Propane Tank
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4912
Printed Date: 18 Jun 2025 at 12:49am
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Topic: Propane Tank
Posted By: David and Danette
Subject: Propane Tank
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 11:51am
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Today at Camping World we bought a Worthington propane tank with a built in gauge that is interesting. It works with a built in float something new to me. I have a question as far as storing it since we only have a place on our camper for one tank does anyone have any suggestions how we can travel with a extra tank? We have a large storage compartment but no ventilation the compartment for our current tank only has the space for a 20 lb. tank. We are using more propane now because our refrigerator is only 2 way it doesn't fully operate with 12 volts as our r-pod did, we miss that option.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 1:35pm
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I think the only safe option is to get your rack converted to hold 2 tanks. Inside the vehicle or pod will get too hot and cause it to vent. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 3:23pm
That is not a option with the Vibe the V nose takes up the space where normally a travel trailer would have there propane tanks located. The Vibe has a small compartment with a door with room for one 20 gal. propane tank. The compartment has sides but no bottom for ventilation, the tank sits on a rack. Our truck has a cover over the box that may get to hot, I don't what to do. I thought of in the large storage area in the back, I could build a compartment and cut ventilation openings in the floor similar to the battery, that too is in a compartment in the camper. Now if more people bought Vibes someone have this figured out  this is a big advantage in owning a r-pod they are so popular there are so many creative talented campers.------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 8:38pm
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Can the cover on the bed be partially opened (soft vs. hard)? If it can I'd go with the truck bed. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2014 at 8:37am
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Milk crates are just right for 20# propane bottles. It's pretty hard to tip one over in a milk crate. Personally, I'd put it in a crate and put it on the floor of the pod if the back of your truck won't work. Ventilation is good, but the back of your truck isn't air tight and neither is the pod. There is theory and there is reality. In reality, you are very unlikely to get in any trouble in either location. Of course in theory you could blow up most of North America. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2014 at 9:24am
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I think you could build a vented box for the second tank and put it in the large storage compartement under the bed of the Vibe. if you put the box on the rear wall of the vibe you would even install an access hatch. You might even be able to install a dual regulator so that you could have both tanks hooked up at the same time.
Another option it to put rack on the back of the Vibe to store the tank on. Not a fan of propane stored on the back of an RV but lots of class C and B campers do it. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2014 at 1:39pm
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Is there enough room to do a 30 pounder? that would give you 1/2 more duration anyways. One of the things I noticed when we saw our first vibe was the way the propane tank and batterylayout didn't lend itself to adding more for boondocking.. ------------- |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2014 at 4:44pm
Unless there is some king of overhead clearance issue, or the propane hose is not long enough, a 30 pound tank has the same diameter as a 20 pound tank. I installed one on my R-Pod no problems. There really isn't room on the tongue for 2 tanks without a lot of metal work involved. |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2014 at 5:22pm
There is only enough room for a 20 lb. tank, it is a compartment enclosed with sheet metal, plywood around the sheet metal its under the front part of the dinette seat with a door on the outside with two latches. After reading everyone's comments on this forum and Forest River I think Doug ( techntrek ) has the best answer in the back of the truck. I am going to check to see how much ventilation there is. With the weight of a full tank of propane, I think I would rather if possible to have that in the back of the truck. And leave the room and cargo weight for more important things in the camper. If you want you could go to Forest River under the V Cross owners forum and read there response. With a single axle trailer you need to have things balanced properly and needing ventilation I think the back of the truck would be the best place for it. I read it was better to have your cargo as much as possible in your tow vehicle than your camper, its safer that way. Thank you everyone for your thoughts they all helped me in making a decision. There are a few Vibe owners out there who helped too  and of course r-pod owners too .------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:07pm
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I just read on the V Cross forum that D.O.T. does not allow a propane tank to be stored in a locked compartment. The bed of our truck locks and would want to keep it locked if we had things of value stored in it. If this is true about D.O.T. I may need to make a decision not to keep anything of value in the bed of the truck or find another way to store the propane tank. I am sure in time I will have it figured out. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:13pm
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Did you see the news report about the food truck in Philadelphia that blew up from a propane leak? Even in an open area propane stays low to the ground and doesn't disperse. That may be why DOT rules are that way. ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:44pm
News Story http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/02/food-truck-explosion-philadelphia/12010003/ - http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/02/food-truck-explosion-philadelphia/12010003/
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:55pm
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We need to be careful and that is why I want to find a safe place for the tank! Not to be over paranoid but use common sense and make sure I am making a safe decision.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 3:25pm
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Once at your campsite, pull the cylinder out of the back os the truck and drop a padalock through it and one of your safety chains.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 3:30pm
Took 10 minutes. Cut the factory one off, bolt down double tank holder base in existing holes, mount tanks, plumb.  ------------- |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 4:19pm
Actually even the 40lb tank is the same diameter. My only concern straying away from the 20 is nobody does exchanges on the 30's/40's, at least not that I've ever seen. Out on the road* exchanges of 20's are all over, getting a 40 filled may not be handy. I've even seen unmanned 20 lb tank exchange systems that take a credit card swipe and pop open a door to let you get your filled tank then you place your empty in that compartment. I'm not too impressed though - the one time I tried to use an Amerigas one, it wouldn't open the door, and of course there is no means of them checking that and it billed my credit card anyway  Took a few phone calls to get my money back. *I never use an exchange at home, it is much cheaper to get a tank refilled- and most don't know the exchange tanks generally only fill 15 lbs so the charge is even more than you think at first glance. Here is a question for Colorado residents- I was camped at Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park and ran in to Estes Park to get a tank refilled. The guy asked me who owned the tank. What? Well it had an Amerigas or some such wrap on it and he said he couldn't fill it! Being a little bit of a smart*** I sarcastically asked if I peeled the wrapper off would he fill it? Sure he said! So I did. Is this normal in Colorado? Never run into that anywhere else. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 10:34pm
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Just one more reason why I'm keeping my new tank.
Plus the exchange tanks usually look really crappy; paint peeling, multiple colors, etc.... ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |