BajaNomad

Propane Tanks

meme - 10-13-2005 at 12:12 PM

Anyone know what the rules are for bringing propane tanks across border to Mexico? Used with some propane in them?
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Meme

Anonymous - 10-13-2005 at 12:20 PM

What kind of tanks?
RV tanks?
or 10,000 gal tank for next to the house?

Propane across the border------

Barry A. - 10-13-2005 at 01:30 PM

I haul full propane tanks (2) across the border every trip and nobody has ever said booo.

I also haul empty small propane tanks across the border, fill them in Mexico, and give them to the locals on the remote ranchos, and beach fish-camps. These are the tanks that are no longer legal in the USA------- you know the ones without the safety over-fill gizmo installed. I pick them up for free at garage sales, use them at home and run all the gas out in my bar-b-q, then take them to Baja. The check points and the border-check have seen them, and asked about them----I tell them what I am doing and they just grin, and that's it.

Propane no Problema

MrBillM - 10-13-2005 at 05:10 PM

For twenty years +, I hauled propane tanks (5-7.5-10 Gal) across the border on every trip South and North. there was never a question or problem with either the Mexican or U.S. officials.

Bigger ?

MrBillM - 10-13-2005 at 05:30 PM

A good friend of mine who has a casa in Gonzaga frequently hauled the larger tanks back and forth without ever having a problem in either country.

meme - 10-14-2005 at 11:14 AM

No Not real big Pompano! My daughter says its like around 60 pound tank. We have never heard of 60 pound tank but then who says we know it all? She says it's an Rv tank about 3/4 full of propane. Plans to put it on the BEER FRig so she don;t have to get it changed so often! Lol Lol!:lol::lol:

meme - 10-14-2005 at 11:15 AM

Baja lou also advised me last nite that she likly won't have a problem bringing it here! Thanks Everyone!

jgoofylizzard - 10-14-2005 at 11:17 AM

Pompano....
Yes thats the size tank Meme is referring to. She was asking this question for me..as I am bringing it down to San Felipe. Planning to put it in Meme's garage hooked up to the beer refridge so we don't have to change tanks so often. (using several small tanks now)
Thanx for the replys.
Jo

jgoofylizzard - 10-14-2005 at 11:19 AM

Meme, (mom)
this tank stands about 4 1/2 ft tall..I said it was big!! LOL

bajalou - 10-14-2005 at 11:40 AM

Shouldn't be a problem Jo - when full it's about 100 lbs - 45kg - should take care of the beer for quite a while----:O

bajalou - 10-14-2005 at 12:28 PM

Pompano - what'll you give me for the GPS coord's???

:saint:

jgoofylizzard ?

MrBillM - 10-14-2005 at 12:48 PM

Does that tank have a standard fill valve or a Stationary Tank-Style fill ? Do you plan to have it filled from the bulk truck or carry it into town ?

The reason I ask is that I have had a lot of trouble getting either Zeta or Silza to fill smaller tanks when they come through. Originally, their excuse was that they had "forgotten" the fill adaptor. After hearing that a couple of times, I went down to a propane distributor and had an adaptor made up. The next time the driver used that excuse, I hauled out my adaptor. After that, he's simply said "no", he won't fill them even when I'm having my stationary tank filled despite the fact that he probably gets a better propina from me than anyone else. Another example of a difference in attitude regarding customer service.

Advice for anyone installing a NEW stationary tank. Add a liquid fill valve if possible before the initial fillup. Then you'd be able to fill any small tanks from your stationary tank. Look for tanks that have an additional Threaded fill plug to utilize.

[Edited on 10-14-2005 by MrBillM]

jgoofylizzard - 10-14-2005 at 01:38 PM

MrBillM
Standard or stationary...I am not sure...going to pick up the tank on Sunday so will check it out then.
BajaLou
GPS cords? I think NOT!!!
See you in 2 weeks Lou
Jo

meme - 10-14-2005 at 02:29 PM

OKAYYYY! Jim has his own set up to fill it if he needs to from our house tank! He does that now with some tanks. DUHH! What do I know about Sizes of propane tanks huh?
OK! I stand corrected lizzard!! I thought it was not so BIg!! LOl Lol!:biggrin:
BAD Bad bajalou!!!

wornout - 10-14-2005 at 03:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jgoofylizzard
Pompano....
Yes thats the size tank Meme is referring to. She was asking this question for me..as I am bringing it down to San Felipe. Planning to put it in Meme's garage hooked up to the beer refridge so we don't have to change tanks so often. (using several small tanks now)
Thanx for the replys.
Jo


