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07-12-2016, 03:57 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21--FOR SALE
Posts: 411
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How much propane is in that tank?
What's the easiest way to determine how much propane remains in a tank?
I just found out about this method, but wonder if there's an even simpler way.
This Is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Tell if You Have Propane in Your Tank
Thanks for any suggestions.
__________________
Brent and Cheryl.
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07-12-2016, 04:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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I usually just lift the tank and can tell by the weight how much propane is left.
When camping, we usually use close to one 20 lb tank a week, so depending on how long we have been out, I can usually tell when we are about to run a tank dry, even without looking at it.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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07-12-2016, 04:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
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That is pretty much the most simple way I know of. I have even just used hot tap water.
I have used an inline gauge years ago, but it's performance was sketchy at best, as the pressure in the tank changes with ambient temperature.
A friend uses these magnetic strips that work by the same principal as the water trick, and says they work quite well.
Magnetic Propane Tank Gauge - Lee Valley Tools
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-12-2016, 04:07 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ice-breaker
I usually just lift the tank and can tell by the weight how much propane is left.
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By far the easiest and quickest method if your tank is loose, but not so good when mounted to the trailer. Even the water trick is not so quick with a fifth wheel.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-12-2016, 05:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catchlight
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Get a tank with a gauge. $25 US at Costco. Best investment we have made. Edge of green means tank 1/2 empty. This is how we get by with one tank.
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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07-12-2016, 06:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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I use a fish scale, of course I need to disconnect the tank and free it from the hold down, not that I do it very often. For the most part, when 1 goes empty I remove it and get it refilled. Before a long trip I take the in use one out and have it topped off. So really I don't need to know how much is in it.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-12-2016, 06:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
That is pretty much the most simple way I know of. I have even just used hot tap water.
I have used an inline gauge years ago, but it's performance was sketchy at best, as the pressure in the tank changes with ambient temperature.
A friend uses these magnetic strips that work by the same principal as the water trick, and says they work quite well.
Magnetic Propane Tank Gauge - Lee Valley Tools
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Hi: Jim Bennett... I wonder if they would work if you used Lisa's hair dryer? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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07-12-2016, 07:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: Jim Bennett... I wonder if they would work if you used Lisa's hair dryer? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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It sure as hell ain't going to use my own hair dryer.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-12-2016, 07:44 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle, Tennessee
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19' #2
Posts: 1,441
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
I use a fish scale, of course I need to disconnect the tank and free it from the hold down, not that I do it very often. For the most part, when 1 goes empty I remove it and get it refilled. Before a long trip I take the in use one out and have it topped off. So really I don't need to know how much is in it.
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We do the same
__________________
Tom
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07-12-2016, 08:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kountrykamper
We do the same
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I usually just shake it & guess, but if I really want to be precise, I use a luggage scale.
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07-12-2016, 08:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
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*grabs the brain bleach to wash away the image of Jon shaking it *
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-12-2016, 08:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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The common 20-pound size of propane tank (as used by Escape, most travel trailers, and most home outdoor grills) is now readily available with a built-in gauge, which is run by the float inside that is needed for the Overfill Prevention Device. This doesn't work if you use tank exchange services to get more propane (because you are giving away your tank and getting some random tank), but if you have your own tanks refilled they completely solve the problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I have used an inline gauge years ago, but it's performance was sketchy at best, as the pressure in the tank changes with ambient temperature.
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Yes, and the pressure (which is all those inline gauges measure) depends only on temperature - they don't respond to level at all. The idea behind them is that when the level gets very low while it is flowing (running a grill or whatever) the propane can't absorb heat fast enough so it chills and the pressure drops. You might as well watch for frost on the tank!
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07-12-2016, 09:21 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: no fixed address, California
Trailer: 2017-21' Escape (sold) Casita 17' (sold)
Posts: 1,348
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may have already been linked here, but we own one of these and it works very well.
https://www.amazon.com/Grill-Gauge-G.../dp/B0012GTU3O
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07-12-2016, 09:54 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Losangeles
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That makes sense. A luggage scale is functionally the same thing, if you happen to have one, or it's more readily available to buy one. Weigh an empty tank to see how much to subtract to get propane weight, or weigh a full tank so you know that's full and 20 pounds less is empty.
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07-13-2016, 12:13 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
.... Weigh an empty tank to see how much to subtract to get propane weight, or weigh a full tank so you know that's full and 20 pounds less is empty.
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Look on the ring/handle on the tank top. You should see a variety of stamped numbers, etc. One will be the Tare (empty) weight. I just looked at my spare tank. the stamp reads:
" T.W. 19.7 LBS " ; translation is of course: tare (empty) weight is 19.7 pounds.
As Brian stated, weigh it when it's full and subtract. You also will know whether you're getting all the propane you paid for when re-filling.
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07-13-2016, 12:39 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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How much propane is in that tank?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews
You also will know whether you're getting all the propane you paid for when re-filling.
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We get our tanks refilled where the gauge is visible and propane is sold by the actual amount dispensed - not by "tank" or "10 pound" or some other non specific amount. And, we don't do tank exchanges, mainly because our tanks are of a higher quality than the exchange tanks. That way, we always know we got what we paid for. Again, you can see the gauge.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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07-13-2016, 01:27 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews
Look on the ring/handle on the tank top. You should see a variety of stamped numbers, etc. One will be the Tare (empty) weight. I just looked at my spare tank. the stamp reads:
" T.W. 19.7 LBS " ; translation is of course: tare (empty) weight is 19.7 pounds.
As Brian stated, weigh it when it's full and subtract. You also will know whether you're getting all the propane you paid for when re-filling.
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Very true, but eyes glaze over when I describe tank markings... since you have the scale anyway, you can just weigh it.
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07-13-2016, 07:07 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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What am I missing here? You have two same sized tanks with an automatic switchover valve, when the switch moves from tank A to tank B, you have used 50% of your fuel and time to get a refill? Unless you are the type that likes to run on 1/4 tank of below fuel, I start looking when I reach 50%, so why not do the same with your propane? It does not save any money nor cost any more to refill early.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-13-2016, 07:49 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,217
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Jim, I make sure I have two full tanks any time I'm going out for any more than a couple days.
I have 5 tanks and a scale. When I get a low but not empty Escape tank, I finish it out on the bar b que or the campfire in a can. I keep my spares well away from the house in a secure building. On our recent trip to The West, we encountered snowy nights and some high elevation camping where it was cool at night and we ran the furnace more than we might have planned. It always feels good to know you've got adequate propane to make it for two or three days if you're away from a fill opportunity. Be Prepared, motto of the Boy Scouts.
Dave
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07-13-2016, 08:00 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
What am I missing here? You have two same sized tanks with an automatic switchover valve, when the switch moves from tank A to tank B, you have used 50% of your fuel and time to get a refill? Unless you are the type that likes to run on 1/4 tank of below fuel, I start looking when I reach 50%, so why not do the same with your propane? It does not save any money nor cost any more to refill early.
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Based on your previous posts on this forum indicating that you have never kept your trailers long enough to have to fill the propane tanks, I assume that "I start looking when I reach 50%" means that is when you start looking to purchase your next trailer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
I must be doing something wrong, I have never yet had to refill any of my propane tanks on any on my trailers over the past 10 years!!!
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__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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