LPG Gas Tank Bay vs. Vanagon

[bugster_de]

Hi folks,

I'm having a question with respect to the LPG Gast Tank on Westfalias:

What is the difference in size of Bay and Vanagon underfloor LPG Gas tanks?

Background:
I posses a 1978 Bay Window Westfalia (CE II). As we all know, this has the Berlin interior. My bus is missing the under floor LPG Gas tank, as this was removed at some point in time and replaced by a LPG gas bottle located in cupboard below the wash basin. In order to free up the cupboard space, I'd like to install the underfloor LPG gas tank again.
Unfortunately, the Berlin interior is not very common in Europe (we have the Helsinki most of the time), getting a used one is next to impossible. So I decided to purchase a Vanagon LPG tank off Ebay. Now that the package arrived, I was very surprised, as the Vanagon tank seems to be much bigger than the Bay tank and it looks like mission impossible to fit it under my Bay. Should I sell the Vanagon one again?

My Westy

[thewalrus]

Are you talking about this?

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2447&search_phrase=gas%20tank&start=

If it is that it says the tank fit down to a '74 so I think you'll be OK. I'm not 100% sure so wait for some higher ups to chime in...
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'73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb

[germansupplyscott]

the vanagon tank is a lot larger than the bay tank, about 40% longer. i have installed a new vanagon tank onto a bay bus. the tanks that gowesty sell come with a installation kit that accommodates this - it's some steel flat bar and screws. you also need to re-route or replace the supply line between the tank and stove because the regulator ends up in a different location.
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SL

[mightyart]

Vanagons have bigger tanks because the fridge can run off propane to, not just the stove.

[bugster_de]

Thanks for your help !

to thewalrus:
in the link, it refers to a Vanagon gas tank, but they seem to have an adapter bracket kit available to, that makes the Vanagon tank fit the Bay

to germansupplyscott:
do you have a picture of your Bay with the Vanagon tank fitted? Might be great to see how much ground clearnace is left.
The original supply line was removed at some point in time so I have to replace that one anyhow, but that's pretty straight forward

to mightyart
in the Bay Westies, also the fridge can be operated by gas. Typically the Berlin interior came with just an Ice Box but having a fridge was an extra option that by default all Champagne Edition Westies had (so does mine)

[germansupplyscott]

no photos, it was a customer's bus. the vanagon tank has the same clearance as an original bus tank. vanagon tank is longer, but diameter is the same.
_________________
SL

[busdaddy]

[bugster_de]

to busdaddy:
>>In Europe yes, in North America no, gas fridges didn't start until >>Vanagons. Only electric fridges were available on the bay deluxes
hmmm, mine is a Champagne Edition which was re-imported back to Europe from the States in 1995 (CEs were never sold in Europe) and it has a gas / elctric fridge (operation on gas or 12 V) originally. Talking about a fridge I mean th ice box located left of the rear seats.

to germansupplyscot:
>>the vanagon tank has the same clearance as an original bus tank. >>vanagon tank is longer, but diameter is the same
Thanks ! That was exactly the info I was looking for ! I don't mind about the length but more about the diameter. A larger diameter would mean less ground clearance.