Filler Extension for Propane Tank?

[Scary Mc]

I have a new propane tank under my van and it's apparently a real bugger to fill. The propane folks always have a really hard time getting their hose onto the tanks threads.
Does anyone else have this problem? Is there any sort of extension that might make it easier?

-Thanks for your time

[Terry Kay]

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T.K.

[tristessa]

I always hated Vanagons and Bays back when I filled propane tanks until we got an extension like that from the local AmeriGas supplier (they filled the *big* tanks at our station). Before that I had to lay on the ground to get the hose connected. Didn't hate it because of laying on the ground, but because of the redwood duff all over the place from the tree shading the fill station. That crap always got caught in my hair, made me look like some stinkfoot hippie instead of a proper metalhead.

[j8]

[kamzcab86]

[noganav]

How is a straight extension any easier to screw on to the tank fitting than the filler hose itself? Money down the drain, and one extra piece of junk to clutter up the van.

Sort of like buying a 30 dollar extender for the back hatch, when a 3/8 inch turnbuckle will do the job just as well. People buy all sorts of overpriced junk I guess.

There is more than enough room to make the connection, it just takes a little patience. With practice, the filler will go on just as easily as any extender will.

[BushChicken]

[noganav]

I don't want to hijack, check out this thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=184099

[j8]

[purplepeopleeater]

Just put some bigger springs and 16'' tires then you and stroll right under the van and so can the tank filler.


maybe.....just maybe...if they would lay off the jelly doughnuts and he/she would be able to bend over and fill it.

[j8]

[purplepeopleeater]

[Terry Kay]

Got a better idea if you don't want to be carrying aroud more junk.

Load the van with two 2' long 4x4's and drive the left hand side of the van up onto them.
It'll lift the propane tank up off the ground high enough to get to the fill valve easier---
The 4x4's are a cheap solution too--

Another problem solved.
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T.K.

[presslab]

Dunno if an extension would help... It's an angle problem, the attendant doesn't thread the fitting on straight. I usually bend down and tell the attendant to move it up/down and then it threads right on.
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1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti

[noganav]

The solution is to have a little patience and thread the propane filler on to the tank fitting.

If someone wants to pay for an expensive fitting to thread on first that's great, but its no easier than the filler to get on there, so what is the point? You've still got to thread something on to that fitting, no way around that.

I guess the person selling them makes a few bucks for 2x4s.

There is enough room for the filler even the big fillers. I filled hundreds of them working my way through college. Not one problem.

[Terry Kay]

This was a hot item maybe 10-12 years ago over at the Vanagon.com con-flab forum.

Your 100% correct in thinking that however you look at it your going to have to do the exact same bending , squating, crawling down along side of the van to get the extension screwed into the fill valve anyway prior to screwing the fill hose on.

What's the benifit?

Not sure.

Your going to have to do the propane fill hose extension mambo anyway--why not just eliminate one more move--???
Plug the fill hose up and forget about the extension--you'll be down there anyhow.

I saved that thinking it might be something else to manufacture for a Westy---

I figured out it was just another worthless operation, and wasn't worth the effort.

And I for sure wouldn't consider leaving it on the side of the tank full time--
One bonk--and it'll be all over---
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T.K.

[j8]

Thanks for posting your experiences.

If I make one, I'll post the how-to link for people interested in tinkering on it.
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Julia
'89 2WD Westy (No end to names...)

[danfromsyr]

I'm thinking that the easier part would be that I can most likely screw the extension on myself but in no way be allowed to hook the fill hose up,
so that means that I get the part that I am familiar with (my tank fittings) and that they are not.
and the attendant gets to screw the hose to the extension, a part they are familiar with, and I am not allowed by liability.

and where the heck did not carrying a ~12" pipe in lieu of 2 2ft 4x4's ever make sense?
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[Terry Kay]

It doesn't ake any sense to carry two 4.4's.

I was offering this retort to the guy that mentioned it would be a pain to carry the piece of pipe around inside the van--

Ok--you don't want the pipe rolling around--carry the 4.4's
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T.K.

[kamzcab86]

Back from the dead.

Before getting in line at Buses By The Bridge January 14th, I visited a nearby fuel station to fill a 20# tank and have the van's tank topped off. It was early morning and rather frigid, by desert dweller standards. The poor attendant struggled to get the filler onto to the tank and kept apologizing for taking so long... I kept apologizing on behalf of Manchester and Westfalia. She finally got the filler screwed on and put in 1.5 gallons.

Given the amount of

in the last couple of years when it comes to the filling the tank, I just bought this off eBay for $60:

Marshall Excelsior Filler Valve Extension (#ME574EXT-7547B)

Yes, one more thing to carry in the van (I already have caps/plugs for it to keep it clean inside), but it'll save time and much frustration in the years to come.
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~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子