Where to get a custom made propane tank ?
- Thread starter MANUCHAO
- Start date
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
I don't guarantee this is right, but I suspect, for legal reasons, that you won't find anyone willing to make you a truly custom propane tank. I believe propane tanks have to be DOT and ASTM certified and tested in some careful manner. Anyone who made one for you without the certifications and tests would be taking on a big liability. That said, there is a pretty wide range of options available from mainstream tank manufacturers.
Are we talking small, like this?
Or big, like this?
Big is pretty easy . . . check here:
http://www.mantank.com/products/rvproducts.htm
or here:
http://www.worthingtoncylinders.com/products/propane.aspx
Small is harder. That little 3 gallon horizontal propane tank in the top picture is on GR8ADV's Tacoma that I once owned and I never did figure out where it came from. The only possibility I know of is the tank that came on VW Westfalia campers. They're made in Germany and available from at least two VW Vanagon accessory sources that I know of:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2447
and:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2447.
Good luck.
Are we talking small, like this?
Or big, like this?
Big is pretty easy . . . check here:
http://www.mantank.com/products/rvproducts.htm
or here:
http://www.worthingtoncylinders.com/products/propane.aspx
Small is harder. That little 3 gallon horizontal propane tank in the top picture is on GR8ADV's Tacoma that I once owned and I never did figure out where it came from. The only possibility I know of is the tank that came on VW Westfalia campers. They're made in Germany and available from at least two VW Vanagon accessory sources that I know of:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2447
and:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2447.
Good luck.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
Doug Hackney put a neat propane tank setup on his truck. Not sure if it's actually "custom", but it definitely looks a bit non-standard:
http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/photos/buildup_album_03/image016.htm
Not sure where he got it, but I seem to recall in reading some of his project spreadsheets the mention of "Sleeger Eng" which may well be these guys:
http://www.sleegers.ca/
http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/photos/buildup_album_03/image016.htm
Not sure where he got it, but I seem to recall in reading some of his project spreadsheets the mention of "Sleeger Eng" which may well be these guys:
http://www.sleegers.ca/
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
One bit of information that may be relevant...
Manchester makes tanks and they make what they "van style" tanks. I have a 5 gallon Manchester van style tank on my camper, and a while back I had to have the main fill valve replaced. The guys at the propane shop who did the work explained it to me like this:
A regular "RV style" tank has the fittings welded up high on the tank. The "van style" has the fittings welded low on the tank.
The problem with the low fittings, is they are all below the vapor line, so internally, there are tubes from the fittings which run up above the vapor line.
I'm not quite clear if all the fittings have these internal tubes, but the bleeder valve at least must have one, or else it would bleed liquid any time there is anything in the tank.
I assume that the fitting for the main outlet valve must also have a tube so that it draws vapor instead of liquid.
Manchester makes tanks and they make what they "van style" tanks. I have a 5 gallon Manchester van style tank on my camper, and a while back I had to have the main fill valve replaced. The guys at the propane shop who did the work explained it to me like this:
A regular "RV style" tank has the fittings welded up high on the tank. The "van style" has the fittings welded low on the tank.
The problem with the low fittings, is they are all below the vapor line, so internally, there are tubes from the fittings which run up above the vapor line.
I'm not quite clear if all the fittings have these internal tubes, but the bleeder valve at least must have one, or else it would bleed liquid any time there is anything in the tank.
I assume that the fitting for the main outlet valve must also have a tube so that it draws vapor instead of liquid.
Last edited:
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
Some refill stations will not touch a tank unless it has a standard OPD valve setup.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
No doubt.
Horizontal tanks manufactured prior to 10/1/1998 are exempt from the OPD requirement, as are tanks larger than 40 lbs (10 gallons).
My truck is old and has an old tank. Since I've only refilled it at propane distributors (generally half the price of everyone else), I haven't had anyone take issue with the standard fill valve on my tank since the propane shops are aware of the exemption.
(Which reminds me...that tank needs to be filled. Better take care of that tomorrow.
)