Mirror to view and check propane tanks - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-07-2018, 11:03 PM   #21
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
trick with a inspection mirror.... clean it reasonably well. hold a skinny bright flashlight along the handle so its shining at the mirror... I use my single AAA led key-chain light, which is nice and bright. sometimes i even rubber band or masking tape it to the mirror handle... the mirror shines the light at the target, it bounces back and you see the target in the reflection...
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2018, 12:42 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Steve Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,558
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I just take the tanks cover off. It's really simple.
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'

“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
Steve Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2018, 05:33 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I just take the tanks cover off. It's really simple.
That worked fine with the heavy duty cover on my 2011 17, but the 2017 21 has a much lighter cover. light enough that Escape added a tie down to hole it in place that is a pain to rehook. I prefer the mirror...
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2018, 07:48 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
sunrisetrucker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 17b "Shelly"
Posts: 457
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I just take the tanks cover off. It's really simple.
That's all I do. Take the cover off take a quick look and then put the cover back on. Maybe it's a 17 thing.
__________________
Like a lot of fellows, I have a furniture problem. My chest has fallen into my drawers
"Billy Casper"
sunrisetrucker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 02:53 PM   #25
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Mirror installed to easily view propane level

This thread was inspiring.

I had some leftover plastic peel and stick acrylic mirror sheets so I cut out a rectangle portion (sized to fit right over the rectangle shape on the inside of the propane tank cover). When applied to that area, when the top lid is open you can easily see the red/green indicator in the mirror just by looking down inside the Propane tank cover. Super easy to check anytime and no need to lift cover or use mirrors tools or flashlights (in the daytime) and it stays on well. We just noticed the switch from green to red on our last trip just by looking in.

Here's the link for what I used:
https://www.amazon.com/color-mogu-Ac...gateway&sr=8-3

The amount (4 sheets) in this link is a bit overkill (I had used this for a different project earlier). Maybe you can find something similar/smaller amount or if you have a lot left over, like I do....I think this would be a fun thing to bring to a rally and cut out a bunch of these and pass around!

A word of caution however, do not be tempted to apply this product inside the trailer for a mirror. It's great to use just to see the propane indicator color change but it's very thin and distorts shapes (like in a house of mirrors). For inside the trailer, I ordered a different custom thick acrylic mirrored product from our local 'Tap Plastic' store that is very light weight and sturdy and works very well as a mirror on our microwave cabinet door.
Attached Thumbnails
LPG-topJPG.jpg   red.jpg   green.jpg   Cabinet mirror.jpg  
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 02:58 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bea View Post
This thread was inspiring.

I had some leftover plastic peel and stick acrylic mirror sheets so I cut out a rectangle portion (sized to fit right over the rectangle shape on the inside of the propane tank cover). When applied to that area, when the top lid is open you can easily see the red/green indicator in the mirror just by looking down inside the Propane tank cover. Super easy to check anytime and no need to lift cover or use mirrors tools or flashlights (in the daytime) and it stays on well. We just noticed the switch from green to red on our last trip just by looking in.


Here's the link for what I used:
https://www.amazon.com/color-mogu-Ac...gateway&sr=8-3

The amount (4 sheets) in this link is a bit overkill (I had used this for a different project earlier). Maybe you can find something similar/smaller amount or if you have a lot left over, like I do....I think this would be a fun thing to bring to a rally and cut out a bunch of these and pass around!

A word of caution however, do not be tempted to apply this product inside the trailer for a mirror! It's great to use just to see the propane indicator color change but it's very thin and distorts shapes (like in a house of mirrors). For inside the trailer, I ordered a custom think acrylic mirrored product from our local 'Tap Plastic' store that is very light weight and sturdy and works very well as a mirror on our microwave cabinet door.
What a great and very useful idea ! Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 03:28 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
h2owmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,518
Brilliant!!!
__________________
--Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced older woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force. --Dorothy Sayers
h2owmn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 04:39 PM   #28
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
that red/green valve thingie has never flipped on either of my two dual tank trailers. it goes through one tank, then the other, so the valve is working, but the indicator has never done anything meaningful. both have different versions of the dual tank regulator, too.
That's why I went high tech: https://mopeka.com/
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 06:13 PM   #29
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Thanks Pat and h2owmn. Just a simple fix...but that Mopeka high tech route, Charlie...now that's cool!
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 06:20 PM   #30
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bea View Post
Thanks Pat and h2owmn. Just a simple fix...but that Mopeka high tech route, Charlie...now that's cool!
Bea if you don’t mind I like the simplicity and cost of your excellent mod and will do it too ! It gets the job done ! Charley got to watch the funds now but it works too. Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 06:29 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
h2owmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,518
My friends have that gadget and love it. Think I will try the mirror.
__________________
--Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced older woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force. --Dorothy Sayers
h2owmn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 06:45 PM   #32
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda View Post
Bea if you don’t mind I like the simplicity and cost of your excellent mod and will do it too ! It gets the job done ! Charley got to watch the funds now but it works too. Pat
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 07:34 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
My method is even simpler. I remove the propane tank cover and set it on the ground, allowing me to examine the indicator.
Yesterday, I did just that, and because I have a trip planned, I loosened the apparatus that holds the tanks and weighed them with my luggage scale, without removing the hoses. One was totally full and the other was short about six pounds. I'm good to go.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 08:58 PM   #34
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Westport, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2018 17B
Posts: 79
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
My method is even simpler. I remove the propane tank cover and set it on the ground, allowing me to examine the indicator.
It is not simpler if you have to get on the ground with your head under the tanks to be able to see while reattaching the small bungee cord which keeps the tank cover in place. I love this recommendation of the stick-on mirror.
Calicia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 10:19 PM   #35
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I don't use a bungee cord to secure the tank cover. I use a reusable zap strap that goes down through an existing slot in the top and through a propane tank handle, back up and out the slot.
If I had to get down on my knees, I'd never get up.
Attached Thumbnails
Zip tie.jpg  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2019, 06:10 PM   #36
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
that Mopeka thing looks like its intended for home use, and requires a wifi connection to the internet as it stores everything 'in the cloud', something you're not likely to have in a mobile trailer while camping... and it says, 'connect to the propane gauge'.... er, what gauge? campers don't usually have a propane gauge, unlike large fixed tank home systems.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2019, 07:13 PM   #37
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
that Mopeka thing looks like its intended for home use, and requires a wifi connection to the internet as it stores everything 'in the cloud', something you're not likely to have in a mobile trailer while camping... and it says, 'connect to the propane gauge'.... er, what gauge? campers don't usually have a propane gauge, unlike large fixed tank home systems.
My unit connects via Bluetooth directly to an app on my iPhone. I don't use their "mobile gateway" product. Works very well.
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.