Transporting and storing propane

[Shoemoo]

I purchased one of these to carry with me on my fishing trips:

As the picture illustrates, it takes those little disposable propane bottles. According to the manual, it will eat through a bottle at around 2.5 hours on the low setting. Those little bottles run about $4 each around here, and I estimate I would be going through at least two per trip. I know you can refill them, but it's risky and I'm not real hot on the possibility of blowing my face off.

So I invested in an 11 pound propane tank and a connector hose. The tank was almost twice as much as a standard size tank, but who wants to wrestle with a tank that weighs 40 pounds? It cost less than $10 to fill, and I think it will last several trips. It's a tall skinny tank, so it will fit upright wedged behind the seat in my extended cab truck. There's nothing to secure it to in the back right now, and having it roll around in the bed doesn't sound like a good idea either.

Is this the safest way to transport the propane? Can I safely leave it in the truck or should I bring it in and keep it on the patio? At this time of the year I'm not too worried about the cab getting hot enough to overheat the tank.

 

[Kdog]

It happens and I would not want it in the cab if something goes wrong. Store when you arent gonna be using.

 

[Shoemoo]

Thanks. I'll keep it out on my patio covered with a tarp when not on an outing. Not gonna keep it inside. Saw a pic of someone's house after a propane explosion. They were keeping a tank in the garage and it leaked. When the family came home, the automatic garage door opener ignited the propane fumes. The house was demolished and the garage door landed on the neighbor's roof across the street! :beat-up:

I had the setup out for the first time tonight. A friend had a propane heater, but this is my first propane device. I made sure to tape the threads on the hose and check all the connections with soapy water before lighting. It kept me toasty warm after the sun went down and temps got down in the 20s.

It wasn't a very exciting first experience with propane, but I suppose you want to keep it that way if you want to keep breathing. It was pretty exciting catching a 22" trout, through.

 

[StumpHunter]

I have two of those type heaters and they work very well! I use them for night fishing in the winter while on the boat. I think you will get a longer time than the 2 1/2 hours. When I go I stay around 4 to 5 hours and one will last me the trip but some will run out faster so I take two bottles with me just in case. The bigger tank is a good idea when you have room to use it. Like you I don't take the chance to refill the bottles neither.

 

[redman]

Stacy these work very well. Takes Stumps advice don't refill the bottles. Second build a box to sit on the floor of the back seat of the truck to hold the big propane bottle. I used one in my Ice Shack when I lived up north. Those things will slap warm up the inside of a Ice Shack to the point that it will be uncomfortable. If it were me I would store the propane bottle on the patio when not in use. On second thought I think that I bought a big plastic dairy type crates at the Wal-Mart that I put my tank in. Might check to see if they still make one that would fit a tank.


Redman

 

[AtticaFish]

I was recently looking at one of the Little Buddy heaters. A bigger tank would be nice, but way more weight than i wanna carry...... already have to drag around my box of too many jigs that weighs me down. Either way, positive i would not store them in my car. If they were kept inside and away from moisture and heat, don't think you would ever have a problem. Especially when it sounds like you are already being very careful for leaks and all.

 

[Shoemoo]

Thanks guys.

I found the propane tank will sit nicely inside a 5 gallon bucket, so I'll be using that to keep it stable. Plus I can use the bucket to haul my heater, hose and lantern down to the water while I carry the tank.

I thought about getting one of the Buddy heaters, but they were way more expensive and I did not need to use it indoors. Buddy heaters can be used indoors, but make sure you have a lot of ventilation. Propane burns clean as long as there is sufficient oxygen, but if the oxygen levels drop the heater will start producing carbon monoxide, which (in addition to the lack of oxygen) will REALLY ruin your day.