Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

Ok I will be the one to bite?

Always carry the bottle upright. If you carry it side ways, you'll lose gas. I carry my 3kg bottle in the cargo space from a safety aspect I believe its recommended to carry on the roof.

Why would it lose gas when on its side? surely gas fuel tanks are fitted to vehicles on their side and what about vehicles that have the gas fuel tank sitting in the rear cargo compartment of 4Wdrives :?

Myself personally don't like carrying gas cylinders in the vehicle so I carry my spare 4.5kg that we use for the hot water shower laying on its side in the tool box of the trailer (won't fit standing upright) and I haven't lost any gas yet :? :?

[Steve & Sandra Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve & Sandra]

Under no circumstance should gas bottles be stored in any position except upright. This is paramount, In the event of a leak, LPG quickly vaporises and dissipates (the liquid will expand 270 times it's volume as vapour) Allowing the liquid to sit on the valve is a definite no no.A LPG tank is only filled to a maximum of 80% of its capacity. The remaining space is vapor, under pressure, that changes based on the temperature of the liquid. If the vapor pressure becomes high enough, the pressure relief valve will begin to release LPG vapor into the atmosphere rather than subjecting the tank construction to forces over the design pressures of the tank. If the pressure relief valve is in contact with liquid, it will not operate properly and over-pressurize the tank. This is the condition created when LPG tanks, not designed to be
stored or operated in this fashion, are stored upside-down or on their side.
Cheers
Steve

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Well said Steve.

Tanks that are designed to be used on their side have the gas take off in an appropriate position. Use and store LPG bottles only as intended.

If you have ever seen an LPG bottle on fire you will treat them more carefully. I think in Queensland you are only allowed to carry one 2 or 2.5kg bottle inside the car. Even then plastic plugs or bungs are a good idea.

The issue of carrrying bottles on their sides really bugs me. It came up on a recent trip where two other vehicles stored 4.5g bottles sideways in the back of their cars.

And by the way the wife saw a car in the village on Sunday with two 9kg bottles (on their sides) loose on the back seat. It was a Volvo; nuff said.

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

I wouldnt rely on those plastic bungs to do much gas leak prevention.
Think they are more to do with keeping dust and mud wasps out than keeping gas in.

[Tonytbts Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tonytbts]

...And by the way the wife saw a car in the village on Sunday with two 9kg bottles (on their sides) loose on the back seat. It was a Volvo; nuff said.

A leak and a spark on the way home, and now that Volvo would look like a kombi van...

cheers, Tony

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

Hi all
I have been watching this thread and though i might some fact and thoughs on this subject seen that the article has been mentioned.
The story re gas explosion at Nth Ryde is a distressing subject but also a warning to me.It involve a great bloke that i had known from school and also as a fellow plumber who i worked with at various times.It was a incident that i attended very soon after the explosion.
The exploding car was a hiace van which had a sealed type cargo barrier, the assumed source of the explosion was a small 3/4 kg primas bottle that may have been refilled the evening before and may have been leaking.There where oxy/accetylene bottles in the van but these suffered no damage just became missles.It is though that the explosion did occur on opening the door [maybe interior light being the ignition ].
The comment by i think Nige that there would be other stuff to block any gas bottle or explosion [i think that what was meant] will help when carrying LPG ! This van was a fully fitted out plumbers truck including roof racks with ladder and 4" copper tube, the net result was a basic floor pan sitting on 4 wheels all contents where scattered over the surrounding suburbs,roof racks complete with ladder in the street behind at the top of a tree, the van panels in the house.NOTHING was going to stop the resulting explosion.
Let me tell you that i would never carry lpg in a car, but if you where to i would not leave it in a car for any long period.Carrying on the roof is an option but this also bothers me,but if i do i will surround it with a swag . I usually tow a camper now so the gas does not become a issue.Venting a storage compartment through the floor would be an answer but who is going to cut holes in the floor of our Prados!
Thanks
Russell

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

This issue troubled me years ago when we started camping out the back of an old Magna, and external storage wasnt possible.

I went to a LPG specialist (Maxbuilt Trading here in Adelaide) and asked them to make me a gas tight cap which screws to the reverse thread on the top of the bottle.

This cap stays on the bottle permanently until i want to use it, the el-cheapo pliers in the tool kit of the Prado are perfect for taking it on and off.

