I use a spare tank...3 gallon tank from home depot.   I also got an adapter for
the westy that allows me to hook the extra tank up to the westy system.  You can
also run aux line to a stove or lamp.  The tank stays outside during operation,
as it should.  This set up is more versatile and a lot easier and cheaper than
buying a new westy tank and installing it.  I can bring extra tanks as needed,
too.

Through a confluence of mishaps, I once had a one pound disposable propane tank
release valve open inside the van due to heat from the heater while driving.  It
"hissed" an audible and low-volume hiss...no where near enough to cause an
immediate explosion or anything close, but the danger is obvious nonetheless.
steve

Davidson wrote:

> Well,
> I don't agree that it is okay to have a propane bottle inside your van while
> operating gas appliances. I believe the directions on the side of the bottle
> warn against this. There is a pressure relief valve in the bottles for a
> purpose. If that valve were to open up inside your van with a gas heater
> burning.... well it would be the last time you made that mistake.
> Bill
> 90 WEsty Syncro
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C&S Gibbs. Alaska. USA. <chrisgibbs@GCI.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Thursday, July 01, 1999 7:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Replacement propane tank
>
> >Jason,
> >
> >The propane bottle inside the car is fine, infact the Europeans seen to
> prefer
> >a bottle in good condition inside the car over the American method of a
> rusty
> >one with defective auto shutoff valves on the outside.
> >
> >Plus, its a little tedious kneeling in the snow with a can of de-icer
> trying to
> >free up the filler valve EVERY time the gas Propex heater goes off.
> >
> >I've been thinking of buying the 20lb bottle from Cosco myself!  To roll
> down
> >the window and chuck the bottle at the guy would be bliss - BIG PLUS - they
> all
> >know how to fill the Cosco style bottles too (aka Jiffy Lube).
> >
> >Regards,
> >Chris Gibbs
> >
> >Jason M. Yasment wrote:
> >
> >>     What exactly is the capacity on the propane tank on our westfalis?
> If
> >> it is nothing spectacular (10 lbs +), wouldn't it make sense to get an
> >> adapter to run a 20lb bottle or even just the small 1lb bottles?  With
> the
> >> cost of a replacement tank, the safety issue of driving around with
> >> pressurized propane, wouldn't make sense to swap over to a more common
> and
> >> removable container?
> >>     With my camper being a daily driver (if I can get it rolling again)
> it
> >> worries me a bit having the propane onboard at all times.  I've got a bit
> of
> >> worry about getting T-boned with the kiddos in the car and suffering the
> GMC
> >> side impact syndrome.
> >>
> >> Jason
> >