ben827•4mo ago

PSA: Got burned at a farmers market in Portland over propane

I was running my taco truck at the Saturday market in Portland last month and my propane tank ran dry mid-service during the lunch rush. Turns out the vendor I bought from swapped me a tank that was only half full and I didnt check the gauge. Anyone else deal with shady propane swaps at events and how do you verify the fill level before you start cooking?

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tyler_white424mo ago

Wait hold on, are you serious that guy just handed you a half empty tank in the middle of a lunch rush? That is wild to me because around here the propane guys get real testy if you even look at the valve wrong without paying first. I always bring a little portable scale now to check the weight before I accept a swap, a full 20 pounder should be around 38 pounds total with the tank. You gotta watch them like a hawk because some vendors will try to slip you a tank that's been sitting on their truck for months and they know it's low.

3

jennifersmith4mo ago

Heard a tip from a truck mechanic that you can weigh the tank on a bathroom scale before you accept it, full ones are usually around 17-18 pounds for the gas alone. Also saw a video where a guy used a small propane gauge with a float inside to check the level right then and there. Might be worth grabbing one of those from a camping store if you do this a lot.

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