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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Tedsoldbus on May 06, 2021, 05:47:39 PM
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I've had 4 motorhomes. They all had a belly tank for propane. They had a gauge. My latest endeavor, the shorty Prevost also has a gauge. I thought it was how much propane was remaining, like aaaaaaaall the other ones. But ney, ney. First time to add propane since I got the bus, was today. Propane guy said "You have one of those fancy schmancey gauges that tells you that have pressure. Lets you know there are no leaks in your propane system. But I've never seen one of these without another gauge that tells you how much propane you have.".
Please excuse my earlier plea for help with my refer cutting out from time to time while running it on propane. Now that it HAS propane......works like a champ.
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I've never had any luck weaning a refer off of propane.😁
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Is your pressure gauge a manometer that reads in inches of water? I'm thinking of adding one to my propane manifold to tell me if there's a slow leak anywhere - it could be a useful trouble-shooting tool, but hopefully it won't ever be needed!
John
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When you just gotta know how much is left
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203149247602?epid=1369478984&hash=item2f4ca38472:g:GZsAAOSw15Nf4NgY
HTH
Melbo
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When you just gotta know how much is left
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203149247602?epid=1369478984&hash=item2f4ca38472:g:GZsAAOSw15Nf4NgY
HTH
Melbo
Have you had any success with their monitor?
I installed one on each of my two tanks, and it only works if I open the bay door. Otherwise the signal can't get out. If I'm going to have to open the bay door, then I can just as easily look at the gauge on the tank itself.
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The ones I am familiar with are in GMC motorhomes and they work just fine BUT the structure is not NEARLY as robust as a bus so that could cause a big difference in how the signal gets to your phone.
YMMV
Melbo
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Seems like you could just as easily set the tank on a bathroom scale.
Jim
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Well Jim those 40 pounders that are welded to brackets and bolted in place are kind of tough to set on the good old bathroom scale but to each his own.
Melbo
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Well Jim those 40 pounders that are welded to brackets and bolted in place are kind of tough to set on the good old bathroom scale but to each his own.
Melbo
I agree - whether they are welded in and permanent like yours or semi-permanent fork lift tanks bolted in place, something short of weighing them is necessary.
Mine can be removed, but it's only done once in a few years to have them recertified. They are filled in place otherwise.
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Sorry, but my answer to all is... I don't know. Bottle is huge. I think the "fill it up" guy said 60 gallons? It took 24 gallons! The bottle takes up half a compartment and runs across the belly.
Even though I am a retired Marine and travel armed, Rita is afraid of bad guys, so we mostly stop at campgrounds and plug in. I have electric hot water, so guessing if I keep the bus 5 years, I probably won't run out of propane again if I fill up every other year.
My 1980 Prevost still just has gauges and trouble lights in the dash. I don't have any fancy wizz bang anything that hooks to my phone or another screen. I mostly resist such things, but guess I should protect my engine etc with the new technology. It did get a TPMS and like what it tells us going down the highway, but it sits on the dash on passenger side. My 2 minute scan is oil pressure, water temp, and back outside to dodge texters. Rita can check tires.....
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Those big horizontal tanks should have a level gauge on the end or side depending on the mounting.
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You are probably right Chessie, but this monster propane tank is in between compartments with a 1 foot by 1 foot access panel that you have to pretty much lay in the pass through bay to fill the tank. The rest of the tank is hidden unless you use a sawzall, and I'd probably cut through a 2 inch bundle of wires.....
My 6 gallon electric water heater is also in a cute little box where you can't access the drain valve to the water heater since it is on the back side. And it is all copper pipe!
Really Prevost???!!!
Sorry for venting. I'm better now.....
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You are probably right Chessie, but this monster propane tank is in between compartments with a 1 foot by 1 foot access panel that you have to pretty much lay in the pass through bay to fill the tank. The rest of the tank is hidden unless you use a sawzall, and I'd probably cut through a 2 inch bundle of wires.....
My 6 gallon electric water heater is also in a cute little box where you can't access the drain valve to the water heater since it is on the back side. And it is all copper pipe!
Really Prevost???!!!
Sorry for venting. I'm better now.....
LOL You can't blame Provost for the water heater or the propane tank they always sell the motorhome version as an empty shell (though I do think they do the windows and insulation) for some converter to finish building out.
And if you have a bundle of wiring next to the propane tank it is likely not the buses OEM wiring...
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You are correct Fred. Apology to Prevost if you read this. Nasty gram prep for Foretravel in the works. Actually amazingly pleased with how smart they did the conversion. And that was 40 years ago!
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dont they make remote fill tubes and gauges for them?