Is the beer fridge locked? the garage? and it would be really helpful if you told me the days everyone is gone (shoppling, playing golf or rabbit hunting:o)

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

jgoofylizzard - 10-14-2005 at 03:23 PM

I am not hauling a tank back n forth..I have no use for it here in the states so I am bringing it to use at my San Felipe residence and will have it filled there when it needs it! So yes I am purchasing propane in Mexico.

meme - 10-14-2005 at 04:03 PM

You guys that have soooo much to say but are too afraid to post a name or location make me really tired!
Wornout what a compliment you have high IQ!!lol lol! Think you are RIGHT Wornout that some on here are just laying in waiting to jump on sombody else! Need to Get A Life!
Appears the rest of us are just slimeball Idiots! Seems to me like it sure don't take a high IQ to call others names!
Especially when they have no idea what the subject really is on here!
Since we live here and do buy our propane here all the time he likly needed to get his facts straight BEFORE Posting!
Thank You again Lou!

bajalou - 10-14-2005 at 04:09 PM

Looks like anon's post and my reply got zapped. Guess annon retreated??

:O

meme - 10-14-2005 at 04:24 PM

LOOKS LIKE IT LOU! LolLol!:biggrin::biggrin:
You & Wornout can now stop over for a Cold One Lol!

wornout - 10-14-2005 at 06:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hose A
.the report button actually works.:saint:


I can only hope this will lead to eliminating annon logons altogether. Let one or two you-know-whats ruin annon logons for all. :spingrin:

jgoofylizzard - 10-14-2005 at 06:50 PM

Yes I agree wornout....It only takes a minute to register so you can make a post..it would end all the childish anon posts.
Jo

Dave - 10-19-2005 at 09:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Advice for anyone installing a NEW stationary tank. Add a liquid fill valve if possible before the initial fillup. Then you'd be able to fill any small tanks from your stationary tank. Look for tanks that have an additional Threaded fill plug to utilize.


Please explain further. I've not found large tanks with an additional plug. Could you tap one in? Placement? Hardware\hoses\gauges needed?

Tank Plug

MrBillM - 10-19-2005 at 10:12 AM

I have seen numerous stationary tanks in the U.S. with an additional (unused) threaded plug. In fact, years ago, I had one out on the Mesa. I haven't really looked at Mexican tanks in detail so it MIGHT be something difficult to locate, but it's worth a try if you are looking for a new (unused) tank. If the tank has never been filled (they pressure test and fill with AIR only) you could drill and tap your own opening. If the metal was not thick enough, you could even have a pad welded on.
Long-term it would be worth the effort.

One other possible solution on a new tank would be to remove the pressure relief valve and insert a tee. You could easily make up your own liquid fill device by brazing the proper length copper tubing into a pipe fitting. In fact, you might have to make your own since Liquid fills are not legal in many counties here in the U.S., including San Bernardino.

Dave - 10-19-2005 at 10:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
One other possible solution on a new tank would be to remove the pressure relief valve and insert a tee. You could easily make up your own liquid fill device by brazing the proper length copper tubing into a pipe fitting.


Yeah, but we're not not talking about gravity fill here. Wouldn't I first have to shut the main then use high/low gauges?

Would a refrigeration kit work? I'm not familiar with the temps and pressure.

Gravity ??

MrBillM - 10-19-2005 at 11:59 AM

Gravity ? I'm a little lost there. Propane in your tank is under pressure. The standard fill tube is short enough to take the GAS out of the top of the tank. To get to the liquid, the tubing on your fill valve has to extend into the bottom of the tank where the propane is in liquid form. I did an experiment with my existing tank and added a second valve off of the standard one to see how much propane I could put into a small (5 Gal/20lb) tank. The amount was insignificant. Got through (1) BBQ. You have to get down to the liquid.

Dave - 10-19-2005 at 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Gravity ? I'm a little lost there. Propane in your tank is under pressure.


The gas is, the liquid isn't. Those propane trucks use a pump to transfer the liquid. Unless you're talking about siphoning, wouldn't both cylinders just EQ?

Pressure

MrBillM - 10-19-2005 at 02:11 PM

All of the propane, gas or liquid, is under pressure inside the tank. That's elementary physics.

When filling small tanks from other smaller tanks, they turn the filling tank upside down so that the fill tube in the valve will be drawing on the liquid rather than the gas. As far as Equalizing before filled, that will happen when the two tanks are of nearly the same capacity, but when you are filling 5 / 7.5 / 10 gallon tanks from a stationary tank that is 300 - 500 litros capacity, the smaller tank will fill completely without a noticeable drop in pressure on the filling tank.