Extend Your Stay!
Whether you’re just out for the weekend, travelling from park to park, or living the RV lifestyle full-time, nobody wants to break down and interrupt camp just to head into town to fill up their onboard propane tank. And down here in southwest Florida it seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find mobile propane services that will come out to your site for a fill and it really doesn’t matter if your resort is out in the sticks or back in town.
Surprisingly, many folks have never heard of what is commonly referred to as an “Extend-A-Stay.” Basically it’s just a simple brass tee-fitting that connects in-line between your existing ASME tank in your motor home and your system regulator. The 4-Port fitting below allows you to easily hook up an auxiliary DOT cylinder such as the 20lb cylinder you normally use for BBQ and “extend” the available propane for your coach. Just bring an extra cylinder or two and no need to worry about running for extra gas or running out of hot showers during your stay!
On Amazon: Camco 59125 Propane Brass Tee with 5′ Hose
Of course there are many versions and brands of these devices available and the one illustrated here is but one example. This particular model is made by Camco and is available on Amazon. This model is usually what we recommend to folks since it’s a recognizable and dependable brand and it provides ports to connect two additional lines, enabling the use of not only a DOT cylinder but also a separate grill if you so choose. It also comes with it’s own five foot high pressure hose.
Installation & Testing
These are easy enough to install with a few wrenches but once installed be sure to spray some soapy water on all the connections to ensure there are no propane leaks. If there is a leak, just tightening up those threaded connections typically takes care of it. However, if the leak is coming from a crimp connection on the included hose itself, the entire hose will need to be replaced with another high pressure hose. Be sure that you DO NOT use any type of thread tape on the flared connections. If you did, it could actually cause the connections to leak!
It should only take about twenty or so minutes to install and it’s usually not too much trouble for RV owners to handle on their own. If however, you’re still unsure or would just feel more comfortable having one installed by a certified RV technician you can always give us a call. Just make sure whoever it is you call is properly licensed in the state of Florida to handle LP gas systems and components. And if you’d like to be sure that you are hiring a properly licensed company you can easily search using the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumers Services website (FDACS) here. Better to be safe than sorry!
Happy camping & Happy Holidays!
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