5 lb propane tank

[tx2sturgis]

There is a wholesale fuel distributor here in my little town that will re-certify the tanks for free, assuming they don't have any problems such as rust, bent handle, noticeable dents, etc.

If the re-certification is due, they slap on a new sticker with your propane purchase.

 

[duckwonder]

Ended up with a 13 lb tank, hope it's not too heavy when filled, all other non-standard sizes sold out all over town.  Hope it's not too heavy.  They are insisting I drill a hole in my floor board, I don't see that happening.  How do you vent or if you don't, do you just rely on the odor in the LP gas?  And what do you say to the propane people when you have not cut a hole in your floor board?

 

[John61CT]

Should be in its own box, best if really sealed.

And yes vented to the outside.

If it's full then gets hot it will vent excess pressure gas into your sparky living space. Boom bad.

That said, plenty just take their chances, if that's you, just tell them you're an adult and won't sue.

 

[Almost There]

Duckwonder - who is 'they'?

I've lived with propane tanks inside my van while in transit for well over 40 years and not had a problem that caused me any worries. 

Propane has a distinctive odor - if you smell it, you need to ventilate well and find the source then eliminate it. Oh and don't smoke or light a match/lighter.

Yes, someone posted a thread here a while back of someone who blew up their vehicle. They were transporting a barbecue grill with the tank valve open and the barbecue turned on but not lit and then they were smoking...Darwin award 1st place. I'm pretty sure you're a little wiser than those folks....you are aren't you??...

Here's a thread from Expedtion Portal that discusses safety of transporting propane tanks:

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/157856-TRANSPORTING-PROPANE-TANKS

It also includes the link to another article explaining the regulations for both US and Canada.

 

[tx2sturgis]

If that tank has the standard sized base, I'd recommend you get one of these stands for it:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/items/?_nk...12&_fpos=&_fspt=1&_sadis=&LH_CAds=&rmvSB=true

 

[duckwonder]

It's not the same size base as a 20lb and it's slightly taller.  I have it in a milk crate with a pillow stuffed inbetween it and the side of the crate.  It does not fit on the floor like I thought it would so I'm trying it on the passenger seat with the seatbelt.  Yes, I am new to the world of propane, have never turned a valve in my life or used a camp stove or a heater.  Always used real fire or charcoal, which is no longer an option since I plan to be out so long.  Yeah, I'm a little freaked out.  On this particular issue I hear a lot of extremes in folks responses leaning either toward locking/bolting it down and cutting holes in the van to making sure the valve is closed and crack a window during transport.  I'm looking for a middle.  And oh yeah, I still smoke, especially while driving but camped I smoke outside.  I don't want to explode, but I don't want the Extreme safety measures, am I crazy?

 

[duckwonder]

Duckwonder - who is 'they'?
-certified propane dealers
I'm pretty sure you're a little wiser than those folks....you are aren't you??...
-only by a slim margin, lack of experience

Here's a thread from Expedtion Portal that discusses safety of transporting propane tanks:
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/157856-TRANSPORTING-PROPANE-TANKS
It also includes the link to another article explaining the regulations for both US and Canada.
-thanks, i'll check it out

 

[Almost There]

I'd suggest reading the regulations (or a summary thereof) in regards to transporting portable propane tanks and make up your own mind about what you want to do or not do.

Have you tried sliding your passenger seat all the way back on it's tracks - in most vans the milk crate will fit better on the floor when you do.

 

[duckwonder]

lol, slightly wiser than the darwin award winner, not the propane guy

 

[John61CT]

Well if you're a smoker you're obviously not too risk averse.

When it's just been filled, ventilate the space in hot weather, use common sense google about checking valves & hoses with soap etc.

But there are lots of good reasons to drill holes in your sheet metal, don't be afraid of that, zinc galv paint and butyl or rubber gasket no worries

 

[tx2sturgis]

I've been carrying propane cylinders (1 pound bottles up to 40 pound tanks) in vehicles for decades. I aint dead yet. I carried them in/on motorcycles, vans, pickups, and cars.

