Thank you very much for the detailed post! =) What do you think about the effects on the tank in the event of a rear-end vehicle accident, in comparison with an accident when a tank is mounted underneath the van?
Propane canister mount to outside of rear door?
- Thread starter Destructo
- Start date
Thank you very much for the detailed post! =) What do you think about the effects on the tank in the event of a rear-end vehicle accident, in comparison with an accident when a tank is mounted underneath the van?
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
I assume you mean my rear gasoline tank? Nothing is going to be as safe as a mid-ship mounted underbody OEM tank. Those things are tested to hell and back. If there was a factory (or aftermarket) underbody tank for my van, I'd probably look into that first. But there isn't, so I bring the jerry when I can reasonably presume that the extra 5gallons might be needed (longer distances or questionable fuel availability). I feel better about NATO steel cans and real Scepter MFCs than I would about a "consumer" grade can, but the reality is that if I get rear-ended by a big enough truck, a rupture is not out of possibility.
Regarding the rear propane tank, I'm trading off the risk of rear-end impact for the portable tank vs. damaging an underbody tank going over rocks, etc.
As with the gas jerry, weigh your own risks accordingly.
Alloy
Well-known member
What is missing in this discussion has nothing to do with what rules may or may not apply in any given rear propane cylinder installation.
What is missing is the discussion of the instant abandonment of insurance coverage should an accident occur with a rear mounted tank. Right or wrong in their application of some set of rules the insurers have deeper pockets to fight dropping of coverage in a catastrophic event. They walk away leaving an individual to prove them wrong. At a serious expense.
Right and sued out of your home is still homeless.
Sometimes avoiding the urge to stand up for every damn principle one believes in and looking at the big picture is the way to be.
There is always someone with deeper pockets and a bigger engine.
Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
What is missing is the discussion of the instant abandonment of insurance coverage should an accident occur with a rear mounted tank. Right or wrong in their application of some set of rules the insurers have deeper pockets to fight dropping of coverage in a catastrophic event. They walk away leaving an individual to prove them wrong. At a serious expense.
Right and sued out of your home is still homeless.
Sometimes avoiding the urge to stand up for every damn principle one believes in and looking at the big picture is the way to be.
There is always someone with deeper pockets and a bigger engine.
Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
quickfarms
Adventurer
A few days ago I was watching a manufacturer’s video that was attached to another thread on this site and they clearly show the propane tank mounted to the rear of the camper and talk about it as an option.
So if a manufacturer is currently doing it there must not be that much of an issue.
I also asked several of the local Leo’s about propane or fuel tanks on the back of a camper, Jeep or hitch carrier and they could not find any legal issue with it in CA or federal regulations for small quantities.
The regulations that they found related to quantities much larger than is being discussed here.
So if a manufacturer is currently doing it there must not be that much of an issue.
I also asked several of the local Leo’s about propane or fuel tanks on the back of a camper, Jeep or hitch carrier and they could not find any legal issue with it in CA or federal regulations for small quantities.
The regulations that they found related to quantities much larger than is being discussed here.
Mwilliamshs
Explorer
If you're letting a profiteer or a law enforcer decide what's responsible you're not long for this world.
A house built to code is the worst house you can legally sell.
The lowest bidder is the cheapest builder.
In other words, just because there's no law against it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
A house built to code is the worst house you can legally sell.
The lowest bidder is the cheapest builder.
In other words, just because there's no law against it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Mwilliamshs
Explorer
Good idea in shutting the valve in transit.
A 16 oz hammer swung at 30 mph will break the brass valve in a steel propane tank. A 5,000 lb vehicle is at least as effective, don't you think? You don't have to be in a high speed collision to cause problems with a high pressure fuel leak.
billiebob
Well-known member
This is why I want a pure electric overlander, to eliminate all those explosive fossil fuels.