Internal propane tanks on 1977 Dodge Champion mini motorhome?

[Indigo Crow Weaver]

Howdi...
The gal i bought the RV from said that the propane tanks were "internal". What does that mean and where do I fill them? I can't seem to find an obvious location on the RV to fill the tanks. Any help from you on the forum is welcome!!
Thanks!
Indigo.

[Oz]

I've seen 2 types which might be called "internal".  First, look under the coach, toward the rear to see if there's a long, horizontal tank there.  These need to be filled at a propane refilling station.

The 2nd, which is more common to the older Class C (minis), are two, 30lb tanks, much like gas grill tanks only a little taller and they're usually in a side compartment, also toward the rear.  The difference with these tanks compared to the class A motorhomes is that they are also horizontal, lying on their side with the valves facing you. 

If you don't have either of these two configurations, then it's a set-up I'm not yet aware of.

[Indigo Crow Weaver]

Thanks Mark... I'll check it out.

[Indigo Crow Weaver]

Update on the "internal" tanks on my RV. And hey... what do you call these propane tanks if you don't call them internal?
Anyhow, I found it. Its under the frame, on the side near the camper door. It looks like one flattish rectangular shaped tank with the front that looks like a gas grill.


What do you think about that???


-Indigo

[Stripe]

Oh good, you found it!  Get a pic of it whilst under there?? 

CMM500

[Oz]

This was a common alternative to having the 30lb gas grill type tanks.  By placing one, large tank along the frame, it freed up the space previously taken up in the coach wall.  There's pluses and minuses to having both. 

With the dual, 30lb tanks, all you had to do is swap them out with refills or they could be easily transported for refill.  As these type of tanks became older, the valve would have to be replaced with a newer style so, many people just changed to 20lb gas grill tanks.  Less on-board, swapping out more.

The single, large, under frame tanks could hold more (depending on what size the RV was equipped with) but you have to take the whole RV to a propane refill station.