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10-31-2017, 07:10 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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External 125 Gallon Propane Tank w/hose into FILL of RV Tank?
One of our local bulk propane suppliers in town gave an option which sounds pretty good since we want to use our Coach in the cold weather here at the house. I realized our Coach's LP 31 gallon (26 usable) tank won't last the entire cold months.
They provide the 125 gallon external tank for free, just have to commit to to approx 130 gallons a year delivered at the normal propane per gallon rate (cheaper in the warm months of course). If we do under 130 maybe over 100 that is fine.
What he said they do for RV's, they connect the external tank to the built-in RV tank's Fill valve, takes seconds to connect/disconnect. The hose does not have to be buried and the external tank must be 10' from the Coach, we have plenty of room for that in our yard.
The only negative is the built-in tank's propane will be used first then the external tank so when we want to leave, our built-in tank will be empty. We will have to travel 15 minutes to fill some for on the road. I don't think that is a big deal.
They include that hose. We can buy that for $60 if we owned our own external tank, I guess they come up for around $200 used when people switch to another heat source in there homes. After the first year, you lease their external tank for $60/year. They been doing it this way for RV's for many many years.
I think the external tank would allows us to use the LP furnace during the entire cold months here in the PNW and I could exercise the LP generator (under load) when needed. No upfront costs, only the cost to put in 100 gallons of propane, currently $2.49 per gallon (last month it was $1.79). A good emergency setup here in the yard if we have another freak storm and lose power again for days.
When I have read posts here, it seems everyone is modifying their system for a external tank and not using the fill valve as this company does.
Am I missing something here?
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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10-31-2017, 07:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 665
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Check extend a stay you can add after your RV shut off valve use from the 125 First your RV tank will still be full.
__________________
Larry and Sheila 2008 Fleetwood Discovery 39R
Retired U.S. Air Force (SAC) Vietnam Veteran
2022 RAM 1500 5.7 HEMI
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10-31-2017, 07:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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Yes I do know about that, probably should have had something like that installed recently as our Coach's 22 year old propane tank (and dual Regulators to 1 high capacity Regulator) was replaced due to a cracked mount (no one would repair/weld it due to liability reasons).
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/asme...nk-354664.html
I thought the built-in tank would do it for all the cold months here in the PNW (Western Washington State) since it's bigger than many RV's we looked at. Ours is 16" x 42" 31 gallon / 120pound Manchester 6845 ASME tank, all brand new now.
But, I have to admit, using the fill valve on the built in tank from a external tank is so quick. Just not sure if I am missing something whey I don't want to do this. I don't see it as a big deal when we leave, go down the street 15 minutes and fill up with 1/2 tank for on the road for long trips, full fill for short trips.
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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10-31-2017, 07:37 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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I used to deliver residential propane in the NW Houston area. Check with your propane company and they will probably fill your built in MH tank while they fill your external tank. We used to fill MH's all the time and just asked for a couple day delivery window so we could fill it the next time we were in the area close by.
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10-31-2017, 07:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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@grindstone01 yes I believe they would fill both the built in tank and the external at the same time.
I think we'd only need one fill per year (of course fills for built-in tank for travel).
I had called another company, Ferrelgas, and they didn't offer that type of connection and in fact wanted about $600 for a new leased tank installation , some work on the RV system and something else
Ferrelgas said they actually would not fill the RV's built-in tank as their trucks use a very high pressure to fill large external tanks and they don't reduce that pressure for smaller tanks. I think BS and they just want all the $ for what they offered.
I just haven't seen other posts about this type of setup (external tank hose to built-in tank's Fill valve) being offered. Apparently this is a common hose and only $60 (and that is at the Fuel Company, probably cheaper elsewhere). This company has been in town since 1925. The gentleman I'm speaking with said he has personally been setting up external tanks for RV's like this for over 20 years. He could also connect the other way if I wanted (there is some minor costs involved with that adding to my existing system) but did explain the only negative to using the fill valve on the built-in tank from external tank.
Anyone else using a setup like this or even seen/heard about this possibility?
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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10-31-2017, 08:07 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,405
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Question, does the generator run on vapor or liquid propane ?
Some draw liquid and if it does, it draws from the bottom of the tank. That would make it unable to run, for exercise, once the tank was empty.
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10-31-2017, 08:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
Question, does the generator run on vapor or liquid propane ?
Some draw liquid and if it does, it draws from the bottom of the tank. That would make it unable to run, for exercise, once the tank was empty.
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It's vapor, I'm pretty sure, there are two separate lines after the regulator, one goes to the generator, the other to furnace/fridge/stove top/hot water heater. Originally, this Coach had two Regulators, replaced with a single high capacity Regulator along with a new propane tank.
I didn't understand why this Coach had two regulators, never seen that, so I asked:
See: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/asme...rs-358965.html
The generator is a Generac NP-66. Running well before and after the tank/regulator(s) setup change (after I found out about holding the start button down for 3 seconds after the generator started and now know about an option kit for this ) - Believe I found out about this here: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/why-...on-356773.html
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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10-31-2017, 08:40 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 88
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Ferrell gas
I call BS on Ferrell gas. My propane company (Peninsula Propane) fills my 100 gallon, 4 - 25 gallon bottles and a couple of 4 gallon bottles for me all out of the same truck.
