interested in any pics anyone cares to post or experiences they care to share with securing a 100lb propane bottle in the bed of a truck. I have read a bunch of places how it is unsafe to lay it down, though that is clearly the easiest way to secure it...so hoping ot get some ideas for how to easily secure it upright.

thanks

 

 

As I dont have a headache rack of any sort or anything in my stake pockets (just the OEM plastic caps...and because its a screw, the front pockets arent even there)....I was thinking of using a 2x bracket in one of the box link positions....back of the bed might make sense so it will be easiest to load'unload...and then build a carrier off of that. So maybe a 2x6 going across the bed in the brackets...then a vertical 2x8 off of there. and I could also put a piece of 2x8 or 2x10 along the bottom so the weight of the bottle is on the bottom piece which is attached to the vertical and cross-beam.

 

Put it in the floorboard, or on a seat with a seat belt. The bottle is safe, and much stronger than the cab of the truck, so the cab isn't protecting you no matter where the bottle is. And the seats & belts are made to hold 100-300 lbs each, vertically. Plus, it'll have the benefit of the airbags, if you wreck. Not so in the bed.

If you feel like you have to put it in the bed, stand it on a ~3x3' to 4x4' sheet of 3/4" plywood/subfloor (or a pallet), and strap it down in an X. Then slide it into the bed. It won't matter if it slides around a little - it won't flip or blow out. But it can also be strapped to the bed stake pockets &/or tiedowns.

 

Front pockets are indeed there, under the plastic cover, easily cut out with a dremel. Back stake pocket with a Bull Ring, strap going from Bull Ring to inside bed tiedown.

 

That's a tough one in these trucks. DOT requires any tank to be upright in the bed. I used to do it in my Nissan Frontier but that had the utilitrak tie downs so I was able to wedge it into the front passenger side corner and strap it tight.

 

I've heard this over the years, but have been told by "reliable sources" that secured horizontal is ok; can you give me a citation for that requirement?

Thanks!

 

Easily found via Googling.

 

That's what gets me ... I'm pretty good with Google, and I don't find any support for that at all. Lots of people saying it, but no citations. Indeed, From 49CFR177.840:

(1) Cylinders. Cylinders containing Class 2 gases must be securely restrained in an upright or horizontal position, loaded in racks, or packed in boxes or crates to prevent the cylinders from being shifted, overturned or ejected from the motor vehicle under normal transportation conditions.

I do see some relief (overpressure) valve positioning requirements, which FOR SOME CYLINDERS, might require position consideration. I see the over-the-road propane and other compressed gas transport trucks as horizontal cylinders; one would think they need DOT approval. The 100 lb have different (none?) overpressure/overfill devices as compared to 20 and 30 lb cylinders. And I've yet to see a propane powered forklift with its cylinder mounted any way other than horizontal in use, and often vertically in storage.

Forums are nice when information is accurate. Perhaps I'm ignorant and stupid ... I'm certainly being treated as such ... but a citation requiring it, if so easy for YOU to Google, would still be appreciated.

 

Seats and belts are designed to hold in position soft meat bags that extend well beyond the belts so they can't slip around them. And they still had to redesign seats in the 90's due to people slipping out underneath the lap belt. No propane cylinder is going to remain in position with a seatbelt around it, and looping the seatbelt through the hand holds will results in a cut seatbelt in anything beyond fender benders.

I'd rather not have a steel anything flying around in the cab. A travel mug bounced off the dash and gave a friend a concussion during a wreck. I'm gonna suggest passing on upgrading to even a 1lb propane canister... leave that crap in the bed.