How to carry LPG gas tanks

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

How to carry LPG gas tanks

Eaglemax · Guru

LPG storage laws have tightened depending on the state. They should not be stored in enclosed spaces unless dedicated to that purpose eg inside cars (empty or full) 9kg and under is ok if disconnected to a burner, kept upright and safety cap on., Rooftop on a rack is ok but best clamped onto a proper cylinder clamp.

Heat is ok, dont worry about them getting too hot. Many in utes are exposed to the sun all day as are huge cylinders at service stations

Tony

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 5th of October 2023 11:46:27 AM

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

So I should be fine with one 1.25kg on the roof and one in the car.
So long as they are properly straped/clamped

I cook outside and disconnect the cooker every trip. I even turn off the tank tap and burn off the extra gas if leaving the cooker out overnight just in case it gets knocked over. And of course I have a fire extinguisher near when cooking

SoloMC · Senior Member

No! You can't travel with a cylinder INSIDE any vehicle. Get a bracket and fit it outside

Eaglemax · Guru

SoloMC wrote:
No! You can't travel with a cylinder INSIDE any vehicle. Get a bracket and fit it outside

Then the following could be incorrect. There are sites that contradict this so to the OP, best to google and trace your states regulations.

https://www.snowys.com.au/blog/carrying-and-storing-water-gas-fuel-when-4wd-touring/

LPG

LPG should be kept on your roof rack if possible, or on your trailer, but small canisters are okay inside the vehicle as long as they are removed from the burner, kept secure, upright, with their safety caps on and away from high temperatures.

Our best LPG storage option was a quick-release holder for a 4kg bottle that we bolted onto the roof racks. If it leaks, everyone is safe, and its easy to undo and set up at each camp. A lot of people use a milk crate on the roof racks with the bottle tied down nice and securely too.

If you are going to carry LPG inside your vehicle, take a minute to read the rules within your state. Most suggest anything under 9kg is okay if you take the relevant precautions, but its a risk I think people should avoid unless there is no other way.

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 5th of October 2023 04:23:28 PM

Are We Lost · Guru

SoloMC wrote:
No! You can't travel with a cylinder INSIDE any vehicle. Get a bracket and fit it outside

Of course you can. How else would someone with a car get them refilled? Permanently is a different story. So, Wannabe, the answer is no. Sure, it will probably be OK, but maybe one time there is a small leak. Not worth considering other than for a short term transporting.

Eaglemax beat me posting details. Here is a link from Elgas.

Elgas - transporting gas cylinders

The relevant part .... "Gas cylinders should not be left in vehicles for longer than is necessary, and make sure you put them somewhere in the car that you wont forget about them"

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Thursday 5th of October 2023 04:28:38 PM

Dick0 · Guru

The best way to carry gas tanks is... when you get to Bunnings hold each tank in each arm and shuffle from your vehicle to the gas exchange and vice versa. biggrin

Cuppa · Guru

Cylinders on the roof & very full could potentially vent if they get too hot, but if they do there is no danger out there in the open air. Yes they can vent in the heat, we have had that occur before, but probably only because it had been overfilled when re-filled. It was outside & took ages to work out why we kept getting occasional whiffs of gas. Just assumed it was the bottles on our van's drawbar & a leaking hose or similar, but soapy water failed to turn anything up.

However if they get hot & vent inside an enclosed space (ie. inside the car) just one spark (from a switch?) could result in a deadly explosion. The risk is low, but potentially fatal.

Fitting a cylinder outside should not be at the front or the rear of the car as there is also risk of explosion in the event of an accident. Some vehicles can carry them outside the car but within the cars perimeter, so protected from impact. We have one bolted to the chassis of our ute, underneath the tray behind a rear wheel, (the overfilled one which vented) but you don't have that ability with your car unfortunately.

Really the only safe place to carry cylinders in your car would be on the roof.

Legally it may be a different story, which could vary from state to state. I believe some states allow a single cylinder below a certain capacity to be carried within the confines of a car, but this is pragmatic approach which although allowed is not recommended.

-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 5th of October 2023 05:56:45 PM

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

It was reading the above mentioned Snowys then elgas links that confused me and made me panic, and I've been travelling all along with my tank inside the car.

I think I'm leaning towards having to have two 1.25kgs tanks on the roof, but I will probably have to have the brackets custom made as the tanks are smaller than standard brackets. I should be able get tanks that small down myself.

I'm going to have to get help putting a decent fire extinguisher in the front of my car anyway as I've realised that the small one in the back of the car will be useless and too far away if I have and engine fire.
I was going to buy the bracket that attaches under the passenger seat, but realised in an emergency I would not have the strength or manual dexterity to get it out quickly. Unfortunately I can't put it behind the drivers or passenger seat because they will be laid down flat with bed extra on.
I guess it's time to spend a little money and get these two saftey issues sorted properly. As my next trip is going to be over 13000kms. Not just a weekend away, or filling up the home BBQ tank
Thanks
Everyone for your thoughts on this matter

Whenarewethere · Guru

A lot of the tie down brackets on the internet are ratchet straps. So as long as you have some form of base plate on the crossbars (a length of timber will do) then you can simply tie down to that. Keep it simple.

