dedmiston
The West
Moderator
Joined: 01/26/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I'm not a fan of the auto-switchover regulators. I want to know when that first tank runs dry, even if I have to get up and go out in the cold to switch tanks. To me that's preferable than to wake up in the cold to find that I have TWO empty tanks.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3
Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Can you imagine driving a car like that? Ignore the gauge and wait until you are stalled on the side of the road. Then get out, change tanks and drive on. Not for me.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
|
dedmiston
The West
Moderator
Joined: 01/26/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
My car has a reliable gauge that I can see all the time. There's even a thing that tells me how many miles I have left (mas o menos).
My RV has a series of disappointing gauges that have let me down over the years. I'm pretty good about refilling before trips when I think I need it, but having a reserve tank is a great failsafe for me.
Regardless, I'd never put myself in the situation where I might carelessly run both tanks dry. I just don't trust myself or the rest of the family. I've caught my wife forgetting to turn off the oven too many times.
|
CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
Senior Member
Joined: 03/01/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
time2roll wrote:Can you imagine driving a car like that? Ignore the gauge and wait until you are stalled on the side of the road. Then get out, change tanks and drive on. Not for me.
Had a pickup like that once. It had 2 gas tanks with a switch you would use to select one or the other. For some reason the gauge didn't work on either tank. After the truck quit running you would have to switch to the other tank and then restart it.
Got so good at it that when the truck would start to die I could bump it into neutral, flip the switch to the other tank, and restart the truck, without ever losing much speed.![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
|
fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2003
View Profile
|
time2roll wrote:Can you imagine driving a car like that? Ignore the gauge and wait until you are stalled on the side of the road. Then get out, change tanks and drive on. Not for me. Yeah, it was very common at one time. I had a Volkswagon that had a manual switch over that you worked with your foot when the main tank ran out. And I've had lots of motorcycles that had a reserve tank you switched to when the main ran out. Not at all uncommon.
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
|
|
|
fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2003
View Profile
|
dedmiston wrote:I'm not a fan of the auto-switchover regulators. I want to know when that first tank runs dry, even if I have to get up and go out in the cold to switch tanks. To me that's preferable than to wake up in the cold to find that I have TWO empty tanks. Well, if you couldn't remember to fill one tank when it ran out, why would you remember to fill one when it ran out and you had to switch it over? And then you run out, go out to switch it over and find they're both empty. Can't blame the mechanism for human error.
|
dedmiston
The West
Moderator
Joined: 01/26/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
fj12ryder wrote:dedmiston wrote:I'm not a fan of the auto-switchover regulators. I want to know when that first tank runs dry, even if I have to get up and go out in the cold to switch tanks. To me that's preferable than to wake up in the cold to find that I have TWO empty tanks. Well, if you couldn't remember to fill one tank when it ran out, why would you remember to fill one when it ran out and you had to switch it over? And then you run out, go out to switch it over and find they're both empty. Can't blame the mechanism for human error.
Maybe I'm dense, but I don't follow you.
One way allows you to run halfway empty and one way allows you to run all the way empty. I prefer option #1.
Different strokes though.
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
dedmiston wrote:One way allows you to run halfway empty and one way allows you to run all the way empty. I prefer option #1. I think the idea is if you choose to ignore the indicator on the regulator you can just the same choose to ignore or delay the refill until both are empty.
![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/wink.gif "wink")
|
stickdog
Somewhere, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I have 2 40# tanks one behind the other. These are 75# when full and a real pain to remove the rear tank and replace it full. I was told best to keep rear tank closed and just run off the front one. As full-time travelers we avoid cold weather but the only in South Florida have we totally escaped it.
We survive 40 degree and above with the fireplace/heater and heat pump. If the weather man warns of freezing temps I'll give the front tank a tap test if it has been a while since it was filled. If it sounds like it may be low I'll open the valve to the rear tank. If the turnover shows red in the morning I'll get the tank filled, if not I'll turn the rear tank off. If the conditions remain the same for couple nights I repeat the same routine till front tank is empty or the weather moderates.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
FULLTIME SINCE 2010
17 DRV MS 36rssb3
17 F350 King Ranch CC DRW 4x4 6.7 4:10 B&W hitch
John
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
|
dedmiston
The West
Moderator
Joined: 01/26/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
time2roll wrote:dedmiston wrote:One way allows you to run halfway empty and one way allows you to run all the way empty. I prefer option #1. I think the idea is if you choose to ignore the indicator on the regulator you can just the same choose to ignore or delay the refill until both are empty.
So just where is your regulator? Is it something you walk past every day? Does it send you a text? Does a fog horn blast? Does it fire a mortar into the sky?
If I don't open the compartment door, I don't see it. Ever.
I have a door on the curb side for one tank and a door on the street side for the other tank. The only way to see the regulator is to pull the tank out or shove a camera in there.
It's not some kind of avoidance. It's an invisible thing. I can let one tank drain itself invisibly or let them both go, which is totally foolish.
I'm glad your system works for you, but it's not one-size-fits-all, my friend.
Now give it a rest.
|
|
|
