foldowncandy
Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 01/19/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Our TC has a compartment for only one LP cylinder. I'm concerned about running out of gas on a cold night in Alaska with no convenient place to get it refilled. This is a short pop-up camper without a bathroom. Would it be safe to carry an extra tank inside the camper, moving it outside when we are set up and sleeping? I know they don't "explode", but would there be any fumes given off inside the camper while on the road that would be a problem when the furnace/stove/refrigerator are started in camp (after moving it outside?)
Has anyone carried an extra tank this way or outside and if so, how was it secured outside?
Thanks.
|
Photomike
Southern Alberta
Full Member
Joined: 04/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Saw a unit yesterday on a sale site that had a small platform at the back of the unit for the propane. In their case it was the only propane storage that they had as the camper was more of a camperette with no storage.
All they had was a piece of wood attached to two shelf brackets (light weight looking ones) and a strap that held the bottle to the camper. Did not look the most stable with what they used but you could make one very strong if you used heavy duty brackets.
Mike
2002 GMC 2500HD 4x4 4 Door
1992 Northern Lite 9'- 6" Camper
|
pjay9
Tacoma, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/30/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
If you just want a back-up tank get one of the 1 gallon little tanks, they are so handy and relatively light when filled, you could bungee it to your unit. Capt PJ
PS I have two of these guys for all types of jobs...just handy! And it would get you thru the night! JAT.
2005 Lance 1161/2004 Dodge CTD 3500 Dually
|
SAR Tracker
Sandy Eggo, Calif
Senior Member
Joined: 05/29/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
foldowncandy wrote:....but would there be any fumes given off....
If there were, then there would be a leak, which you should be easily able to identify prior to storing the cylinder. I carry an extra 5-gal tank for the BBQ in the back of the truck on each trip, and never smell anything.
Rusty & Cheryl & Serendipity (dog & Chief Security Officer)
2000 F150 4x4 5.4L/3.55 (108k miles and goin' STRONG!)
2008 Weekend Warrior FB2100
"Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education" - Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
|
pjay9
Tacoma, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/30/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Check this:Tank Bracket
Capt PJ
|
|
|
WX2G
Central Florida
Full Member
Joined: 09/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I spoke to a gentleman who tried carrying a tank inside the "Caravan" on a trip through Australia. He said he just happened to look back as a sudden white mist enveloped the camper, followed by a huge BOOM, which blew out all the windows and loosened the walls to the point that they had to be tied in place to haul the unit back several huindred miles to the rental site. What obviously happened is that the tank was full, expanded in the heat, blew the safety and filled the unit with gas.Something ignited it, and away it went.
I have seen tanks suddenly vent in the summer sun when outside, it is never safe to carry them inside a car, camper, trunk, etc., especially when full.
|
DualCam
Sisters, OR
Full Member
Joined: 05/24/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Just make sure to secure it so it doesn't move around and you'll be fine....no need to make this more complicated than need be.
|
BrandonR
Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/12/2006
View Profile
|
WX2G wrote:
I have seen tanks suddenly vent in the summer sun when outside, it is never safe to carry them inside a car, camper, trunk, etc., especially when full.
Sounds like the tank was overfilled, this is exactly why tanks are only allowed to be filled to 80% of their volume.
Brandon Reed
Albany, OR
|
WX2G
Central Florida
Full Member
Joined: 09/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Of course it was overfilled, especially when it heated up and expanded, which the essential problem. A nicely filled tank at lower tempersatures becomes an overfilled tank when nice and hot. (as in a closed up camper in the sun?)
We all know that no attendant would ever overfill one accidentally. Not a chance. No way!!!
|
JimBollman
Upstate NY
Senior Member
Joined: 08/31/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
On my old camper, the previous owner made a replacement door for the compartment that went into the wheel well that was kind of boxed to give more space in the wheel well. It still didn't stick out beyond the cabinets. This gave enough space to tuck in an extra 20lb propane cylinder, outside the main camper. If I was going to do it today I would go for one of the smaller tanks (1 or 2 gal) that are so over priced that would fit in the wheel well without modification.
The other option that I have considered is one of the adapters that lets you screw one of the small throwaway tanks onto the camper connection. Would give you a little reserve till you could get a refill. My current camper has enough space in the propane compartment for 4 of the little cylinders with the big tank.
Jim...
|
|
|
