Propane woes

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Ok, my trailer has two propane bottles ... with an auto-change-over regulator dealie ... and I knew one of my bottles was empty, because the little indicator dealie told me so.

But what I didn't know, until Pam told me ... no, she demanded I fill the empty one before winter camping got in full swing ... What I didn't know what how close I was to running the second bottle dry.

When I loosened the little hold down dealie this morning, the bottles about floated off the gas bottle mounts!

So, I'm off to the propane place ... with two propane bottles.

Suggest you check your bottles ... particularly if you have a hankerin' for some winter camping.

As you know, the real campers go camping, winter, spring, summer and fall.

But if I had run out of propane ....

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Speaking of hold down dealies ... for years, Casitas came with a lock-down nut ... so every time you had to remove your gas bottles, you had to go hunt up a wrench to remove the nut.

In 2001, Casita started using a wing-nut ... which in combination with the new style bottle connectors that screw on by hand, make removing the bottles from the trailer a no tools needed operation.

In the past, I always meant to pick up a wing nut to replace the nut on the bottle holder, but never got around to it.

Sure makes it easy to do.

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On my auto change over when the bottle that the selector is pointing to is empty, there is a red band showing in the clear ring on top off the selector. When that tank has propane in it the ring is green.

I check for the red band whenever I turn the propane on. When I see it I refill that bottle and move the selector to the other bottle.

I am posting this to get my count up

Charles please don't let Pam freeze.

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>>see it and refill

Hi Nick! Hope all is well with you and M!

Hey, in a perfect world, that's the way it's supposed to work. See the little red band, go fill up the empty propane bottle.

In my world, it's hey, look, the right propane bottle's empty. Some day, I gotta get it filled up ... maybe next week ... or later.

And somehow, that some day never seems to come around ... until Pam tells me she thinks I'm pushing my propane limits!

Interestingly enough, I'm not the kind of guy who procrastinates purchasing gas for the tow vehicle. I start looking for a filling station at half a tank.

But propane .... well, I often run out, even on my BBQ grill at home.

Rest assured Nick, I won't let Pam freeze. If we run out of propane, we can always cuddle under a bunch of warm blankets .... hmmm, that sounds pretty good to me!

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Orginally posted by Charles Watts
What I didn't know what how close I was to running the second bottle dry.

Skip remembered that we ran one bottle dry when we were in Colorado last summer, but we had no idea how low the second bottle was (until he checked it, at the campground, that is)! So, he made an emergency run to the propane dealer nearest the campground we were at. Didn't want to run out completely, and miss getting the breakfast cooked...

Of course, this kind of thing wouldn't happen if we took the trailer out camping more often. (We'd be able to remember, from one time to the next, how long we've been using the bottle with the green ring still showing.)

Orginally posted by Nick
I am posting this to get my count up

Ditto!

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A lot of the folks on other RV groups have taken to using manual switchover so they KNOW when the first tank is dry.

Not being a serious propane user, I just replaced my single 20lber with a 10lb. I also have a fitting to allow me to connect a 1 lb disposable cannister in place of the bigger bottle when it runs out, rather than carry a second bottle.

Pete and Rats

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Not too sure how they are secured? :o

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3dc76c55c6254propanepost.jpg/>

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I can't see it all that clearly, but I would take a bet that you have a T bar crossing between the two bottles, with a rod thru it that goes down thru a hole in a crossmember of the tongue. The rod is prolly threaded on both ends with nuts on top of T and under tongue. You unscrew the top nut to take off the tank (the top nut could be replaced with a wing nut, but you'd still want to honk down on it with a pair of pliers to ensure titeness).

I'd also guess that the T has notches in it to fit the bottles' valve protection steel; if so, wouldn't hurt to put a scrap of rubber between the T and protector to protect the paint and forestall rust.

Pete and Rats

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Funny picture, Christine!

I know that's not your trailer ... but it is one you saw in a campground?

I think it's illegal to use yellow rope (but don't tell Jan).

If they'd used white rope to secure the tanks (which I can't believe they are doing), it wouldn't be so obvious!

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Maybe it's just a handy place to stow the rope. Not a hold down dealie at all? :laugh

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Look at the propane tank on the right. See how the bottom is 'kicked out' and hanging over the base, and the tank is leaning. Mabe that base wasn't made for 2 bottles?!

Or, if ya don't get the top 'T' bracket on right, and the tanks sitting 'square' on the base, you've got a potential problem if the bottom of the tank scoots out while travelling, the tank is dangling from the hose. Mabe this has happened to em?!

Both tanks should be solid as a rock! The rope picture, while kinda funny, is also kina scary.

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It's only scary if you are following this guy.