Connecting to Propane Tank

February 02, 2020, 09:45:26 am

If you are considering hooking up to a large propane tank (110 gallon) "pig" or larger using an "extend a stay" you may have issues with the coaches two stage regulator freezing up.
A regulator freezing up means that it is getting liquid propane rather than vaporized gas which is what it is supposed to get.
A freezing regulator is very dangerous and the gas should immediately be shut off. Do not touch a freezing regulator, your skin will stick to it.
Our tank is twenty feet from the coach with 25 ft of buried 1/2" copper pipe to a post. This connects to a 14' custom made rubber gas pipe connector (same as comes with extend a stay, except longer). The "extend a stay" does not connect to the Fortravel fittings but taking both apart and reassembling parts it works like a gem.
When I first connected the tank the regulator froze after about two minutes. After a bunch of fiddling I figured out that the pressure in the length of pipe was not allowing the gas to vaporize. I then got the propane supplier to put an adjustable regulator on the tank, which is dialed down to 20lbs. At twenty the liquid has in the pipe can expand and vaporize and still activate the two stage regulator on the coach.
I did have it working without the regulator by barely opening the tank valve 1/8 inch turn which did work but I deemed it unsafe.
The gas from the larger tank is a lot less expensive and less hassle than getting small tanks filled or driving to get the onboard tank filled.
NOTE:
This is about tanks, not cylinders.
When using an external tank the on board tank should be shut off.
When disconnecting the feed from the large tank turn off the gas and "wearing gloves" open one connection on the line slightly to bleed the gas out of the pipe before disconnecting it - this gas will be way below freezing and can burn exposed skin.

Re: Connecting to Propane Tank

Reply #1 – February 02, 2020, 09:57:42 am

Very informative. Thank you.
What is the proper procedure for connecting the extend a stay hose, to the onboard tank? I first shut off valve at the onboard tank, then hooked the hose to my bbq grill which has a regulator. When I tried connecting the hose to the threaded fitting at the onboard tank, gas began to escape from the onboard tank. I stopped at that point. Thank you

Re: Connecting to Propane Tank

Reply #2 – February 02, 2020, 10:52:02 am

The extend a stay was originally made by Marshall Brass, now there are a lot of other brands mainly from China, some of them do not seal at the connectors without a good bit of force.
For your gas grill connection, it's best to turn off the gas, then attach the hose, there will be a momentary hiss of gas but it should seal as you tighten the coupling. Then turn on the gas again.

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