[tygo]

I've got a family picnic coming up in August and I'm planning on taking a keg of brew to it.  Since my folks place is in PA it's about a three hour car ride so I'd like to try to minimize the amount of sediment in the keg which would get stirred up in transit.

I bought a spare dip tube and I'm thinking I'll cut off a bit of it and use it in the keg I'm going to be lagering the picnic beer in then transfer it to another keg for transport and serving.

How much of the dip tube for the bright tank should I saw off?  2 inches?  More? I'm obviously trying to minimize sediment pickup in the transfer while also minimizing beer loss.

[bluesman]

Do you have a beer/wine filter?

If not then cutting back the tube a couple of inches would be my second choice. You can also bring a second full length dip tube along with you to install in an effort to get every last drop of goodness from the bottom of that keg. 

[tygo]

Nope, no filter and no real desire to obtain one.

[bluesman]

You can always add some gelatin as soon as you get to your destination to aid in clarifying the beer.

[narvin]

2 inches at most.  I bend the dip tube so it goes toward the edge (and sits higher) instead of cutting it since it's reversible.

[tschmidlin]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

[tygo]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

Hmm, that has the aura of common sense about it.  I'm sure that's why I didn't think of it myself 

[oscarvan]

I have just gotten to this part.....

Had a keg that HAD to be clear for transport. After three weeks in the bucket I kegged and let it sit at cellar temp for a week, then WITHOUT MOVING IT hooked up CO2, drew the first few ounces into a clear glass, and when clear did a keg to keg, then carbonated. Came out perfect.

[denny]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

This is the correct answer!  Don't mutilate your poor keg!

[bluesman]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

This is the correct answer!  Don't mutilate your poor keg!

I am tending to agree as well. Bring a second keg and some gelatin for extra insurance.

[punatic]

I am tending to agree as well. Bring a second keg and some gelatin for extra insurance.

Beer jello shots...  hmmmm....  I like the way you think Ron!
It must be due to your proximity to Dogfish Head's brewery 

[The Professor]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

This is the correct answer!  Don't mutilate your poor keg!

I agree.  It's the easiest way to deal with the sediment problem.  I used to do it that way pretty frequently.

But for the past few years now, I follow the secondary phase (yeah, I know...I still stubbornly do it that way)  with a gelatin cold crash before it goes into a keg, the resulting bright beer goes into the keg bright and  stays that way from the first pour right down to the last sad gurgle when it kicks. 
That, to me, makes the secondary and cold crash phase before going into the keg a very worthwhile bit of extra effort...especially when I know I have to take a keg somewhere or be otherwise moving it around.    The little bit of extra work and extra time may not be ideal for everyone, but it works for me. 
It also makes for very stable, conditioned, and sediment free beer to transfer to bottles too, when the need arises.

[bluesman]

I am tending to agree as well. Bring a second keg and some gelatin for extra insurance.

Beer jello shots...  hmmmm....  I like the way you think Ron!
It must be due to your proximity to Dogfish Head's brewery 

They're great for parties but hard to get out of the keg. 

[denny]

I am tending to agree as well. Bring a second keg and some gelatin for extra insurance.

Beer jello shots...  hmmmm....  I like the way you think Ron!
It must be due to your proximity to Dogfish Head's brewery 

They're great for parties but hard to get out of the keg. 

Use a spoon! 

[tygo]

I would just blow off a few ounces to get the sediment right around the dip tube, then rack it to another keg for transport. It should work just fine.

This is the correct answer!  Don't mutilate your poor keg!

This is probably what I'll end up doing but I do have spare dip tube that I was going to cut, so the keg would still be perfectly functioning with it's own dip tube swapped back in.