jhomuth
Dallas, TX
Full Member
Joined: 07/14/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
Regarding propane tanks on travel trailers...is there any reason why you couldn't do a cylinder exchange at Walmart or grocery stores, vs. refilling the tanks that came with the trailer? Just looking at cost effectiveness, it would most times be cheaper to exchange the cylinder instead of refilling them from empty. But is there any reason you wouldn't want to do this?
Jessica, Scott, and our kiddos 4 and 2
2001 Suburban 2500
2007 Skyline 247 LTD
|
skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
None except it costs a lot more and you'd need to wait until completely empty before exchanging rather than filling when it's convenient. I really have never seen any place that an exchange is cheaper than just filling the tanks. Just be aware that SOME LP dealers always charge for a complete fill even if your bottle is half full when you bring it in so be sure to ask ahead of time.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
|
nelson
Clio,Mi USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/01/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Many if not all of the exchange places are not full tanks. Other then that It's fine.
2002 Damon Challenger 348 Ford V10
Blue Ox Auto Stop and Aventa II Tow Bar
2001 Ford Sport Trac with Remco Driveshaft Disconnect
|
harper223
West Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 09/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I thought those tanks at the stores were the smaller ones- not the 30# tanks that come on many rigs. I average about $18 per tank per fill up from empty when I have to fill mine. Aren't the exchanges more expensive?
|
downtheroad
Puget Sound
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2003
View Profile
|
When I had 20#ers I have found that the Blue Rhino exchange tanks are very close to twice as expensive as refilling my own tanks.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
GMC Duramax/Allison (LBZ)
Komfort 277TS Our Rig Picture
Reese Dual Cam HP
Lots of other stuff nobody cares about
|
|
|
Center Pin
Fort Langley, BC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Around here, exchanging a 20# tank is 2X the cost of a fill. The reason there are so many tank exchange places around here is because it is a cash cow.
Trailer: 07 Tango 299BHS
TV: 2004.5 Dodge 610 CTD 3500 QC 48RE 2wd Laramie SRW, FP Gauge, FASS 95/95, Rhino Lining, Hensley Arrow, Reese Signature Series 5er Hitch, Air Bags & Compressor, Canopy, AL Boat Rack.
Been running B100 home brew June 2008!
|
crab80
Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Senior Member
Joined: 01/02/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Several things to consider- only 15lbs. in the Blue rhinos now, More expensive per pound, You are trading in your nice new tank for one that may be many yrs old and rust is masked by fresh paint. I have done it both ways for use around the house, not on the TT, and refilling is always the best way to go IMO.
2010 Jayco 28BHS
2004 Chevy 1500 Ext.Cab 5.3L, 3.73, Bilsteins
Reese Dual Cam
Prodigy P3
Barker 3000 jack, 22 Blue tote
|
christopherglenn
a little over an hour from Yosemite
Senior Member
Joined: 02/16/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I refilled 2 bbq tanks for less then the cost of 1 exchange tank. I have yet to find and 30# exchange tanks.
|
Keith M
Cle Elum
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Most trailers use 30 pound tanks while exchanges usually offer only 20 pound tanks so thats a big problem. It does cost twice as much, maybe even 3x as much. I also know a couple of years ago their was a discussion about Blue Rhino and Amerigas using proprietary valves making them impossible to fill from a refiller. . I havent heard anything recently about it so it might have been discontinued. Maybe someone who has recently refilled a Blue Rhino tank has more information.
|
mowermech
Billings, MT
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Take my brand new 20 pound bottle, and trade it for an unknown bottle, with an unknown quantity of gas in it, rather than go get it filled, then pay 1/2 again to twice as much more for the "privilege"?
NOT A CHANCE!
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 274,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '08 Subaru Outback
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited/Load Trail 16' flatbed
|
|
|
