30# propane tank upgrade for 5.0TA?

[Hawkeye Ed]

Has anyone tried to upgrade their 5.0TA propane storage by swapping out the two 20 pound tanks for two 30 pound tanks? Would they fit? 20 point (standard barbecue) tanks are about 18 inches tall; most 30 pound tanks are about 24 inches tall. I don't know if there's enough room, but the question is intriguing.

[gbaglo]

I don't know. You'll still run out of propane, still have to refill tanks. Is it worth it?

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeEZ

Has anyone tried to upgrade their 5.0TA propane storage by swapping out the two 20 pound tanks for two 30 pound tanks? Would they fit? 20 point (standard barbecue) tanks are about 18 inches tall; most 30 pound tanks are about 24 inches tall. I don't know if there's enough room, but the question is intriguing.

There is about 6” of clearance above the 20 pound tanks. So you might be able to get the tanks in, but there wouldn’t be enough room to get your hand in to operate the valves.

We can easily go 3 weeks or more in cooler weather, running the furnace, stove and fridge before running 1 of the 2 tanks to empty. In the summer months we fill a single tank about every 6 to 8 weeks of camping with normal use. I’m sure those who have fire pits use more. Regardless, I personally don’t see the need for larger tanks.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by arniesea

I’m sure those who have fire pits use more. Regardless, I personally don’t see the need for larger tanks.

Two facts to consider here.

1. Fire pits can empty propane tanks rapidly.
2. Changing tanks in a confined area like the compartment of the 5.0TA can be a chore.

While I have taken the regulator off of my fire pit and replaced it with a male Low pressure QD fitting so that I can run it on the trailer’s QD system, I rarely do for the two reasons above. Instead, I purchased a regulator with acme fitting at Lowe’s and added a female low pressure fitting to it. I carry a 20 lbs. cylinder in a milk carton to keep it upright in the cargo bed. It doesn’t have to be removed from a cramped compartment to be filled, and even better, it does not have to be reinstalled in a cramped compartment. This “setup” has the added advantage of being able to operate my low pressure cook stove, grill, and the fire pit at a distance from the trailer greater than the combined length of 32-feet that my propane hoses will allow.

[Perry Butler]

I'd have to find another spot for our garden hoses/water filter if I put 30# tanks in our 5.0's compartment!

I've wrestled our 20# tanks in and out of our 5.0 enough to know I don't even want to think of trying to squeeze in 30# tanks.

Enjoy,

Perry

[davidmurphy02]

We previously had a small fifth wheel similar in size to our 5.0TA. It had 30 pound propane tanks. A tank lasted a very long time, and it was quite a chore to muscle them in and out of the storage compartment. I much prefer the 20 pound tanks and they give us plenty of capacity.

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeEZ

Has anyone tried to upgrade their 5.0TA propane storage by swapping out the two 20 pound tanks for two 30 pound tanks? Would they fit? 20 point (standard barbecue) tanks are about 18 inches tall; most 30 pound tanks are about 24 inches tall. I don't know if there's enough room, but the question is intriguing.

Why would you want to? How far from civilization are you going?

[PGDriver]

We always carry an extra 20 pound tank besides the two in the trailer. We just find it handy if you haul your fire pit, BBQ, stove etc. to another campsite, beach or anywhere further than 50 feet away from our quick connect.
This also gives us a third tank to use with the trailer if needed, that said we always run out of other things before propane so we end up taking one empty tank once and awhile to be filled if convenient.
Much easier to deal with three 20 pounders than two 30 pounders.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

I've wrestled our 20# tanks in and out of our 5.0 enough to know I don't even want to think of trying to squeeze in 30# tanks.

Ditto.