Propane storage on rear tire?

[cweight]

I have been carrying propane tanks inside the vehicle and haven't blown up yet. But I'd like to move the tank to the outside and I have plenty of room on top of the spare tire.

I am trying to figure out if I have to weld up something myself or if there is something already available commercially.

Does anyone know of an available propane-on-tire solution?

What got me thinking about this was seeing http://www.equipt1.com/companies/Misc. Accessories/product-fr/131577-ladder-spare-tire-mount-utility at Amado. It is intended as a step, but the idea would be the same: cinch down on the tire, but with a platform rather than a step.

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[Oldmanxj]

This could work. http://www.rotopax.com/Rock-Slide.html

 

[cweight]

Yea, that is the right idea, but at that price and considering that that gets me only halfway there, I'll probably weld something up. Time to learn to weld aluminum

 

[Ala5ka]

I'll probably weld something up. Time to learn to weld aluminum

It's not hard just faster...I think more fun

 

[Curmudgeon]

Consider this scenario. You are in the middle of nowhere and shred a tire. You have to use your spare. Now where do you mount the propane tanks? This idea seems to require an inflated spare to carry the load.

Or maybe I'm missing something.

JP

 

[Paladin]

It's not hard just faster...I think more fun

Yup, I LOVE welding aluminum.

 

[cweight]

Yea, it does require a full spare, but I have two spares so I can always just use the non-propane spare first. And if I blow TWO tires, I will probably be able to repair one or the other. And if I am totally stuffed with both tires, I'll just have to go back to carrying the propane inside.

Also, thinking more about this setup, I want metal straps all the way around the tire, not webbing, so that the propane tank cannot be stolen with just a knife. They can deflate the tire and perhaps snag the entire setup, but even that I think I can see a solution for. I'll be working on this this spring/summer and will post results.

Still, if anyone knows of something like this available, I am still interested.

 

[buldyourown]

Just thought I'd post some pics of my setup since I built something similar.
They make mounts for sail boats, but not for the size tank I wanted to carry, so I made my own. I also welded it out of aluminum.
It's built for a 10# tank. Plenty big enough to run my furnace and my BBQ for a week plus. The mount is high so it would be well above the bumper or another vehicle in the case of an impact.

 

[spressomon]

I fabbed a bracket to hold my Worthington 6# aluminum propane tank from 1/4" plate that attaches to my spare tire carrier. I wanted the propane out of the interior and didn't want to attach it, horizontally, to the roof rack...works great. I'd think about attaching to your spare tire mount rather than the tire...be sure not to obscure tail-lights!

 

[cweight]

Nice mount buldyourown! Did you fab that entire thing, or buy the portion that the propane tank snugs into and then fab up the support system?

I have been considering a combination of bracket mounted and tire held. My Kaymar back bumper has parts to hold a vertical square post. If I use a back mounting plate system (like buldyourown), then that post can be mounted to the back of the mounting plate and the bottom of the propane can rest on the tire. Strapping it down to the tire will relieve all the swing weight on the long vertical bracketry.

I see that Adventure Trailer has something that might just work:
http://store.adventuretrailers.com/products/5-lb.-Propane-Cylinder-Bracket..html

This looks the same and with better photos:
http://www.powertank.com/products/sfID1/17/productID/382

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[kenallwine]

Just thought I'd post some pics of my setup since I built something similar.

I would like to know where you got these tension straps. I'm thinking about changing my set up and would like to use straps like these.

 

[spressomon]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#band-clamps/=cnuur5

 

[UNI]

If you are using a Roof Rack:

Just a thought, we mounted our propane tank on top of the vehicle roof rack. I used an Aluminum Horizontal Marine 20lb. tank (Available in 10lb.) - (Manchester). Bolted up some CORE TRAX with THREADED STUD/UTILITY LOCKS. I used stainless steel bolts, wing nuts, washers & lock washers. Easy on/off and I don't need to worry about it flying off the Jeep.

 

[Lichen]

Can a regular propane tank be carried horizontally on a roof rack? That would cure a lot of problems.

 

[ExploringNH]

Can a regular propane tank be carried horizontally on a roof rack? That would cure a lot of problems.

It can be carried that way but not used. It must be vertical in use.

They do sell horizontal tanks that are meant to be used in the horizontal position. They need to be standing vertically to be filled though. I believe that they will take a fill in the horizontal position, but not to 100%.