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10-31-2017, 08:59 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plain ol Bil
I call BS on Ferrell gas. My propane company (Peninsula Propane) fills my 100 gallon, 4 - 25 gallon bottles and a couple of 4 gallon bottles for me all out of the same truck.
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That's what I also thought... and they were quoting some pricing that I thought was high eve before call the another company.
I called ACME Fuel in Oly (since 1925 here in town, probably the cheapest propane as well here), only cost is the fuel for first year, next years is $60 for the tank per year leased but I can get on a list and he said these 125 gallon external tanks used go for around $200.
So External tank setup for $249 plus tax which is for the propane (current pricing). $179 last month
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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10-31-2017, 11:06 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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We filled many small tanks from the truck although a scale is supposed to be used to do it right. The only thing needed is an adapter to fit the truck hose end to the small tank end. RV's use a single double stage regulator whereas houses use two regulators, a one stage high pressure regulator (red) at the tank and a second stage low pressure regulator (gray or blue) usually at the house where the gas line enters. This keeps the low pressure in the house piping whereas any high pressure gas would act like a blow torch if it leaked in the house. The double regulator at the RV tank keeps all the propane at low pressure which is near the RV. The big gas companies are a PITA to work with from a customer standpoint (they just don't care), go with a small local supplier and you will get better service. Motors run off gas vapor, the difference is the regulator is on the motor usually where the carburetor was located and high pressure is fed directly from the tank.
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10-31-2017, 11:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,050
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We had Suburban set a 125 @ our camping pad @Port Susan Camping Club in Marysville. I just shut off the coach tank and removed the POL spud, then used that spud hooked to a quick disconnect connector to the line to the 125.
I also "2 staged" with a high pressure regulator at the 125 tank, then it ran to the existing low pressure regulator that is on the coach.. (The tank supplied by Suburban was 20' from the coach)
Took about 5 minutes to disconnect and put the POL back into the coach tank if I decided to head to Quincy Lake for fishing.
After the initial fill, I had them put me on a "keep full" program as I was on the road trucking for 3 month at a time & didn't want the coach to run out when I wasn't there.
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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11-01-2017, 04:29 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,963
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I'd install a four-way tee. That way you can keep the tank valve shut, with a full tank of propane, and use whatever size of "portable" cylinder you want to supply the coach. Depending on if/how much the coach's regulator has to move, it can take less than a half-hour to install.
Here's a link to the Camco version of the tee I installed on our coach. on how to install it. Here's a link to a non-video Web page by the same person.
Marshall Gas sells the authentic " Extend-a-Stay" tee and a " Stay-Longer," although I don't know the difference. Sturgi sells the " Sturgi-Stay."
If it needs it, I have the gas supplier fill my coach tank after they've filled the 500-gallon underground tank at my house. I run off a 20-pound grill cylinder after that. It seems to last about three days when it's cold. When I'm ready to leave, I switch over to the coach tank, put the cylinder under the outdoor shed roof, and go.
__________________
Mark
2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD (Ford F-53 chassis)
2009 Honda Fit Sport
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11-01-2017, 06:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachStreamr
only the cost to put in 100 gallons of propane, currently $2.49 per gallon (last month it was $1.79).
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You have probably checked around as pricing can vary a lot with different distributors.
I haven't considered having the truck fill small bottles, perhaps they can slow the pump down by slowing the engine? I have a 500 gallon tank which they fill; 350 gallons in just a few minutes. The flow rate must be nearly 25 gallons/minute or more.
I have the same pump as most gas station distributors. It will pump a round 4-5 gallons/minute. Handy for filling RV, BBQ and heater tanks.
__________________
2014 Newell 2020P 45'8" ISX 600 HP
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11-01-2017, 09:27 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 802
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Yes I called around seems ACME is the lowest bulk price. Originally, I was going to fill the new replaced RV tank last month after picking up from Cummins but had an issue with the Allison 3060 not wanted to shift out of neutral sometimes. I didn't want to drive it downtown only to get stuck for 30 minutes or longer.
That seems to haven resolved after discovering Cummins installed the wrong Turbo Kit, someone had the last two digits of the engine serial number wrong and the Kit (different Wastegate adjustment) for the 210hp had been installed. They replaced the entire Turbo Kit with the proper one for the 230hp, re-greased the throttle linkage at the engine and checked/adjusted the idle. So far, have not had that Allison issue (may have been due to higher idle, around 890 rpm.
ACME (as most others) will only deliver to a minimum of a 125 gallon tank, so you need to have at least that size for them to send their truck. Looks like they would also fill the built-in tank at the same time (which would fulfill my annual 130 gallon minimum obligation in one trip).
Right now, I'm not so interested in using the standard small 20lb home cylinders but may want to install that adapter in the future (maybe with option for external grill fed from the RV's supply). Seems I can always add that extend-a-stay adapter in the future.
Couple Questions:
So, no one sees any other issues with them feeding the 125gallon external tank to the FILL valve of the built-in RV Tank (other than emptying the built-in tank first), correct?
For those with the ability to use the small external 20lb cylinders, what size is the tank built-in to your Coach? Is it ~32 gallons (125 pounds)?
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__________________
1995 36' Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser (Model #8360) on 1995 Spartan EC-2442 Chassis w/Granning Air Ride | Cummins B5.9L 12V 230hp | Allison MD3060 6-Speed WTEC II
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