Thoughts on a 20lb bottle vs having a bunch of small ones?

[slomatt]

One thing I should note about the 1lb refillable bottles is that it's useful to have a system to quickly know how much is left. When I get them I put two small pieces of blue tape on the lid, then when I start using the tank I remove one piece, and when it's empty I remove the other piece. This way when I leave on a trip I don't end up grabbing a bunch of 1/2 used tanks and it makes it easy to remember which I need to exchange.

 

[Tundracamper]

For those of you not using the 1 lb or 20 lb tanks, do you have issues getting refills? When I had an RV, I swapped out the 30 lb tanks for 20 lb just so I could swap them out at most gas stations or major retailers. It was becoming a real pain to find someone to refill a tank, even in my local town. While I don’t use that much overlanding (just for cooking and showers), the inconvenience of finding a place to refill a 5 lb bottle is enough to keep me using 1 lb bottles as many major retailers keep them on the shelves.

 

[Berkshires]

For those of you not using the 1 lb or 20 lb tanks, do you have issues getting refills? When I had an RV, I swapped out the 30 lb tanks for 20 lb just so I could swap them out at most gas stations or major retailers. It was becoming a real pain to find someone to refill a tank, even in my local town. While I don’t use that much overlanding (just for cooking and showers), the inconvenience of finding a place to refill a 5 lb bottle is enough to keep me using 1 lb bottles as many major retailers keep them on the shelves.

I have never had a problem filling my 5 lb tank anywhere in the country - I did have one women at tractor supply say “what a cute little tank.”

 

[Downs]

We carry two 1 lb bottles - one to use, one spare. When the "in use' bottle runs out, we buy another one (haven't been able to find anyone who will refill these).

I do the same thing. 2 bottes, One in use one spare. In use one is marked with a sharpie "use first", pick up another one when we use the spare next time were in a town for gas.

You're not going to find someone to refill the disposable ones because it's illegal. You'll have to do it yourself using an adapter a tank stand (or the edge of a table) and a larger tank. Honestly the cost of the Flame King system is pretty reasonable.

 

[M Rose]

For those of you not using the 1 lb or 20 lb tanks, do you have issues getting refills? When I had an RV, I swapped out the 30 lb tanks for 20 lb just so I could swap them out at most gas stations or major retailers. It was becoming a real pain to find someone to refill a tank, even in my local town. While I don’t use that much overlanding (just for cooking and showers), the inconvenience of finding a place to refill a 5 lb bottle is enough to keep me using 1 lb bottles as many major retailers keep them on the shelves.

No problems filling here... I know of at least 6 stations within walking distance from me to fill them... and I’m in a small rural town...

 

[Truckee]

No issue filling a 5lb tank however, I've come across some places that have a minimum service cost.... like $10 or so.

 

[PRyan1878]

I like to carry my 4.5LB and a couple of 1LB tanks . I also have an adapter to fill the 1LB from the 4.5 a well as a splitter with 2 propane hoses in case I am using the Weber BabyQ and the Coleman stove. For the extended trip this summer I am bringing a 20LB tank mounted on my Ruger trailer.

 

[Johnnyblender]

We carry a 5lb bottle.