Filling 30 lb Propane Tanks?

[Wmlunt]

Good day,
For those of you with 30 lb propane tanks… any issues with filling? Or finding a place to fill rather than trade in blue rhino?
Am considering upgrading to larger tanks but concerned on finding a place on the road that fills, and can fill the larger tank.
Thx! Bill

[Jay Tea]

Hey Bill. Many U-Haul stores refill LPG tanks, as do numerous on-the-road gas stations (outside of cities). In most cases, cost per gallon is much cheaper than Blue Rhino!

[Morich]

I don't know your part of the world but I would never consider the prefilled tanks unless really pressed!
I would assume all parts of the country would have propane dealers who fill tanks of all sorts. Surely there are lots of other users besides the RV and grill folks? Forklifts, lots of mobile equipment like compressors, ventilators and such where the propane is safer than extra gasoline cans?
Surely there are places in the more rural areas where natural gas is not available, so there would be trucks to refill their large tanks at houses and business heating with propane?

Depending on where you run in the RV, maybe ease your mind by looking online for propane dealers in those areas?
Once you find a dealer, they will be set up to fill anything from the large permanently mounted tanks behind the house, down to the little five pounders for portable grills.
Twenty and thirty all have the same fitting, so they often just set the tank on a scale and read the weight as they fill Or they simply charge a flat rate without considering how much you actually get for your money!

[Wmlunt]

Thx guys, had not considered u-haul.
I never use blue rhino, Short fill, rusty tanks, etc - only when I have to exchange my old tank ��
Stealership wants $650 to trade up to 30 lb tanks, I can swap myself for <$250 and keep the 20 lb-ers!!!

[Jay Tea]

Bill - Also, most RV campgrounds which have general stores (KOA, Good Sam, etc) sell LPG, and most gasoline stations surrounding national parks sell LPG. Try to locate those fill points which sell by the gallon (usually better prices), as opposed to flat-rate (can be much more expensive).

[wahoonc]

We use 30/40/100# tanks for work. U Haul or a local LP distributor is usually our go to. On very large projects they come to is.

Aaron

[Morich]

I tend to avoid the resellers for best value and service.
U-haul can be okay but it depends a lot on who is there at the time as some are not very well trained.
One of the last trips to the local U-haul made me avoid them when I can as the girl was so unsure of what to expect. When she did something and there was a big burst of gas shot out, she turned to me and asked if it was "supposed to do that"!
Just gave me a bit of bad feeling if she was asking me?
I like to get as close to the real dealers as possible and that is often the place with the propane trucks setting out back!
I just do a search online for "propane dealers" and it has always found several in the area!

Just as a test for an area I know little about, this is what popped up currently for the East end of MA!
Click this snip for a better view that will mean far more to you than I know??

[Wmlunt]

Thanks All! Much less nervous to trade up to larger size now. I will have to check tongue weight with pass thru loaded.
I am converting my grill for running on low pressure port, do folks run out of propane?

[Morich]

When running Minnesota and North, sometimes!
But when running in/out of Texas, never if not gone for weeks!

But that depends on what and when? Ice fishing and sleeping out on the ice does take a lot more than a week at the beach for swimming!

[Decuct CoCo]

been refilling 30# tank for decades all across the country..
In Senaca SC they were still using a scale where all other sellers have had gallon meters..

In the last 4 months I've had to have all 3 of my 30# tanks recertified, finding a facility to do recertification has been the biggest problem.
At least that is only required every 5 years, cost was $15 for each tank..

New tanks don't need recert for first 12 years after manufacture date stamped onto them..

[BobC]

I usually take my tanks to a local gas station to be refilled but occasionally have used Blue Rhino. I recently saw the Blue Rhino price at my local supermarket and it was $27! It cost me $19 at the gas station (Sacramento area). It's been a while but I don't remember the premium being that much.

Plus, if you're like me, your tanks are never completely empty when you refill them so you're giving gas to Blue Rhino when you exchange. I've also read that Blue Rhino doesn't fill their tanks as much as they legally could.

[Ray,IN]

Don't forget about Flying J truck stops, you can refuel, have your LP "cylinders" refilled, empty your waste holding tanks, and refill your fresh water tank at the same RV refueling island in front of the store.

[Wmlunt]

Nice tip Lincoln, thanks!
Bill

[creativepart]

Tractor Supply stores fill Propane. Many even can accommodate drive in vehicles such as your TT while connected and motorhomes, too. Not all have room for drive thru refilling though you need to check in advance.

[rgvtexan]

Some Costco stores, fill propane

[Ray,IN]

Super Camping World stores fill both cylinders and fixed LP tanks.

[powercat_ras]

Empty 30# propane tank weights over 25# so add 30# of propane onto that and they can be very heavy to handle, so you should consider if you are comfortable lifting and lowering 55# when you transport them to refill.

I have never seen a propane filling station that only takes 20# or smaller tank sizes, so I don't think that will be an issue for you.

All the propane exchange I see are exchanging only 20# tanks and the exchange tanks only are filled to 15# for some reason, so you are not likely to have any exchange options at all if you change from 20# to 30#.

[Wmlunt]

Thx Randy,
Had not really considered the 55 lb lift up to chest high…
Wouldn’t ever exchange so that is likely a non-issue
Bill

[Rodger]

I have a 2000 Journey motorhome. The tank is mounted in front of the battery compartment, passenger side. I went to a propane dealer in town (Cordele, GA) and asked if he could come fill my tank. He told me he could but they didn't because one time there hose connector got stuck on one of the tanks and they had a hard time getting it off. He said something about a feedback valve or something caused it to stick. He said a lot of motorhomes had that problem so they did not fill the tanks.

[Morich]

Originally Posted by Rodger

I have a 2000 Journey motorhome. The tank is mounted in front of the battery compartment, passenger side. I went to a propane dealer in town (Cordele, GA) and asked if he could come fill my tank. He told me he could but they didn't because one time there hose connector got stuck on one of the tanks and they had a hard time getting it off. He said something about a feedback valve or something caused it to stick. He said a lot of motorhomes had that problem so they did not fill the tanks.

That sounds like a fellow who was not terribly motivated! If a propane dealer doesn't fill the propane tanks, I wonder who he does think will fill them?
He has the idea that U-haul, truck stops, and RV parks do it and know lots more then he does?

When I get that type of lack of interest, I just write them off and move on down the line!
Did he happen to ask you for a good sized tip for the outstanding service?