TimTim · Guru

Hi Wannabe,

Firstly, organisations will always take the higher ground. How many gas run many vehicles had their gas tanks in the boot I know I saw many taxis that did. You are not breaking any legislation having gas cylinders that size in your vehicle.

You can smell LPG and you are not sleeping in the vehicle with it. If I was in your position I would happily store them upright in the back of my vehicle whilst travelling. Dont leave them in the vehicle during the heat of the day even though you will not be in it.

As for carrying a fire extinguisher to put out an engine fire I would not bother. Firstly, the weight of a suitable a fire extinguisher sounds like it would be too heavy for you. Secondly you need to reach the seat of the fire to be able to extinguish it and opening the bonnet presents a greater danger to you. The chances of you having an engine fire in a modern vehicle is extremely minimal.

Similarly, when cooking there is generally minimal risk in having a fire although on a recent trip that actually happened with our 20yld gas cooker. It was much quicker and easier to turn the gas off at the bottle than it was to run to get a fire extinguisher.

Good luck

Tim

Radar · Guru

TimTim wrote:
Hi Wannabe,
Firstly, organisations will always take the higher ground. How many gas run many vehicles had their gas tanks in the boot I know I saw many taxis that did. You are not breaking any legislation having gas cylinders that size in your vehicle.
You can smell LPG and you are not sleeping in the vehicle with it. If I was in your position I would happily store them upright in the back of my vehicle whilst travelling. Dont leave them in the vehicle during the heat of the day even though you will not be in it.
As for carrying a fire extinguisher to put out an engine fire I would not bother. Firstly, the weight of a suitable a fire extinguisher sounds like it would be too heavy for you. Secondly you need to reach the seat of the fire to be able to extinguish it and opening the bonnet presents a greater danger to you. The chances of you having an engine fire in a modern vehicle is extremely minimal.
Similarly, when cooking there is generally minimal risk in having a fire although on a recent trip that actually happened with our 20yld gas cooker. It was much quicker and easier to turn the gas off at the bottle than it was to run to get a fire extinguisher.
Good luck
Tim

Hi Tim

To me, you made some very simple recommendations.

Well done.

erad · Guru

Tim made, in opinion, the most practical response to the original question. The portable gas cylinders are well made, and have good protection for the outlet valve. The greatest danger from a portable gas bottle is if there is a collision, the bottle can become a projectile inside the car. The bottle is unlikely to leak gas, Tims comment about gas tanks inside cars is not quite right. The gas tanks for LPG vehicles all have their outlet valves in a sealed box, and a large venting to the underside of the car. There is no comparison to carrying portable gas bottles. The Spirit of Tasmania requires all Le gas bottles be carried in a special trolley which is parked in a well ventilated area. Yet they allow LPG vehicles on board without requiring the driver outlet to be closed.

Are We Lost · Guru

A good point about the difference between taxi tanks and portable bottles, erad.

My concern is when you get the portable ones refilled. If there is just a speck of something preventing a good seal when the bleed valve is screwed shut, or it is not tightened enough, then a weep of gas is possible. Carried short term this would not usually be a problem, but if left in the car it could. Also, if overfilled, and in closed hot car maybe it will vent a little.

As for smelling it, even a sealed gas bottle still has an aroma. In the small space of a car that would be noticeable. But once you become accustomed to that aroma on a daily basis your senses become immune to it.

Craig1 · Guru

Maybe get a simple box to cover in the boot, siutably restrained. There would also be a grommet somewhere in the floor to create a downward vent pipe I reckon.

StormCamper · Member

A little bit of common sense goes a long way, if doing things with some basic safety the risk of danger is overhyped, like static igniting vapors. Bad things usually happen because of a careless mistake or even a few in a row.

Trying to implement too much safety can easily backfire causing more issues than good. For example anything inside like a fire extinguisher can become a deadly projectile in an accident, all the while being quite useless for an engine fire.

Cooking fires are easy, as all one has to do is remove the fuel and the flames go out, its hard for the fire to become dangerous as oxygen can't make its way into the hose fittings and bottle.

The usual advice for in car travel is:

Only use your own bottle no more than 10yrs old, the bottles corrode from inside and you cant notice easy, avoid the swap places they are a magnet for trouble, anything public is just a way for the tyrant system to undermine one's life.

Use a metal cork to seal the valve shut.

maybe carry in a airtight bag, any leak will be obvious as the bag will burst open from the pressure built up.

make sure its not going to become a deadly projectile in a collision, so cargo barrier is a good idea.

This is where induction cooking really comes in. A single portable hob 1800watt for a two person might draw 60-80amp hours every 24hours with fairly big meals. Sounds like alot, but with a 40amp dc dc charger and constant driving it can be easily covered by the alternator.