Herc-U-Lift

[DCB]

Does anyone have experience with Herc-U-Lift, or any similar device to assist with lifting and placing propane tanks?

http://herculifts.com/dolly-tank-lift/

I’m a 60-year-old female, plan to travel alone often, and would like to ease the process of “man-handling” the propane tanks. I can lift them on my own if I have to, but think it would be prudent to avoid that.

Alternatively, have you found practical ways to refill propane without removing/replacing the tanks?

Appreciate any words of wisdom!

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by RookieDCB

Does anyone have experience with Herc-U-Lift, or any similar device to assist with lifting and placing propane tanks?

http://herculifts.com/dolly-tank-lift/

I’m a 60-year-old female, plan to travel alone often, and would like to ease the process of “man-handling” the propane tanks. I can lift them on my own if I have to, but think it would be prudent to avoid that.

Alternatively, have you found practical ways to refill propane without removing/replacing the tanks?

Appreciate any words of wisdom!

I'm fairly stout guy at 6'2" and 210lbs but at 60 I have learned that if you use your knees and legs to sort of hold the tank as you lift it helps a lot. You always want to keep a heavy load close to your body anyway. Of course this requires wearing pants you don't mind getting dirty or maybe an apron of some kind.....

Let us know more about the lifts if you get one!

[G & S Russell]

Hopefully chivalry is not totally dead in the Land of Lincoln and some gentleman will help you man handle that tank out of there to get filled. Plenty of gentlemen here in Texas that would give you a hand.

[MidMOTraveler]

You can always go with the smaller size tanks and just change more often.
Or if permanent and the park allows go with a bigger tank and have a propane company fill it.

[mhs4771]

At 71 I can still get my 40# tanks in and out, but we use very little propane, Induction cook top, Convection Oven, and Water heater on electric most of the time, so only need refilled maybe one tank per year.
They are heavy, but just a short lift to get a corner in then tilt it in the rest of the way.

[1retired06]

We travel 8-9 months out of the year including a six month snowbird in Florida each winter. I refill one tank a year, tanks last a long time UNLESS you are running the furnace. And although I have never done it, I have seen trailer tanks filled by folks while coming into or leaving campgrounds, guess it depends on the propane setup in the park. Not familiar with the tank dolly you asked about.

[jeffba]

Okay it looks a bit pricey. But for getting a tank in and out and a hitch, it looks pretty smooth from the video.

So depending how much propane you use and if you camp in an area void of chivalrous males it may be a good investment.

[mlh]

Finding someone to help may not be as hard as you think. I take a laundry basket full to the post office every day. Almost every day someone will see me coming and either go back or wait for me and hold the door. I’m always amazed at the kindness they show. There are wonderful people everywhere.
Lynwood

[jimcol]

Getting the empty tanks out is not too bad. Before I bought and hauled that contraption around I'd pay someone to hoist the full tank for me if I couldn't do it myself. You have two tanks. Start with both full and only one tank turned on. When it goes empty turn the other one on to get you back in service. From there you can experience what it is like to remove, get it filled, and try to place it back in the rig. May not be as difficult as you think, but if it is you can then explore alternatives.

[Daryles]

I am curious how much the lift itself weighs. I did not see the specs in the webpage.

[Dave W]

"Lite weight steel" is all the ad says but would expect that it's maybe 20 pounds.


I would be more concerned how well this thing rolled at a 'normal' campground with a kinda uneven and maybe rutted surface or gravel base with those pretty small wheels. How hard would it be to push or would it bend and flop, using more effort then it would to lift that full ~55 pound 7.5 gallon bottle (40 pound, 9.4 gallon weighs ~72 pounds full.


If something is too heavy or bulky, the former football player now high school coach helps me - a propane tank isn't too heavy - yet.


(Oh and this company also makes horse saddle lifts)

[Theunz]

Better wheels would make moving it on rough ground much easier, and it’s always easier to pull then ouch on rough ground. I would think that getting help at any campground would be easy, but if boondocking or if set up on your property it could be of great use.

[Photomonjax]

I would bet that before you spend a toatal of $430.00 you could find a genlelman that would be more than happy to replace your tank. Besides that it looks like it could weigh around 20-30 lbs and would be bulkey to store in a camper. Good Luck.

[bigred715]

Too expensive, takes up too much space in storage. When I can't put tanks away we will probably quit traveling.

[WeBeFulltime]

I would be really concerned with the cheap plastic and small/skinny wheels and tires. Are you always parked on a hard paved surface or are you also on grass or dirt? Should have wider and more robust tires and wheels especially at that price!

[Wiesehan]

I’ve seen several good suggestions here but one I didn’t see was switch to composite tanks. I use to sell them and have been using them for years. They weigh less full than the steel ones weigh empty. You can probably find 20 and 30 pound ones on the internet. Good luck.

[Pathfinder75]

That contraption looks like a lot of work to me, and stability don't look any better.
30 pound" tank weighs about 25-28 pounds empty. Propane 4.125 lb. gal. x 7.5 gallons about 55-58 pounds or so FULL.
I expect the 26 lb. empty tank removal is doable but putting 56 lb. back in is at your limit. I agree find a ground host or neighbor to lend a hand.
If able time your propane fills while in route. Some places like Tractor Supply charge by the gallon rather than flat rate so fill even if half empty and ask attendant to assist lifting tank.
At over $300 cost could pay lots of tips to attendant to lend a hand. Best thing is you would not be towing that contraption with you. I see a slip accident with that deal. A little red wagon (blue tote maybe) would serve better as dolly to haul tank from truck to trailer if that is your thinking
Just my thoughts. G & S Russell; Plenty of gentlemen here in Texas that would give you a hand, I'm from Illinois also think there is a few this way also.

[mtlakejim]

Speaking of dollies. I believe it was Harbor Freight or maybe Home Depot where I bought an extremely handy and compact folding dolly. It folds flat but pops open real easy and has extending handle similar to rolling luggage but with larger wheels. Its not super duty for heavy or large appliances but anything under 100 lbs should be fine on it I would think.

[margerush]

I have to agree with the above comments. The herculift sounds and looks like a good idea, but I doubt it could safely carry, move/roll, hold & place a heavy 40# propane cylinder in the compartment. I use a campground that sells propane on site. They usually have a long hose, so all I have to do is drive the monty up to propane tanks & they fill them. My tanks don't have to be removed or anything.
I need help getting my 70# battery in & out of that skinny front compartment. I've been known to hook my truck up to Monty and travel 20 miles to Camping World to have battery replaced.

[DCB]

Many of you echoed my own misgivings and thoughts about the contraption! Interesting idea about the composite tanks, Weisehan! I’ll have to check into that.