Originally posted by boyscout
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Propane Use - One Tank at a Time or Both Open
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Dave and Sue
2020 GD 2250RK
2019 F-150 XLT, 5.0, 4WD, SB
Curt 17500 WDH, 3.55
GY Endurance, Dexter EZ Flex
SCPO(SW) USN, (Ret), HP: Tampa Bay ⚓️🇺🇸
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Originally posted by CLARKR4 View PostI was in the process of making up a maintenance spread sheet and was reading through the GD suppled owners' manual. On P136 there was a note, stating to have only one propane tank open at a time. If both open, propane will be drawn equally from both tanks. In my past RV'ing time with 3 5th wheels I have always opened both. I check regularly and when the tank to which the lever at the regulator is pointed is empty, the red triangle on the regulator appears. Then I switch the lever to the other tank and the triangle shows green. Has there been a change in regulator technology and operation, or have I never fully understood how it worked? With only one tank open you could run out of propane in the middle of a cold night and only find out when the ice started forming.
Thanks for an informed opinion.
RichBrent, Krista, and our 6 year old nugget
Cruising with two Black Labs, Lestat and Pandora
2021 Ram 3500 Dually Long Bed 4X4 HO Cummins (Blue Sapphire)
2021 Imagine 3110BH (The Dog House)
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Originally posted by Love2GoFastUSCG View PostI asked this question the other day at a campground to an old retired Master Chief who has been RVing since 1998. His answer to me was to only open one tank and continue to use it till it empties then switch to the other. Then take the empty and fill it up and repeat continuously swapping. This at least let's you know you have a full one when your other one runs out.
Everybody has their own way of doing things!Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
- Likes 2
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One tank being out of propane at 2am on a cold morning isn't fun..... 2 tanks out of propane at 2am on a cold morning is "rut-ro"!!!
Drawing on some advice I got after having both run out when we first got our 5th wheel, I run on one, check them every day or so, and manually switch over when the tank we're running on feels low and then promptly fill the low/empty one. I don't secure the tanks while we're parked so it's easy to move them a little to get a feel for how full they are and after living in ours for almost 6 months we're getting a feel for how long the tanks last compared to the outside temperatures.
My other trick is having a smaller propane tank for our little Weber grill that I make sure stays above 1/2 - just in case I have a "Norwegian Moment".
So far we've only run out of propane during the night a couple of times and I was easily able to remedy things so I'm going to stick with it as it's keeping my bride warm which equals happy.
And most of us older than 29 understand how important keeping our bride happy is!Chris
2019 Solitude 3740BH
2019 Chevy 3500HD Duramax SRW
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Originally posted by TheNescios View PostOne tank being out of propane at 2am on a cold morning isn't fun..... 2 tanks out of propane at 2am on a cold morning is "rut-ro"!!!
Drawing on some advice I got after having both run out when we first got our 5th wheel, I run on one, check them every day or so, and manually switch over when the tank we're running on feels low and then promptly fill the low/empty one. I don't secure the tanks while we're parked so it's easy to move them a little to get a feel for how full they are and after living in ours for almost 6 months we're getting a feel for how long the tanks last compared to the outside temperatures.
My other trick is having a smaller propane tank for our little Weber grill that I make sure stays above 1/2 - just in case I have a "Norwegian Moment".
So far we've only run out of propane during the night a couple of times and I was easily able to remedy things so I'm going to stick with it as it's keeping my bride warm which equals happy.
And most of us older than 29 understand how important keeping our bride happy is!Jerry and Kelly Powell, with Halo, Nash, Reid, Cleo, Rosie, and the two newest additions Shaggy and Bella..
Nash County, NC
2020 Solitude 390RK-R
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I'm not getting the "run on one tank and manually switch over" thing. In over five years of full-timing, I've never run out of propane (and we've endured some brutally cold weather). If you follow the procedures and, in cold weather, check every day, that's what the automatic switch-over regulator is for.
RobRob & Laura
U.S. Army Retired (Rob)
2012 F350 DRW CC Lariat PS 6.7, PullRite OE 18K
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS and disc brakes, solar, BB LiFePO4, DP windows
(Previously in a 2016 Reflection 337RLS)
Full time since 08/2015
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Originally posted by Second Chance View PostI'm not getting the "run on one tank and manually switch over" thing.
Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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Originally posted by Second Chance View PostI'm not getting the "run on one tank and manually switch over" thing. In over five years of full-timing, I've never run out of propane (and we've endured some brutally cold weather). If you follow the procedures and, in cold weather, check every day, that's what the automatic switch-over regulator is for.
Rob
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
BrianBrian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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I leave the second tank turned off . . . until I know that the first tank is close to empty. Then, I turn on the second tank and keep an eye on the selector switch for the window to turn red. Dometic make a great little level checker so that I do not have to lift tanks or otherwise guess at how much propane is left in the primary tank. https://www.dometic.com/en-ca/ca/pro...hecker-_-30723
In some jurisdictions (including ours) you buy propane by tank size. So, filling a 30 lb tank costs the same whether it was completely empty or still had propane in it. So there is an advantage to running a tank empty before taking it for refill. (I know that other jurisdictions charge by volume pumped).
Thanks TucsonJim for finding this gauge, many years ago .
Rob
Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostI leave the second tank turned off . . . until I know that the first tank is close to empty. Then, I turn on the second tank and keep an eye on the selector switch for the window to turn red. Dometic make a great little level checker so that I do not have to lift tanks or otherwise guess at how much propane is left in the primary tank. https://www.dometic.com/en-ca/ca/pro...hecker-_-30723
In some jurisdictions (including ours) you buy propane by tank size. So, filling a 30 lb tank costs the same whether it was completely empty or still had propane in it. So there is an advantage to running a tank empty before taking it for refill. (I know that other jurisdictions charge by volume pumped).
Thanks TucsonJim for finding this gauge, many years ago .
Rob
I do the same since in our area we either pre-pay to fill a 20 lb tank (no partial fills) or we exchange for a 20lb tank that is not entirely full. I also run the tank empty and exchange it for a full spare tank while at home. I'll look into that checker.
Thank you,
Jim
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostI leave the second tank turned off . . . until I know that the first tank is close to empty. Then, I turn on the second tank and keep an eye on the selector switch for the window to turn red. Dometic make a great little level checker so that I do not have to lift tanks or otherwise guess at how much propane is left in the primary tank. https://www.dometic.com/en-ca/ca/pro...hecker-_-30723
Bob2014 Ford F-150 Ecoboost / Max Tow / HD Payload
2018 Reflection 295RL
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Originally posted by bogen2 View PostI bought one of these and had a lot of trouble getting a reading. Until I noticed in the manual that for some reason you must put your other hand on the tank when taking a reading. Works great now.
Bob
Here is a link to the instructions if anybody needs them:
https://www.dometic.com/assets/27/62...nual_52762.pdf
JimJim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support Coordinator
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