Swap 30# LP Tanks for 40#

[gford10480]

Has anyone run into any issue with swapping the 30# LP tanks with 40#s? Are the 40#'s the same diameter and do any pigtails need to be replaced?

[rob_fla]

40s are the same diameter, just taller and heaver when filled.
For me, replacing the 30s after filling are plenty heavy, would love the larger capacity of the 40s but do not want to deal with the extra weight of the 40s when replacing the tanks after filling.

[atom ant]

A few on here have done the swap, and I remember something about pigtails. If mine was close by I would give you a measurement on the pigtails for our 40s, but its far away in storage.

[Shane Wood]

I swapped mine out to 40's and everthing fit, pigtails were long enough to reach

[mhs4771]

When we ordered our 2012 RL I didn't order the 40 Pounders, but swapped the 40's from our trade into the RW with no issues.

[formulabill]

Like the others that have switched there is nothing to do but put them in and hook up with the same fittings. They are a little heavier if that is a concern lifting them up.


I went with the 40 lbs in case I have to use my onboard generator for a long period of time. I think 2 forty lb bottles give you about 34 hours of running time.

[gford10480]

Thanks to all......I had the Onan 5500 LP Generator installed and it seems to use the LP up pretty fast. I traded my Fuzion 5th wheel which had two 30 gallon gas tanks to use with one dedicated to the onboard 5500 gas Genset which seemed to last forever.

[atom ant]

It's just a perception really, the two 30 lb LP tanks are 14 gal of fuel and it's not dedicated like your 30 gal gas tank was, as depending on how you are set up the LP fuels the fridge, furnace, range, and hot water.

Fuel consumption for LP is higher than gasoline, but not by far on the 5500 -

full load gas - 1.1 gal/hr
full load LP - 0.9 gal/hr

half load gas - 0.8 gal/hr
half load LP - 0.6 gal/hr

[Ford truck guy]

Brad ,
Going by your post , if I were to add a genny and run it off my 30# tanks... I SHOULD ONLY get about 28 hrs total running at full load?

[atom ant]

First let me clarify I entered the data wrong - I reversed the LP and gas consumption when I typed: (LP is less efficient) I attached the spec

full load LP - 1.1 gal/hr
full load gas - 0.9 gal/hr

half load LP - 0.8 gal/hr
half load gas - 0.6 gal/hr

But in regard to your question - you would actually be closer to 13 hrs at full load. With both 30# tanks at 7 gal (14 total), at 1.1 gal/hr, assuming nothing else using LP, you would be toast at about 12.72 hrs. At half load, 17.5 hrs, which is probably closer to actual pull on a 5500 even with two ACs. With my 40# (9.5 gal each or 19 gal), the best I can hope for is 23.75 at half load.

Now the paradigm - When boondocking with the Onan operating, is it more LP fuel efficient to operate the HW, fridge, furnace, cooktop on LP, or electric? Or any combination? It would be an interesting workup. I would assume furnace and fridge on gas and limit generator use to charging the 12v only, but I don't know.

By far, the most efficient generator is the ECU gas generators that idle down.

[Ford truck guy]

Thanks for all that info Brad ,

Without having a fuel tank to feed the ECU style , it's pretty much useless..OR am I missing something?? . And in my eyes , if I am boon docking for a few days. The last thing I will want to do is unhook the bottles and drive around looking for propane..

I may look into the new Honda eu7000... At 265# I can put it up on my rear hitch.... All I will have to carry is a few 5 gallon jerry cans , which I already have 5....

[Shane Wood]

I have a 6.5kw onan
I also have 2 40 and 2 30 lb bottles. If we are going to boondock these will last for 5 days or more depending on usage

[Ford truck guy]

Shane ,
Do you just toss the 2 extra bottles in the truck?

[Shane Wood]

Yes when I need to

[mhs4771]

I can offer this: Last summer on our trips, we had several overnites without power, but with fairly high temps. So with the fridge on gas and both ACs running full blast we could go through a 40 pound tank in 8 to 10 hours and the tank would be covered in frost.

[Dave&Ginny]

These units do eat through the LP quickly but it's still a convenience to have them. I used ours all the time and kept them filled at the truck stops.

When I ordered the Redwood I was promised a 30 gallon gas tank and a gas fueled generator. In the middle of the build, they backed out of the deal which never settled well with me.

[bergeman]

Is there such a thing as a small diesel powered generator that you could then keep filled with gas you already have?

[RV4us2]

Originally Posted by Shane Wood

I have a 6.5kw onan
I also have 2 40 and 2 30 lb bottles. If we are going to boondock these will last for 5 days or more depending on usage

Shane, Where do you store the 30#s?

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by bergeman

Is there such a thing as a small diesel powered generator that you could then keep filled with gas you already have?

I think Onan has as small as 6000W diesel generators for motorhomes, I just don't know if they are designed for use in our front cabinets.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

Thanks for all that info Brad ,

Without having a fuel tank to feed the ECU style , it's pretty much useless..OR am I missing something?? . And in my eyes , if I am boon docking for a few days. The last thing I will want to do is unhook the bottles and drive around looking for propane..

I may look into the new Honda eu7000... At 265# I can put it up on my rear hitch.... All I will have to carry is a few 5 gallon jerry cans , which I already have 5....

You could carry gasoline in the back of your truck in Gerry cans. I have heard amazing stories of how many days you can get out of 5 gallons with the twin 2000s or the 3000 Honda. If my buddy hadn't of sold his pair of 2000 on Craigslist within about an hour, I might have bought his so I could have both conveniences. The only complaint he had was you had to use them, or the gas and carbs would gum up and they would be worthless when you needed them.