There is nothing worse than running out of propane when cooking and that’s why I always have extra propane tanks to rotate through. The idea is “one in use” and “one on deck”. While I believe the 11-gallon tank provided should last for cooking, fueling the furnace and heating water for a week or longer I don’t want to be worrying about it. I doubled the amp hours with lithium now a little job to double the propane.
I am following almost the same exact process as “Fin Fish” Off Grid Trailer – Installing a Spare Propane Tank – YouTube. I feel like he did a proper job and even though I don’t know him it does look like he knows what he is doing. However, I am using the Off Grid Trailer Propane tank bracket, step bits, stainless steel external tooth star lock washers and as always Loctite blue (all other steps follow the video are the same).
I measured and marked everything “dry fit” several times before making any holes at all.
Always double check the back and make sure you’re not drilling into wires or tires. I thought that with the step drills I might now need a “Deburring Tool”. I reached around the back hole to see how bad it was and instantly cut my figure on fowling’s; I highly suggest getting a “Deburring Tool”.
Place tape in all corners because there will be metal flakes all over the place and you don’t want them getting into anything. Clean early and clean often.
I took this picture at night and the shadows make it look uneven, but I assure you it is even.
Measurements
When I ordered the bracket Off Grid only sent me 4 bolts, so I checked how many bolts they used to install the primary and they used 6. Not the end of the world I did have to buy 2 extra 1/4-20 x3/4″ bolts. 1/4-20 is key to putting in the rivet nuts, If you have all the tools out this actually doesn’t take all that long and is a pretty simple upgrade.
Use calipers to ensure the diameter of holes, rivet nuts, and measure the length needed to the retain screws. I also like to put lock Tite blue on the bolts before I get started so they have time to setup.
The Pando metal is diamond plate and not ideal as a smooth sheet of metal, but the rivet nuts worked perfectly well.
Propane cover bag prototype.
The only misgivings I have about the propane tank is that it’s likely to get messy (dirty) riding lower, that and the tank is a bit ugly and stands out. I had some blue water-resistant material laying around for a bike project and decided to make a bag to keep debris out of the propane tank.
The color actually matches pretty well and I didn’t do to bad on sizing. I need to redo a few things and make 2 new ones. The spare propane tank will be like what you see here but I am going to add a Velcro closer to the bottom. For the primary cover there will be a second access point (also Velcro) to get to the controls and allow the connections.
Why go through all this?
You may be wondering why I would go through the cost and labor; why not just store it in the back of the car? I want to make sure it’s very secure in a secure location (rear part of fender provides that as the front of fender would be a possible impact point). I also want to allow the emergency pressure release valve to work, and they work better when its vertical (so letting it roll around on its side in the car would actually be more dangerous). I also didn’t want the propane to come loose and start bouncing down the highway – that’s why the extra expense for Off Grid Trailer bracket, Loctite and star washers.
