Driving 70 mph into a 40 mph head wind will do this to you…. (by Peter)

This is not the proper way to attach a propane tank to a camper

Even though we carry five gallons of reserve diesel fuel we work hard at not running the Cummins 5.9 diesel engine under a quarter tank.  It was time to refuel.  We pulled into a fueling station just west of Haines Junction on the Alaska Highway.  I ran into the station to have the pumps activated.  The attendant asked me, with somewhat of a grin, if we liked to drive with our spare propane tank that way.

I turned around and looked back at the truck.  Our spare propane tank was dangling precariously off the roof of the camper, suspended by a lone, green ratchet tie-down.

Originally the spare tank had been mounted onto an apparatus attached to our tow bar just off the left side of our rear bumper.  Before we left, however, I got paranoid about being rear-ended envisioning out camper and truck exploding in a ball of fire.  Thomas and I decided to move it up onto the roof.

Originally we had two tie-downs holding the tank, but a week ago experienced some difficulty.  We reattached it in what we thought was a more secure position.

It stayed firmly in place until we hit those 40 mph headwinds this morning.  It must have happened just before we pulled in for fuel as we did not hear it slapping the side of the camper, nor did any other vehicle signal to us that it was flapping around precariously.

Rather than continue on with a spare bottle, (we could have carried it in the camper but it is not a good idea to have propane bottles where one is sleeping) we bartered with the gas station attendant and ended up selling him the the empty bottle for $20.  We continued on our way relieved that even though Anna may not be here to watch over us, Someone even more influential than her is!