Where to fill up propane tanks when picking up new Escape?

[Red Dog]

We are picking up our new 21' Escape TT in January. Do folks normally pay Escape to fill the propane tanks or do they do it later? Just wondering how the Escape Community rolls?

 

[MyronL]

They gave me two filled tanks when I rolled out. Don't recall if I paid extra for that.

 

[Donna D.]

I had ETI take care of the tanks. I wanted to check all the systems before I got to far from the factory. Didn't want to worry about "where do I find propane"? When I knew I'd already be tired and (probably) stressed. YMMV

 

[Steve Clark]

They will fill the tanks for a low set cost. I don't recall the price, but it was well worth it for the convenience .

 

[Dave Walter]

If you order the Starter Kit as an option from ETI, that includes filling the two propane tanks.

Starter Kit (Starter kit with Tandem Chocks. Includes: 4 Rolls RV Toilet Tissue, 1 ltr Toilet Chemical, 10 prs of Lg Latex Gloves, 25’ Water Hose, City Water Pressure Regulator, 2 Tandem Chocks, Propane Tanks Purged & Filled, Hitch Lock), $190.00

 

[C&G in FL]

ETI charges more than I can get tanks filled for where I live, based on the US to CDN equivalent. Still, I paid them to provide two filled tanks for the convenience. I quote the same reason as Donna.

 

[rbryan4]

Just have Escape prefill them. You'll have alot on your mind and that's one less thing. As you meander your way back South, if you need a refill, I recommend a propane dealer. They're usually much cheaper than the big box stores or the U-Hauls.

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[Bobbito]

I totally agree with getting ETI to fill your tanks on pickup. If, however, you are passing through the Sumas area at a later date and need a refill or to top up the tanks, the Costco just before the Sumas border crossing offers an unbelievable deal on propane. The 20 lb tanks cost $10 to fill, vs $25-27 elsewhere in the Fraser Valley. They also charge only for the amount added, not a full tank price regardless. (Petro-Canada bills for a full tank). The propane filling station is at the large red awning near the auto service centre. This Costco is the only one in the Vancouver area offering propane.

Bob K


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[escape artist]

ETI charges more than I can get tanks filled for where I live, based on the US to CDN equivalent. Still, I paid them to provide two filled tanks for the convenience. I quote the same reason as Donna.

Hi: C&G in FL... We also let ETI do the first fill!!!
The Flying J near your place charged $23. USD for two 20# ers . Here at home Dowler Karn Propane, Fuels,& Lubricants charged me $12.39 + tx = $14. each CAD. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Red Dog]

OK, thanks everyone. I will follow the lead and get the tanks filled at ETI.

 

[redtaco99]

I think you'll save about$40 by getting your propane tanks filled at costco
Back in May I went to ETI a day before my new trailer pickup and retrieved the propane tanks from them. The tanks already had stickers on them to indicate they were purged and good to go. I drove down the highway about 30 Km to Abbotsford Costco and paid $21 Cdn to fill them.

 

[RicVic]

Brand new tanks need to be filled and purged several times in order to get the full tank. Most places will not do the first filling. We have to take new tanks to a propane storage facility to have them filled the first time and that normally means we have to leave the tanks and pick them later. That would be a real pain if you headed home.

 

[RicVic]

That answers the question about purging the tanks. Did not know had them done.

 

[C&G in FL]

Hi: C&G in FL... We also let ETI do the first fill!!!
The Flying J near your place charged $23. USD for two 20# ers . Here at home Dowler Karn Propane, Fuels,& Lubricants charged me $12.39 + tx = $14. each CAD. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Didn't realize that Flying J was so expensive. I get them filled at a tractor dealership which charges $16, including tax.

 

[rbryan4]

Brand new tanks need to be filled and purged several times in order to get the full tank. Most places will not do the first filling. We have to take new tanks to a propane storage facility to have them filled the first time and that normally means we have to leave the tanks and pick them later. That would be a real pain if you headed home.

Any reputable propane dealer will purge and fill new tanks. If the place you choose won't do a new tank purge, in my opinion it's time to find another supplier. Besides, the propane dealers are much less expensive. Propane is what they do.

They're also not that hard to find - they're in most towns.

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[padlin]

I thought tanks came pre purged these days, the last couple 20lb'ers I bought were.

 

[thoer]

I thought tanks came pre purged these days, the last couple 20lb'ers I bought were.

The ones we got from ETI in 2010 had pre-purged labels on them too. One I bought recently at Menards was also.

 

[ReagentGrade]

My biggest reservation about having ETI fill the tanks is the tanks they provide. I want tanks with built in floats. You already know exactly how much you have left. I can get them at Costco or Sam's. Maybe I'll bring them me.

 

[ksitte]

Someone closer to a Camping World location can probably chime in better, but don't I recall CW offers $.99 propane during the camping season? It might be for Good Sam members only but it's worth checking out. There's a big CW in Burlington and, if you're heading east, another in Spokane.

We have a local RV dealer that does the same, from the US Memorial Day through Labor Day. We're spoiled. Filled both my tanks for under $10 last week.

 

[Brian B-P]

While newly manufactured propane tanks do need to be purged of air before their first use, and many refilling locations (not specialty propane businesses) might not purge them, this is no longer a concern as the tanks (apparently including those from Escape) come from the factory ready to go; they're "vacuum purged".

My biggest reservation about having ETI fill the tanks is the tanks they provide. I want tanks with built in floats. You already know exactly how much you have left. I can get them at Costco or Sam's. Maybe I'll bring them me.

Just for clarity... they all have floats now, to run the Overfill Prevention Device (OPD); what you need are tanks equipped to use that same float to run a gauge.

Since you can get gauge-equipped tanks at all major retailers of propane tanks, you can get them anywhere, presumably including in the Chilliwack area. I've seen them at Canadian Tire, Walmart, and Costco... but sometimes Costco only has tanks without the gauge. I'm sure they're cheaper in any major U.S. city than anywhere in Canada, but if you're short of space in the tug with all your trailer stuff in it for the pickup trip, you don't need to squeeze in two five-gallon tanks. Maybe this isn't a concern, with a pickup truck.

I think Escape's base pricing includes the propane tanks, but not the propane. If you have the space to carry extra tanks, you could bring tanks with level gauges, get only those ones filled, and safely carry the empty tanks (that come on the trailer) with you as spares.