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 06-03-2024, 12:44 PM | #1 |
Jean and Dale Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Seattle, Washington Trailer: E19 Posts: 27 | Propane Tank Indicator hidden by trailer jack We have a power trailer jack on our Escape 19. It blocks the propane tank indicator. We tried putting our phone between the jack and indicator to take of photo of the indicator, but the photo was quite blurry. Has anyone found a way to see the indicator blocked by the jack? Or have you used a different way to monitor the amounts of propane in your tanks? |
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| 06-03-2024, 01:09 PM | #2 |
brroberts Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Overbrook, Kansas Trailer: 2021 E19 (Padawan) Posts: 2,122 | I dont pay any attention to that arrow, but some people have reported using a small mirror. __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 01:20 PM | #3 |
Don Flamenco Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: ..., Texas Trailer: 2024 21NE F2 Posts: 83 | I don't ever look at the gauge. I use one tank at a time--meaning the valve on the other tank is closed. When one tank runs empty, I manually switch to the other tank, that way I always know when it's time to refill. The alternative is to open & run both tanks to switch automatically, but then you run the risk of being out completely. |
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| 06-03-2024, 01:55 PM | #4 |
Ron in BC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: North Van., British Columbia Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019 Posts: 8,926 | Quote: Originally Posted by Don Flamenco I don't ever look at the gauge. I use one tank at a time--meaning the valve on the other tank is closed. When one tank runs empty, I manually switch to the other tank, that way I always know when it's time to refill. The alternative is to open & run both tanks to switch automatically, but then you run the risk of being out completely. Me too. Ron |
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| 06-03-2024, 03:03 PM | #5 |
iamunique127 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Trailer: 2015 5.0TA, Toyota Tundra CrewMax Posts: 736 | Quote: Originally Posted by Don Flamenco I don't ever look at the gauge. I use one tank at a time--meaning the valve on the other tank is closed. When one tank runs empty, I manually switch to the other tank, that way I always know when it's time to refill. The alternative is to open & run both tanks to switch automatically, but then you run the risk of being out completely. Me too. __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 03:35 PM | #6 |
Sean Murry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia Trailer: 2019 Escape 19 "Lily" Posts: 497
| Quote: Originally Posted by Jean and Dale We have a power trailer jack on our Escape 19. It blocks the propane tank indicator. We tried putting our phone between the jack and indicator to take of photo of the indicator, but the photo was quite blurry. Has anyone found a way to see the indicator blocked by the jack? Or have you used a different way to monitor the amounts of propane in your tanks? I really like the automatic feature of having the tanks switch from an empty one to a full one, so I do open both tanks. I monitor the indicator with a small mirror (a mechanics mirror on a telescopic arm). When the tank switches over then I know I need to remove the empty one. One tank usually lasts about 10 days- 2 weeks when I am using the furnace in the colder seasons. When the one tank goes empty I know I still have 7 - 10 days before running out completely. If I only opened one tank at a time, then you run the risk of having your furnace cut off during the night. Each to his own, but this is the way we like to manage it. |
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| 06-03-2024, 04:08 PM | #7 |
Jim Bennett Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA Posts: 15,587 | Quote: Originally Posted by Don Flamenco I don't ever look at the gauge. I use one tank at a time--meaning the valve on the other tank is closed. When one tank runs empty, I manually switch to the other tank, that way I always know when it's time to refill. The alternative is to open & run both tanks to switch automatically, but then you run the risk of being out completely. Not me. Modern technology makes the swap automatic. Once this happens I refill the spent tank. Easy peasy and no running out in the middle of a real cold night to swap tanks. My wife would not be happy if it ran out during the middle of baking something and we never new, I wouldn't be either. Works great for me! The 5.0TA does have great tank access. __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 04:10 PM | #8 |
Vermilye Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oswego, New York Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150 Posts: 5,401 | I use a mechanic's mirror: Amazon __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 04:13 PM | #9 |
Sean Murry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia Trailer: 2019 Escape 19 "Lily" Posts: 497
| Quote: Originally Posted by Vermilye I use a mechanic's mirror: Amazon Yup that is the same as mine |
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| 06-03-2024, 05:07 PM | #10 |
Don Flamenco Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: ..., Texas Trailer: 2024 21NE F2 Posts: 83 | Quote: Originally Posted by Jim Bennett Not me. Modern technology makes the swap automatic. Once this happens I refill the spent tank. Easy peasy and no running out in the middle of a real cold night to swap tanks. What modern technology are you using that tells you when one tank has switched to the other? |
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| 06-03-2024, 05:38 PM | #11 |
KarenH Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bellingham and Glacier, Washington Trailer: 2013 Escape 15A Posts: 2,063 | Quote: Originally Posted by Don Flamenco What modern technology are you using that tells you when one tank has switched to the other? The green area pops upward to reveal a red strip around the cap when the active tank has gone empty. In the case below, the propane is being drawn from the tank on the left (facing the tanks); note the black "valve" is pointing to the left. When that tank goes empty, the red strip appears indicating that the system is now drawing from the (full) tank on the right (both tank valves are open). I then turn the valve to point to the tank on the right--the red strip disappears--and remove the empty tank on the left to be refilled. __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 05:50 PM | #12 |
