Propane Tank Fittings?

[Rangiroo]

I've been trying to find some information about the different fittings on propane tanks used in different parts of the world (seeing as we are going to visit as many different parts of the world as we can!! ).
I have some questions (and yes I searched first!).

I know that the EU has different fittings than the US...or perhaps it is the US that has different fittings to the rest of the world maybe and that NZ has different fittings again....and if that is the case can you get adapter fittings that will work anywhere??...or do I need to just scrap the US tanks once I leave? I'd sure like to think that some enterprising manufacturer has solved this problem so I don't have to keep retrofitting the tanks!

[donradcliffe]

You can get your US tanks filled in many places of the world, but sometimes its at a premium and sometimes its not possible. Bring a hose with a fitting for your propane tanks on one end and leave the other end open for the various local fittings which you can buy and install. We have used fittings for French, Turkish, Italian, and Campinggaz tanks.

Then beg/borrow a full local tank and fill your tank by connecting the two tanks with the hose. Generally, you hang the full tank upside down and leave it in the sun while you cool the tank to be filled with wet towels. Note that filling tanks like this is probably illegal in a lot of the developed world, so you need to be discrete. It also gets a bit tricky if you are going between propane and butane--don't do it unless your tank is fully empty. If you aren't sure how to use the hose, get another yachtie to demonstrate the first time. Sometimes you can give your tanks and your hose to the local propane guy and he will do it.