Refill or Exchange?

RZRBUG

When your LP tank runs out, do you take it somewhere and exchange it or do you have it refilled?  If you have it refilled, do you take the tank out and haul it to a refill station or do you pull the trailer and have it refilled while still in place?

Nomad

I refill when it's available and exchange when not. I have two tanks so swap and get the spare filled but back before I had two, Yep, I'd take the tank out and run it to the fill station. Some weight the tank and can't do that when still in the T@B. Lately there's been a line every morning at the fill station - 20s, 30s, 100 pounders, all unhooked and out.
I thought like Boo until I came across KS last year and there were nothing but exchanges. So far I've only gotten one bad tank. Walmart generally has better tanks than the others. I usually tell the person which tank I want once they have the cage open and I can see.
$9-10 for a 20lb refill's been the rate here in SW AZ.

JandJ92010

I seem to remember that someone did a study on those exchanged tanks, and found that they weren't being fully refilled, even though the customer was being charged for a full tank. I get mine refilled at Tractor Supply, where I can watch the scale.

Nomad

When an exchange is my only option I'm in no position to know or quibble if it's not 100% full.

Cyclonic

I have only ever refilled mine, and only once in the past three years, we really don't use it much.  Oddly, that one refill was at Adventureland in Iowa last year, and it cost under $10 for the fill.  I was shocked by the price, it was so low.

KyBawpaw

From what I understand,  a tank should never be filled more than 80%  for safety reasons. It can shoot liquid propane through the hose instead of the expanded gas. The liquid stuff can "squirt" a fire a distance from wherever it's being used. The refill stations know to keep it filled to the 80% limit. 

Mouseketab

We usually refill also. We have a U-Haul place that has decent prices on propane.

Michigan_Mike

I'm not sure that they would allow a tank to sit inside the front trailer tub anyway and refill a tank for safety reasons and because their hook-up line in most instances will not reach that far.   I've always disconnected propane tanks and taken them in for refills as needed and will do the same with the T@B.  

Nomad

You got a point Mike - Their connector is usually a foot long, wouldn't fit down into the cover.

JandJ92010

KyBawpaw said:

From what I understand,  a tank should never be filled more than 80%  for safety reasons. It can shoot liquid propane through the hose instead of the expanded gas. The liquid stuff can "squirt" a fire a distance from wherever it's being used. The refill stations know to keep it filled to the 80% limit. 

Propane tanks have a float valve in them, so that when the liquid gets to the proper level the float closes off the fill valve and no more gas can go in.

KyBawpaw

Hey that's good to know. I read the warning about the 80% rule but it didn't mention the valve already in place. Makes much sense. Thanks.

wizard1880

With the way fuel prices are going these days, soon it will only cost 6-8 bucks of propane to refill.  Exchange stations will need to lower their prices accordingly or they will lose business for sure!

Nomad

It's less than $10 in Quartzite and Parker already.

jkjenn

wizard1880 said:

With the way fuel prices are going these days, soon it will only cost 6-8 bucks of propane to refill.  Exchange stations will need to lower their prices accordingly or they will lose business for sure!

The one refill place near me charges $16 no matter how much I get so I try to run it out as much as possible.