is dry.
Do you know who made your regulator? I can try to find the manual for you online. I find it hard to believe an auto-changeover regulator has no indicator for when it switches to the reserve tank. It may be different than the one that shipped with your previous camper, but it should have one.

This is the manual for the "Marshal" type.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Marshal Auto Changover Regulators Pamplet.PDF (4.79 MB, 94 views)
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 09:13 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 627
Marshall shows a remote changeover indicator for the 254 automatic changeover two stage regulator, it shows a part number of RCI-24, but I have yet to find one. I changed my regulator to this one because my original regulator would let lp leak out when I changed it to the full tank and disconnected the empty tank.

Just did a search and found it at Dyers RV parts.
Filthy Beast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 09:21 AM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
Even though I have an automatic change-over regulator with an empty indicator, I will still take both tanks off and weigh them before an extended trip or anticipated high propane use trip. If my primary tank is below about 30 lbs., I will switch the regulator over to the other tank, and get my "empty" tank topped off. As these tanks seem to last forever, that procedure is probably unnecessary, but I still do it as a precaution.

My 30 lb. tanks weigh 54 lbs. full, and 24 lbs. empty.
__________________

Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 09:29 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,367
Quote:
Originally Posted by ng2951 View Post
I I leave one bottle off so at least I know when one is dry.
X2
Len & Cheri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2012, 10:15 AM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 36
Quote:
Marshall shows a remote changeover indicator for the 254 automatic changeover two stage regulator, it shows a part number of RCI-24, but I have yet to find one.
www.dyersonline.com/marshall-remote-changeover-indicator.html
Wooly
__________________
2010 Sabre 31RETS-6
2007 Sierra 2500HD Duramax
Reese 18K Signature Series
wooly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2012, 03:36 PM   #15
Member
 
Warrior's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 83
Has anyone used or knows if the Marshall remote indicator will work on a Fairview automatic change over regulator?
__________________
Wayne & June Bowers Camp Mutts Bo & Baby
2011 F250 Lariat 4X4 SCSB 6.7 Power Stroke
50 Gallon Titan Fuel Tank
2011 Flagstaff 8528RLWS 5th Wheel
Reese Sidewinder Hitch 2002 Road Star Warrior
SouthWest Florida FROG
Warrior is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2012, 04:49 PM   #16
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
 
TURBS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
When ones empty switch it over and have the other filled.
TURBS is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:39 AM.