I test this cap and all the other possible leak points with a spray of soapy water every now and then.

Now that we have the Prado and roof racks the gas always goes on top, as others have stated, its damn dangerous stuff.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Opposite Lock have a solution with their Rackmaster roof rack system:
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/



Apparently they also have jerry can holders.

[GXLMatt06 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GXLMatt06]

I took a 4kg gas bottle to be refilled at a camping store this week and the guy behind the counter told me I wasn't permitted to carry the gas bottle inside the car unless I had a cap for the top of the bottle, and that doing so was against the law.

I quizzed him about what he was talking about and he produced a black plastic threaded cap which screws onto the top of your gas bottle (available in various sizes and threads to suit) and tightens securely with a screwdriver or similar.

They cost $1 each, and I subsequently bought two (one for my other bottle).

I tested the cap by turning the valve on and no gas leaked out. When I released the cap the small amount of gas did escape then, so I was satisfied that it worked effectively.

The store I got the caps from was a "Downunder Camping" store in Brisbane, but I imagine any camping or outdoor store that sells/regases bottles would stock them.

Regards
Matt.

[pradofreak Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradofreak]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

Great thread and a real Eye opener safety issue

just thought I make a couple of points

GAS is dangerous stuff , here a few ideas of getting around some safety issues

I know of one fella who install a gas vapour warning dectector with a soft siren fitted under the bonnet ( loud enough to hear if you were approx within 5 metres of the car but not loud enough as a car alarm

2. for argument sake get roof racks and install on the roof ( the risk of serious injury or explousion is way up there and then again its illegal to carry in vehicle, I have heard of a case where Insurance refuse a 4wd claim due to the gas bottle was inside fitted of vehicle ( vehicle was involved in a accidient and bottle flew from back through middle of front windscreen even through bottle only cause the damage windscreen but not the accidient,

3 Why not get a Kerosone stove or Fliud stove , no pressure and very low risk factors but can smell if not careful with Liquid and its cheap to use

4 whirly bird or air vents does nothing to minmise explousion risk in car as LPG or Propane gas is heavier than air there fore doesnt rise out of the vent ( it may reduce gas pressure inside vehicle but not hazard risk )

5 sign your Will over to me if you plan on carrying the gas bottle in your vehicle !!!

ha
Have a Good weekend !!

[tileys Member Find all posts View Profile Close tileys]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

I've had a problem with ATMs blowing up when my Audi RS4 is parked nearby even with the bootlid open...you've got to be careful with those gas bottles...

But seriously though - it makes you wonder...I've driven back from a servo with a 9kg buy and swap bottle for the bbq rolling around in the back of the car. That thing probably contains enough gas to take out a row of houses :shock: I've even got one of those gas refills, (like an aerosol) for the single burner stove, in my wardrobe I think...I might go and put it somewhere else - like in the garage.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

I've had a problem with ATMs blowing up when my Audi RS4 is parked nearby even with the bootlid open...you've got to be careful with those gas bottles...

ROFL :lol: :lol: :lol:

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

I like the look of the opposite lock unit. Very sturdy.

Rhino rack also have one.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

I have one of the Rhino gas bottle webbing straps for the roof racks. Works great, BUT have a look at the gas bottle they have designed it for; I have 3 X 4kg gas bottles, and none of them are that profile. All are squatter with a wider neck at the top, hence the bridle will not go around the neck. Still works by putting it through the carry handle. Feel much better with the bottle on the roof. :roll: Not sure where they got the bottle they designed their strap from. Maybe O/S?

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

Coleman dual fuel stove, using coleman fuel, more BTU's than pretty much any lpg stove, works the same at altitude, works on cold desert mornings, and using the Coleman fuel, doesnt have the possibility of turning your vehicle into a roofless rice bubble when you open the door.

You can also start a wet wood fire with some "woof wood" [fuel from the stove] bit harder to do that with lpg. [I like everything I carry to have at least 2 uses :mrgreen: ]

LPG expansion rate means it is flammable and an explosion risk, and from memory with 27 times expansion, 1 lt lpg = 270lt explosive gas when in the atmosphere, or inside your vehicle.

Coleman fuel can be stored in a proper container, the stove container is also good, and they are very efficient also.