Propane Tanks - the 500-1000 gal kind

[Nahuatl]

Anyone know of a propane tank dealer? Looking for new 1000 gal for ~$2700. I'm sick of paying too much for fuel from the company that will only rent me a tank.

That's the price, full retail, from a dealer in Fresno. Looking for something a bit closer, maybe the San Fernando Valley to South Bay or San Gabriel so it's less of a tow.

There has to be someone else selling tanks or is everyone on propane getting the same crappy deal buying gas only from the company who rents them the tank?

[welldriller]

Check Craigs list in the IE, I got one for $500 installed complete from a dealer.
There is one dealer that has them painted and ready to go for $1500 that I see there most of the time

[OldShooter32]

Kamp's rents me my 500 gal for $65/year. Figured that's better than owning one. Going solar this spring so hope I don't burn much propane after that.

[Nahuatl]

Welldriller, was he the guy in Elsinore? The other refurbisher in Porterville, Lance, has been out for a while. Some of these used tanks are 50+ years old.

OldShooter, that's exactly the problem to which I refer. My company rebates my rental but is now charging $3.75 per gallon for propane that wholesales for 92 cents. If you own your own tank, the companies compete for your business and sell it for $2. That saves close to $800 on a single 500 gal buy and it pays for the tank very quickly. Tell me your company rents you the tank and charges you 1.5x wholesale and I'll switch. What did you pay for the last fill? under $2.?

[Nahuatl]

Western Mfg in Fresno has new 1000 for $2337 + tax. There's a guy in Riverside who posted that he owns his own tank, fills in summer when it's cheaper, and pays about $1.95 per. A friend of mine lives near the pipe in MO and paid 95 cents last summer. $3.75, which is what Farrellgas charged for the last fill is criminal. It isn't like the gas stations who are within a few points of each other. These propane companies have a license to steal and buyers too lazy to shop.

[welldriller]

Yea that's the guy in Elsinore, the tanks have a date stamp on them so you know what you are buying. Old tanks are not that bad.
the good side of having your own tank is that you can shop around for the best price, I got 1.75 the last fill up. The down side is every-time you go to a new supplier they want to inspect your complete system. Some charge some don't.
For some reason they don't want to completely fill until the liquid comes out the vent (90%). they always have an excuse.Also it is not easy to get them to come out sometimes.

Welldriller, was he the guy in Elsinore? The other refurbisher in Porterville, Lance, has been out for a while. Some of these used tanks are 50+ years old.

OldShooter, that's exactly the problem to which I refer. My company rebates my rental but is now charging $3.75 per gallon for propane that wholesales for 92 cents. If you own your own tank, the companies compete for your business and sell it for $2. That saves close to $800 on a single 500 gal buy and it pays for the tank very quickly. Tell me your company rents you the tank and charges you 1.5x wholesale and I'll switch. What did you pay for the last fill? under $2.?

[Steve_In_29]

Before you buy you need to check with the propane suppliers in your area as to whether or not they will fill a non rental tank. Out here the trucks will ONLY fill one of their own rentals. A buddy of mines neighbor found this out only after he had bought a tank.

[cranemech]

Welldriller, was he the guy in Elsinore? The other refurbisher in Porterville, Lance, has been out for a while. Some of these used tanks are 50+ years old.

OldShooter, that's exactly the problem to which I refer. My company rebates my rental but is now charging $3.75 per gallon for propane that wholesales for 92 cents. If you own your own tank, the companies compete for your business and sell it for $2. That saves close to $800 on a single 500 gal buy and it pays for the tank very quickly. Tell me your company rents you the tank and charges you 1.5x wholesale and I'll switch. What did you pay for the last fill? under $2.?

Our landlord purchased propane tanks for all of his properties and this allows his renters to shop around for the best prices. We found an independent propane service that charges $2.50 a gallon and a flat rate $3 environmental fee. One of the major propane companies here wanted $4.50 a gallon and a $16 environmental fee.

Our guy even fills up my 5 and 7 gallon tanks at the same time he fills our home tank.

[82fb]

Shop around. When I was on propane, I found that they basically think they have you over a barrel. I switched a couple times when I got a better quote. You will usually get a quote for free rental first year, and 50-75 cents off per gallon first fill up. If your current provider won't match it, tell them to come pick up their tank. Nice thing is, you always have a nice shiny new tank!

[Rinsco]

I have a 1000 gallon tank. I bought it. I'm in on a group that buys propane once or twice a year when the prices are low. I Fill my tank in mid August when prices are at their lowest and top off in mid December. I paid about $1000 for my tank new about three years ago.

[Nahuatl]

Yep. Yep. And Yep.

The propane companies that rent tanks to their fuel buyers and refuse to sell tanks and fuel at competitive prices think they have a license to steal. They don't. And it's about time that license is revoked.

CL has a 300 in Fresno for sale with the Amerigas decal still on it. Most of the used tanks on CL are stolen. That's the last thing I need.

[KevinB]

I have 2 large tanks on the ranch. Fill them in the summer and pay cash. Last year I paid 1.65 a gallon. They fill all my small tanks also when they are here.

Renting a tank gives them a license to steal.

It is the same way for Ag fuel.

[sd_shooter]

Amerigas and Pacific Coast sell them. Not cheap.

[Lex]

For me.. I would rely on my mobile solar panels first and generator as the last option. I would use Natural Gas powered instead of gas or propane. Very unlikely NG will be damage or a short supply of unless major earthquake.

[Nahuatl]

For me.. I would rely on my mobile solar panels first and generator as the last option. I would use Natural Gas powered instead of gas or propane. Very unlikely NG will be damage or a short supply of unless major earthquake.

More CG FUD. That is exactly backward thinking. Nat gas is the first thing to go along with the electricity and water pressure. You can't store natural gas.

Propane is stable and stored in your own tank, on your property. You own it. And it lasts until it runs out, rain or shine. It can be transferred to any other propane tank if you've got the plumbing.

How are you going to cook with solar panels? Gonna boil water in that solar oven? Propane avoids almost all the problems associated with campfires.