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Moving Propane Tank

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I can buy a 500 gallon underground propane tank that is 20% full. It has never been buried and is not in the ground now. I only need a 250 gallon tank, but I have not seen underground tanks for sale often here. It would have to be moved about 20 miles to my home. My neighbor has a 4wd Kubota wih a loader that is about 45 horse power and is about 15 years old. Will that loader lift it on a trailer? Would it be safe for traveling to put the tank crosswise on the front of the trailer, so that the tractor can fit on the rest of the trailer? I am concerned about the propane sloshing from one side of the tank to the other. We would be sure to balance the weight so that more weight is on the front of the trailer. Any help you can give me is appreciated.
 
Propane weighs 4.24 pounds per gallon, so it is fairly light. If it is a 500 gallon tank which is 20% full, then the propane only weighs about 400 pounds. I doubt that much will even be felt sloshing about.
 
Liquid propane weighs slightly more than 4 pounds per gallon so 100 gallons is about 415 pounds. The tank probably weighs less than a 1000 pounds but even if it weighed 1500 that would only be a ton and the loader ought to lift it, or pick up one end and back the trailer under it, set that end down and pick up the back and keep coming. LP gas is very stable for hauling and sloshing around etc. If I hauled the tractor and tank together I would back the tractor onto the trailer to make sure there was no chance of puncturing the tank with the loader.
 
I don't think it would be legal to haul it unless you have a hazmat license. You might even need a special truck to do it? I don't know. It might to more legal if you hired a propane co to do it.
 
It's gonna surprise ya how heavy those suckers can get.

Depends on how long it's been in use. Propane naturally settles out what I call "propane mud". It's that stuff that gives off the ugly smell when the tank gets low.

Anyway, that "mud" is heavy and a tank that has been in use for a number of years will weigh way, way more than a new empty tank.

I'd sure plan on making two trips.

Allan
 
Probably, if the tractor has loaded tires and/or some type of rear ballast.

A few years ago, I moved my 500 gallon above ground tank, which I had purposely allowed to become empty.

I used my Ford 860 and boom pole to move it and it was all it would do to slide it across the ground even though the tractor has front weights and I used the short hook on the boom pole.

The above ground tank probably weighs around 500 lbs. I expect that a below ground tank weighs considerably more.

Be advised that the lifting hooks welded to propane tanks are intended only to lift empty tanks. As your tank is not empty, you should have slings long enough to lift the tank from below.

Dean
 
going to have to agree with you,

I know from experience a missing valve cap off a tire on gas tanker cost me $125.00 -- 15 years ago.

Let hazmat people do it that far , would be cheaper than fines and the fact they could deadline it on the spot and bring their own company in to move it off the road. then you'd have to pay twice and fines to do the same job.
 
It's illegal to haul it with propane in it.When you get it moved they probably won't fill it unless you bury it and pay around 150 for a leak test.
 
It is quite illegal to move a tank with propane in in in any state I know of.

When empty, you can move it in most states.

--->Paul
 
Forgot - be sure to get a bill of sale from the owner. Many many tanks are leased, not owned, and it is becoming much more important to have paperwork showing you _own_ the tank to get others to fill it any more.

Totally unfamiliar with buried propane tanks here in MN, perhaps due to the frost levels, so don't know much about that.

--->Paul
 
a friend of mine died as result of propane tank that caught fine when he moved it.
read the Sun Farmer this book is about Ted Fink; was written by wife about his accident and life after it.
talk to your lp supplier about moving the tank and let them do it!!!!!!!!!!
 
I work in the industry in Duluth,Mn. I can tell you that you should hire somebody that knows what they are doing to do this for you. A ASME propane tank can only be hauled with 5% or less without a special permit which most propane company"s have. You still need to have a haz-mat endorsement unless you purge the tank with a inert gas. It then must be installed by a certified tech according to NFPA 58 and tested annually thereafter for corrosion. I could really go on with this so I"ll leave it at if you have any questions email me and I will give you all the info you want.
 
Thanks for the information. I haven't bought it and will find out if any suppliers here move tanks. I may have to pass on this one. I want to own my own tank so as not to pay tank rent and the high propane prices that go along with it.
 
I think you are making the wise choice. No use gambling with your life over saving a few bucks on propane. I'd sure hate to have a propane tank chained on a tractor and it start leaking. Talk about being tied to a bomb, you cant run far enough and fast enough. When I had propane heat I paid what they charged, kind of like that guy Im paying to set post holes in rock.... I could probably still wire a set of charges, and my blasting license is old enough that its a lifetime one, but I've already ruined one leg in a farm accident, no use losing anything else over a few dollars. I know that I'd gladly give a million dollars if it were here to give to have all my pieces parts back like they were.
 
I'm going to say, "It's a bomb. There are times in life when you can do something yourself, and times when you should hire a professional. Moving tractors, do it yourself. Moving bombs, hire a professional."
 
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