2019 Escape 5.0TA

[hwclevela]

Hello, I will be picking up my 2019 Escape 5.0TA in mid May 2019. Would someone be able to tell me if the two 20-pound propane tanks in the front storage cabinet of a 5.0TA can be exchanged with two 30-pound Tanks? Is there enough room in the propane holding area?

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by hwclevela

Hello, I will be picking up my 2019 Escape 5.0TA in mid May 2019. Would someone be able to tell me if the two 20-pound propane tanks in the front storage cabinet of a 5.0TA can be exchanged with two 30-pound Tanks? Is there enough room in the propane holding area?

Hi: hwclevela... It'd be a tight fit if they did. So far we have managed to empty one 20 #er per season. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[hwclevela]

Thanks escape artist

[Mark James]

A 30 is big. I think it will be too tight. Measure first. I take it you will be using the furnace a lot.
Takes me some time and cold conditions to go through 2 twenties.

[steve dunham]

We have gone through 2–20 lb tanks of propane in a 3 day period in our 17 ft Casita
Temps were below zero and it was windy
Your results should be better in your Escape if you have the insulation package with thermostat windows . The Casita has very little insulation
The Casita furnace has a 16,000 btu imput and the Escape furnace has a 12,000 btu imput which should also lower gas consumption

[EscapeBoulder]

A couple of weeks ago, it took us about a week to go through a 20 pounder in Washington and the Oregon coast. It was in the mid-twenty's overnight in Washington, and down to the mid-40's overnight along the coast. Cool to cold during the days too. We have the max insulation options Escape offered with our brand new 19'er. Even the tank heaters (which we used while plugged in in Washington). My guess is, unless you're boondocking for an extended period, 2, twenties should work for you. And you could always have a third in the bed of your truck and just trade one out.

[hwclevela]

Thanks Mark James and Steve Dunham also EscapeBoulder. Thats a lot good info thanks.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by hwclevela

Hello, I will be picking up my 2019 Escape 5.0TA in mid May 2019. Would someone be able to tell me if the two 20-pound propane tanks in the front storage cabinet of a 5.0TA can be exchanged with two 30-pound Tanks? Is there enough room in the propane holding area?

Escape lists the 5.0TA propane tank compartment at 26” W x 16” D x 22” H.
A typical 30# tank is just shy of 24” high. Based on these numbers the 30# tanks will not fit. For comparison the typical 20# tank height is just under 18”.

[Donna D.]

On the 5.0TA the tanks sit down inside the cabinet a couple of inches. You have to be able to lift it up and out. You can't just slide it out. There isn't enough room to tip a tank side-to-side more than an inch or so. I wouldn't want to try and muscle a 30# tank into the cabinet, even if there was enough height.

[hwclevela]

Thanks Rubicon327 and Donna D. Great info Thanks.

[Perry Butler]

We left Bob's Burgers and Brew in Sumas, Wa on October 26 with our new 5.0 TA. The next five weeks were spent going down the Oregon/California coast, Sequoia/Yosemite National Parks, and traveling home through Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, and finally home in Lanesboro, Minnesota.

The furnace ran every night, with at least half at 35 degrees and below, and a few nights with lows in the teens. We consumed/refilled three 20# tanks. I doubt we will ever camp that many weeks in a row at those temperatures. We had no problems finding LP fill stations, and would not bother with 30# tanks.

Years ago we learned NOT to have the regulator on automatic switchover. One night we woke up with BOTH LP tanks empty and were miles away from an LP fill station. Now we only have the valve open on one tank, so you will always have the other tank as a working spare and know it is time to fill the newly empty tank.

Enjoy,

Perry

[davidmurphy02]

We traveled for 15 years in a small fifth wheel similar to the 5.0TA. The salesman talked us into getting 30 gallon tanks instead of 20's. We never found that the extra capacity was helpful or needed, and those 30's were sure a pain to wrangle in and out of the storage compartment. Very happy that our new 5.0TA will have dual 20's.

[hwclevela]

Thanks Perryb67 and Davidmurphy02. thats great info and I think now that you are right. Thanks again.

[rubicon327]

Saw this picture in the Owner’s Manual which may be helpful

[cpaharley2008]

But this picture does not show the lip on the bottom of the enclosure that any tank has to be raised up and over to get out.

[marsman]

This is an issue I've thought about as well, especially when I'm travelling in more remote areas (for example I am going to travel the Dempster highway one day). When that happens I have a couple of old plastic pop crates which I'll use to carry my 2 bbq propane tanks in the bed of my truck, so that I'll have lots of extra propane tanks with me, just in case.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

But this picture does snot show the lip on the bottom of the enclosure that any tank has to be raised up and over to get out.

Ok here you go.

[cpaharley2008]

So that lip appears to be minimal. Thanks for the clarification....

[padlin]

The lip (hatch frame) gets pretty beat up taking the tanks in and out, it bends very easy. You have to be able to get a hold of the bottom to some extent to lift it up over the lip. I find it an awkward maneuver, more so the heavier the tank, meaning reinstalling them when full.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by padlin

The lip (hatch frame) gets pretty beat up taking the tanks in and out, it bends very easy. You have to be able to get a hold of the bottom to some extent to lift it up over the lip. I find it an awkward maneuver, more so the heavier the tank, meaning reinstalling them when full.

Hi: padlin... The 1/2" lip along the bottom of my hatch was cut off by ETI in the center of the opening. This allows for a somewhat easier R&R of the tanks. Glad I only do it once a year. The same I did at Reace's urging for the upper compartment to allow my Spitfire 180 grille to slip in/out with it's legs attached. Have grille will travel!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie