Date:         Sat, 25 May 2002 18:50:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Marshall <mjruskin@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall <mjruskin@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: MAX out your Propane Capacity / Do propane tanks HAVE to be
              Cylindrical?
Comments: To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I cannot answer the technical aspects of your questions, but I can offer
some reasurance.

In Winnipeg, almost all the taxicabs (large modern American sedans) are run
on propane. I think they can operate on dual-fuel, too.

They have a propane tank in the trunk - it butts right up to the back seat -
and no-way does it occupy the greater volume of the space.

You must go to certified places that do the conversion for you - tt's not
something the Propane Police allow the backyard-ballistics guys to do
themselves.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
Winnipeg, MetricLand


----- Original Message -----
From: "80 Westy Pokey" <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 08:28 AM
Subject: MAX out your Propane Capacity / Do propane tanks HAVE to be
Cylindrical?


> I am toying with the idea of a dual fuel setup (there is a
> guy in the UK that has kits for air cooled vans). But to
> make this worthwhile at all I need more propane capacity,
> well beyond just adding a second standard sized westy tank
> under the sliding door (No I dont want to put the tank
> inside the van, nor do I want a larger or second gas tank).
>
> Must a propane tank be cylindrical to hold the gas safely?
> What kind of PSI do they hold? My scuba tanks are rated for
> 3000 PSI and I assume they too are cylindrical for
> engineering reasons.
>
> In an ideal world, laws of physics aside (OK maybe the sides
> could be rounded), I would love to get a tank that was only
> about 4 to 6" tall x 12" wide x 36" long. This would fit
> neatly under each sliding door.
>
> What about the possibility of putting two 6" tanks side by
> side between the fame rails for a total of 4 tanks? How
> would you link them all together? How would you do a fill?
>
> Just dreaming...
> Chris