Propane - Delivery vers Pick it up

[crash325]

In my area, Tucson AZ, having propane delivered costs over $1.00 a gallon more than taking the tank & having it filled.

In my case that's a little over $200.00 a year. But for some of you that use a lot it could be a real big savings.

The tank in the pictures is 125 gallon. I have 2 that size and 1 smaller. At some point in time I will manifold the 2 big tanks together to avoid relighting the hot water heater & stove pilots.

 

[Bird]

I don't think I ever heard of anyone taking a tank bigger than 100# (about 25 gallon) capacity to have it filled. When you say you'll "manifold" the tanks together, am I correct in assuming you'll use an automatic changeover regulator as is commonly used on 20# and 30# bottles on RVs?

 

[crash325]

I don't think I ever heard of anyone taking a tank bigger than 100# (about 25 gallon) capacity to have it filled. When you say you'll "manifold" the tanks together, am I correct in assuming you'll use an automatic changeover regulator as is commonly used on 20# and 30# bottles on RVs?

With out the tractor I could not load the tank. But it only takes about 10 minuets to set it in the truck. 3 Miles (2 of them dirt) to have it filled. Full tank is less than 800 pounds, gives me about 1,000 pounds of reserve lifting power.

Have not researched the manifold yet. Not rushing into. Will look at what is the best way to go about it.

Hard work pays off in the future - Laziness pays off now" :thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Any transportation regulations?

 

[crash325]

Any transportation regulations?

Not in this area. Personal use is different than commercial.

What happens if you get scared to death - TWICE. :confused2:

 

[Western]

I'm like Bird, I never knew anyone to haul that big of tank. When I had Gas delivery, it was cheaper to have it delivered in bulk, but only by a little.

I'd ask the Gas company your supplied with about recommendations on hooking them up together.

 

[Duffster]

Not in this area. Personal use is different than commercial.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Any transportation regulations?

Storage tanks can only be transported with 10%(?) in them. IIRC

 

[beenthere]

Only being a small tank like that, I can see delivery of 100 gallons by truck would be expensive.
A 125 gallon tank wouldn't be a good size to have here in the north. Prolly why we don't see them.

I can imagine some regs that would prohibit trucking that 125 gallon tank when it is 80% full. But if you stick to the dirt roads, maybe not a problem.

 

[crash325]

I'm like Bird, I never knew anyone to haul that big of tank. When I had Gas delivery, it was cheaper to have it delivered in bulk, but only by a little.

I'd ask the Gas company your supplied with about recommendations on hooking them up together.

I was buying from Servi Gas, 100 Gallon min. Last year it was 3.36 delivered. Store price, Same company 2.26. Other than the price going up its about the same difference this year. About 1.13 per gallon.

Was going to have another company deliver. Their first deliver price was the same as the store. One little catch was a 45 to 50 dollar system check. After the first delivery the price matched the other company.

Nobody thinks twice about taking their 5/ 10/ 20 /25 gallon tank to have it filled. Bet most of you with welding bottles also take you oxg. & act. bottles in to fill or exchange.

 

[crash325]

I wouldn't be so sure about that.



Storage tanks can only be transported with 10%(?) in them. IIRC

Keep that in mind when you get your 10 gallon tank filled.

 

[Duffster]

Keep that in mind when you get your 10 gallon tank filled.

I believe the difference is a DOT approved tank vs. not.

 

[boggen]

to me, those tanks just seem small. i am use to min tank sizes being 500 gallons. for majority of houses around here in central Illinois.

min amount is i want to say 200 to 300 gallons. from most companies around me.

if you go below the min. the prices are jacked up pretty good.

also around here. gas companies give free tanks, but you have to buy there gas. and there was an initial hook up fee, (check lines *pressure test*, pay for regulator, pay for delivery fee of there tank to you)

==================
call around to a few places. there may be a better deal when you buy in bigger bulk. or sign some sort of an agreement for length of time you buy fuel from a given company.

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for me, i think the risk factor would be to high. unloading a full 100 gallon tank. from chains, to tank hooks, to tank flopping back into the tractor and denting the tank or cracking it. to possibly knocking one of the valves on the tank loose.

my experience, if i am trying to use the FEL to unload / load something alone. just a slight little bit of movement can cause what ever i have to swing quickly out of control.

will the hooks on top of the tank even support a full tank of propane? every time time i have heard about it or talked about it with someone. they always, pump a tank dry, before picking it up and moving it. (at least with the tanks around here 300 gallon plus in sizes.)

 

[beenthere]

Liquid propane weighs just a hair over 4 # to the gallon, so the 125 gal tank full won't be much of a lift for the FEL. As long as nothing breaks and the bucket hooks are secure on the bucket.

Sounds like the way to get propane savings of a buck 10 a gallon. Our delivered price is about what your "pick up" price is, but you don't use much for heat and it will last a while longer than here in the north.

 

[dfkrug]

I just paid 2.70/gal this week, and that's the highest I ever paid, delivered.
Around here, it can be $1 higher to take your tank in.

On a delivery route like I am, it does not matter how much and how often
I buy the propane....same price.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Scares me. Better have that puppy boomed down real well in case you're stopped. I think D.O.T. requires placarding on the vehicle for anything over 1,000 lbs.- not sure about personal use. Might be interesting to stop by a truck scale with the tank and weigh it in the truck empty and full.