Propane tank transportation safety?

One note.. the tongue is part of a "lever".. so the batteries are not accounting for 130lbs at the ball, on our 177, going to dual GC2's only added 27 pounds to the ball over a single G24. The second tank is farther forward then the batteries, but I suspect no more then 30 pounds transferred.

Our 177, dual GC2's, dual 20 pound tanks, electric tongue jack, tanks empty, loaded to camp, we had 380lbs +/-  on the ball. Measured repeatedly with a Sherline.

Originally posted by offgrid OldNeumanntapr, regulations aside, if there is a concern about storing your 2nd propane tank in your camper shell why not get a dual tank bracket and keep both tanks on the tongue?  Many folks here have done that. An added benefit is you can get an auto transfer setup so you'll never run out of propane in the middle of a cold rainy night.

easiest answer.

20 bucks to put on a rack, 20 more to put a double cover on, 70 or so to add a dual auto switching regulator and a second pigtail.

tank mount

Tank Cover


You can buy propane tank stabilizers and then just bungie the thing in place in the bed. either works. Many people who tote a spare in the bed find that a 5 gallon tank fits nicely in a milk crate, which has lots of bungie cord attachment points.

BTW, the inline tank gauges are pretty much useless. They work on pressure, and because they are on the high pressure side of the regulator, they show "working pressure" until moments before.. they don't. pressurized gases aren't used like fluid fuels.. they stay, (and have to) stay, at full pressure until the very end. Dometic makes a sonic tester, there is one available that uses weight, one that uses sonic checks and is permanently mounted to the bottom of the tank(s), and bluetooths to your phone, and of course stick on or the good old fashioned hot water test.

You can also, if you want to spend the money, buy either a transparent tank, OR, a tank with a built in float gauge.

Some options..