171 - Mod - Dual Gas Tanks
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=960
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2025 at 6:31am
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Topic: 171 - Mod - Dual Gas Tanks
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Subject: 171 - Mod - Dual Gas Tanks
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2009 at 3:21am
When we ordered our r-pod the first thing I had the dealer do was to remove the single tank holder and install the Dual Tank Holder. We also changed over the gas regulator so both tanks are fastened at all times. I went with a manual switch over regulator so I know when the one tank is empty and needs to be refilled.  |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2009 at 8:36am
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[ In my best Tim-the-tool-man-Taylor ]
Arrrrrrr - arrrr - arrrr - arrrrr. More power! ------------- 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: bobg187
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 10:48pm
| just curious... what's in the blue jug??? |
Posted By: bobg187
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 10:49pm
| another question: so you don't feel you need a 2nd battery? thanks again.. |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2010 at 12:01am
| The blue jug was a water jug. Happened to just be sitting there while I was taking pictures. I was looking to try to fasten it there but not sure how it would ride down the road. I am looking at putting another battery on but not quite yet. |
Posted By: bobg187
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2010 at 3:10am
| Thank you for that quick response. Can't wait to order mine :) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2010 at 11:02pm
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Welcome, bobg187! For your average weekend boondock trip one battery should be enough. For longer trips you can top it off every other day with a 30 minute charge hooked up to your (running) tow vehicle, using good jumper cables. That said, having two batteries in parallel doesn't just double your capacity. Due to something called the Peukert effect you really get roughly 110-120% more, plus it will increase your long-term battery life so there are big advantages. One 100 amp deep cycle battery (20-hour rating) gives you 50 amps over 20 hours, taking it to a 50% depth-of-discharge. Add a paralleled battery and you don't get 100 amps over 20 hours, you get more like 110 to 120 amps. ------------- 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: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 6:46pm
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I would like to go to two deep-cycle batteries. My R-Pod came with a type-24 Interstate battery. I have an extra type-27 battery which is nearly new. A forum member mentioned not to combine two different sized or different brand batteries. What problems will occur, if I use the type-27 along with the Pod's type 24? ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 9:31pm
Your group 24 battery will overcharge and boil. Lots of heat, probably an acid spill and maybe a dangerous level of hydrogen gas.
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Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2010 at 10:45pm
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Thanks for the warning about NOT mis-matching battery sizes. I didn't know that combining different sizes could lead to so much trouble. When I went in to buy a matching group 24 battery, the store clerk also wanted to match brands. The store manager stated that a customer had literally caused a battery to blow up by hooking two size batteries together!
------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 5:02pm
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They should also be the same age. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 6:51pm
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Just curious, did the dealer remove the existing tank fixture or put the dual pad over it?
I have the parts to do it but the existing frame is welded on, I am thinking of using spacers. ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: Sistahs
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 7:03pm
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My dealer did take off the original tray and put on a new one for the duals. There is an entry on one of these forums showing how to mount the double over the original single. I'll look thru my notebook and see if I can find it. Of course, by the time I find it someone else will probably let you know what entry to look for, but that is fine. We are all about helping each other out. ------------- F150/R-pod171 |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 9:48pm
| The dealer removed the single tank holder and then installed the dual tank holder. |
Posted By: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 10:49am
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Thanks, I"ll see if I can find the other post. ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 11:22am
| I could not find that post about mounting the double over the single BUT if I'm thinking correctly would that not put the 2 tanks pretty high up in the air? I would be worried about how long is would hold before something snaps. But that is just my humble thoughts ...... |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 2:17pm
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I just read through 12 pages of search results (which included old archived posts) and couldn't find anything about leaving the original bracket in place. Lots of mentions of removing it. ------------- 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: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 3:27pm
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Thanks for trying, I have it apart and it will be easier to leave it on and use a 1 inch spacer then to cut the welds so I'll get er done. ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 3:37pm
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it is only one inch higher but I am going to 3/8 " bolts from 1/4" inch so I don't think it will move. ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 10:36pm
| Why was I thinking that it would be at the top of the bars? inches off the frame would be ok. |
Posted By: Wyn
Date Posted: 24 May 2010 at 4:30pm
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I mounted a two tank propane tray on top of the original single tray, I used short lenghts of 1/2" pipe to fill the gap between the new and original holder at each of the four bolt holes. The four bolts hold the tray very strongly, I have not noticed any movement or flexing of the new tray.
------------- Wyn Hudson Valley, NY 171 |
Posted By: barbanjoe
Date Posted: 25 May 2010 at 7:54pm
same way I did it, great minds think alike!  ------------- BarbanJoe 010 Rpod 171 02 Jeep 4x4 12 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: gpod
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2013 at 10:35pm
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where did you find the dual gas tank mount? Thanks! ------------- Matt |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2013 at 9:27am
Should be able to find everything you need at any decent RV shop, or order online from CW, PPL, Amazon, eBay, etc. To do it right you will need the tray, a dual regulator, and another feed line that goes from the regulator to the tank. ------------- |
Posted By: Bill-J
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 5:44pm
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Why not just use the existing regulator and add a "T" at the regulator.... one side for each tank. Then when one tank is empty just close that valve and open the other? The only out of the way thing would be that both tank valves would have to be turned off when you have a tank filled. This would not be as convenient but doesn't require a new regulator and selection valve. ------------- When in doubt, don't. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 6:48pm
Cheaper maybe, but it sure is cold when the first tank runs out at 3AM and it's 20 degrees outside. 
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Bill-J
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 7:36pm
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Charlie, either way you still got to go out in the 20 degree night at 3 am and change the tank. One way you turn the selector valve on the regulator the other way you close one valve on the empty tank and open the other on the full tank. The way I suggested is what I did with 3 propane tanks when I lived full time on a boat....for 25 years and never had a failure. ------------- When in doubt, don't. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 9:11pm
Not so, Bill. With the automatic valves you connect both tanks and select one. When that tank runs empty the valve automatically switches to the other. A red flag is set on the empty tank so you know next morning that it ran dry during the night. Simply switch the selector, disconnect the empty and refill at your convenience, reconnect it and you're good to go until the next time one runs out. If you're vigilant about checking the valve you're never out of propane and you're guaranteed to use all the gas in each tank before refilling it. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 9:15pm
" http://www.amazon.com/Camco-59005-Double-Stage-Auto-Changeover-Regulator/dp/B0024ECBCA - Auto Change Over "... if I am out a 3am and 20 degrees, it's because of the dogs.. not the loss of heat. ------------- |
Posted By: Bill-J
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 10:04pm
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I stand corrected. The only ones I have seen had a manually selected valve but then it has been years since I built and lived on my boat. ------------- When in doubt, don't. |