Propane dry camping question

[Scubawise]

hi fellow campers, if you dry camp..
running propane for the refrigerator and run the heater say at 72 degress..
how many days do you estimate based on your experience we can get?

[atreis]

What about the water heater? What's the outside day time and night time temperature? How much propane do you have?

[Bob Denman]

It all depends on the ambient temperatures.
If your thermostat is set at 72, and it's only 30 outside: you'll burn through the gas at an alarming rate...
If you're set at 72, and it's 80 outside: you've got a pretty good supply on hand...

[Scubawise]

all good points i need to test it and see what our consumption is thx

[taylorbob1]

The downside of the Vegas/Axis propane tank is that it really only holds abt 8+ gallons when full.
So it’s essentially 2 standard 5 gal “BBQ” tanks.

But, you must drive your entire rig to get the tank filled when you anticipate being close to empty
Vs
Travel trailers (and some RVs) that have dual side by side 5 gal tanks. When tank 1 is completely empty there’s a switch-over valve to start-up tank 2. Then you can remove tank 1, drive to the propane store and re-fill & re-attach

I like that method much much better because you always know where you stand.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

The downside of the Vegas/Axis propane tank is that it really only holds abt 8+ gallons when full.
So it’s essentially 2 standard 5 gal “BBQ” tanks.

But, you must drive your entire rig to get the tank filled when you anticipate being close to empty
Vs
Travel trailers (and some RVs) that have dual side by side 5 gal tanks. When tank 1 is completely empty there’s a switch-over valve to start-up tank 2. Then you can remove tank 1, drive to the propane store and re-fill & re-attach

I like that method much much better because you always know where you stand.

Or install an Extend-a-Stay or similar manifold that allows you to run the MH system from a 20 Lb tank.

The other option which I just learned about from someone else on this forum is:
If you have an external low pressure propane quick connect on your MH just get a 20 lb tank with regulator and the correct quick connection and back-feed your MH low pressure system from the 20 lb tank and quick connect connection.

[Scubawise]

thx i will check on youttube if this is possible:

If you have an external low pressure propane quick connect on your MH just get a 20 lb tank with regulator and the correct quick connection and back-feed your MH low pressure system from the 20 lb tank and quick connect connection.

[Elite Washington]

So funny I just had to empty my tank to fix a leak. I burned off the propane keeping the coach at 80 degrees and I ran the fridge. The temps were 40 during the day and mid 20s at night and my tank lasted 4 days and that was with about 9.4 gallons.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

thx i will check on youttube if this is possible:

Of course it's possible. Since when did Youtube become the ultimate authority on anything?

[kwplot34]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Or install an Extend-a-Stay or similar manifold that allows you to run the MH system from a 20 Lb tank.

The other option which I just learned about from someone else on this forum is:
If you have an external low pressure propane quick connect on your MH just get a 20 lb tank with regulator and the correct quick connection and back-feed your MH low pressure system from the 20 lb tank and quick connect connection.

Hmm, never thought of that, my RV has the external quick connect we use for the grill, will have to remember that for extended cold dry camping.

[Bob Denman]

Back-filling through the low pressure hook-up...
Will those hoses and fittings take the pressure?

[DavidEM]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Back-filling through the low pressure hook-up...
Will those hoses and fittings take the pressure?

You hook up an external tank with a two stage regulator (which is important for good flow) to the external BBQ connection. This way low pressure LP is supplied to the coach from the external tank, not the internal one. You should turn off the internal tank's valve.

David

[Scubawise]

DavidEm this seems simple enough and we can test in our driveway
Will note this


You hook up an external tank with a two stage regulator (which is important for good flow) to the external BBQ connection. This way low pressure LP is supplied to the coach from the external tank, not the internal one. You should turn off the internal tank's valve.

[Scubawise]

Hey I am not smart enough..but can they use an inverter, solar and
A small space heater dry camping?

[roy stone]

Gee, it's relative to use, needs personal taste and environment. Wing it and get a pretty good idea of what is basically "you".

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Of course it's possible. Since when did Youtube become the ultimate authority on anything?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bufTna0WArc

[TLeenhouts]

Propane weighs about 4.2 pounds per gallon. A pound of propane contains roughly 20,000 BTU. So you get just under 100,000 BTU per gallon (91000).
If you have 9 gallons of propane you have about 810,000 BTU which in engineering terms is a Sh----d. Your refrigerator draws about 3.75 amps when plugged in to shore power which is about 1200 BTU/hour. When on propane, it will draw that much from the gas instead of the electric. Most furnaces in motorhomes (unless they are huge) are about 30,000 BTU/hr. It has to be pretty darn cold to run through your propane.
I only dry camp in the summer and my 18 gallon tank lasts for weeks using the water heater. I have a couple of electric heaters to plug in for heat. They can hold the temperature when it is in the 20s outside.

[Msdpok]

Originally Posted by Elite Washington

So funny I just had to empty my tank to fix a leak. I burned off the propane keeping the coach at 80 degrees and I ran the fridge. The temps were 40 during the day and mid 20s at night and my tank lasted 4 days and that was with about 9.4 gallons.

This quite possibly is your answer!

[Tpowers@tampabay.rr.com]

I own the Vegas 25.3. My wife and I went out for 71 days. We have a on demand water Heater, Refrigerator, and did not use the heat. (it was summer)
We each shower every day plus wash the dishes. I stopped after 30 days and filled 3 gallons on propane in my 9 gallon tank.
Hope that gives you some info.

[OldWEB]

As a comparison to post #17above, my Norcold manual says my N61X has a 300W 120V heater (2.5A) and the gas burner is 1500 Btu/h and my tank I think has 9 gal??

So do some digging and calculate it out for your situation.