Hi Kevin,
Read the fine print about some of the tanks; there are several tanks out there that will
store horizontally but must be
used vertically. Other tanks can be used horizontally but must be filled vertically (because of the way the valve works).
I kept wrestling with the large underbody propane tank like I have on the Class C motorhome versus the 'standard' RV portable tanks. I finally (I think
) decided that I'll go with the standard tanks and carry them in a compartment like Mr. Petty, of BruinGilda fame, is doing; four of them will go a long time.
The thing is, if you have large built-in tanks then the bus has got to get to where the propane fill is. If you have portable tanks then the bus can sit wherever it is you have it set up and only the tanks have to make the trip. I didn't want to have to 'break camp' just to go get more propane. Then too, a lot of places like Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace Hardware and others have propane bottle exchange, which may just mean an easy stop at one of those plaes for a quick swap rather than trying to find a place to get the whole bus into.
I have a forklift here at work and it does have the horizontal propane tank; I bought in at the forklift dealer ($140) and they should be in the Yellow Pages under Forklifts. An Internet search should yield some info too. But be aware the meet regulations only when used on a forklift. They are not DOT aproved and you could by cited for having them installed in a motorhome. I realize this is an outside chance at best but if you're ever involved in an accident (your fault or not) you don't want to risk not having insurance coverage becuse you've got 'illegal' equipment installed. One of the reasons they're not DOT-approved is because they aren't fitted with mounts. [Note: I just looked at the site you linked to; they have forklift bottles there under the propane tank heading.]
Nowadays you've also got to be careful about regulations regarding the tanks. My forklift tanks do not have the OPD valves; they aren't required on that tank. But, it took a few trips and lots of paperwork to get our local filling station to fill them. They're used to seeing propane tanks bolted to a motorhome (they aren't required to have the OPD valves either) or portable tanks (which do have OPD valves); anything else may throw them and they're apt to be 'safe rather than sorry' and refuse to fill your 'oddball' tanks.
The tank you found (and posted the picture of) is fine for RV use and will work. It's not a "swappable" tank, meaning that you'll need to get it filled. And it's intended to be bolted down (and should be); it isn't really the sort of tank you want to lug around and lift into place (although as long as your back holds out I suppose it could be done). Since it has to fit
your needs it may be just the thing.
I like BruinGilda's arrangement where you use an easy-to-obtain two-bottle regulator/switch with two bottles in reserve. You just swap out the empty tank for a full one since you're carrying four. Then you can take 1, 2 or 3 empty tanks to Walmart (or wherever), swap them and head back to the bus. And they're of a managable size so you don't wreck youself trying to hoist them around. It's like having three reserves...if you run out after swapping three tanks I'd wonder about taking more Ginko Biloba (sp?)!
The fun continues...more choices!