What Options for Propane Storage?

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by kidharris

kids don't ignite or blow up from sparks or impact. they also have a seat frame between them and the wheel well.

That seat frame isn't going to stop a whole lot (no sheet metal there, at least in my seats), and kids legs are still down there right next to the well. If tire blowouts were sending shrapnel through the wheel wells even occasionally, they'd probably be more armored than they are now.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

That seat frame isn't going to stop a whole lot (no sheet metal there, at least in my seats), and kids legs are still down there right next to the well. If tire blowouts were sending shrapnel through the wheel wells even occasionally, they'd probably be more armored than they are now.

Personally, from a real world perspective, I don't think that a school district bus is as likely to have a tire blowout or come apart as you are. They have a much bigger maintenance budget than you and spend a bigger percentage of time below 40 mph, less speed less damage. In addition kids are not as stupid as propane tanks and are much more mobile, when they hear/feel the tire starting to go they may move out of harms way... or not.


From a bean counter designers point of view a few kids getting injured is not the same as a bus blowing up.



At any rate, a steel tube seat frame and padding is more extra protection than your propane tank is going to have. Remember that you don't have to destroy the tank to have a problem, a little hole in any part of the system or hose is enough. If you use tin foil and think that is enough, fine, it is you and yours that will die, probably not me. Tell it to the other people you are putting at risk.



Personally, I think that mounting the tank on the front bumper would be safer than mounting it next to a tire. Just kidding. Surely you can come up with a safer place to mount your propane tank.



I am sure that my view is being distorted by all the mangled sheet metal that I've seen big tires produce. I've never seen a blowout send any shrapnel (except in tire shop explosion YouTube videos). It is more like the Hulk swinging a 50 lb rubber sledge hammer, repeatedly until the hammer falls apart or the head comes off.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Danjo

Is it possible? I haven’t found anything conclusive about the conversion.

I decided that a BBQ tank that can be swapped at any gas station, convenience store, grocery or hardware store for a fresh one beats all other options in that size range.

You'll pay about 100% more by swapping the tanks out. Typically tank swap around here is $20 (HD/Lowes). A 20lb tank holds 4.7gallons. Propane here right now is trending near $2.10/g. That's $10.00. The nice thing about tank swap is you can swap your crappy old tank for a brand new one.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by o1marc

You'll pay about more by swapping the tanks out. Typically tank swap around here is $20 (HD/Lowes). A 20lb tank holds 7.2gallons. Propane here right now is trending near $2.10/g. That's $15.00. The nice thing about tank swap is you can swap your crappy old tank for a brand new one.

I thought that propane weighed 4 lbs/gal, 20lb = 5 gal?


Sorry, I was wrong, looked it up, it is 4.24 lbs/ gal.

[Drew Bru]

Originally Posted by o1marc

You'll pay about more by swapping the tanks out. Typically tank swap around here is $20 (HD/Lowes). A 20lb tank holds 7.2gallons. Propane here right now is trending near $2.10/g. That's $15.00. The nice thing about tank swap is you can swap your crappy old tank for a brand new one.

Exactly....there's a bit of a markup for the convenience of not having to pull the bus into a station to get refilled (if you can even find one nearby), but if you only need propane every month or so it's worth the extra few bucks, at least to us.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Drew Bru

Exactly....there's a bit of a markup for the convenience of not having to pull the bus into a station to get refilled (if you can even find one nearby), but if you only need propane every month or so it's worth the extra few bucks, at least to us.

My numbers were wrong and I've corrected them. There is a 100% price difference. I would think if you only need it occasionally, it would pay to seek a place that can refill. The swaps are only good IMHO, if you're stuck at odd hours or weekends when supply is closed and fuel is needed.
I have no choice with my 29.3g tank, have to have it filled at a station.

[jofred99]

Originally Posted by o1marc

My numbers were wrong and I've corrected them. There is a 100% price difference. I would think if you only need it occasionally, it would pay to seek a place that can refill. The swaps are only good IMHO, if you're stuck at odd hours or weekends when supply is closed and fuel is needed.
I have no choice with my 29.3g tank, have to have it filled at a station.

I've thought about the RV LP tanks, but haven't seen one mounted.



Is your 29.3g tank mounted on the frame? If so, how does the propane station refill your tank?

[Drew Bru]

Originally Posted by o1marc

My numbers were wrong and I've corrected them. There is a 100% price difference. I would think if you only need it occasionally, it would pay to seek a place that can refill. The swaps are only good IMHO, if you're stuck at odd hours or weekends when supply is closed and fuel is needed.
I have no choice with my 29.3g tank, have to have it filled at a station.

Yeah, it was definitely much cheaper when we had the BBQ tanks refilled vs. swapped out. I could just throw them in the truck and drive them there instead of bringing the bus into town. I'd rather run errands like that in the truck. I don't hate driving the bus or anything, but the fewer trips I need to make through a gas station parking lot in the bus, the better. Especially when we're towing our truck.

Lots of private campgrounds are able to fill rigs, though, so that's always an option if there's no gas station around. Most of them seem to be pretty easy in and out. Your lifestyle dictates how often you need to fill and I could easily see going a season between refills on a bigger tank with less cold-weather usage.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by jofred99

I've thought about the RV LP tanks, but haven't seen one mounted.



Is your 29.3g tank mounted on the frame? If so, how does the propane station refill your tank?

It is not mounted to the frame, but to the cross ribs of the floor panels. I just pull up to the pump and open the hatch. I have a spare 29.3G tank for sale in the classifieds

[jofred99]

Originally Posted by o1marc

It is not mounted to the frame, but to the cross ribs of the floor panels. I just pull up to the pump and open the hatch. I have a spare 29.3G tank for sale in the classifieds

Nice setup! I would take you up on the tank, but will not be in Georgia any time soon.


BTW, was the door already on your bus or was adapted from an RV?

[Versatile]

I have read that you can buy a new tank and have a welder install the valves etc. In other words, convert a vertical tank to horizontal.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by jofred99

Nice setup! I would take you up on the tank, but will not be in Georgia any time soon.


BTW, was the door already on your bus or was adapted from an RV?

It was a new locking cargo door for an RV. I had to cut into the side of the bus above the floor to install it. It has a lock, but locking your propane access is illegal. Mounting the door gave me a lot insight into the construction of the bus, mainly noting that the ribs do not attach to the floor.

[jofred99]

Good info! Thanks for the detail.

[banman]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

That seat frame isn't going to stop a whole lot (no sheet metal there, at least in my seats), and kids legs are still down there right next to the well. If tire blowouts were sending shrapnel through the wheel wells even occasionally, they'd probably be more armored than they are now.

They are armored -- 3/4" plywood floor and the seat bottoms are another layer of 3/4" plywood -- that's 1.5" of plywood protecting the vital bits. See what caliber and load you need to put a bullet through that much plywood!