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Old 11-11-2016, 04:39 AM   #1
wward208
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Propane regulator did not switch over to full tank

Propane tank ran out and regulator did not switch the to full tank. I am on a trip, any quick fixes I can try? Need some suggestions.
 
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Old 11-11-2016, 05:03 AM   #2
vipermanden
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I'm confused? I have a brand new 2017 3820FK, and when one tank runs out on mine, I have to go rotate the switch on the gauge to direct it to draw from the other tank, and make sure that tank valve is open? I don't have some automatic regulator that switches to the other tank, when one gets empty?
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Old 11-11-2016, 05:37 AM   #3
bigskyjimmy
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If both tanks are OPEN it should have switched over automatically without the need to turn the lever to that tank ,if the Full tank is open try closing it again and reopen it SLOWLY and if that does not work sounds like you have a bad regulator which are cheap and easy to install or it is Really cold outside and the tank valve will not open,I myself personally leave one tank closed so it will NOT change over when one gets empty as I do not want to get stuck with 2 empty tanks in the middle of the night or something,I should check my levels more often on both tanks But I don't so I cover my Buns by leaving one full and closed....some more Ideas will come along shortly from the Gang here that know more about propane systems than me
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Old 11-11-2016, 06:35 AM   #4
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by vipermanden

I'm confused? I have a brand new 2017 3820FK, and when one tank runs out on mine, I have to go rotate the switch on the gauge to direct it to draw from the other tank, and make sure that tank valve is open? I don't have some automatic regulator that switches to the other tank, when one gets empty?
I believe you do (unless you have the only recent Montana built without the auto-crossover switch!), if the indicator is red and you still have propane flow, the auto-switch has switched to the other tank. I open the valves on both tanks, check the indicator every couple of days and know when I have a tank that needs filled.
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Old 11-11-2016, 07:08 AM   #5
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Could be it is going bad. Even my 2007 has the auto changeover regulator. Worked fine for a number of years. But then got to where it sometimes failed to switch over. I have not bothered to replace mine yet as the last couple of years we have not be able to use the trailer enough to worry about it.
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Old 11-11-2016, 09:01 AM   #6
1retired06
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Our 05, 10, and our 2015 are automatic.
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Old 11-11-2016, 12:17 PM   #7
vipermanden
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I guess mine are automatic too, but the dealer taught me to keep one closed, so I would always have one full tank. If they had decent gauges on both, I might leave them both on, but the gauges do not tell you it is empty until it is empty.
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Old 11-11-2016, 12:46 PM   #8
Razrbk
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by vipermanden

I guess mine are automatic too, but the dealer taught me to keep one closed, so I would always have one full tank. If they had decent gauges on both, I might leave them both on, but the gauges do not tell you it is empty until it is empty.
Sounds like you addressed your issue.
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Old 11-11-2016, 01:59 PM   #9
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I use the auto-switchover feature. I got tired of having to get up in the middle of a cold night and go outside to open the valve on the other tank. I just check every few days when I am using a lot of propane to see if it has switched. When I used the "keep one tank turned off" method, it never did run out of propane during the day, only at night at around 3 AM when it was below freezing outside.
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Old 11-11-2016, 05:58 PM   #10
twindman
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I had a similar problem. Went on for several weeks this summer - I just kept switching the full tank to one side, or so I thought. Anyway, it got to where neither side worked. So I read up on stuff and took both tanks out and dropped them about 3-4 inches on hard ground or cement. Also put them on their side and swished them back and forth. Both tanks then worked! Somehow both internal valves in the tanks got hung up.
p.s. I was about ready to buy a auto-crossover valve thing and try it.
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Old 11-12-2016, 02:07 AM   #11
WaltBennett
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Our '10 would only draw from the curb side when the street one was empty. If I refilled the street side, it would switch back to it, leaving a partially full curb side. That was because of the secondary regulator.
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Old 11-12-2016, 04:08 PM   #12
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I have replaced my autoswitchover valve once before. They do go bad. You only move the switch to remind you which tank is active, that is, if the knob is aimed at a tank and shows "red" then THAT tank had run empty. You just switch the indicator the other way and then it whould turn green to indicate which is the new"active" tank. Then after moving the swith, turn off the valve on the empty tank, remove it, and go get it filled. Don't wait too long otherwise when the other tank goes empty, it will try and switch to this empty tank and then you are in trouble.

In cold weather I have been (spent one cold winter week in the Santa Barbara mountains in Southern California), the most often I had to do this was about every two days, but I can imagine you folks in the colder climates might do this more often. I have never done this since, and now my warm weather camping my tanks can last one or two months since I use electric heaters. I have heard, some bring along one or two extra 30# tanks to help things last longer before going for a propane fillup, or even upgrading to 40# tanks (if they fit in the propanr cabinet).
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Old 02-11-2017, 04:25 PM   #13
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Hi All. We are full timers since 2005. Started in SOB but came to our senses in 2012 with a new 2013 3800RE MONTANA. Art-n-Marge have got it right. Nuff said.
Happy trails
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Old 05-19-2018, 10:46 AM   #14
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Don't mean to jump the thread, but this topic is where my question lies. I've got a 10 3400rl. Two 30 lb. tanks. I use the one tank closed method. My question is can a pull the empty tank off for filling and still use the other tank?
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Old 05-19-2018, 11:12 AM   #15
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Yes, but I think I have had a slow leak of propane once or twice.
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Old 05-19-2018, 11:12 AM   #16
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Yes you can. I have 1 30# on the curb side and a 40# on the passenger side. The tanks switch over automatically the one exception was in Indiana in December of last year 10 below and had to switch manually. BTW I have tank gauges that can be read inside the trailer or on my cell phone.
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Old 05-19-2018, 11:41 AM   #17
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I have pulled a tank to fill while running off the other with no issues.
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Old 05-19-2018, 12:11 PM   #18
Kyle and Lisa
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When using a lot of propane in cold weather we keep an eye on the gauge and when it goes red we switch the valve to the other tank, pull and fill the other ASAP. Auto is good but no propane at all is not.
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Old 05-19-2018, 01:03 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Bnrc73 View Post
Don't mean to jump the thread, but this topic is where my question lies. I've got a 10 3400rl. Two 30 lb. tanks. I use the one tank closed method. My question is can a pull the empty tank off for filling and still use the other tank?
Sure you can. Just remember to turn the handle on the regulator so it points to the tank you want to draw from (use). Then you can remove the other tank without any problems.
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Old 11-12-2018, 03:07 PM   #20
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Propane switching over to other tank.

It was recently suggested to leave both tanks open and put the switch lever in the middle and the tank will switch over to the other tank when the 1st tank is empty. Is this correct?


We have the 3730 Montana.


thank you
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