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10-24-2018, 12:41 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Bend, Oregon
Trailer: 2018 ESCAPE19
Posts: 198
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Mirror to view and check propane tanks
I am sure I am not the only one to think of this - I use a mirror to view the red/green slot for whether one of the dual propane tanks is empty. The first couple of times we pulled off the cover. Duh. Also, we did neat little duct tape sections on the propane tank cover as even pointed backwards they will flip off if not tightened down. We walked back a half mile or so to find ours.....
Isn't it the little things?
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10-24-2018, 12:47 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
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Yes, that’s been working for me. Also, in addition to changing direction of cover, add a couple of zip locks to keep from losing the cover. There add a short bungee cord on the bottom to make sure you don’t lose the whole cover. And last, but not least, the cost of a new cover is not that high. So when the cover gets really nasty, replace it. (Just remember to replace the hardware that comes with it with SS.)
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
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10-24-2018, 01:36 PM
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#3
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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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I drilled a 1" round observation hole in the cover front....by the jack head
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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10-24-2018, 01:49 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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Yea, I use a 2" inspection mirror. Also useful to check the settings on my inverter since the location it is mounted in a 21 with the "U" shaped dinette make it difficult to see the end of it.
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10-24-2018, 01:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
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We lost the inspection / access flip cover for our propane tanks so I purchased a new cover .
I put a jam nut and rod coupling on the 3/8” threaded rod that holds the regulator in place , drilled a 7/16” hole in the flip cover and put a 3/8” bolt & flat washer thru the hole in the flip cover and screwed it into the 3/8” rod coupling . The bolt locks the tank and flip cover firmly in place .
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10-24-2018, 04:19 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham
We lost the inspection / access flip cover for our propane tanks so I purchased a new cover .
I put a jam nut and rod coupling on the 3/8” threaded rod that holds the regulator in place , drilled a 7/16” hole in the flip cover and put a 3/8” bolt & flat washer thru the hole in the flip cover and screwed it into the 3/8” rod coupling . The bolt locks the tank and flip cover firmly in place .
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If I am ever at a rally you are at I'll give you 2 UV resistant tie wraps and a small bungee cord to fix up the next propane cover after this one gets marked up to much. Been passing those and little velcro pieces out for awhile now.
And show you the fancy piece of bent and folded steel I made to slow someone down when they try to steal our propane tanks.
Notice I said slow down. All of my anti theft attempts are just that. Keep semi honest people honest.
I subscribe to the theory if it takes to much effort they will move to an easier target.
And if you are not looking I might drop a sack of key lines on your picnic table. That's my version of trying to get rid of the zucchini.
All the orange and other citrus died when greening hit but the Key limes are doing fine. We had a bumper crop this year.
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10-24-2018, 04:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
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I guess I'm an outlier, but I throw the propane tank cover in the bed of our truck while travelling then place it over the tanks for aesthetics as part of our set-up. The "bare" tanks are protected by the truck while travelling, and I haven't discovered any damage or excess road grime. But then most of our travel is on asphalt roads.
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10-24-2018, 06:31 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk
If I am ever at a rally you are at I'll give you 2 UV resistant tie wraps and a small bungee cord to fix up the next propane cover after this one gets marked up to much. Been passing those and little velcro pieces out for awhile now.
And show you the fancy piece of bent and folded steel I made to slow someone down when they try to steal our propane tanks.
Notice I said slow down. All of my anti theft attempts are just that. Keep semi honest people honest.
I subscribe to the theory if it takes to much effort they will move to an easier target.
And if you are not looking I might drop a sack of key lines on your picnic table. That's my version of trying to get rid of the zucchini.
All the orange and other citrus died when greening hit but the Key limes are doing fine. We had a bumper crop this year.
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I already have 2 UV resistant tyraps on my propane access door but thank you for your kind offer .
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10-25-2018, 02:14 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
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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.
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10-25-2018, 06:42 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Knox, Maine
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 96
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk
And show you the fancy piece of bent and folded steel I made to slow someone down when they try to steal our propane tanks.
.
And if you are not looking I might drop a sack of key lines on your picnic table. That's my version of trying to get rid of the zucchini.
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Yes please to both! We have to get to a rally one of these days to see all the cool mods and tips!
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10-25-2018, 01:47 PM
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#11
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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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10-25-2018, 02:56 PM
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#12
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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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that is a good idea .....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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10-25-2018, 03:13 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Mine automatically tells me I'm out of fuel when the fridge, stove and furnace all shut down.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-25-2018, 10:15 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seatac, Washington
Trailer: "The Trailer", 2nd Gen 21' & a 2017 Tundra CrewMax in Blazing Blue Pearl
Posts: 2,888
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I got one of those angled round mirrors from my dentist. Works great!
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10-25-2018, 10:22 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
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I carry a mechanics inspection mirror in my toolkit, something like this...
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10-26-2018, 10:17 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Mine automatically tells me I'm out of fuel when the fridge, stove and furnace all shut down.
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I had my Escape 17 do that at Desert View Campground at the Grand Canyon. While it was mid May, it was 34°F out. Nearest propane 30 miles away. 2" of snow on the road. Not the best indicator!
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11-07-2018, 11:53 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17B "L'Escaboose" with 2021 Ford F150 XLT
Posts: 386
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
I had my Escape 17 do that at Desert View Campground at the Grand Canyon. While it was mid May, it was 34°F out. Nearest propane 30 miles away. 2" of snow on the road. Not the best indicator!
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I use that same method - when something quits working I must be out! But I always make sure one tank is always full. My tanks seem to last forever.
I had no idea the propane cover flying off was a thing. Mine seems to be pretty secure nestled between the tongue jack and storage box. One thing I didn't know I needed to worry about so I think I will forget I knew this now.
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11-07-2018, 12:29 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Carmel, New York
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0
Posts: 256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nindy
I use that same method - when something quits working I must be out! But I always make sure one tank is always full. My tanks seem to last forever.
I had no idea the propane cover flying off was a thing. Mine seems to be pretty secure nestled between the tongue jack and storage box. One thing I didn't know I needed to worry about so I think I will forget I knew this now.
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Yup, it’s a thing, but it was just (for us) the mini cover on top that just gives access to the valves. Gonna get an angled inspection mirror to check the propane. Already being more diligent to keep the two black plastic nuts screwed down tight.
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11-07-2018, 09:40 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Grindstone, Pennsylvania
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17A
Posts: 25
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Dental mirror
I bought a long-handled (standard) dental mirror for a buck or two at WalMart.
I lift the propane tank cover’s hinged top panel and insert the mirror until it is positioned in front of the green/red indicator, which is not directly visible from the open panel. The handle is long enough for the mirror to reach the position to reflect the green or red.
If it is somewhat dark inside the tank cover, I shine my phone’s “flashlight” inside the tank cover toward the back side of the indicator. The phone’s flashlight casts enough reflected light off the inner surface of the tank cover to illuminate the green/red indicator and make it visible in the mirror.
This works fine for me. It is a simple and inexpensive way of checking whether the tank toward which the flip lever is pointing has run empty and the feed has automatically switched over to the other (full) tank.
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11-07-2018, 09:50 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I just take the tanks cover off. It's really simple.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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