TRANSPORTING PROPANE TANKS

[nucktaco]

i have a trip coming up soon to baja and am planning on bringing my propane firepit/2 bbq sized propane tanks.

i will be running a fiberglass tonneau cover on my truck (08 tacoma). am i ok transporting them in the bed of the truck or do i need to devise some sort of mounting system outside the bed? we will be going during first 2 weeks of june so its going to be decently hot.

thanks,
Scott

 

[RememberTheFallen]

i have a trip coming up soon to baja and am planning on bringing my propane firepit/2 bbq sized propane tanks.

i will be running a fiberglass tonneau cover on my truck (08 tacoma). am i ok transporting them in the bed of the truck or do i need to devise some sort of mounting system outside the bed? we will be going during first 2 weeks of june so its going to be decently hot.

thanks,
Scott

I don't have a ton of info to help with but I do know that propane is heavier than air so if you mount it in the bed make sure to make a vent at the bottom so it won't build up. You could build a sealable storage box with bottom vent inside the bed that would help protect it from damage and theft. That being said I have seen quite a few tanks mounted on swing out bumpers.

 

[Tazman]

Propane is heavier than air. You should not have a problem just strap them down good. There is probably enough air flow that is would be impossible to build up vapors. With a boat or camper, you always want them mounted outside. Personally, I would not worry.

 

[Robert Bills]

The regulations for transporting propane in a motor vehicle for the United States and Canada are here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5847451_transport-propane-tanks-car.html

I couldn't find anything specific for Mexico

In summary,

Transport propane cylinders upright, on a flat surface, and secured in a manner to prevent tipping.

Propane cylinders must be as far from the driver as possible and must be isolated from the engine and exhaust system.

The total weight of the cylinders, including the propane they contain, cannot exceed 108 pounds (In Canada, the rule is a maximum of 5 cylinders, but each cylinder can weigh as much as 66 pounds

If the cylinders have safety caps to cover the valve opening, those caps must be in place.

Canada requires that the the area where the propane cylinders are stored be ventilated, i.e., with windows open or if in a trunk with the lid open slightly.


General propane safety procedures warn against leaving filled propane tanks inside a hot car because heat will cause a build up of vapor pressure which may cause the OPD to vent propane into your vehicle. One way to handle this is not to transport full tanks. Federally mandated Overflow Prevention Devices will not allow filling beyond 80% capacity which may prevent venting in a hot vehicle in most cases, but I typically use a bit of the propane in each tank before a trip for an additional margin of safety.

Propane is heavier than air, so be sure to store the tanks in a location where vapors cannot build up. ["Back in the day" it was not uncommon to find marine propane tanks mounted in a location where vapors could sink into the bilge to mix with gasoline vapors from the engines. Can you spell B-o-o-m!!!]

_____________

PS - I recently had occasion to look up the regulations and safety rules for transporting propane inside a vehicle because I just purchased an 11# tank so I would have enough fuel for a stove and propane campfire. This is where my tank will be stowed for overlanding trips (removed otherwise):

 

[anickode]

Should be fine... if you're worried about it, buy a harbor freight assemble-it-yourself trailer hitch cargo rack and carry them sticking out 2 feet past your bumper.

Fyi, 20# propane tanks fit perfectly inside a milk crate. Works great for keeping them from weebl-wobbling around, and doesn't really increase the footprint.

 

[Tazman]

The regulations for transporting propane in a motor vehicle for the United States and Canada are here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5847451_transport-propane-tanks-car.html

I couldn't find anything specific for Mexico

In summary,

Transport propane cylinders upright, on a flat surface, and secured in a manner to prevent tipping.

Propane cylinders must be as far from the driver as possible and must be isolated from the engine and exhaust system.

The total weight of the cylinders, including the propane they contain, cannot exceed 108 pounds (In Canada, the rule is a maximum of 5 cylinders, but each cylinder can weigh as much as 66 pounds

If the cylinders have safety caps to cover the valve opening, those caps must be in place.

Canada requires that the the area where the propane cylinders are stored be ventilated, i.e., with windows open or if in a trunk with the lid open slightly.


