Attaching a cylinder to your RV involves shutting off the supply valve on the top of the propane tank, unscrewing the tank from the hose, and placing the full tank in its place. Attach the hose carefully and turn on the new tank’s supply valve. This is the first time mounting a 12.2 propane tank under a 2018 Ram Promaster 3500 Extended.
In this van build episode, we will be installing a horizontal mounted propane tank under our van. An external propane tank can be beneficial for your camper van in several ways, such as increased propane storage, avoiding propane escape from the tank from the safety relief valve, and going Ad-Free. Hooking up an external propane tank to your RV is as easy as installing a special adapter between your RV’s permanent propane tank and the propane regulator.
You could even fire up the engine for 10-15 minutes at a time and use the on-board Heater or combine Body Heat and traveling South for Winter and North for Summer. To carry propane outside of the van, you can use a propane firepit, bolt the tank to the van before installing flooring, and follow National Fire Protection Association standards.
AT Overland makes brackets for either 5lb or 10lb propane tanks, which can be used to mount them to the jack brackets of a FWC. They also sell mounting racks that might work for you. The best way to protect yourself is with a sealed propane locker, but the least you should do is have a drop vent under your propane cylinder for leaking gases.
📹 Van Life – Under mount Propane Tank Install
Had Dirt Road Garage in Redmond Oregon install a under mount Manchester Propane tank under my Ford E-350 Van. Having …
📹 Propane: Transporting your propane cylinders legally
Propane: Transporting your propane cylinders legally. Join Todd as he discusses the regulations and best practices for …
Funny we actually took the propane tank out of our Westy and replaced it with the refillable 1lb propane bottles. We only use the propane for the indoor stove so they last a while. Our old tank was leaking and we didn’t want to spend the money on a new tank. With as much propane as you use a big tank like that is well worth it. nate
That was a great installation. Make sure you keep your gas line for your 20lbs tank in the van though. One problem my inlaws have with their RV propane tank like yours, is getting ot filled in remote locations. A lot of stores might not be open or have the equipment to refill a mounted unit. This has happened several times when they have traveled into the back country or very small campgrounds. CHEERS from Colorado
I really like that Trevor fella. He gave a clear and concise description of everything he did and was doing. He is as good at explaining what he is doing as a professional television host, like Bob Villa or Bobby Flay. I don’t know if he has a youtube website, but he might do very well filming and explaining his mods, because he has what looks like a natural talent for it.
Thanks for the article. We are replacing the existing tank in the 1990 Leisure Travel Van that is waaaay too rusty with the same tank in this article. It’s just 2″ longer than our original tank. The access door looks like a good idea given the poor access now under our wide running boards. We were lucky to find our tank as I’ve been told that Manchester is backlogged a year or more. Thanks again.
Have Manchester tanks on both my Vanagons. 30 years old and still operating with no worries. Media Blasted surface rust and powder coated after 6 years in costa rica now its sweet again. Going to install the larger option vanagon tank under my E350 4×4. A bit smaller with more clearance than the one they used here. Go Westy has on their Web site for sale.
Here in The Netherlands (Europe) you can put a tank with LPG (licquid gas) to run the engine of the car. The prices of fuel are sky high here in Europe, so the LPG is like a 1/3 of the price, so pretty economical. Good luck with the VAN, I own a Dodge b350 4×4 from 1991. Best regards from The Netherlands 🇳🇱❤️🇺🇸✌️💪👌
Nice install. Have a couple propane suggestions. Since the valve was removed the tank should get purges by a qualified propane supplier and the MEC green regulator you used will work but it has a vent built in with a screen. Being installed under the tank could lead to mud and/ or water getting into the regulator. Messing up the function. They make regulators with no vent that should be looked into.
Everybody has their favourite but I’m a fan of Fluid Film for rustproofing and corrosion resistance. I’d grab a rattle can or two and start spraying everything under there, especially where they cut. Fluid Film creeps, so it will go around corners, etc. I’m in the same weather as you…northern Vancouver Island. Rust free (honest) on a 16 year old vehicle and 10 year old teardrop….I’m saying that is because of Fluid Film.
Hey Jason are you concerned with ice, snow, water, dirt getting into the cavity where they cut? That looks like a concern for rust? I like the ide of the undermount tank, but that access door has me thinking. Thanks for sharing. I’m planning on the propex HS 2000 for my E250. So I’m interested in this tank mount.
