Propane tank holder/bracket?

[frank_a]

I want to bring my 20 lb propane tank with us for all our propane accessories. Now that I have a travel trailer (even if it is tiny), how can I securely hold a 20 lb propane tank on the tongue? Gee, then where do I put a deep cycle battery?

Thanks for any help!

Frank

[mainah]

Know a good welder? Looks like with a little work you can have both.

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Move the tank closer to the jack. Battery should fit between it and the front of the camper.

jim

[frank_a]

Hmmmm, on 2nd thought, nope, just the propane tank. I have more than 10% tongue weight now, and adding both will make the tongue way too heavy. Actually, we'll have to see if just the tank adds too much weight. The battery could easily go in the back hatch under my double rear doors. I'll try the tank on the tongue for the next trip, see what happens. Thanks guys!

Frank

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Frank,

Is your tongue weight figured as it sits now or as loaded for use? Fill your galley with supplies and that might counterbalance the battery and LP. Move anything else stored inside to the rear also. I would think about ventilation for the battery if it has to go inside. I'd sit the LP and batt up front and counter the weight by carrying more food.

jim

[frank_a]

The galley is going away Jim. Good point about battery ventilation. I think you're right, I'm going to need to counter balance it when packing. We have heavy stuff that can go towards the back, though soon there will be a seat there facing a table, and another seat against the front wall of the trailer. We're giving up the galley for cabinets and storage because the entire interior back to the hatch area needs to be for the seat/bed thing we're doing, so no overhead cabinets, not enough room. Height in the trailer is only 51", so with an 11" seat base, I may feel my hair touching the sealing when sitting! I need to lean the seats back a bit too, so we'll see how it goes.

Buddy at work lent me a table top power planer, so now with that and my new Bostitch air-powered staple gun, maybe tomorrow I can put the right rear corner back together. I need to install my scissor jacks, then for our July camping trip, just get a bed platform in, no seats just yet. Too many things to do!

Frank

[nasa42a]

Frank.....

I'm not certain what pound-weight you mean when you say " I have more than 10% tongue weight now, and adding both will make the tongue way too heavy ". Many years back my Father-in Law's Airstreams frequently went to 15%, and towed like an arrow without sway control. Although I always use (friction-type) sway control, most of my trailers have been 13% or more.


The percentage may be misleading, too. I believe that the front A-frame strength on virtually all small trailers can deal with almost 20% tongue weight -- though I certainly wouldn't recomment that type of weight to anyone.


Frank

[frank_a]

What I meant Frank is that between my back and two bad shoulders, it's too heavy for ME to lift. Not too heavy for towing, more tongue weight is usually a good thing.

Frank

[nasa42a]

Frank.....


Hmmm! Maybe if you got a 10-pound gas cylinder it would ease your issue. You probably wouldn't use it up too quickly, anyhow. That and a slight trip to a welder to add an A-frame bracket would probably solve the problem (?).


Frank

[frank_a]

Thanks Frank, but I'm gonna stick with the 20 lb. We have 4 of them!

I'm a hobbyist welder. I'll figure something out.

Frank

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Hi Frank and Frank,

Single axle campers should hold to about 10% tongue weight, I think. There is a difference between double axle and single axle loading.

Since the interior of this TT is going to be converted to living/sleeping space instead of much storage it might be time to consider the use of a top carrier for the TT. Many small TT like that use them. That would allow for storage of camping equipment and still use the interior. You could even sleep with everything still packed on top during longer trips needing one night camps. Just be careful about making the unit top heavy.

jim

[frank_a]

Jim, we can still store stuff inside. It's just the propane tank leaves a rust stain on the vinyl floor. We'll have under-seat storage, and a lot of the stuff we carry is in stuff sacks. Probably the heaviest thing is our Cabela's big camp kitchen which could go on the back seat for rear weight. That bugger is HEAVY!

I found a good 20 lb propane tank holder, it's just 80 bucks! VERTICAL MOUNT PROPANE TANK BRACKET FOR 20 LB. TANK NEW | eBay

Frank

[Jim-Bev-2363]

That is the holder used on forklifts and should be brickhouse solid for your use. Will add some weight but you'll never have to worry about your tank going anywhere.

jim

[JohnB]

Frank

For a 20# tank, they sell long hook rods with a nylon insert wing nut. PU's use them all the time. It is cheaper then the $79 one your found. You can even make them from round rod if you have a die to put threads on the end. I can't find a pic of them on the web but here they are clamping a 5#'er to the tongue of my prior camper