General propane safety procedures warn against leaving filled propane tanks inside a hot car because heat will cause a build up of vapor pressure which may cause the OPD to vent propane into your vehicle. One way to handle this is not to transport full tanks. Federally mandated Overflow Prevention Devices will not allow filling beyond 80% capacity which may prevent venting in a hot vehicle in most cases, but I typically use a bit of the propane in each tank before a trip for an additional margin of safety.

Propane is heavier than air, so be sure to store the tanks in a location where vapors cannot build up. ["Back in the day" it was not uncommon to find marine propane tanks mounted in a location where vapors could sink into the bilge to mix with gasoline vapors from the engines. Can you spell B-o-o-m!!!]

_____________

PS - I recently had occasion to look up the regulations and safety rules for transporting propane inside a vehicle because I just purchased an 11# tank so I would have enough fuel for a stove and propane campfire. This is where my tank will be stowed for overlanding trips (removed otherwise):

Don't smoke while driving if you keep the propane in the vehicle. You are probably airtight enough to have a problem. YouTube boat blowing up from propane. I have seen it. In the back of a pickup, no worries. In the vehicle, worries.

 

[Robert Bills]

Don't smoke while driving if you keep the propane in the vehicle. You are probably airtight enough to have a problem. YouTube boat blowing up from propane. I have seen it. In the back of a pickup, no worries. In the vehicle, worries.

1. There is no smoking (of anything) in any of my vehicles.
2. Xterras (and nearly all other automobiles and SUV's of modern design) are equipped with a constant flow-through ventilation system and are not air tight. The exit vent in an Xterra is inches from the propane tank shown in the photograph.
3. The tank pictured complies with each and every Federal regulation and industry guideline for the transportation of a propane cylinder inside a motor vehicle. In Canada I would have to partially open a window for additional ventilation in order to comply with Canadian regulations.

Not mentioned in my post is that I also have a RV propane vapor warning device that sounds an alarm at 2,000 PPM, well below the threshold for risk of explosion from propane vapors. It is not necessary but provides peace of mind.

 

[Halligan]

Here's my .02 on this. First find an old milk crate to drop the cylinder in. I use one for mine all the time and the square corners make nice pockets to drop spatula handles, tongs, and the grill cleaning brush into. Second make sure it's not too full, maybe 75%. In my job as a firefighter I've had more than one call for a grill propane cylinder leaking. Usually the cylinder was just fill and placed in an area of direct sunlight causing the pressure relief to vent gas.

 

[anickode]

Here's my .02 on this. First find an old milk crate to drop the cylinder in. I use one for mine all the time and the square corners make nice pockets to drop spatula handles, tongs, and the grill cleaning brush into. Second make sure it's not too full, maybe 75%. In my job as a firefighter I've had more than one call for a grill propane cylinder leaking. Usually the cylinder was just fill and placed in an area of direct sunlight causing the pressure relief to vent gas.

Since tanks have all switched to OPD valves, a 20# tank can only be filled up to about 16½# or so anyway. So they're pretty much already 75% (or 80-something) anyway. At least that's my understanding of it.

 

[Robert Bills]

Since tanks have all switched to OPD valves, a 20# tank can only be filled up to about 16½# or so anyway. So they're pretty much already 75% (or 80-something) anyway. At least that's my understanding of it.

Correct. Propane cylinders with OPD valves can only be filled to 80% capacity. I mentioned in post #4 that I try to use a bit of the propane from a "full" cylinder before transporting the cylinder in a vehicle in order to get a bit greater "margin of safety, which is approximately 75% full.

Its comforting that the professional firefighter among us recommends essentially the same fill level.

 

[nucktaco]

Thanks for the information guys! I will have my battery back there for my solar setup too so I was planning on working some air vents into the side pockets of the bed (plastic removable on the Tacoma). I hadn't through the of milk crates so I will have to track a couple down.

Thanks again

Scott

 

[pray4surf]

The square milk crates (holds 4-1gal vs 6-1gal) work the best - IMO

 

[Martinjmpr]

Fyi, 20# propane tanks fit perfectly inside a milk crate. Works great for keeping them from weebl-wobbling around, and doesn't really increase the footprint.

.
+1. That's how I transported ours before we got a trailer with a mount on the tongue.