11# pancake style tank

[jwhjr]

I'm posting this in the Ice Fishing forum vs. the Equipment since there's been a lot of traffic in here as of late... I've had no luck locating one as of yet. The closest I've come to finding one is at Fleet Farm, but it was the taller style 11# tank. Where else would have them? I keep adding more and more stuff to drag around in my portable, and I'm trying to cut weight since I have to drag it around by hand. I've searched the forums and Menards was listed, but they didn't have any either when I checked. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[GatorBait]

I have to laugh at this. I've been desperately searching for one myself since last year. I swear people are on a notification list when the stores get them. Fleet I know has them, if you can get one when they have them. I would suggest Lowe's,Home Depot,Farm n Fleet also, but I can't confirm because I can't find one.

[ilovehardwater]

I seen them at c&s supply in Mankato. BT

[munchy71]

These are going to keep getting harder & harder to find, because they started requiring the OPD on LP tanks. The pancake tanks aren't tall enough to fit an OPD device inside AND still allow for a usable "height" of fuel in the tank at the same time.

-Munchy

[Reynolds]

They had them at Gander Mountain in Lakeville a couple of weeks ago. I personally didn't buy one though as I was looking for the taller version of the 11lb tank. These small tanks cost about twice as much as a 20lb tank. Be expected to shell out $45.

[jwhjr]

They do have the taller version of the 11# at Fleet Farm. I think it was around $40.

[LMITOUT]

Cabela's had both when I bought the taller 11lb tank a few years ago. I was trying to decide between the two and went with the taller since it takes up a little less floor space in my Otter sled. Had a gift card otherwise the $40 would have been tough to swallow.

[maxx rpm]

I have a pancake type tank, but would rather have the tall one with the opd deal in it so it is easier to get filled.

[jwhjr]

Am I missing something? A couple of you have referenced the pancake 11# not having the OPD on it, but the ones I find online all reference having it. I thought that the refillable ones couldn't be manufactured anymore with out the OPD (since 2002 or something like that).

[Jeremy airjer W]

They started manufacturing most tanks with OPD valves back in 97 or 99 in preparation for the for the April 1, 2002 deadline. The tanks size makes no difference as far as the valve is concerned. Everything from 5 to 45 pounds has to have them and will have them if there where produced after 2002.

The only difference between the old valve and the OPD valve is the OPD valve has an automatic shutoff that is connected to a float that is anchored to the bottom of the valve. The float is calibrated to trip the valve and shut off the flow of propane into the tank when the capacity reaches 80% + or -.

[munchy71]

Exactly! The size of the tank doens't matter, but the SHAPE does. The pancake tanks are too "short" for the float of the OPD to work. That's why the pancake tanks are getting harder to find. Just had the same discussion with a tech @ Cenex this spring....

-Munchy

[Glenn_S]

Not true. I have a pancake 11#er, and it has the OPD. Bought it at Fleet Farm last year.

At that time, they had at least 30 on the shelf.

Glenn

[Jeremy airjer W]

No! All the newer Pancakes have the OPD valve including my 11# which I purchased years ago as well as the many pancakes 11 - 14# that I fill on a regular basis and they are all functioning as intended. Either you where miss informed or misunderstood but there is no problem with an OPD valve functioning in a pancake style tank.

My guess as to why you cant find them has two reasons. They are not as popular as a twenty pound and consequently less of them are produced which makes for less of them on the shelf for consumers. The other is they have gained in popularity in the last couple of years raising the demand for them.

[jwhjr]

Thanks airjer, your explanation and examples seem to confirm what I thought was the case. My hunt for the elusive 11# pancake continues...

[redbandit]

I was at the new Gander in Blaine last weekend and saw a handfull of them there.

[jwhjr]

Thanks to all who responded. I finally found one at the Gander in Woodbury.

[hanson]

I have 2 shorty 11 pounders and they both have OPD valves in them, they both fill to capacity as well.

In the next month or so, these tanks should be available everywhere as stores start putting out more and more icefishing stuff. I bought mine at Gander Mt.

[ripstick]

I like the pancake style over the tall on not as tippy.

[Bigbartguy]

Gander should have them, if not now then soon. I picked one up last year - after struggling w/ paying $45 for one. I finally bit the bullet

[Crickschop04]

Got luck at a garage sale this summer and found one for $5 also picked up a Coleman Duel-fuel for the same price.

[Shack]

I have saved my pancake style, they do not have the opd valve. I have heard of people buying this valve and intalling is on none OPD tanks. This is why I have saved my tanks. They are like brand new. Plus I have a local store that, Ah I better not say. One can refill from a twenty pounder or a hundered also.

Good luck!