Steve Bowman
Well-Known Member
Use the forks with two nylon straps - easy and safer than just using the forks underneath it.
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Safe handling of 500 gallon propane tanks?
- Thread starter digger242j
- Start date
buckfever
Senior Member
We move 100 gallon and 500 gallon ones around all the time. Chain on the lifting eyes and away we go. Moving the 500’s around can be a bit dicey at times
Steve Bowman
Well-Known Member
Why take the chance with a full tank and the dinky lifting eyes? Use straps or some other method to support the tank.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
1,000 propane companies around the country do it on a daily basis. I have never so much as heard a rumor about a failure lifting by the eyes.
We would also stab forks in the feet and move them around that way. Lots of scary leverage there, but it works.
hosspuller
Senior Member
If I carry something on the forks that may roll off and be expensive, I simply chain the it to the fork carriage. Sure … takes a bit of time both on and off. Safety doesn't cost, it pays.
I had a 3/4 full 1000 gallon tank that was leaking from the gauge, the propane company came in with a cherry picker, dropped off a new tank that was 1/3 full and picked up the other one and set it on the truck. small knuckle boom crane, no problem all using the lifting straps.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
No problem on lifting them loaded, but in my state DOT does not allow you to haul a tank on the truck with more than 5% out to the customer and that might be only up to 500 gal. I think that for a 1000 gallon tank that it should be 0%. We could fill out a silly permit to haul a loaded tank back to the yard only where it had to be pumped below 5% before delivery. Again I don't think 1000 gal qualified for this. We would have either brought an empty 1000 and pumped the gas from your tank over into it, or pumped it into a delivery truck. If you haul a tank on the road loaded like this it needs to be supported by saddles and not its own feet. But off road anything goes.
digger242j
Administrator
I talked with the guy from the propane supplier when he was picking up some of the tanks last spring. He said that there were three different types of lifting eyes on their tanks. One of the types was never ever to be used when the tank was full. Another was ok to use if it was no more than half full. The third type was ok to use even when the tank was full. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get pictures of the different types then, and I don't remember which was which. (I could guess though, but I'd prefer to post reliable information.)
If I see somebody this spring I'll get pictures and post them.
In the meantime, on the few occasions I've been asked to move a tank, and the guys have already rigged a chain through the lifting eyes, I've just politely declined, and told them to go get the slings.
If I see somebody this spring I'll get pictures and post them.
In the meantime, on the few occasions I've been asked to move a tank, and the guys have already rigged a chain through the lifting eyes, I've just politely declined, and told them to go get the slings.
Steve Bowman
Well-Known Member
I suppose propane tanks are as varied as the companies that service them.
The "eyes" on my tank clearly state that they are for empty lifting only. The eyes are actually just hoops made from 1/2x1/2 bar stock.
The "eyes" on my tank clearly state that they are for empty lifting only. The eyes are actually just hoops made from 1/2x1/2 bar stock.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
They all "say" that. But the only time we ever used slings was when we had a real oldie that had no lifting eyes at all. And they all have feet, so sometimes 2 sets of cable slings would reach the feet instead. Don't try it with only 1 sling, don't ask how I know this.
This crew didn't seem to have any special permit and used 1 strap tossed over the top of a pretty full 1k gallon tank and down the road they went.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
The silly permit is just a sheet of paper you fill out yourself and are supposed to stick in a drawer and produce if some g-man wants to see it.
But one strap, there is no way no how I would haul any tank any size at any level of fill with only one strap. Pretty sure a 1000 needs three if not four straps, I don't remember now.
But one strap, there is no way no how I would haul any tank any size at any level of fill with only one strap. Pretty sure a 1000 needs three if not four straps, I don't remember now.
Like that old posting that 'if the cargo wants to get off let it go' that might be fine for a load of feathers but not a bomb.
Willie B
Senior Member
I've heard horror stories. Equinox Hotel, biggest in Manchester, EXPENSIVE, was closed for a major renovation. The propane supplier was setting a full tank to be used for temporary heating equipment. They had a trailer built to transport the tank. If I recall, a 1000 gallon tank.
Something broke, one end of the tank dropped. It broke a valve off. I don't recall the source of ignition. It blasted burning propane at the side of the building, setting it afire.
The 200+ year old hotel was two major structures connected with a three story narrow section. They brought an enormous excavator, knocked that down, & were able to save 2/3 of the hotel.
I do NOT move propane tanks bigger than 100 gallon. I want trained personnel, using equipment made for the purpose.
Something broke, one end of the tank dropped. It broke a valve off. I don't recall the source of ignition. It blasted burning propane at the side of the building, setting it afire.
The 200+ year old hotel was two major structures connected with a three story narrow section. They brought an enormous excavator, knocked that down, & were able to save 2/3 of the hotel.
I do NOT move propane tanks bigger than 100 gallon. I want trained personnel, using equipment made for the purpose.
hosspuller
Senior Member
Willie B: I was curious about the Equinox hotel... Internet is great for exploring. looks like the placarded truck in photo is the culprit
From: https://www.manchesterjournal.com/a...cle_2e30101c-ac96-5c02-958e-e85a13929a52.html
From: https://www.manchesterjournal.com/a...cle_2e30101c-ac96-5c02-958e-e85a13929a52.html