Cylinders & price
RV propane systems: filling, safety and storage
Most travel trailers and campers carry removable DOT cylinders that you bring in to be filled, while most motorhomes have a permanently mounted tank that is filled in place, and in both cases a two-stage regulator steps the pressure down for the furnace, fridge, water heater and stove. Keep the cylinders current and in good shape, leak-test every connection, keep the regulator vent covered and pointing down, and store cylinders outdoors, never in a garage or shed.
Updated · American River Gas office, Newcastle
How an RV propane system is put together
RVs are built to NFPA 1192, the national standard for recreational vehicles, and the propane side follows a familiar pattern. Suburban, a maker of RV furnaces and water heaters, explains it in its owner literature: a two-stage regulator sits between the tank and everything else. The first stage cuts tank pressure, which can be 250 psi or more, to about 10 psi. The second stage brings it down to about 11 inches of water column, the pressure RV appliances use.
Many trailers carry two cylinders and an automatic changeover regulator. When the cylinder in service drops below about 5 psi, the regulator switches to the reserve and a small indicator turns red. That red flag is your cue to close the empty cylinder's valve, flip the lever so the full one becomes the service cylinder, and get the empty refilled before the second one runs out.
Trailer cylinders versus motorhome tanks
- Travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-ups and truck campers usually use removable cylinders, often 20, 30 or 40 pounds. You take them off, bring them in, and reconnect them afterward.
- Motorhomes usually have a tank mounted to the frame. It stays put, so you drive the whole coach to a fill station.
- Removable cylinders follow the federal requalification schedule, first due 12 years after the manufacture date on the collar. Small cylinders also need an overfilling prevention device (OPD), which most show with a triangular handwheel.
- When a tank is filled, close the tank's service valve first, then remember to open it again afterward. Suburban notes that a closed valve is the usual reason nothing lights after a fill.
Leak-test every connection
Every time a cylinder is reconnected, and before the first trip of the season, the Propane Education & Research Council recommends a bubble test. It takes a minute and needs nothing more than a spray bottle.
- Brush or spray leak detector solution, or thick soapy water, over the valve and the connection.
- Open the cylinder valve slowly and watch for bubbles.
- If bubbles form, close the valve, tighten the connection and test again.
- If they still form, close the valve, leave it closed and call a propane retailer or RV technician.
The regulator, vents and alarms
Keep the regulator under its cover and make sure the vent points down, so road spray, rain and debris cannot plug it. Suburban suggests replacing an RV regulator about every ten years even when it seems fine, because the inner parts wear out.
Carbon monoxide is the hazard that matters most in a small, closed space. Suburban lists headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and shortness of breath as symptoms and recommends a yearly check of the propane system by a trained technician. Before each trip, look at the outside vents for the furnace, water heater and fridge and clear out nests, webs and debris. Test the propane and CO alarms your RV has, following their instructions.
- Never use a portable heater inside an RV unless it is approved for indoor use and specifically for RVs.
- Never cook on or warm the coach with a grill brought inside.
- Keep the propane system's exhaust and vents clear so fumes cannot drift into the coach.
If you smell propane in the RV
Suburban's instructions line up with the rest of the industry. Put out any smoking materials, pilot lights and open flames. Do not flip lights or use appliances or phones inside. Get everyone out, close the supply valve at the tank or cylinder if you can do it safely, move away, and call 911. Have a technician inspect the system before anyone goes back in or relights anything. At home, the same rule holds: if you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and us from outside.
Carrying spare cylinders in the tow vehicle
PERC summarizes the U.S. limits for a closed vehicle such as an SUV, van or car trunk: no more than four 20-pound cylinders, none larger than 45 pounds, and no more than 90 pounds of propane in total. An open pickup bed allows more. Keep cylinders upright and strapped so they cannot roll, go straight to your destination, and take them out as soon as you arrive. A cylinder left in a hot, closed vehicle can vent propane through its relief valve.
Off-season storage
Close every cylinder and tank valve when the RV is parked for the season. If the rig is stored in a garage, barn or other enclosed building, take the removable cylinders off and keep them outdoors, upright, and away from heat. PERC is clear that cylinders should never be used or stored in a basement, garage, shed or tent, and that even an empty cylinder can hold enough propane to be hazardous. In spring, look over hoses and connections, then bubble-test before the first trip.
RV and camper refills near Auburn
American River Gas refills RV, trailer and truck-camper cylinders at our yard at 10290 Ophir Rd in Newcastle during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30, closed noon to 1:00. Motorhome with a built-in tank? Call (530) 888-7438 first to ask about filling it.
Questions
Straight answers
Where can I fill my RV propane near Auburn?
At the American River Gas yard, 10290 Ophir Rd in Newcastle, during business hours. Call ahead for a motorhome with a built-in tank.
Why won't my RV appliances light after a propane fill?
The tank's service valve is often still closed from the fill. Open it slowly. If they still will not light, have a technician check the system.
How often should I replace my RV propane regulator?
Suburban suggests about every ten years, sooner if it is damaged, corroded or the vent has been blocked.
Can I keep my RV propane cylinders in the garage over winter?
No. Store cylinders outdoors, upright and away from heat, with the valves closed. Never in a garage, shed or basement.
Sources: NFPA 1192, Standard on Recreational Vehicles (National Fire Protection Association) (opens in a new tab) · Suburban: RV LP gas and safety overview (opens in a new tab) · Propane Education & Research Council: Safety Guide for Portable Propane Cylinders (PRC-101044) (opens in a new tab) · 49 CFR 180.209: requalification of specification cylinders (Cornell LII) (opens in a new tab)
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