Dot Cylinders To An Asme Motorhome Tank, can it legally be done on a Truck Camper?

[RedneckExpress]

I'm broaching this here to see if someone can point me to any regulations if they exist in regards to using a permanently mounted ASME Motorhome Tank on a Truck Camper in place of DOT Cylinders?

My two 20lb Horizontal DOT cylinders only hold 3.2 gallons each on propane which replace the original two 1973 20lb Horizontal DOT Cylinders which held 4.5 gallons each (With a 80% safety check valve). I'm considering upgrading to a 9.8 Gallon ASME Tank which would fit in their place in the old propane compartment without any real changes to it.

So my question is, can a ASME Motorhome Tank be legally used in a Truck Camper?

[Ray,IN]

My personal opinion is, it should be legal, but the tank would have to be in a protected space. Motor Home LP tanks are inside the frame rails. Why not just revert to the horizontal cylinders? The total amount of LP will be within 8 tenths of a gallon. Then you wouldn't have any legality issue.
IMO, converting to a permanently mounted tank would be a hindrance, not an upgrade. If the tank went empty while boondocking you have no choice but pack up and go get LP. With cylinders you can unload (probably already is) the T/C and go get fuel.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN Motor Home LP tanks are inside the frame rails.

We've had five MH's, none of the propane tanks have been inside the frame rails and all have been ASME tanks

[Dave78Chief]

There is no rule that says an ASME tank has to be installed within the frame rails. You do have to use ASME approved mounting hardware. If it is behind an access door, then a lable indicating it exists behind the door should be present (fire dept. safety). You will have to provide access to all the valves and vents on the tank though so the fill station operator cann access them.

Here is a little useful information on LP Systems: http://www.bustropolis.com/files/dow...nformation.pdf

Dave

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave78Chief There is no rule that says an ASME tank has to be installed within the frame rails. You do have to use ASME approved mounting hardware. If it is behind an access door, then a lable indicating it exists behind the door should be present (fire dept. safety). You will have to provide access to all the valves and vents on the tank though so the fill station operator cann access them. Here is a little useful information on LP Systems: http://www.bustropolis.com/files/dow...nformation.pdf Dave

Thanks for that link!

[TDiGuy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedneckExpress I'm broaching this here to see if someone can point me to any regulations if they exist in regards to using a permanently mounted ASME Motorhome Tank on a Truck Camper in place of DOT Cylinders? My two 20lb Horizontal DOT cylinders only hold 3.2 gallons each on propane which replace the original two 1973 20lb Horizontal DOT Cylinders which held 4.5 gallons each (With a 80% safety check valve). I'm considering upgrading to a 9.8 Gallon ASME Tank which would fit in their place in the old propane compartment without any real changes to it. So my question is, can a ASME Motorhome Tank be legally used in a Truck Camper?

HI
Check out
New and Reconditioned RV Parts & Accessories - RV Surplus
They are in elkhart,In and have lots of good tanks..
Just got a replacement 100 pounder for my beaver mh...
good luck
jeff

[TDiGuy]

HI All,
Also check out
www.propanesettlement.com
Blue rhino was only putting 13lbs in there 20lbs tanks and advertizing 15lbs...
later
jeff

[RedneckExpress]

RV already has 2 3 year old 20lb Horizontal Bottles that were installed to replace the factory originals from 1973.

The originals, which did have a 80% safety valve, filled to 4.5 gallons each.

The New cylinders, with OPD valves, only fill to 3.2 gallons each, no matter who what and where they are filled. The OPD valve closed at 3.2 gallons, and goes no further.

I've had them repurged and checked and a great many other things and it has made no difference.

I contacted Manchester tank and they replied that they have deliberately set the level lower on their newer horizontals, only 66% fill vs 80%, because of the potential of the RV being out of level, I don't understand the logic in that, personally, since the pickup tube is still way up at the top just like before.

So, right now, I can only carry 6.4 gallons of propane with those two cylinders. I've found a 9.8 gallon (what it holds at 80% filled) ASME RV motorhome tank that will fit in the existing propane compartment enclosure. This is 3.4 gallons more propane than the existing system will hold, utilizing the same compartment.

I still have an auto-changeover regulator that will be in place even with the big tank, and a 5' pig tail that I use right now to connect my camper to a 100lb propane cylinder that I keep at my base camp site.

If I plan to extended dry camp in cold weather where propane consumption would be more of a concern, I can buy a 30-50lb vertical cylinder and bring it along and use it as the main via the external pig tail and refill it when it runs out.

For majority of you who live on the east coast where they sell propane cylinder fills by weight, that is non-existent out here in the west, were all propane is sold by the gallon and cylinders are filled till the OPD cuts them out.

The ASME tank I'm looking at is Part # 66-4942 on this page:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/l...opane-tank.htm

[Dave78Chief]

Will you have any mounting problems? The brackets are on the top.

Just be glad you do not have to fill this 80 gal behemoth:



Rig was originally dual fuel but LP parts at engine were misplaced long before I bought it.

[RedneckExpress]

I have enough space around the existing enclosure to install a structural cradle to support the tank so that it can be bolted into a frame tied into the floor and sides of the camper.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDiGuy HI All, Also check out www.propanesettlement.com Blue rhino was only putting 13lbs in there 20lbs tanks and advertizing 15lbs... later jeff

Your link got messed up somehow. Here is one that works.

[RedneckExpress]

Thanks, though the Blue Rhino Exchange tanks have no bearing on my situation, as those are vertical 20lbers vs Horizontal 20lbers. I get my tanks filled by the gallon at a propane distributor.

[TDiGuy]

check out rvsurplus... they have all different sizes and configurations... mine required that the fill be on the end and not the middle of the horizontal tank... all are certified for rv use. My only regret is that i did not have the money to get the biggest one that
would fit. I would recommend the "rubber hose option". It allows me to disconnect from the rv and hook up to a 20 lbs or what ever so I don't have to move the rv.... that is how I found out about the Blue Rhino thing

[wirelessenab]

Why would your horizontal tanks have OPD valves? Horizontal and liquid withdrawal tanks are exempt from the OPD requirement.

I work at a propane refilling station and I have never seen a 20# horizontal tank that only took 3.2 gallons. All that I have filled took the normal 4.5 gallons or so.