Propane Crossover Tube, Fifth Wheel

[Country Campers]

All fifth wheels that have propane tanks on opposite sides have a steel square tube that travels from side to side thru the front storage area, near the ceiling. This tube, marked in white below, houses the propane line that is attached to the door side propane cylinder and goes to the auto change over regulator on the street side. When doing any kind of modification in the front storage, adding batteries, inverter, shelves, chargers and so on it is very important NOT to drill holes or insert screws into the tube, you more than likely will penetrate the propane line and cause a leak and a very hazardous situation. While looking for a place to move an item in my front storage I noticed this tube and thought that would be a great place for attachment, then after I figured out what the tube was for I changed the location, glad I took the time to look this over.

Passing this on so others will not think the same and start drilling holes.


Sorry that is the best picture I have.

Brian

[KSC_Travels]

No kidding?! That's a nice tidbit of info that's good to know... thanks for sharing!

[StephenO]

Not sure of Grand Design always uses a square steel tube for the propane system in fifth wheels, but for what it's worth I believe on my in-laws FW (different brand), the pipe is a segment of ABS drainage pipe, with spray foam on the wall junctions.

[Yoda]

All fifth wheels that have propane tanks on opposite sides have a steel square tube that travels from side to side thru the front storage area, near the ceiling. This tube, marked in white below, houses the propane line that is attached to the door side propane cylinder and goes to the auto change over regulator on the street side. When doing any kind of modification in the front storage, adding batteries, inverter, shelves, chargers and so on it is very important NOT to drill holes or insert screws into the tube, you more than likely will penetrate the propane line and cause a leak and a very hazardous situation. While looking for a place to move an item in my front storage I noticed this tube and thought that would be a great place for attachment, then after I figured out what the tube was for I changed the location, glad I took the time to look this over.

Passing this on so others will not think the same and start drilling holes.


Sorry that is the best picture I have.

Brian

OMG now you tell me.

Seriously Thank You for the warning. In my case I had no clue to even check that.

I have at lease two screws into the bottom of that cross pipe.




Looks like I get to disassemble my cross over propane line and see what damaged I caused.




I don't smell propane, but that could be because the screw is plugging the hole and it works fine. Has anyone taken this line apart. It looks like the fittings will fit through the tube.

And now I get to figure out a new way to support my wiring too.

When you folks talk to GD this month ask them for safety to put a warning label on the cross tube. Something like "Warning crossover Propane line inside"

Thanks again Brian

Keith

[Country Campers]

I think the warning sticker is a great idea, I will definately pass that on. Thanks Yoda .

Brian

[TucsonJim]

OMG now you tell me.

Seriously Thank You for the warning. In my case I had no clue to even check that.

I have at lease two screws into the bottom of that cross pipe.




Looks like I get to disassemble my cross over propane line and see what damaged I caused.




I don't smell propane, but that could be because the screw is plugging the hole and it works fine. Has anyone taken this line apart. It looks like the fittings will fit through the tube.

And now I get to figure out a new way to support my wiring too.

When you folks talk to GD this month ask them for safety to put a warning label on the cross tube. Something like "Warning crossover Propane line inside"

Thanks again Brian

Keith

i took the line out of my 2014 337 while troubleshooting a propane problem one time. It's simply a flexible line with threads on each end. If you disconnect the connections on each side, it slides right out.

Jim

[Yoda]

i took the line out of my 2014 337 while troubleshooting a propane problem one time. It's simply a flexible line with threads on each end. If you disconnect the connections on each side, it slides right out.

Jim

Its on the top of the to-do list once I get the hardwood floor installed and finished in the spare bedroom, otherwise SWMBO will have ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; well lets not go there

Jim - you make is sound so simple - can I possibly mess it up??????????????????

Thanks
Keith

[Jlawles2]

Yoda Keith, with the line in there being flexible, the screws may not have damaged it YET. Even if you remove the screws, Mr. Murphy would be calling me later to let me know the penetration by the screw in the tube has rubbed a hole in the line. I would suspect if you could shoot expanding foam in there it would prevent the line from moving and rubbing through. Or try a piece of PVC pipe that fits over the ends of the crossover line but inside the tube.

[NoPeeking]

When you folks talk to GD this month ask them for safety to put a warning label on the cross tube. Something like "Warning crossover Propane line inside"


Keith

X2 on the warning label. Simple schematics showing routing of utilities provided with owner's information package would be ideal. I know, customers have been asking for this for ever. I can't count the number of times I've fixed/installed something and wondered where the screw would land.

Mike

[TucsonJim]

Its on the top of the to-do list once I get the hardwood floor installed and finished in the spare bedroom, otherwise SWMBO will have ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; well lets not go there

Jim - you make is sound so simple - can I possibly mess it up??????????????????

Thanks
Keith

You really can't mess it up. But remember that it's secured with threads on each side. So if you try to unscrew it from one side, it will be tightening on the other. So you'll have to remove the components on one side before loosening the other.

Jim

[Yoda]

You really can't mess it up. But remember that it's secured with threads on each side. So if you try to unscrew it from one side, it will be tightening on the other. So you'll have to remove the components on one side before loosening the other.

Jim

I may get lucky as the fittings look to be swivel flairs. At least the curb side is (see photo above).

[JCR GD]

You really can't mess it up. But remember that it's secured with threads on each side. So if you try to unscrew it from one side, it will be tightening on the other. So you'll have to remove the components on one side before loosening the other.

Jim

...and tie a string to it so after you pull it out you will have an easy way to reinsert it.

[TucsonJim]

...and tie a string to it so after you pull it out you will have an easy way to reinsert it.

When I removed mine, I was able to push it back with no problem.

Jim