When you’re fishing in extreme cold (-20 to rock bottom) there’s a couple things you can do with 20/30 lb tanks.
Alternate tanks. I’m not a fan of it, but it’s better than freezing to death. Keep one tank inside the shack (make sure it isn’t leaking so you don’t explode to death). When the tank outside quits working, wrap a blanket or insulation around the warm tank and switch it out.
Heat your tank. This is what I do. You can run a 20/30 pound tank bone dry in extreme cold. Most guys have a generator along these days. Simply point your exhaust onto the tank from about 6″ away. You’re not trying to get the tank hot (and it won’t get hot when it’s -35 out), but just providing some heat to help the propane evaporate.
It works incredibly well. I do it all the time when it’s ass cold out. No more half or quarter tanks that quit working in the middle of the night.
I spent the night on the lake Tuesday when it was -33. I heated the shack off a 30lb tank all night without a hiccup using generator exhaust.
One last thing you can do if you don’t like the heat idea, is to run two tanks at the same time (both valves open). You’re essentially doubling the surface area of propane to evaporate. This helps down to about -25.
