Date:         Mon, 28 Feb 2005 06:59:36 -0500
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject:      Re: Filling from a 40-lb propane tank?
In-Reply-To:  <3e1946e9cd46c9b226e0f9743daec2a5@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Yes, you would have to turn the 40 gal tank upside down.  Or rather, you
would have to turn it so that you were getting liquid out of the valve.  if
this is a long horizontal mounting tank, there may be a tube inside that
goes from the connection up to the top of the inside of the tank.  This so
that as you drive the RV and the liquid propane is sloshing around, you
don't suck it into the regulator.  You only want the propane vapor for
burning.

I have a gadget for refilling the disposable propane cylinders from a 2 lb
bbq tank.  You screw it into the bbq tank, then screw the little cylinder
onto it, then turn the bbq tank upside down, then open the valve on the bbq
tank.  wait a minute or 2, then reverse the process.  It does make me
nervous, and doing something similar with the 40 gal tank and a hose and
the Westy tank would make me even more nervous.

I think the fitting for the Westy yank will be the hard part to find.  I
have often wanted to make a gadget that will allow hooking a disposable
propane bottle to the Westy tank.  This would allow me to keep the stove
and fridge running temporarily when the Westy tank runs out, until I can
get to a refill station.  Also would allow partially refilling a disposable
bottle from the Westy tank.  Anybody know the specs on the fill fitting on
a Westy tank, and where to get one?

Edward


At 08:36 PM 2/27/2005, you wrote:
>Someone recently gave me a 40 gallon propane tank. The guy was working
>for a big local RV dealer and he said that when a big rig comes in for
>refurbishing, they replace the tanks as a matter of course, even if the
>tanks on it look new. Anyway, that was his story.
>
>Is there a way to fill my westy tank from this external tank?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jim