Don Flamenco Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: ..., Texas Trailer: 2024 21NE F2 Posts: 83 | Yeah, that's not modern nor is it technology, and it still requires you to go outside and look at the gauge. And if you can't see that gauge, or it fails (as they are prone to do) your "modern technology" is useless. There *IS* real modern technology which can monitor propane tank fill levels; similar to the adhesive level gauges used by SeeLevel, for water/waste tanks. Audible alerts can be selected, as well as bluetooth notifications, etc. |
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| 06-03-2024, 06:14 PM | #13 |
Heartwood Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Caledonia, New York Trailer: formerly, 1996 Sunnybrook 27RKS Posts: 5 | There *IS* real modern technology which can monitor propane tank fill levels; similar to the adhesive level gauges used by SeeLevel, for water/waste tanks. Audible alerts can be selected, as well as bluetooth notifications, etc. Does anyone happen to have the name, or a link to, a product to remotely monitor propane tank levels? TIA! |
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| 06-03-2024, 06:18 PM | #14 |
brroberts Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Overbrook, Kansas Trailer: 2021 E19 (Padawan) Posts: 2,122 | I think its called Mopeka. Never used it, but some on the forum have. __________________ |
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| 06-03-2024, 06:25 PM | #15 |
Don Flamenco Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: ..., Texas Trailer: 2024 21NE F2 Posts: 83 | Quote: Originally Posted by brroberts I think it’s called Mopeka. Never used it, but some on the forum have. Spot-on! |
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| 06-03-2024, 09:02 PM | #16 |
Jean and Dale Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Seattle, Washington Trailer: E19 Posts: 27 | Propane tank indicator hidden by trailer jack Thank you for all of the recommendations and some lively discussions. I think we will start with the mechanic's mirror even though the blue tooth sensors are tempting (though fairly pricey). |
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| 06-03-2024, 09:42 PM | #17 |
Iowa Dave Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Benton County, Iowa Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander Posts: 8,310 | We have two 20 lb. tanks and an 11 lb tank in the front box. I have four additional tanks at home. Whenever we are going out for several days I take the tank off that I’ve been using on the trailer and put a full tank on. The partials from the trailer, I use up on my full sized Weber grill at home. It has a scale device that shows when it’s low. And it’s not critical if I run out while cooking because I am usually setting in the garage looking at the temp gauge and if I see it declining, I get a new partial or full tank and put it on. Those 20 lb tanks have a tare weight of 17.6 lbs. I put them on my 24 lb. antique postal scale and can tell when I am below 6.4 lbs or if it pegs the dial I have at least 7 lbs, pretty much enough to cook whatever I usually prepare. I’ve never run out of propane in the trailer in 11 years of Escaping. We also carry an oscillating 1500 watt ceramic heater that keeps us warm when we have an electrical hookups which is most of the time. __________________ |
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| 06-04-2024, 12:25 AM | #18 |
CharlesinGA Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: 50 miles S of Atlanta, Georgia Trailer: 2008 BigfootRV 25B21RB Posts: 302 | You want the Mopeka PRO sensors. The original sensors are junk. I bought them, one of them started eating batteries, and they gave me two Pro sensors to replace them (Pro sensors are round). I mounted my sensors using the plastic cages intended for use on aluminum tanks. I don't have to worry about them slipping out of place or knocking them off when getting tanks refilled (I have 30 lb tanks). This is on a Bigfoot trailer and is super difficult to R&R the tanks as you have to lift them way up thru a small hatch in the fiberglass fairing. I only open the second tank's valve when I see the first one getting close to empty. The vent allows water into the sensor and circuit board, so I tape over the sensor vents. The two halves of the housing have an o-ring seal but despite drilling large drain holes in the tank tray under where the tanks sit, water can still get in there. If you use the mounting rings, use Google to find the MSDS sheet for the primer prior to using it. I chastised Mopeka in an email for not making it available or a link to it, never heard from them. I also asked why they don' use conformal coating on the circuit boards, never heard from them................ Good product though. Charles
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| 06-04-2024, 11:56 AM | #19 |
Sean Murry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia Trailer: 2019 Escape 19 "Lily" Posts: 497
| I think I will stick with my mechanics mirror. For me it is simple. Have never runnout of propane yet or even come close to running out |
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| 06-04-2024, 01:12 PM | #20 |
Selkirk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Calgary, Alberta Trailer: 2023 E19 Posts: 336 | I'd like something that would provide a quick/easy indication that a propane tank is starting to get low when I check them every week or so. I don't need anything complex, high tech, or overly precise. At present I pull off the cover, remove the top clamp, and guesstimate amount remaining in the active tank by lifting it up and comparing it to the weight of the known full tank. I was thinking of picking up a scale...such as this: https://www.amazon.ca/Grill-Handheld...82HB5YVL&psc=1 Does anyone use add-on gauges, such as these? If so, how well do they work? |
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| Tags |
| propane indicator, propane level |
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