I took me all of ten minutes to exactly duplicate one of the original
westy pipes with soft copper and cheap flare and bending tools. I used
the original as a pattern, even though mine had been badly damaged in
an accident. No big deal. I used the gadgety style that bends around a
series of mandrels, though the spring-tube type that fits over the
tubing for hand-bending may have been easier and faster.

Jim

On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 9:57 AM, Mike <mbucchino@charter.net> wrote:
> We're talking Vanagon RV's here, not houses.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed" <fasteddy64@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 10:15 AM
> Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
>
>
>> It is very common to use propane appliances indoors. We had a propane
>> stove in the home I grew up in, and many people use propane today. It is
>> used in the same ways that natural gas and heating oil are.
>> Ed
>>
>>
>> --- On Sat, 8/30/08, Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
>> From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
>> Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 9:05 AM
>>
>>  Since when is it a good idea to operate any propane appliance
>> 'indoors'?
>>  I'm under the impression that any propane appliance either needs to be
>> used outdoors, or at the very least, in an area that has good ventilation
>> to
>> the outdoors........
>>  An object that is 'rated for continuous exposure' to the elements is
>> a
>> separate matter....
>>
>> Mike B.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 3:00 AM
>> Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
>>
>>
>>> This is an appliance hose. It is designed to connect indoor appliances.
>>> Yes, a 3/8 flare is what you should have. The major concern is the leak
>>> tightness when using a hose and fittings inside. There should be no
>>> problem with some of this hose outside.
>>>
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of
>>> pickle vanagon
>>> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 10:07 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
>>>
>>> I don't think I'm quite brave enough to run the fuel lines.. if
>>
>> only
>>>
>>> because
>>> there will only be two of us doing so...
>>>
>>> Anybody have any thoughts on these?:
>>> http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/propane-hose-assemblies/3787
>>>
>>> In particular, is "3/8 inch female flare" the right fitting?
>>
>> I'm also
>>>
>>> having trouble finding confirmation that these are acceptable for outdoor
>>> use.
>>>
>>> Thanks again!
>>> Wes
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 9:34 PM, Jeffrey Vickers
>>> <jeff@vickersdesign.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'll probably get flamed for this (ha!) but I run tight fitting
>>
>> rubber
>>>>
>>>> fuel line and fuel line clamps after my regulator. The pressure after
>>>> the regulator is really low - like 2 lbs of pressure - so you
>>
>> don't
>>>>
>>>> need any sort of pressure fittings. I have a 12V fridge so I only need
>>>> one line after the regulator and I sheathed the hose in another bit of
>>>> larger hose where it passes through the body to protect it. Much
>>>> easier to work with than copper line and after two plus years, its
>>>> never leaked. I would keep t-connections under the van. Good idea
>>>> about the solenoid.
>>>>
>>>> Jeff / San Anselmo
>>>> On Aug 29, 2008, at 3:53 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  Date:    Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:57:31 -0400
>>>>>
>>>>> From:    pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>>
>>>>> Subject: Replacing copper propane lines
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm going to replace the service valve on my tank, and want to
>>>>> replace the
>>>>> propane copper lines while I'm there  (currently they're
>>
>> bent to
>>>>>
>>>>> allow for
>>>>> the larger new-style regulator).
>>>>>
>>>>> A couple of questions:
>>>>> Is the flexible copper tubing they sell at the hardware store the
>>>>> right
>>>>> stuff?  The lines on my van are much stiffer than this.  Is that
>>
>> just
>>>>>
>>>>> because of age?
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there an alternative to the rigid copper tubing?  Some kind of
>>>>> high-pressure rated flexible tubing?
>>>>>
>>>>> What I would most like to do, is run just one connection from the
>>>>> tank up
>>>>> into the van, and then split the connection at that point, to
>>>>> eliminate the
>>>>> length required by the T-adapter.  This because, apart from my
>>
>> longer
>>>>>
>>>>> regulator, I also have a solenoid shutoff valve between the
>>>>> regulator and
>>>>> the t-adapter which is connected to a detector in the cabin and
>>>>> shuts off
>>>>> the propane supply in case of a leak.  As a result, the stock t-
>>>>> adapter
>>>>> protrudes from the skid plate as I currently have it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks very much for any help,
>>>>> Wes
>>>>>
>>>>
>