CAMPERS: Propane, where's cheap?/charges by weight/etc...

[Thaco]

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No

https://mopeka.com/

and

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/pro...hecker-_-30723

Uses ultrasonics to detect the levels from the bottom or with the other product, you can manually check level from the sides. They work well.

Maybe not the only way, but definitely the only reasonable way, spend $60 to put a monitor on a $30 tank.... pass.

[ExtraSlow]

I mean, there's always the hot water trick for measuring propane level too. Works best on a cooler day. Pour a kettle full of hot/boiling water down the side of the tank, wait five seconds, run your hand down the tank and the level that the metal is cold at is the level of the liquid propane inside. You can buy stick-on gauges that work on the same principle too. I don't need to check my propane every day, I check it before a trip, and then every four or five days if it's a longer trip. A $60 gadget? Nah. Maybe if I was camping in the winter or something.

[spike98]

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I mean, there's always the hot water trick for measuring propane level too. Works best on a cooler day. Pour a kettle full of hot/boiling water down the side of the tank, wait five seconds, run your hand down the tank and the level that the metal is cold at is the level of the liquid propane inside. You can buy stick-on gauges that work on the same principle too. I don't need to check my propane every day, I check it before a trip, and then every four or five days if it's a longer trip. A $60 gadget? Nah. Maybe if I was camping in the winter or something.

It is pretty costly, and the wireless systems even more so. I don't have one as i also feel cost vs benefit isn't' there. But, to say that weighing is the only reliable way is incorrect which is why i brought them up. These tools are proven and work quite well using pretty simple principals.

[ExtraSlow]

[suntan]

Just LOL at not bringing a scale with you when camping.

[AndyL]

Cylewet 2Pcs 50kg 110lb Half-Bridge Weighing Sensor 3-Wired Load Cell Electric Resistance Strain Gauge for Arduino (Pack of 2) CLT1001 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07DDFSBK6/..._mmwtDbTJQ46R6

Arduino... I2c display... About 100 lines of code.

That'd be what 25$ for a pair of scales to permanently mount and little lcd to mount beside your tank monitors? this is the 21st century...

[Thaco]

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Cylewet 2Pcs 50kg 110lb Half-Bridge Weighing Sensor 3-Wired Load Cell Electric Resistance Strain Gauge for Arduino (Pack of 2) CLT1001 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07DDFSBK6/..._mmwtDbTJQ46R6

Arduino... I2c display... About 100 lines of code.

That'd be what 25$ for a pair of scales to permanently mount and little lcd to mount beside your tank monitors? this is the 21st century...

but most trailers have the tanks clamped down on to the hitch, so you'd still have to remove them to weigh, i'd rather just use a $5 luggage scale.

[ExtraSlow]

How often do you guys even need to check your tanks?

[dirtsniffer]

That wireless unit would be pretty handy if you live in the country and rely on a propane tank instead of NG

- - - Updated - - -

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How often do you guys even need to check your tanks?

I check mine when it's empty. And it gets checked by me putting it in the truck to go fill

[Thaco]

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How often do you guys even need to check your tanks?

realistically never, especially with costco charging by usage, if i go somewhere unserviced for a weekend or 2 then i just swap the tank i was using for a spare full one i have at home and then take the partially used one to get it filled.,

But if i was somewhere unserviced for a week a more and used my spare it'd be nice to have an idea if i needed to run to town for a fill.

[spike98]

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How often do you guys even need to check your tanks?

We go for longer periods of time (5-7 days, sometimes longer) and sometimes as early/late as march/october. In the shoulder months, i check my tanks daily (3 x 20lb) because you do NOT want to run out of propane, dry camping, when the temps dip into the minus's at night, with the whole family, and about 2 hours from the nearest place to fuel up. When its that cold and you are heating a large space, you can burn through more than half a tank in a day.

I do plan on upgrading to 3 x 30lb soon though which will allow me to camp 6 or so days when its cold with no worries.

[ExtraSlow]

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We go for longer periods of time (5-7 days, sometimes longer) and sometimes as early/late as march/october. In the shoulder months, i check my tanks daily (3 x 20lb) because you do NOT want to run out of propane, dry camping, when the temps dip into the minus's at night, with the whole family, and about 2 hours from the nearest place to fuel up. When its that cold and you are heating a large space, you can burn through more than half a tank in a day.

I do plan on upgrading to 3 x 30lb soon though which will allow me to camp 6 or so days when its cold with no worries.

True enough, cold temps makes a huge difference. For my summer trips, my 2x20lb will last me 2 weeks without problem. I check mine before each trip, and if one is empty, I fill it. I don't mind leaving for a shorter trip, even 4-5 days, with one full tank and one nearly empty.

Anyway, clearly everyone has their own system. I LIKE all the tank gauge gadgets, I'm just too cheap to buy them. I'm also too lazy to bother filling tanks when they aren't empty if I don't have to.

[AndyL]

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but most trailers have the tanks clamped down on to the hitch, so you'd still have to remove them to weigh, i'd rather just use a $5 luggage scale.

Just untwist the clamp 2 turns when you get to site...

I was generally a tank every 7-10 days or so with the water heater on and the furnace at night.

We all camp different. I like monitoring gear - but that's me...

[Tik-Tok]

Bump for a general inquiry. Was filling my two 30# tanks today ($53 from empty, so not terrible, but Extraslow is definitely getting a good deal at his gas n' go). But why are they called 30 lbs tanks, when they weight 25lbs empty, and almost 55 lbs full?

[killramos]

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Bump for a general inquiry. Was filling my two 30# tanks today ($53 from empty, so not terrible, but Extraslow is definitely getting a good deal at his gas n' go). But why are they called 30 lbs tanks, when they weight 25lbs empty, and almost 55 lbs full?

I’m no mathematician, but Because they hold 30lb of propane? Lol

[ExtraSlow]

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I’m no mathematician, but Because they hold 30lb of propane? Lol

Yeah, that's why. Although you usually can't quite fit 30 lbs into them, it's a little less because of the OPD (Overfill protection device). Most "20lb" tanks hold around 18 lbs of propane. It's a nominal measurement like how a 2x4 isn't 2 inches wide.

Also yes my place is the best deal.

[Thaco]

yep, 30# propane capacity, but most places will only fill them 80-90% to allow for heat expansion

[dirtsniffer]

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Bump for a general inquiry. Was filling my two 30# tanks today ($53 from empty, so not terrible, but Extraslow is definitely getting a good deal at his gas n' go). But why are they called 30 lbs tanks, when they weight 25lbs empty, and almost 55 lbs full?

sorry but that's too funny.

[Tik-Tok]

I most definitely was having a brain-fart there.

[ExtraSlow]

Necro-Bump. I buy so little propane this hardly matters, but Fill-n-go is charging $17.99 for a 20lb tank fill these days (including GST, it seems). I sked and the 30 lb is like $28.
They have a full cage of recertified 30 lb tanks, and some brand new 30 lbs tanks as well, if you need to "swap" your old ones out. Still my favourite place to get propane.

My current trailer came with 2x 30 lb tanks, both half full, and I don't know if I'll get either one empty this season to refill. Maybe.