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Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:21 am

Hi all. Does anybody know the number of gallons/liters the stock propane tank holds and whether it would be worth it to tap off it to fuel an external BBQ? Has anybody done this and if so, is there an adapter kit available or did you just buy various fittings at Home Depot? Thanks.

Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:54 am

It is like 2.7 or 3 gallons. Buy a spare and mount it on the other side. Then you get as much as a normal sized BBQ tank.

Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:51 pm

I have an adapter on mine and a hose to hook it up to a 20 Lbs BBq tank I also got a brass adapter that connects to that hose so I can hook up a 1 pound dissposable, the fridge will run for a few days on it. I got all the parts from my local RV shop

It is nice to not have to worry about running out of gas on a week long camping trip

Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:44 am

Thanks guys.

Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:31 pm

Victoiagon wrote: I have an adapter on mine and a hose to hook it up to a 20 Lbs BBq tank I also got a brass adapter that connects to that hose so I can hook up a 1 pound dissposable, the fridge will run for a few days on it. I got all the parts from my local RV shop

It is nice to not have to worry about running out of gas on a week long camping trip
I'm confused. Where is the adaptor placed? How is this all plumbed? Got pictures?

TIA, Walt...

Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:21 pm

Wow! I was going to post some pics that I took this afternoon but what a PITA to post them...oh well.

Anyway I have a valve that screws into the shutoff valve, there is a input and an output on that valve as well as a pass through for the fridge and stove. I have a 3 foot hose hooked up to the input and that will hookup to a 20lb bbq tank ....then I have another small brass adaptor that lets me screw a 1lb disposable bottle or onto one of those Colman trees. It is a very versitile setup. If you want pics I could email them to you.

Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:40 pm

I wished Everret would change the way pics are posted....I wanna see that tank too.

Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:42 pm

Instead of spending a minute to email them to me, take 3 so everybody gets the idea.

Or email to me and I will post them. No big deal.....Takes butt a few minutes.

Email via the address here to me so I can send you the address to email the pix to.

You choose...

Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:05 pm

OK I think I am getting it

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=268446

Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:10 pm

you can see the adaptor is more yellow than the hose fitting

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=268453

Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:39 pm

That's interesting. Now I got questions, of course!

Where is your pressure regulator now?
Does your van tank valve still have an overpressure burster?
I do not notice the overfill device, too.
What vintage is your setup, again?

I guess, something radical happened to your rigid plumbing from the tank valve / regulator to the appliances, too, then, huh?

Don't mind me, I am always so interested when explosive gases are involved.......

Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:34 pm

I made all the changes when I installed a propex heater. There is a new regulator and it is mounted to the van just aft of the tank with a flex hose coming off it reconnecting all the old plumbing. The burst valve is gone (I hated that thing) and the overflow is still there, just hiding! It is on a 1990 Westy.

Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:24 pm

Here's the pics that were linked above...

-Jared

Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:38 pm

Check out this thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=245630&highlight=

Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:32 pm

at the risk of yet another bar-b-q, external tank, disposable bottle thread
i thought i would reserect this one
i did something similar to victoiagon, but ran my lines a bit differently ...

- the valve i purchased from the local propane dealer will allow me to tap into a second standard propane tank or use 1 lb bottles. very similar to victoiagons valve in the pics. small fitting up top in 1st pic.

- it will also allow me to run any appliance that uses 1 lb bottles, grills, heaters. lights, etc. larger fitting in 1st pic.

- it fits on the standard westy tank under the vehicle, between the shut off valve and the regulator. 2nd pic.

- i replumbed the line from the regulator into the interior, replacing the 2 copper lines with a single 3/8" brass line. i just covered the line with garden hose until i can extend the skid plate to cover the brass line. 3rd pic.

- i split the line inside the cabinet, using flexible hoses, 1 going to the fridge, the other to the stove 4th pic.

the local propane guys were great, cost was about $100, the biggest expense was the valve at $40, the propane guys built the hoses i needed
the hose shown is set up for 1lb disposable bottles. the black knob can be swapped out and will adapt the hose to standard propane tank. 5th pic.

[img] https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/382817.jpg
[img] https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/382819.jpg
[img] https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/382820.jpg
[img] https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/382821.jpg
[img] https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/382822.jpg

Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:33 am

Here's those pics posted properly

Quote: the valve i purchased from the local propane dealer will allow me to tap into a second standard propane tank or use 1 lb bottles. very similar to victoiagons valve in the pics. small fitting up top in 1st pic.

Quote: it fits on the standard westy tank under the vehicle, between the shut off valve and the regulator. 2nd pic

Quote: i replumbed the line from the regulator into the interior, replacing the 2 copper lines with a single 3/8" brass line. i just covered the line with garden hose until i can extend the skid plate to cover the brass line. 3rd pic

Quote: i split the line inside the cabinet, using flexible hoses, 1 going to the fridge, the other to the stove 4th pic

Quote: the local propane guys were great, cost was about $100, the biggest expense was the valve at $40, the propane guys built the hoses i needed
the hose shown is set up for 1lb disposable bottles. the black knob can be swapped out and will adapt the hose to standard propane tank. 5th pic.

Cheers!
-Jared

Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:35 am

mtac, no offense intended toward your post, just wanted to clear it up for folks.

That setup looks awesome! Looks like I've got another project to add to the list for next summer's adventures...

Cheers!
-Jared

Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:51 pm

jared,
i appreciate you doing that
this computer stuff is way beyond me
i had good discussions with the local propane guys on how to do this.
based on where the stove burners are and where the connections for the stove and fridge are they felt that the flex hose was fine, they were concerned about heat and flame contact. its pressure hose made for propane and the bands that cinched the fittings are first class - s/s
i get my tank filled by them and they always shake their heads at the 2 copper lines into the regulator. i really like the single brass line out of the regulator and into the interior and feel that is much safer as well.
one thing i might have done different was run the brass line in the interior cabinet higher up the cabinet wall, resulting in shorter flex hoses, you could probably save a little money that way, also you could use iron pipe instead of the brass, but all-in-all i like it, the simplicity and its clean