Author Topic: 5lb tank or 20lb tank (Read 2538 times)

ihavethetools · « **on:** Nov 17, 2010, 06:27 PM »

Ok guys and gals i am looking for your imput. If it were you and you had to choose between buying a 5lb tank at 50.00 or a 20 lb tank at 30.00 to use with your buddy heater, which would you choose ? We know the 5lb will be lighter than the 20lb and you wouldn't need to fill the 20 probably the whole year, especially here in Pa. I will be putting my LX 5, buddy heater, minnow bucket, 3 rods and 4 tip downs and jigs and such in my Trekker 2 sled and my Eskimo Mako auger bungeed on top. Will the added weight of the 20 put it over the top to pull by hand ? Thanks for you thoughts.

gulp · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 06:32 PM »

Its that hand pulling thing that will get you. I would have to cough up the extra and get the small tank. It wont take long to save the diffrence in not using the one lb bottles. good luck out there and stay safe.

mushroom_capd_1 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 06:44 PM »

If you get alot of snow then the 20lb tank will definately be a heck of alot harder to pull out on foot...and on glare ice, not so bad. I already have a 20lb and a 10 lb, but I am seriously considering a 5lb tank to cut down on weight for those "walkout" days.

xcr440 · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 06:44 PM »

I was in the same boat. I opted for a 10lb. Half the weight of the 20, easy to store.

Sinnian · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 07:00 PM »

I made the decision last year....... I got the 5 lb.

Mainedog · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 07:26 PM »

I use a 4lb tank. One tank lasts the whole season on my Mr. Buddy for me, but I don't fish as much as I'd like to.

esox_magnum · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 07:47 PM »

I have a huge shack, Eskimo QFIII, I use a 20, on bare ice my wife easily pulls the shack we get much snow I use the snowmobile or my truck so weights not a factor. I can still load and unload this set up easily by myself and I'm no younster and built like a string bean....

Nor Easter · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 08:02 PM »

The 5

SkeeterJeff · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 08:10 PM »

I bought a 5# tank strictly because of the weight.

-Jeff

BigDynamite · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 17, 2010, 08:32 PM »

Got a 5 lber. myself this year. I pull my sledand weiaght and space mattered to me. That small tank is sweet. Easy to fit in my sled. I'm happy.

IceMan74 · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 10:16 AM »

Where do you guys get the 5# and 10# tanks at?? I have been searching at the local fleet stores and walmarts, they didn't know they made ones smaller than 20#. I saw some on the internet and might order one online here in the next few weeks.

xcr440 · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 10:18 AM »

I got my 10# at menards.

Wiener · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 10:25 AM »

Keep your eye's open.

With the upcoming deer hunting season, the local stores and gas stations will be selling small tanks also.

Try Fleet Farm, (back in the hunting / camping section)
Gander Mountain also has smaller tanks, but they charge a lot more.

It makes enough of a difference to go through the trouble to get the right size tank.

Hope this helps,

Wiener

smellysockalarmclock · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 10:31 AM »

Cabela's sells the 5lbr's as well as Do It Best Hardware Stores. For you 20 lb guys they also sell the tanks in composite which really helps cut down on the weight.

Gordo · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 11:28 AM »

Love my 5# tank. Saves a lot of weight, but is plenty big to last the day.

I got lucky - I had a buddy that wanted to sell his, so I got it for only $20.

Sinnian · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 03:27 PM »

I got my 5# tank at Cabelas, though not cheap.

ihavethetools · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 05:51 PM »

You guys sold me on the 5 lb tank. I do want to keep the weight of everything as low as possible. Checked Lowes online and they have a 4.25 tank for 49.99 shipped to store to pick up free. Best price because i only have to pay 3.00 tax. Every other place was around 13.00 to ship. Thanks for all the good advice and "come on ICE " !!!

IceMan74 · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 06:03 PM »

Thanks guys, I will just have to keep my eyes open for them.

ice dawg · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 18, 2010, 06:30 PM »

I had a 5 lb tank and traded it in on an 11 lb pancake tank that I like better. It doesn't tip as easy and only weighs a tad bit more.

BiG ARN · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 13, 2010, 03:13 AM »

20 lbers can be quickly exchanged at just about any gas station. 5 lbers don't last me long and gotta be refilled. Its bad enough I gotta drive out of my way for bait...definitely don't wanna go even further out of my way to fill a 5 lber every other trip. Ill just deal with the extra weight. I put my 20 lber in the back of my jet sled and don't have a problem....and if I do ill just pull it with a sled or wheeler

PIRATE PERCH · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 13, 2010, 07:30 AM »

just wondering about how long would you say a 5lb would last? how many 8hr days?

dml78 · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 14, 2010, 11:51 AM »

Anyone know the difference in weight between the 11lb. fiberglass tanks and the 11lb. steel tanks.

weavs150 · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 14, 2010, 11:53 AM »

it the heater isnt cranking id say 3 or more days i normaly run a day on 2 1pounds tanks

runswithdeer · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 14, 2010, 12:10 PM »

Pulling by hand the 5 is the way to go. The extra $20 is worth it.

IDbasser · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 15, 2010, 06:45 PM »

I got a 5#er just for the ice fishing. Less wieght, less bulk.

copperjohn · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 15, 2010, 08:31 PM »

Just refill off a 20 lber at home. Mr. Heater has all the adaptors and hoses anyone needs. Most farm stores stock these. You should be able to refill a 5 lber 3-4 times off a 20.

blacktrap · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 16, 2010, 04:50 AM »

5lb tanks are great. They last about 1 1/2 to 2 days for me depending on what setting the heater is run on. I have 2 of them in order to get thru a weekend without having to get a refill. I couldn fit anything bigger in my otter with all of the other stuff packed in that thing.

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Author Topic: 5lb tank or 20lb tank (Read 2538 times)