Ready to hit the road this summer in your new RV or motorhome? Make your trip smooth and hassle-free with propane gas! Here’s our helpful guide to choosing the right propane tank for your vehicle, so you save money and have a reliable heating system while enjoying your vacation.

This is the type of tank you need

You’ll need to look at the two models of propane tanks offered for motorhomes.

The first is a cylinder, which is portable. It sits upright and comes with a vapor withdrawal valve at the top.

The second type is the tank, which differs from the cylinder because it is stationary.

The size guide

One of the biggest questions you’ll ask yourself is what size propane tank you’ll need. Generally, the most common sizes for RV’s are 20 lbs and 30 lbs, but here is a rough size guide to give you a more in-depth perspective.

• 11 lbs: This is most commonly used to power small grills, portable grills or for marine applications.
• 20 lbs: This can also be used for barbecue grills as well as to power small-sized space heaters.
• 30 lbs: This gives you more leeway to power many camping applications. These tanks are mounted in order to supply gas for the kitchen in your motorhome, such as for the refrigerator and stove top.  
• 40 lbs: Can easily power most or all functions of RV appliances and outdoor grilling.

Know your tank

Safety comes first with propane tanks. That’s why it’s imperative that you understand how the tank works and who to call if you need professional assistance. Always keep a gas emergency contact labeled where you can see it. Furthermore, these are the main parts that make up a propane tank:

• Fill valve: This is what the gas supplier will attach a hose to in order to fill the tank.
• Liquid withdrawal valve: This piece removes liquid propane from tank.
• Fixed liquid level gage: You use this to monitor when a filled tank reaches 80% capacity. The tank is never filled all the way to the top to allow for expansion.
• Service valve: This is where the magic happens and propane is converted from liquid to gas for use.
• Float gage: This gives you visibility of how much propane is in the tank.
• Vapour return valve: This piece is used during propane delivery to remove excess tank pressure.
• Relief valve: This is a safety function that vents propane when there is too much pressure.