Filling Class-C fixed 41lb propane tank

[elwray]

Hi all, I have a question about filling the 41 pound fixed/permanently mounted propane tank on my new-to-me Sunseeker 3250 MH.

The question is ... how do I fill it?

I grew up in NJ where we don't even pump our own gasoline! I've gotten that handled now of course, but what about propane? I have to imagine that a station attendant handles this, right? Seems like a potentially dangerous operation for the average Joe to fill it themselves...

I found a Loves on my upcoming route that has propane - do I just pull up to that tank and wait for someone to fill-er-up like I would back home in Jersey?

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

[Cudntherd]

At Love's
Pull up to the Propane service location, most have a call box.
They will send someone out to service your Propane.

[Old-Biscuit]

You have to go to a propane vendor be it Love's, Tractor Supply, Independent etc.

Propane service ....attendant should be trained/certified
Propane service valve should be closed, hose with adapter connected to Fill Valve, Bleeder valve cracked open and then pump turned on

Liquid Propane pumped under pressure is used to fill Tank
*Vapor Propane is used to supply your LP System

Not a DIY

[elwray]

Originally Posted by Cudntherd

At Love's
Pull up to the Propane service location, most have a call box.
They will send someone out to service your Propane.

That's what I was hoping, thanks for confirming!

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

You have to go to a propane vendor be it Love's, Tractor Supply, Independent etc.

Propane service ....attendant should be trained/certified
Propane service valve should be closed, hose with adapter connected to Fill Valve, Bleeder valve cracked open and then pump turned on

Liquid Propane pumped under pressure is used to fill Tank
*Vapor Propane is used to supply your LP System

Not a DIY

Thanks! I'm glad I'll be able to leave this part to the pros.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by elwray

That's what I was hoping, thanks for confirming!


Thanks! I'm glad I'll be able to leave this part to the pros.

Nice to understand the proper procedure for filling your LP Tank

There are some 'bozos' out there

[L2D2]

Be sure to shop around as prices can be quite different. U-haul and Tractor Supply are consistent but there are larger dedicated commercial operations.

[Mark_K5LXP]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

....attendant should be trained/certified

The greatest variable I've encountered. Most places the only thing they fill is grill tanks and when you pull up in an RV the guy is stymied the fitting isn't right. Or he figures out the adapter that's needed and for some reason the fuel doesn't flow. Most times there's someone on premises that intervenes and you get your gas, but one time in particular I had to drive off empty because they couldn't/wouldn't figure it out. "Something's wrong with your tank" and that was that. Part of the reason I set myself up with an extend a stay, in case I ended up empty somewhere and couldn't get a fill.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Flyer15015]

Most privately owned campgrounds can fill your LP tank, but their prices are usually higher than the commercial fillers in their town. Convenience costs $$$.

Mike in Colorado

[twinboat]

Many UHaul dealers fill tanks to.

You buy propane on fixed tanks by the gallon, not weight. They don't scale the RV.

[elwray]

Thanks all. I read up on the proper process for filling this tank, just enough that I should be able to tell if the attendant seems to know what their doing or not.

I'll ultimately be installing an extend-a-stay adapter for the convenience - that would make things a lot easier as on my MH, propane is really just for the furnace heat. We don't do boondocking so we don't need it for the water heater, and we've got a 12V fridge. Basically I'm hopeful to just use the on-board propane as a backup, or for getting heat going to the tanks between campsites in the winter months.

I appreciate all the useful info! We're heading down south for the week of Christmas on our first real trip in this motorhome (and first trip as RV owners), and just trying to be as prepared as possible.

[twinboat]

Found that about half the trained propane dispensers do it correctly.

Some don't close the vapor valve, one actually opened it, and many don't open the 80% bleeder, only depending on the Overfill valve to stop the flow.

Uhaul makes everyone get out, turn off the fridge and water heater, shuts the vapor valve and opens the bleeder. All the right steps.

[alank]

elwray, your first post was all pretty much correct on the filling of the tank. The smartest thing you did was some research to gain knowledge on the proper procedure for filling a fixed tank so you can observe the procedure and know if it's being done correctly. You may find that you know more about the correct process than some LP pump operators.

[Dutch Star Don]

You're overthinking this. Just relax, light up a cigarette and watch how they do it! :whist ling:

[elwray]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

You're overthinking this. Just relax, light up a cigarette and watch how they do it! :whist ling:

Good advice, Don!