Replacing propane tanks

[vpearce]

Message 2 from James Hupy

Jim H.

Where would I check to find DOT approved propane tanks? Or, do you have a source here in the Portland, OR area. I am planning on installing a catalytic furnace and either and on-demand or more efficient water heater - will still keep the stove and refrigerator in my 76 Birchaven 455 w/rear bath.
Am slowly getting the renovations completed - looking to instal foam insulation after my ceiling and wall wiring upgrades.

Virgil

Lake Oswego, OR

 

[Jim Hupy]

Virgil, what you really need is a A.S.M.E. certified tank approved for use
in a motor vehicle. You may be able to find used tanks still in use and
under certification. If they still contain propane, then they still should
retain their certification. If empty, they will need to be recertified.
Your local propane gas supplier should be able to properly guide you better
than I can. Sorry to not be more helpful.
Jim Hupy

> Message 2 from James Hupy
>
> Jim H.
>
> Where would I check to find DOT approved propane tanks? Or, do you have a
> source here in the Portland, OR area. I am planning on installing a
> catalytic furnace and either and on-demand or more efficient water heater -
> will still keep the stove and refrigerator in my 76 Birchaven 455 w/rear
> bath.
> Am slowly getting the renovations completed - looking to instal foam
> insulation after my ceiling and wall wiring upgrades.
>
> Virgil
>
> Lake Oswego, OR
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[Ken H.]

Virgil,

From here in S. GA, I don't know anything about sources in your area, but
perhaps my experience will give you a clue: When I rebuilt my '76
Birchaven w/rear bath, I made allowance for the huge 19.3 gallon (IIRC)
tank by rotating it to parallel the driver's side wall, then mounted
captain's chairs where they'd lean back over that tall box. That worked
well until SHE insisted on replacing the chairs with a sofa, which would be
too high over the box. I was lucky to find, in an RV surplus store in
Elkhart, IN, a 6 gallon horizontal ASME tank, by Manchester Tank (big
source -- check Google), designed for use in a small RV, such as a Class
B. That enabled me to reduce the sealed metal enclosure size to fit
beneath the sofa.

I'd have preferred to install removable tanks, but the Birchaven's rear
bath and Onan eliminated all the tall-enough locations.

Even that small tank has proven to be more than adequate (which I define as
not needing refill before every trip); I refill it about every 6 months or
less often. Using only the refrigerator and occasionally the water heater
helps. We don't go to very cold places and usually have shore power so a
little cube heater is adequate for us.

Surely there are RV surplus stores in Oregon? Around Harrisburg, perhaps?

Good luck -- perhaps you can get some ideas at:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3055-our-x-birchaven.html (This is
before the small tank was installed.)

​Ken H.​

> Message 2 from James Hupy
>
> Jim H.
>
> Where would I check to find DOT approved propane tanks? Or, do you have a
> source here in the Portland, OR area. I am planning on installing a
> catalytic furnace and either and on-demand or more efficient water heater -
> will still keep the stove and refrigerator in my 76 Birchaven 455 w/rear
> bath.
> Am slowly getting the renovations completed - looking to instal foam
> insulation after my ceiling and wall wiring upgrades.
>
> Virgil
>
> Lake Oswego, OR
> _______________________________________________
>
>

 

[Jim Hupy]

Virgil, come to think of it, there used to be a stack of automotive propane
tanks at Cherry City Recycling off of Cherry Avenue in Salem. Just off of
the Salem Parkway. I scrounge around in there once in a while for scrap
metals for projects. Worth a look see, or, perhaps you have a similar
facility near where you are in Lake Oswego.
Jim Hupy

> Virgil,
>
> From here in S. GA, I don't know anything about sources in your area, but
> perhaps my experience will give you a clue: When I rebuilt my '76
> Birchaven w/rear bath, I made allowance for the huge 19.3 gallon (IIRC)
> tank by rotating it to parallel the driver's side wall, then mounted
> captain's chairs where they'd lean back over that tall box. That worked
> well until SHE insisted on replacing the chairs with a sofa, which would be
> too high over the box. I was lucky to find, in an RV surplus store in
> Elkhart, IN, a 6 gallon horizontal ASME tank, by Manchester Tank (big
> source -- check Google), designed for use in a small RV, such as a Class
> B. That enabled me to reduce the sealed metal enclosure size to fit
> beneath the sofa.
>
> I'd have preferred to install removable tanks, but the Birchaven's rear
> bath and Onan eliminated all the tall-enough locations.
>
> Even that small tank has proven to be more than adequate (which I define as
> not needing refill before every trip); I refill it about every 6 months or
> less often. Using only the refrigerator and occasionally the water heater
> helps. We don't go to very cold places and usually have shore power so a
> little cube heater is adequate for us.
>
> Surely there are RV surplus stores in Oregon? Around Harrisburg, perhaps?
>
> Good luck -- perhaps you can get some ideas at:
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3055-our-x-birchaven.html (This is
> before the small tank was installed.)
>
> ​Ken H.​
>

>
> > Message 2 from James Hupy
> >
> > Jim H.
> >
> > Where would I check to find DOT approved propane tanks? Or, do you have a
> > source here in the Portland, OR area. I am planning on installing a
> > catalytic furnace and either and on-demand or more efficient water
> heater -
> > will still keep the stove and refrigerator in my 76 Birchaven 455 w/rear
> > bath.
> > Am slowly getting the renovations completed - looking to instal foam
> > insulation after my ceiling and wall wiring upgrades.
> >
> > Virgil
> >
> > Lake Oswego, OR
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>