I also use a Wave 3 heater in the van as well as my propane tank.

I did not cut a hole for it. It is strapped to the inside of my van's interior.

You MUST use common sense, ALL the time. No smoking nearby when the tank is in operation. Turn off the valve when you are not using the appliance it is hooked up to. I dont care what other people do or don't do. That is what *I* do.

On top of that, you need to check for leaks, when you attach a hose and/or regulator and after that at least occasionally.

Ventilating the vehicle when you are inside using the tank and heater is a MUST.

If you carry the tank on a seat, in that milk crate, use the seatbelt to hold it in place. If you carry it that way often, then you should get a cargo strap (1" wide cam-lock type strap is fine) to go around the seat and hold it steady along with the seatbelt.


I also have a tank-mount propane fill gauge and CO, propane, and a smoke and fire detector.

You don't need to be scared of propane...but you DO need to respect it.

 

[duckwonder]

I did not cut a hole for it. It is strapped to the inside of my van's interior.  -OK

You MUST use common sense, ALL the time. No smoking nearby when the tank is in operation. Turn off the valve when you are not using the appliance it is hooked up to. I dont care what other people do or don't do. That is what *I* do. -Planned on this, Yes, when in operation.

On top of that, you need to check for leaks, when you attach a hose and/or regulator and after that at least occasionally. -Ok, I can do the spray bottle with water and a drop of Dawn. Yes?

Ventilating the vehicle when you are inside using the tank and heater is a MUST. - Yes, understand this and plan not to sleep with it on.  Will only run a few minutes at a time.

If you carry the tank on a seat, in that milk crate, use the seatbelt to hold it in place. If you carry it that way often, then you should get a cargo strap (1" wide cam-lock type strap is fine) to go around the seat and hold it steady along with the seatbelt. - Hey I just got a strap for getting out of mud, maybe I can use that??  That would give me a place to put it.


I also have a tank-mount propane fill gauge and CO, propane, and a smoke and fire detector. - I got a lift-type gauge for fill-ups and there's a gauge on the buddy hose I plan to use, not sure how reliable that gauge is but I have the other one to compare.  Have co and propane detectors.  Got rid of the smoke detector, and I'm the fire detector.

You don't need to be scared of propane...but you DO need to respect it. -That's exactly where I want to be.

 

[duckwonder]

I'd suggest reading the regulations (or a summary thereof) in regards to transporting portable propane tanks and make up your own mind about what you want to do or not do.

Have you tried sliding your passenger seat all the way back on it's tracks - in most vans the milk crate will fit better on the floor when you do.

I will do both of those, thank you.

 

[user 37446]

Well, the Darwin award for Florida in 2017 goes to:  http://www.wftv.com/news/local/husb...-after-propane-tank-explodes-in-suv/590522199

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Husband, wife hospitalized with burns after propane tank explodes in SUV[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]by: Cierra Putman Updated: Aug 13, 2017 - 11:27 PM[/font]
[img=653x0]https://mediaweb.wftv.com/theme/images/placeholder-16x9.jpg[/img]
ORLANDO, Fla. - A husband and wife are in the hospital with burn injuries after a propane tank exploded in their car in front of the Orange County Fairgrounds Sunday afternoon, the Orlando Police Department said.
Police said the couple was transporting a BBQ grill inside a Kia Sorrento SUV with a propane tank attached on Colonial Drive near the intersection with Pete Parrish Boulevard.

According to police, the propane tank was open and the grill was turned on.

The tank exploded after the driver’s wife lit a cigarette in the car around 3:25 p.m., police said.
The Kia Sorrento continued traveling west on Colonial until it crashed into a pole.

The couple’s injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
The vehicle was severely damaged.
 

 

[user 37446]

So with the exception of basic stupidity like that listed above, I think you have pretty reasonable odds of not killing yourself with your 20 pounder as long as you take reasonable precautions.

Obviously venting would be nice but not all can/choose to do so.

 

[Vern]

You don't need to be scared of propane...but you DO need to respect it.

     ^^^^^
Pretty much sums it up...