Old propane tank, what to do?

[dkutz]

Ok we bought our first popup this last week.  Its a 93 Starcraft.  Its in good shape, but not a lot of maintainance done to it. (original tires, battery, and propane tank)  So heres my question.  It has an old propane tank, with the old valve.  

Can I switch it out with a new tank from a propane exchange, and use an adapter or change the fitting on the trailer?  I am hoping I don't have to take it somehwhere to have the fittings changed.

Thanks

[SkipP]

Ok we bought our first popup this last week. Its a 93 Starcraft. Its in good shape, but not a lot of maintainance done to it. (original tires, battery, and propane tank) So heres my question. It has an old propane tank, with the old valve.
 
Can I switch it out with a new tank from a propane exchange, and use an adapter or change the fitting on the trailer? I am hoping I don't have to take it somehwhere to have the fittings changed.
 
Thanks

The hardware on your camper will work fine on the new OPD-type tanks The OPD tanks have both inner and outer threads to fit most appliances. The older valve tanks were obsoleted last year (I think in April) when it became illegal to fill them. You can probably replace the valve on your current tank with a newer one but, at the tanks age, it's probably not cost effective. I'd either purchase (if there's a nearby refill station) a new one or go the exchange route if there isn't. Either way, the existing fittings on your camper are fine (as long as they're in good shape).

[mike4947]

Believe it or not the OPD valves being required for filling is not regulated by law in all states yet.
As for trading, if a moron is doing the transaction he/she/it may just swap it out for one with an OPD without charging you the premium most exchange places have to "replace" a old tank with an OPD valved one.
Locally here there is a $7.50 recyling fee for disposing of a 20 pound propane cylinder unless you hit one of the bianual freebie days for turning them in.

[wynot]

Fortunately, I never had to do it, but I know what I would probably do - find a place that doesn't look real close at the exchanged tanks (as in, leave that outside, would you?) - Pick the coldest or wettest day you can - and exchange it.  Pick a place that the likelihood of the person exchanging it probably means they wouldn't catch it JUST IN CASE.  I know we have places around here with exchanged tanks on top of tanks that haven't gotten picked up yet.

5 minutes to closing time would probably work too!!;)
 
We picked up a free extra tank from a friend whose apartment complex told them to get rid of the barbeque...

[dkutz]

wow you guys are sneaker than me!  ha ha.  Turns out the tank has some gas left, so we'll use that up, and then exchange it.  Home depot on a saturday is probably good!  Or rain if we ever get some here in SoCal

[batsignal2]

Sort of on the same lines with this thread, has anyone ever exchanged a tank and gotten a Blue Rhino tank?  If so, does anyone know why they have on the tank (this may not be the exact language) "do not attempt to get filled, must be exchanged"?  Is there something really different with the tank fitting that does not allow a filling station to connect to the tank?  Or, is it just so that you exchange it to keep them in business?  I imagine it is the later thought.  I went to the webpage for them and they do not address it.

Personally, I refuse to exchange for one anymore because I prefer saving a few bucks and having them filled if the tanks are in good condition (mine are new as of last season).  Just something I have always been curious of.

Jeff

[flyfisherman]

wow you guys are sneaker than me!  ha ha.  Turns out the tank has some gas left, so we'll use that up, and then exchange it.  Home depot on a saturday is probably good!  Or rain if we ever get some here in SoCal

I think you got the right idea ... use what's left and then do the exchanging.  My neighbor down the street just happens to be the manager of the local Lowe's Bldg Supply in our little town (and he's certainly not a moron by any stretch), says he could care less what type valve an L/P tank has when they come in for an exchange.  That's an outside vendor and Lowe's simply get's a commission when they do the exchange of an empty for a full tank, in this area the vendor is "Blue Rhino", and Lowe's will swap it out for you in a nano second! He says the tank would have to be visibily split or ruptured before they'd refuse to swap it out.  These L/P tank exchange vendors are set-up to install/replace valves, plus re-paint and re-fill the tanks fast, and do so on a regular basis.



