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12-22-2021, 06:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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Using my Axis as temporary living quarters in an extended power outage
Since winter is upon us, I have been thinking about if and how I could use my Axis as temporary living quarters if we get an extended power outage at our house. We live in NW Connecticut and without power the furnace won't work, the house will get unlivable cold, and the freezer will thaw and maybe the refrigerator will get above safe temps.
So, my idea is to bring my MH over from its storage lot about 10 miles away. The first problem will be getting it out if there is significant snow on the ground. I would have to drive 200' through accumulated snow to get to a plowed road. How do dual wheel MHs handle accumulated snow. Could I drive through 12" or so of snow? I could air down the tires if needed. I could shovel a path but that would take hours.
I keep the MH filled with gas and propane (about 15 gallons usable) but no water or waste. So, once I get it to the house, the first thing is to hook it up to the house water supply and fill the tank. Unless the house inside temps get below 32 that shouldn't be a problem. Later if the house looks like it will get that low, I will drain the plumbing.
With a full tank of propane and a full gas tank, I should be able to live for about 3-5 days with no refilling or dumping. I figure I will use 3-5 gallons of propane daily for the furnace and cooking. Will limit showers to every other day, so water shouldn't be a problem. I can refill the propane tank at a nearby Tractor Supply (assuming they have power but they are on a major road so I suspect they will) and dump the tanks at a nearby town sanitation plant.
So, I could go indefinitely but realistically a week is all I would expect.
My MH isn't a four-season unit by any means, but the tanks have heaters, the water and plumbing is all above floor level except for the grey and black water lines and valves. I would probably wrap heat tape and insulation around them to keep from freezing. Or maybe tape plastic tarps around the RV to skirt it.
I would run an extension cord from the MH in my driveway to the fridge inside the house. I would run the MHs generator 3-4 hours in the evening to charge up my batteries and run the fridge inside the house.
How does this plan sound? Anyone done it before?
David
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12-22-2021, 06:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 24.1 AXISSIXxSIX
State: Arizona
Posts: 6,883
THOR #13932
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It sounds fruitless.
Buy a generator for your house.
An additional snow and you won't be able to get the rv out to dump or refill propane.
Go knock on a neighbor's door and ask them what they do.
Then do that.
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12-22-2021, 07:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
Posts: 4,148
THOR #16721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ducksface
It sounds fruitless.
Buy a generator for your house.
An additional snow and you won't be able to get the rv out to dump or refill propane.
Go knock on a neighbor's door and ask them what they do.
Then do that.
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A few musings (I've thought this through )...
If the power goes out in below freezing temperatures, you have a potential disaster with frozen/burst water pipes. Migrating to your motorhome does nothing to remedy that.
You "could" configure a 220 volt powerline from your motorhome generator to your house - provided your motorhome generator is capable. That would allow you to run the critical items in your house - furnace, refrigerator.
I have a nearly 20 year old 6.5k construction generator (which looks brand new) sitting in my garage which I keep ready all the time. I keep the oil fresh and the gas tank empty. The only maintenance it has required is changing the oil, air and gasoline filters along with the rubber fuel line (every few years as it rots). I keep at least 5 gallons of gasoline handy which I cycle into the cars if not used - then refill the jug. I regularly "exercise" this generator just like I do my 4k motorhome generator.
In a power outage I wheel the generator outside, and string a heavy 30 amp cord (which I made up) to a manual transfer switch in the basement.
The ONLY critical things I need to power are the furnace, refrigerator, freezer and necessary lights. If the power is off, the internet is ALWAYS out (except for cellular data), so computers usually just stay off. I consider it EMERGENCY power, not "convenience" power.
If you want seamless, No fuss, NO worries, have a backup generator which operates off natural gas. My brother went that way ($$$) and has a large enough install to EASILY power everything in his house, and half of the neighbors. But my frugal side cringes when I'm already prepared for a TEMPORARY inconvenience that hasn't happened here in over 5 years now...
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12-22-2021, 08:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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Thanks for your thoughts. See my thoughts in bold below:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad
A few musings (I've thought this through )...
If the power goes out in below freezing temperatures, you have a potential disaster with frozen/burst water pipes. Migrating to your motorhome does nothing to remedy that. I doubt the inside of the house will go below 32, but if it does, I will drain the plumbing down. Easy to do and I have done it before as a precaution when I left the house to live in a Florida condo in the winter.
You "could" configure a 220 volt powerline from your motorhome generator to your house - provided your motorhome generator is capable. That would allow you to run the critical items in your house - furnace, refrigerator.
My MH has a 110V, 4,000 watt Onan. I have considered putting in a manual transfer switch panel in the basement near the main power panel. It would take care of the furnace, fridge, and lights. But it would cost roughly $500 for the transfer switch panel and I still have to get my MH to my driveway.
I have a nearly 20 year old 6.5k construction generator (which looks brand new) sitting in my garage which I keep ready all the time. I keep the oil fresh and the gas tank empty. The only maintenance it has required is changing the oil, air and gasoline filters along with the rubber fuel line (every few years as it rots). I keep at least 5 gallons of gasoline handy which I cycle into the cars if not used - then refill the jug. I regularly "exercise" this generator just like I do my 4k motorhome generator.
In a power outage I wheel the generator outside, and string a heavy 30 amp cord (which I made up) to a manual transfer switch in the basement.
The ONLY critical things I need to power are the furnace, refrigerator, freezer and necessary lights. If the power is off, the internet is ALWAYS out (except for cellular data), so computers usually just stay off. I consider it EMERGENCY power, not "convenience" power.
