Another Question about propane tanks

When you camper is not being used, do you turn off the propane tanks?

Thanks, Tom

I do.

I do too!

Actually I don't like the possibility of a gas leak inside.
There's things in there that run on electricity, even battery, which
might make a spark. Plus I'm not totally sold on the "leak proof"
of all the gas plumbing to everything and propane ain't cheap.

Likewise, I turn the propane tanks off when the Cat isn't in use. That's only about 4 months of the year when it's back in NH for the fall and early winter.

Yes

I do.
If you don't use the Wildcat for a week or so after you turn off the propane tank you will get air in the propane lines. When I turn the propane back on, I go inside and turn on the stove and light a burner. It ususally takes about a minute before the air is bled off and the burner will light. Once the air is bled out then I turn on the fridge so that it's cold when we get to the campground or RV park.

I also turn mine off, but I only open 1 at a time, then when the one is empty, I turn it off, move the switch to the other tank, and open the new tank.

I guess I do this cause then I know its empty, then take it over and get it refilled.

I didn't at first because I would leave the fridge on all the time and would use the propane as a backup if the power was turned off to the trailer. We were doing renos to the house so that would happen quite often. But, last year for a couple of days my wife kept telling me she could smell gas occasionally outside but we couldn't trace it because the wind would not cooperate. Then when I walked past the trailer on the drivers side I could hear the propane leaking out the rubber hose that goes to the tank. It ruptured about 4 inches from the tank on the curve in the hose. Just a small pin prick hole, but it leaked out almost the whole tank before I figured it out. Since then, propane off unless I'm camping with the trailer, make sure house power stays on to the trailer. I just don't trust it any more.

I turn them off after every trip.

I turn them off.

oldelmer1 wrote:I also turn mine off, but I only open 1 at a time, then when the one is empty, I turn it off, move the switch to the other tank, and open the new tank.

I guess I do this cause then I know its empty, then take it over and get it refilled.

x2

I'll be the rebel, I leave mine on, but I only run one at a time like Oldelmer1. We leave the fridge stocked all the time and use the gas as a back-up if the power fails. Learned that the smelly hard way!!

I also leave one on most of the camping season,,shut them off during the winter, but, my on my previous 5'er I would get a whiff of propane now and then but could never find it , utill I went in to get one refilled,, it turned out the packing was bad on the valve itself, didn't matter if it was closed or not..this was a 2006 model tank,,the guy at the propane place informed me he saw this allot because people ( Me) thought that they should open the tank all the way to the limit to get full flow,,sometimes seeing how OPEN I could get it, :oops: turns out that you only need to crack the valve open about 1/2 turn.. that valve cost $35... needless to say I no longer do that trick....I also keep a squirt bottle full of water with dish detergent, check all gas connections by applying liberally to fittings, Look for the bubbles,,,, :drunken: if there are any doubts whatsoever

I leave both of my tanks on except during the winter when the Cat is winterized. I use the propane as a backup to the electric fridge as some of you do. The propane regulator is set up to switch to the second tank when the current tank is empty. I check it about once a week and if the first tank is empty(and automaticly switched to the second tank) I point the lever to the second tank so I know which one is in use.

oldelmer1 wrote:I also turn mine off, but I only open 1 at a time, then when the one is empty, I turn it off, move the switch to the other tank, and open the new tank.

I guess I do this cause then I know its empty, then take it over and get it refilled.

I do the same as Tom. This way I know when 1 tank goes empty. Kind of like a reserve tank on a motorcycle.

To each their own,I guess. We leave both tanks on year round. When one gets empty, I shut it off untill we get it filled. Once it is filled and back in the Cat, back on it goes. That way I know if the tanks are full or need filling. Tank on, OK, tank off, empty. My wife has a real good nose, so I send her sniffing about once a week when the camper is in storage. No matter what, you do need to keep a good check for any leaks and make sure the gas sniffer inside is working properly.
Good luck and happy camping
Hap

I turn them of after every trip

I turn them off if I remember.
So I guess I leave them on most of the time

I am a Rebel also. But yesterday DW and I were out in the yard and she said what was that sound. She then walked over to the camper and said it was coming from inside. She ran and got the key from the house. She unlocked the camper and open the door. We entered and I said get out of here :!: :!: :pale:
The Carbon Monoxide LP Gas Detector was going off.
I ran and shut off the Drivers side tank off.
After airing out the camper I started checking inside then outside.
I found the leak within the Right side LP Compartment. It was the coupling of the rubber hose at the black iron cross over pipe. The brass reducer cone was bent up.
I have removed the Brass fitting and the Hose. Going to the hardware or LP gas store Monday.

I leave it on the entire camping season along with the fridge (which runs on 120v @ home). Otherwise it's a bit of a pain to purge all the air out of the lines for each trip and get things working smoothly again.

We turn ours off after every trip. Except the last trip - we weren't home long enough to empty the fridge, so left the gas turned on in case we had a power failure.

How about traveling down the road. Do you turn yours off while you move from point A to point B.

We keep ours on when traveling so the fridge keeps the food cold.

We keep ours on also. Even at gas stations..... although, since we got the extra diesel tank, we don't usually fill up with the trailer in tow. We set up camp and then go out to fill up.

Tater

We travel with ours on too. Never had a issue.

oldelmer1 wrote:I also turn mine off, but I only open 1 at a time, then when the one is empty, I turn it off, move the switch to the other tank, and open the new tank.

I guess I do this cause then I know its empty, then take it over and get it refilled.

I do like oldelmer1 does.
Before I started using an Electric Heater, I had gotten up in the middle of the nite to change over the tanks.
We travel with ours on also

Agree with oldelmer1, this way I know when a tank runs out. When we first got our RV used the auto switch over, had a small leak in the system, emptied both tanks one night, after the lecture from the wife (it was about 35 outside) decided to not use the auto sw anymore. Found the leak and dealer fixed it, in the piping back to the kitchen area. Leak was one of those "what's that smell?" but could not really say what it was.

I turn mine off if I know I want be camping for a month or more. I also hang a note on the stove to remind me there OFF!!

Want = Won't!!!