Fly

[campdaddy]

I exchanged two of the old style tanks early last year at our local service station -Speedway- and even told the clerk they had the old valves. They didn't care......took them anyway. As to the original question, yes I've found that older equipment will work just fine with the new valved tanks.

[chip]

Just a note of caution:  If you do the Blue Rhino thing, check the threads on the replacement.  Just pop the cover and make sure the threads are sharp.

I have seen the internal threads stripped on a full Blue Rhino tank-to the point that the fitting wouldn't catch.

[wernstriumph]

Sort of on the same lines with this thread, has anyone ever exchanged a tank and gotten a Blue Rhino tank?  If so, does anyone know why they have on the tank (this may not be the exact language) "do not attempt to get filled, must be exchanged"?  Is there something really different with the tank fitting that does not allow a filling station to connect to the tank?  Or, is it just so that you exchange it to keep them in business?  I imagine it is the later thought.  I went to the webpage for them and they do not address it.

Personally, I refuse to exchange for one anymore because I prefer saving a few bucks and having them filled if the tanks are in good condition (mine are new as of last season).  Just something I have always been curious of.

Jeff

Jeff I have filled Blue Rhino tanks before and the guy at the filling place never said anything to me . I think they just want to keep you coming back again and again. I have read somewhere that you should replace your propane tanks every few years or so because of internal rust and weak spots, so I usually do a Blue Rhino exchange every other year just to keep my tanks new(ish).

[AustinBoston]

I have read somewhere that you should replace your propane tanks every few years or so because of internal rust and weak spots, so I usually do a Blue Rhino exchange every other year just to keep my tanks new(ish).

There is a date on the tank.  The tank must either be requalified before the end of 12 years (good for another 5 years) or disposed of.  IIRC, the re-qual is usually expensive enough that it makes better economic sense to replace the tank with a new one.

Austin

[dademt]

wow you guys are sneaker than me! ha ha. Turns out the tank has some gas left, so we'll use that up, and then exchange it. Home depot on a saturday is probably good! Or rain if we ever get some here in SoCal

Well, not trying to be sneaky, I went to Walmart and told them that I had a tank outside to be replaced.  I prepaid and then went out to exchange the tank.  At that time they noticed the older valve and said I should have been charged extra for it but at that point they weren't going to bother making me get a refund and then re-rung.

[batsignal2]

Thanks for the information.  I replace them every couple years also.  Sometimes, it can be a pain to find a place that exchanges tanks without being a Blue Rhino.  Around me, most places that have the best exchange rates seem to carry them. I was just curious what other people are doing with them.  I have stopped going to larger centers (Walmart, chain convenience gas stations, etc) and started going to private companies that specialize in them.  Price-wise, they are between the Walmarts (cheepest) and Gas Stations (usually most expensive due to convenience).  However, I feel that they do a better job inspecting tanks.  Plus, refill costs are better....and no Blue Rhinos.

Thanks again.

Jeff I have filled Blue Rhino tanks before and the guy at the filling place never said anything to me . I think they just want to keep you coming back again and again. I have read somewhere that you should replace your propane tanks every few years or so because of internal rust and weak spots, so I usually do a Blue Rhino exchange every other year just to keep my tanks new(ish).

[mike4947]

While originally the Blue Rhino tanks came with a "secret" ball in there valve you needed a magnet to move to load propane into the cylinder; folks put up such a stink that they stopped producing them. They how ever didn't take the ones already made out of the system. So look for a small indent on the side of the valve. This is where the magnet goes to move the ball so anyone can fill the tank. Avoid them when exchanging.

[dademt]

While originally the Blue Rhino tanks came with a "secret" ball in there valve you needed a magnet to move to load propane into the cylinder; folks put up such a stink that they stopped producing them. They how ever didn't take the ones already made out of the system. So look for a small indent on the side of the valve. This is where the magnet goes to move the ball so anyone can fill the tank. Avoid them when exchanging.

Thanks, I had one of the Blue Rhinos that they never could refill at the local flying J and ended up having to switch it out again.  Wish I had know that before.  Now at least I know what to look for.