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98fleetwood · 01-19-2023, 08:06 AM

98 Discovery 36'
I have a 25 gallon coach tank, and a 40 gallon generator tank. My question is,
If I run out on coach tank, can I switch to the Gen tank?
I recently ran out in the middle of the night with a full Gen tank...(wasn't paying attention).. would be nice to have that option....

MrMark52 · 01-19-2023, 09:03 AM

You actually have 2 separate LP tanks on your coach? Interesting.

A means for piping the 2 together could easily be devised if it doesn’t exist. Since your coach with 2 LP tanks appears to be unusual - it will be hard to say if such piping or switch exists.

twinboat · 01-19-2023, 09:42 AM

The generator tank may be plumbed for liquid propane for the generator, so you wouldn't want to use that connection.

There may be a vapor valve on the generator tank that you could use, you need to look for that first.

98fleetwood · 01-25-2023, 05:19 AM

Yes, there is a 40 gallon tank in the middle of my chassis. I had no idea this was Rare?? The fill ups are right next to each other, where they normally are...

98fleetwood · 01-25-2023, 05:24 AM

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Gary RVRoamer · 01-25-2023, 02:49 PM

Never saw dual LP tanks before on an LP generator RV but it's a nice feature.

As somebody mentioned, some generators run on liquid LP so the tank fuel pickup is low in the liquid region rather than up top for vapor. National RV ran a lot of their rigs with liquid fuel generators, but I've not seen that on a Fleetwood model. But I hadn't seen dual tanks either...

As for can you switch, I don't have clue. If Fleetwood didn't provide some sort of switching valve, you would have to physically connect to the other tank via some sort of Tee that you would add to the propane line. And that tank would have to have a vapor valve available to connect to. We don't have enough information to know how practical that may be.

98fleetwood · 01-26-2023, 06:45 AM

Thx for the input! Learn something new everything I post on here!

ga traveler · 01-26-2023, 09:10 AM

We were a Fleetwood dealer. Your coach has a regular side tank and a remote fill middle tank. The remote fill is the small panel on the right. The tanks are a separate system. It is possible to tie them together, but I would only do that if you are the type that never uses the generator. Most people love their generators, but there is a very small minority that never use them. If you are in that group, you might consider that.
Your generator runs on vapor.

Ted G. · 01-31-2023, 02:32 PM

I have the same setup on my 34 Discovery. The only feed from the Generator tank is liquid through a solenoid valve that is controlled by the generator. So it cannot feed the rest of the coach, which needs regulated vapor. You are probably better off adding an Extenda Stay kit so you can feed the coach from a 20 pounder in the event you run out.

Bigd9 · 01-31-2023, 06:00 PM

The generator operates on LIGUID propane, and a "carburetor" in the Onan generator converts that liquid propane into a vapor for combustion.

When we had our 1997 Discovery, I tapped into the "spitter" lines right at the fill valve area for both tanks. That way I if I ran out of the "house propane tank" was able turn on a switch causing the generator tank to supply vapor through the two spitter lines. With this connection, all propane using appliances continued to work.

However, there is one major consideration though. Do not just use the vapor from the spitter line on the generator tank. If the generator tank is completely full, the spitter line could contain some liquid propane, something you definitely do not want.

98fleetwood · 02-01-2023, 07:22 AM

Thx again for all the input. I originally was wondering if there was a emergency switch from the factory. It was kinda a freak deal that led to me running out in the house tank. At that moment I wished there was a switch. This should never happen again. I may still put the switch in, now that I have knowledge of the systems.
Thx