What People Actually Do With a 20 lb Propane Tank
Most people call it the grill tank. That undersells it.
The 20 lb cylinder is everywhere for a reason… it's small enough to lift, big enough to last, and a lot of the portable stuff that burns propane is built to take one. Once the grill is covered, that same tank tends to get borrowed for just about everything else.
Here's where they actually end up.
1. The flat-top griddle
Flat-tops are all over backyards and patios now. Pancakes on Saturday morning, smash burgers on Saturday night… and the full-size ones usually hook right up to a standard 20 lb tank. If you've got a griddle, odds are you've got a tank parked next to it.
Tip: Keep the tank upright and outdoors next to the griddle, and check the hose and connection whenever you hook it back up.
2. The camp stove
Two-burner camp stoves, camp ovens and lanterns can run off a 20 lb tank with the right adapter hose. A lot of campers would rather haul one bigger tank than a bag full of little green canisters. Lakeside, in the woods, wherever you set up… the tank comes along for the ride.
Tip: That ride is the part people forget about. A loose tank in a packed truck bed or SUV is going to shift every time you brake or turn. Keep it upright and secured so it can't tip or roll.
3. The turkey fryer
This is the time of year a lot of tanks get pulled into fryer duty. Turkey fryers, crawfish boils, seafood steamers… big pots need a lot of burner, and the 20 lb tank is the go-to.
Tip: Fry outdoors, well away from the house, garage and deck, on flat ground. Follow the fryer's manual, keep the tank a good distance from the burner, and never leave it unattended.
4. The portable generator
Dual-fuel portable generators can run on propane, and keeping a full tank or two in the shed is a common storm-season plan. Propane stores well, and you're not hunting for a gas can when the power goes out.
Tip: Generators run outdoors only, away from doors, windows and vents. Store your tanks outside and upright, wherever your local rules allow… never in the house.
5. The patio heater
When the evenings cool off, the patio heater comes out of the garage… and it usually has its own 20 lb tank. String lights, a couple chairs, one more hour outside… that's what fall is for!!
Tip: Patio heaters are made for outdoors, so keep them there. Check the hose and regulator when you pull it out for the season and follow the heater's manual.
What all of these have in common: the tank moves
Backyard to truck. Truck to campsite. Campsite to the exchange cage. Back to the patio, then over to the fryer, then out to the shed.
Every one of those trips is a chance for the tank to tip, roll, or get wedged somewhere it shouldn't be. Most of us have done the bungee-and-hope routine or tried to prop it between a cooler and the wheel well… and most of us have heard it clunk over at the first stop sign.
A few habits that help no matter what the tank is headed for:
Keep it upright. In the vehicle, in storage, next to the appliance.
Secure it for the ride. Don't let it roll around loose in the bed or the back seat.
Use it outdoors. Griddles, fryers, generators and patio heaters are outdoor equipment.
Follow the manual. Every appliance is a little different, so go by what came in the box.
Don't leave it in a hot car. Get it where it's going and get it out.
That's why Tank Ties exists
Look at the cartoon up top… every one of those tanks is wearing a strap. That's the idea. Put a Tank Ties strap on the tank once and just leave it there. When it's time to move it, clip it to a truck bed hook or an SUV anchor and go. Griddle weekend, camping trip, fryer day, storm prep, patio season… same tank, same strap, no hunting for rope.
If your 20 lb tank does more than one job (and it probably does!!), grab a Tank Ties strap here and make every trip a little easier. You can see the whole lineup at tankties.com.
