Filling 5# tanks

[Marmot]

Cabela's sells the adapter to refill 1# disposable propane tanks. I think it has been settled that everyone agrees to disagree on refilling these 1#ers.

My question: I have a 100# tank at home and like to use my 5# tank in the portable. The Mr. Heater seems to put a pretty good dent in the 5# and I often find myself without gas while fishing. It is inconvenient and somewhat expensive to continually get the 5#er refilled.

It is possible and wise to use that adapter from Cabela's to refill my 5# tank? I am assuming I would need a hose to connect the 5# and 100# tanks. Is there enough pressure in the 100#er to fill the 5#er? Is the adapter even needed?

I have a feeling it is nearly impossible to fill the 5#er myself, but thought I would check with the FM knowledge base.

[LODFFB]

I have filled my 5# tank at work with our 500# tank. A few of our fork lifts use Propane, there is a hose and an adapter you have to use then open the bleeder and Wait and Wait the bigger tanks are worse but if its cold out its like watching Ice grow. Slow but you cant pass up the Bennies when it spits out the bleeder close everything down and you have fuel.

[Marmot]

Is it a regular propane hose like the one that connects a propane tank to a Mr. Heater?

Where do you get the adapter from?

[Wanderer]

Call around to the sporting goods stores to see who carries them. If I remember correctly, I thought I would find one for sure at Northern Tool but was told they don't carry them for liability reasons(?)

I believe I found one at Sportsman's Warehouse but this was about 3 years ago.

For your tanks: Temperature and pressure are ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS related. This means you'll fill easier if your supply tank is warmer (room temp) than the receiving tank (freezer or cold outside). Also, the more full the supply tank is (percentage wise), the more pressure it has.

I used a refrigeration scale to measure the amount I put into a tank. Be careful. Propane isn't safe as water. If you haven't read anything about it, please do.

Yes, you need the adapter and a hose is worth every dime.

[Surface Tension]

You need a hose with two nozzles. The tank your filling from will need a drop tube inside which you won't have. Or the Bulk tank will need to be inverted(unside down).

Thats because you fill with liquid not vapor.

Heres where I go on to say unless you know what your doing don't do it.

A propane tank should never be filled over 80%.

How are you going to know when that is, if you don't have a scale you won't know and you'll overfill. An overfilled tank will sure as the day is long will blow off propane if its overfilled.

[Marmot]

OPD on 5#er won't protect me from over filling?

Yea...I might not know what I am doing, so I hear you on leaving this beast alone.

[DzNuts]

Maybe even find a filter to put in line from the 100 to 5 pounder. Might help you out in the end.

[rumeye]

Just get a 20lber and call it a day.

[Marmot]

20#er is too heavy and too big

I drag around by hand a Clam 4600. There is only so much room for gear...auger, Vex, sometimes a lantern, 5-gallon pail/bait, rods, tipups, possibly a scoop shovel, etc... I also need to cram in my Mr. Heater and propane tank.

[MNfan]

Regular propane hose same fitting on both ends. If it is new tank it will not overfill. Must tip 100# over to get liguid as stated earlier. Open bleeder on 5# untill liquid comes out and she is full.

[Powerstroke]

So don't use a 20 lb'r. I use an 11 pound pancake style tank. Its the width of the 20, but half as tall. I don't fish as much as I like, but I never refill more than once a season with my heater/cooker.