Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 12:20:12 -0600
Reply-To:     "Richard A. Jones" <jones@COYOTE.COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Richard A. Jones" <jones@COYOTE.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: second propoane tank setup
Comments: To: stevegough@emriver.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Steve:

I added a second propane tank to my '87 Syncro Westy this
June.  I had a second tank (from Chris Jordan) that was complete
with regulator, brass T fitting, etc.  Even the "skid plate!"
(Thanks, Chris!)

On my Westy, under the sliding door, the two rear studs for
a propane tank were there.  Instead of the two front studs, there
were two nuts, which upon closer inspection were the plastic
nuts on plastic bolts from the top--the "dummy" bolts for
seat belts on a center seat.  They were in exactly the correct
position for the propane tank.  Go figure.

I removed the plate in the sliding door opening, the floor screws
but not the cabinets.  I could then bend up the camper floor just
enough to have 1 or 1-1/2 inches clearance over those plastic
bolts--enough to remove them and put in some real metal ones.
I bent the floor up only from the r-f corner--closest to the
passenger seat.  I don't think it would have flexed any higher,
but this was just enough.  I put nuts on the bottom of bolts
and then put the floor back down. This turned out to be pretty easy.

Now I had the four studs to hold the propane tank.  The two front
ones had nuts up against the bottom of the metal floor and the back
ones didn't, but I ignored this--the difference is so small.

I bought new fill/bleed valves and a new regulator, painted the
tank and plate with a "propane tank" spray paint and then installed
it.  The new regulator with its snap-on plastic cover is easy to
put on if the plate is removed.  With the plate, I think you have to
break off some of the plastic cover so that it will turn 360 degrees
screwing it in.

I used the brass T fitting from the old regulator.  On one side I
put a cap--future expansion to the Carver heater.  The other
side connects to the line to the other tank.

On the old tank side, I bought a union and a T fitting.  On the
lower propane pipe, I put in the union and the T, then reconnected
the pipe.  It wasn't hard to carefully bend it around to work.
When I have to put a new regulator there, which is longer, it
will probably be some harder work....   But I have a flare tool,
so I can shorten the line and re-flare it.

I ran a copper line between the new tank and the T on the old
tank.  My route was along a cross member that is between the
tanks and has a nice flange stamped on it.  The line is bent to
"hide" in the corner of this flange.  It passes over my Syncro
drivetrain.  I put a flare fitting at each end.  Upon connecting
everything, I could test everything but the new fill/bleeder
valves in the new tank since there was propane in the old one.
Soapy water showed me where to crank some flare fittings
tighter and then--no more leaking.

When I went to fill the new tank, I told the guy what I had done
so he put just a little propane in the new tank, then we went
over the fill/bleeder valve--and everything else--with soapy
water.  No leaks, so he filled it up, then filled the old tank,
commenting that the autostop valve was not working very well.
When that tank is empty, I'll put new filler/bleeder valves on it.

I did not put any shutoff valves in the line, so now I have quite a
bit of propane "after" the regulators.  So when I shut off both
tanks, the fridge will run quite a while; it takes several minutes
to burn it off on the stove.  I don't see this as a problem, but
some might want a shutoff at each end of the connecting line.

My mode of operation:  Run on one tank, with the other full
but shut off.  When one tank is dry, shut if off, open the other,
relight the frig and continue.  Fill the empty tank when convenient
in the next few days, and repeat.

This was all triggered because we  ran dry in Utah on our trip in May
           http://coyote.colorado.edu/jones/Utah01
and just barely got a refill in Mexican Hat at 4:59pm on a red-
hot day by someone who had never seen an autostop valve--and
did care! .  Won't have that problem again!

I haven't taken any photos of the setup, but it is pretty
straightforward--after all, I could do it.  ;-)  If you have
questions, just ask.

                                        Richard A. Jones
                                        Boulder, Colorado
                                        '81 Vanagon   Mr Bus
                                        '87 Syncro Westy   El Jefe