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Sun Dec 11, 2016 2:52 pm

Hello, I'm a newbie here, recently got a 1986 weekender/money pit and want to install large propane tank from gowesty, propex heater, and aux battery,was wondering where weekender owners mounted tank,and how much trouble it is,pix would be nice. I'm building a stainless battery box to house two 6V's under jump seat and thought mounting tank on pass. side would balance weight.
Thank you

Sun Dec 11, 2016 4:25 pm

Welcome!

No direct experience, but in case of fire, please consider the potential benefit of having the
propane on the opposite side of the quickest emergency exit (wide open slider door) ...

Safety first! 8)

- Dave

Sun Dec 11, 2016 6:45 pm

Welcome and congrats on your purchase.

I'm researching the same questions regarding which side to mount a tank on and where to put a Propex. Here's a good recent install:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=665573&highlight=propex

Samba member "Newfisher" added a tank to the passenger side on his tin top; he has a couple of photos in this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...p;start=20

Here's another thread about mounting on the passenger side:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=580340&highlight=passenger++propane

There are quite a few Propex threads; these are just a few I've read lately.

Good luck! And post some photos of your new rig!

Sun Dec 11, 2016 7:51 pm

Welcome to the addiction.
Nothing to answer about the Propane install, but just read this thread about Aux. battery that might help you.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=615088

When Jay Brown talks it's worth listening to!

Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:35 pm

I also 2nd any advice from Jay Brown (ThatVWbusguy)!

I have a Weekender and installed a propane tank on the driver's side (like a full camper). If there were a fire, I wouldn't want it under the slider where my passengers were trying to exit the van. My Propex 2211 is mounted underneath the van on the passenger side. If you are using the van mounted tank to cook with... (1) you will be depleting your Propex reserves... (2) you can buy a 12' hose to get gas from the driver's side over to your passenger side.

My dual aux batteries are also mounted under the bench seat on the driver's side. There is no "Westy lean" with both the aux batts and the propane tank mounted on the driver's side. That's a non-issue.

P.S. - The larger LP tank (5.9 gal at 45 lbs empty) GoWesty sells hangs 3" lower than their "OEM + 10%" tank (3.3 gal at 35 lbs empty). That should be taken into consideration no matter which side you decide to mount it on. My GW 3.3 gal LP tank usually lasts me 3-5 nights with just my Propex depending on how cold it is outside (granted I usually camp in CA or OR not CO or AK). I carry a 1-2 gallon refillable tank in my Thule box for stoves/grills which lasts a LONG time.

Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:55 pm

wonder what is the rasoning for two 6 volt batteries verse one or two 12 volt batteries?

seems to me if your running the two 6 volts in series to get 12 volts, you risk loosing the whole enchalada if one fails as far as having 12 volts.. with two 12 volt batteries if one dies a sooner death, you still have the good one to supply the full 12 volts as you could disconnect the bad one and still have 12 volts.. is you wanting two smaller batteries rather than one large one for reason of space constrant? if so consider two at 12 volts each and run them in parrallel anyway whats the thought on that?

Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:39 am

On my Westy I mounted the tank on the passengers' side that would be used to supply my Propex that lives under the rear bench.

I had to lift my floor to get to the bolt holes for the tank. There are two plugs that had to be removed and the new bolts screwed right in.
The bolts are M10 X 1.5 and 50mm long

Here is the bottom side of the slider.

With an Extend-A-Stay fitting you can connect a 1# coleman propane tank or a larger gas grill tank to fuel your Propex.

Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:04 am

bluebus86 wrote: wonder what is the reasoning for two 6 volt batteries verse one or two 12 volt batteries?

seems to me if your running the two 6 volts in series to get 12 volts, you risk loosing the whole enchilada if one fails as far as having 12 volts..

The 2 big six.s can be run dead flat and return many more times than a 12. They also have quite a bit more "slow discharge" available due to the thick plates. I have had ones running low that- "given a rest"- can come back and run a lot longer than you would expect.

They also do well on a low amp recharge over time. So popular with the solar crowd.

I have put 2 in the engine comp or a bay and hooked a long thick wire cross the front to make one huge 12 vt system that starts the bus with out a struggle.--They will sulfate like any other battery however.