Hmmm, Now you can only get it filled at a RV place or truck stop. When swapping tanks out at anyplace including a Walmart or gas station could happen before. I considered 30 gallon tanks but those don’t swap out easy either. I would love a dual undermount 20 gallon tank. Maybe where the old spare went. That way you swap them out. If they get corroded from road salt a bit you just swap them out anyway. Hmmm, makes me rethink using the spare tire area for another diesel tank. Or just put 2 20lb propane tanks up there. Run out, swap tanks. So if you stay up with it, you will never run out of gas. But with a single tank you still can. Not sure this is a better deal. I agree it’s nice to get it out of the van. Just seems like filling will be more of a pain in the butt. I have RV tanks on other vehicles and getting someone to come out and fill the tank. Is an ordeal. Probably why I like Diesel. I can use the regular diesel tank for a Chinese heater. I can use it for a stove too. Just those are stupid expensive. So one 20gal mounted on the back door above a outside box that also holds a yamaha 2000 watt genset is better for me. Or a 20lb tank mounted up under the vehicle where the spare used to go.
Nice looking install!!! I had a similar sized tank in my Class C and it would run a year with no problem between fills. That was with a hot water tank, furnace and stove top. Biggest drain on it was the furnace. The little bit of extra space will be nice… more junk to carry, or maybe that is just me that does that!
I’ve refilled one pound cylinders around the house to use on a grill and weed torch. Never carried them in the RV. But noticed that several of the cylinders were bulging around the sides! Yup, not good! Replaced all of the disposables with Flame King 1lb cylinders certified for refilling . No longer have to buy new disposables for camping and no longer keeping potential disaster around the yard.
You didn’t discuss the 1 pound cylinders. Most people do not know that it is illegal to transport them if they refill the non refill ones. Up to $500,000 fine and 5 years jail mandatory if someone gets hurt. 10 years jail mandatory if someone dies. Pretty hefty punishment for those wanting to save a few dollars. No laws on refilling, transporting them is regulated.
Todd, I thoroughly enjoy y’all’s website and knowledge. Having been a fuel delivery driver with a CDL hazmat license, most of y’all’s articles are spot on. However, in Washington State, regulations say a ‘cylinder’ may be ‘recertified’ by a propane supply company. If the cylinder is not completely rusted out, bent or otherwise damaged, the distributor may re-stamp the cylinder as long as it has the three-cornered service valve. Yes, there is a fee for this service, especially if the valve isn’t correct. Typically, an out of date cylinder can be ‘burnt-off’, the valve replaced, the cylinder refilled and is good for another ten years. Having said all that, y’all’s article is still spot-on… it’s probably going to be easier/cheaper in the long term to exchange the cylinder. Probably might want to research y’all’s propane provider, the price per gallon and the cost of a new cylinder (which will need to be purged prior to filling) and…yeah, y’all get it. Giddy up.
I have a 2017 Jayco Jay Feather 23rd. Camping World keeps telling me that I can’t put two propane tanks on the tongue instead of one. Is that true? I see YouTube articles where people put the double propane tank mounting rack and the double regulator on the tongue of their travel trailer and then put two tanks. Why can’t I do that?
Good advise on protecting the bottom of the ASME tank, hadn’t thought about that. I’m more concerned about the 20lb cylinder for my home BBQ. I, just like millions of other BBQ-eating Americans, do not adhere to the safety guidelines in transporting my cylinder for my home grill to fill it up or exchange it at the local gas station, Costco, etc!
Thanks, Todd! As new RV full-timers, this was extremely helpful. What are your thoughts on storing a spare (30 gal.) “cylinder” in the garage of a 5th-wheel toy hauler? I want to make sure this is not a danger during transport. We do turn all cylinders off. Look forward to meeting you at RV Unplugged.
We have 2 40lb tanks, so when I fill them (usually 1 at a time), I put it in the milk crate in the back seat of my truck (your favorite truck – Dodge Ram 3500 dooly) and utilize the seat belt to strap it in. Actually being in the crate in the seat, it replicates a person back there and it is tighter than a hat in a tick. 👍😃🍻
I’m not a big fan of the exchange services/vendors. While my tank may need recertified, I don’t want to give up my pristine, nearly new looking tank for a janky, old and haggard looking tank that has been recertified and repainted multiple times to cover up rust. The first time I swapped a tank, that’s exactly what I got… a 30 year old tank with multiple repaints covering up old rust.
I saw an entertainment company transporting DOT cylinders on their side in a pyramid. Party time. Our Trailmanor has DOT cylinders that are designed to lay flat during use, but are refilled standing up. All TMs with a front slide are built that way. Odd perhaps and somewhat hard to find, but they are out there. Our usual propane refill station can re-cert cylinders.
I had my first camping trip of the season last week with my brand new 5th wheel. As with most I have 2 30 pound propane cylinders. After set-up I went to turn on my propane and was unable. Luckily enough the campground owner was a registered plumber (his other job). He came over and discovered that both propane cylinders were locked in the open position. I had driven 4 hours with the cylinders wide open. Luckily he was able to gently work them free. I had no appliances / furnace / BBQ grill / etc. open / on. It was pretty cold and we used our furnace and cooked on the grill. What were the potential ramifications of that scenario? I am trying to figure if the cylinders came that way from the factory / manufacturer, or was it the RV dealer that sold me the trailer? Ideas?