Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've got a thread under wanted/for sale because I'm looking to buy an old horizontal tank for my 1949 teardrop. I'm looking for a tank like the one on the attachment. I've gotten a lot of good comments from that thread which sparked this QUESTION Is there anyone out there actively using and filling their horizontal tanks? Can they still be used? Does it require a special valve to use it???????

ArmyMike
San Diego

By latest rules I am aware of horizontal tanks do not require OPD valves.... How ever to be filled it supposed to have current valid inspection/certification date..... Problem may be if tank is long over due for inspection and looks least bit unworthy you may not get it certified and may get notice it can not be certified and them it becomes junk....

Think new tanks are good for 12 years, then every 6 years there after they have to be reinspected and certified.... Look for certification/inspection dates on tanks safety collar...

Look up OPD valves and tank types that require them to be sure ( I might have brain fog)... GOOGLE is a wonderful thing...

Also seems to me somebody was still making horizontal tanks... Look around....

Dale

I looked into this and most places that do hydro testing on SCUBA tanks can do certifications of propane tanks. I would want to have a tank cleaned, internal shot blasting external blasting and painted and hydro tested. One site that gives a over view http://www.all-safe.net/cyl_services.php

Great information! Please keep it coming. My trailer will look GREAT with one of those tanks.

Did you find a tank yet? I may know where one is. Where are you?

Rolly

I am looking for a horizontal tank too. Does anyone know where to get one from?

Geoff

I recently had several tanks inspected and "certified". I like smaller tanks as they take up less room, you can set one up at your camp table for a remote burner or BBQ (yeah I know that propane is "pro"fane but it is convenient) and leave one hooked up to your trailer. Also have an aluminum tank that will not rust. It is a visual inspection only and was about $5 or $10 per tank. I also had the valves replaced with OPD valves. I have a good "cost effective" source for valves and they will ship them to you if anyone is interested let me know and I'll dig out my notes. I found that most places won't sell valves to the public. I called the factory to find out what size valve to use as there are several different sizes for different sized tanks (although they all look the same when installed).

Propane testing involves performing specific visual inspections and other tests to recertify the propane tank. Propane tanks are tested differently than most other DOT cylinders. Propane tanks must meet specific requirements visually, and requalifying is a thorough process. Source: http://www.gchtonline.com/Propane.htm

Hydrostatic Testing is at very high pressures (thousands of pounds per square inch). They pump the tank up, measure how much it blows up like a balloon, release the pressure and measure how much of the expansion is permanent. If the total permanent expansion is less than 10% of the total (as I remember) it passes. If the permanent expansion is less than 5% and the tank has never tested above 5% it gets a "+" after the test date meaning the tank can be filled 10% above the pressure stamped on it.

My tanks were inspected by: Delta Liquid Energy 12685 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA (818) 838-4400.

Horizontal tanks are exempt from OPD valves due to their shape. If they been inspected and certified within the required time frame they are legal to fill and use.

I found this one on Craigslist but it looks a bit big. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/for/3167623290.html

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

I'm using my lpg tank horizontal.


but i have to mention that this is a tank with a evaporator so that there won't be the possibility that liquid gas comes out of it. the supplier says: it is possible to use it on this way but he doesn't give his word on it. for a refill i'll take the tank off because of the 80% filling

I have one, it's2.5 gallon, dated 1963. It's 14" wide. How do you ship a propane tank? I'm in AZ.

I don't know anything about them, but the LP tanks on forklifts are held on horizontally.

VijayGupta wrote:I don't know anything about them, but the LP tanks on forklifts are held on horizontally.

BE AWARE... Many forklifts use liquid draw tank for fuel supply, before you actually purchase a forklift style tank be sure it is capable of "vapor draw" ... Most camping and BBQ and small appliances are "vapor draw"(gas) devices and can not function as a "liquid draw" device... Just a heads up....

Dale

I have a horizontal tank and it is from an unlikey source. It is from a Volkswagon Westfalia. Very compact and easy to install because mounting hardware is already there. I had it filled in early summer (2.9 gallons at a cost of $6.75) and it still has not run out of propane after about 6 weekends of camping. I use it to run a propane stove and refridgerator that I also pulled from the Westfalia. Best of luck.

Last summer I found a 12/120v fridge on Craigslist. when I got there to look at it the lady showed me some other stuff she'd removed from a high top van. A horizontal tank with about 80% fill! I got both fridge and tank for $130. Even if the tank doesn't pass recert I got a bunch of gas to use! It will go underneat the ToyBox. When it's time for a refill I'll wire brush the tank and paint it. Then take it in for recert.

Tom

http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image_page.php?album_id=2415&image_id=111898

BlackCatRacing wrote:I have a horizontal tank and it is from an unlikey source. It is from a Volkswagon Westfalia. Very compact and easy to install because mounting hardware is already there. I had it filled in early summer (2.9 gallons at a cost of $6.75) and it still has not run out of propane after about 6 weekends of camping. I use it to run a propane stove and refridgerator that I also pulled from the Westfalia. Best of luck.

And, if you want a bigger one, Go Westy sell a 5.9 gallon version made by the OEM (Manchester, IIRC)