If you want seamless, No fuss, NO worries, have a backup generator which operates off natural gas. My brother went that way ($$$) and has a large enough install to EASILY power everything in his house, and half of the neighbors. But my frugal side cringes when I'm already prepared for a TEMPORARY inconvenience that hasn't happened here in over 5 years now...
So, I have several choices, each with escalating costs and reliability:
Do nothing. My area hasn't seen a long term power outage in forever. But you never know.
Use the Honda 2000 sitting in my garage (empty with a 5 gal gas can, renewed every year just as you describe) to keep lights and the fridge going. I can even keep a 20,000 btu/hr propane fueled fireplace insert going to keep the middle of the house warmish. Not for more than a day or so though. No further cost for this.
Use the MH as described in my original post. No additional cost for this either.
Use the MH with a manual transfer switch that would keep most things going. Cost is about a grand.
Buy a propane generator and wire it to a manual transfer switch. I could get by with 4-5 KW. Probably would cost a several grand for the generator, switch and installation. But since we have never had a power outage more than a few hours, it is not under consideration.
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12-22-2021, 09:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
Posts: 4,148
THOR #16721
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Looks like you have a good grasp on solutions; the possibilities of which are endless... only governed by the amount of available cash you want to throw at the situation. So are you frugal... or are you a free spender?
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12-23-2021, 01:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
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I have a Honda 2000 for power outages. It has its limits but it’ll run the furnace (as long as there’s still gas) the fridge and lights. Not all at the same time of course but I should be able to keep warm and fed.
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12-23-2021, 11:37 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
I have a Honda 2000 for power outages. It has its limits but it’ll run the furnace (as long as there’s still gas) the fridge and lights. Not all at the same time of course but I should be able to keep warm and fed.
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I also live in Alabama and have a generator for the occasional power outages. Fortunately we don't have to deal with bitter cold but the hurricane and tornado threats can bring extended outages. I annually service and test run the generator to feed into the house. First and most important if using a generator you have to know what you are doing. Careless hooking to a house can kill people. My 5KW won't run the A/C but it will keep the freezers, fridge, the well and some lights going until power is resumed. Can get warm without the A/C. Gas grill on a 250g propane tank lets me cook. Won't have hot water but it's probably hot anyway so cool showers are good.
I also have the motorhome I could escape to if the temperature were unbearable. Since I live on acreage in a rural setting and park under a pole barn, running the motorhome's generator can help get a decent n high's sleep. When I store at home I keep the fuel tanks full.
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2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
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12-23-2021, 12:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Traveller A27
State: North Carolina
Posts: 2,437
THOR #17765
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I bought a 12,000w peak, 10,000w run generator from Sam’s on Black Friday after Hugo came thru years ago for $450. I have natural gas. Can run everything except AC. I keep 25 gallons of gas for mowing anyway. Treat with Stabil. Exercise it often. Have used it a handful of times after ice, high winds, etc. Do what Duck says. Get a home generator.
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12-23-2021, 01:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 26B
State: Ohio
Posts: 489
THOR #20900
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Given the options, I'd prefer the generator and manual transfer switch. Generator size is up to your pocket book and needs.
I live in the country, on a farm, and am the very last house on the power run. 3-4 day outages happen about every other year, and the longest we've had was 11 days. That was Hurricane Ike, which combined with another front and caused considerable damage in SW Ohio. The generator has to run the 220V well pump as well as other critical systems (furnace, refrigerator, sump pump), so I have a split-phase 220V generator and keep about 10 gallons of gas on hand. I use a manual transfer switch with lots of individually switchable circuits.
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2021 Thor Four Winds 26B on Chevy 4500
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12-23-2021, 02:26 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,320
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
I have a Honda 2000 for power outages. It has its limits but it’ll run the furnace (as long as there’s still gas) the fridge and lights. Not all at the same time of course but I should be able to keep warm and fed.
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That Honda 2000 should be able to run everything in your RV except maybe the A/C and microwave, Should be no problem running converter, furnace, fridge and light at the same time.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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12-23-2021, 02:36 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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TFers: Could we please return to the original question of how to use my Thor Axis during a power outage? I understand the use of portable and permanently installed generators, but that isn't related to RVs which is what this forum is all about.
David
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12-23-2021, 03:03 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar 37.1
State: California
Posts: 2,491
THOR #12698
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It sounds like you have a plan and it could be an answer to your question about using your motor home for emergency shelter. The big question is if you have the ability to get out and over to your storage facility and back home with the motor home. The snow creates an obstacle plus if you have to leave your car/truck at the storage facility do you have an alternate means of transportation available at your house?
Paul
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12-23-2021, 03:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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Good point. That is exactly why I asked about the feasibility of driving the Axis through 12" of snow in the storage yard.
We have two cars at home, one a 4WD Pathfinder which can get through about 8-12" of snow and the condo association will usually have the overnight snow removed by mid-morning. So getting to, in and out of the storage yard with the SUV shouldn't be a problem, only the Axis.
I may have to shovel a few feet near the entrance to the storage yard as the Town's snowplows push it up along the side of the road.
David
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12-23-2021, 03:27 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,320
THOR #7035
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Our ACE is always ready to be used as temporary living quarters during hurricane season. It's parked in the back yard under a carport but if a hurricane/tropical storm is upon us, it gets moved to the driveway so it's not isolated by soft muddy ground.
Over the years of TT camping we've accumulated a Honda 2K and Yamaha 2.8K inverter generators we can use for short term, low load emergency power; but for power outages longer than a day those get loaned out to the neighbors for their fridges/freezers and we use the larger 240 VAC generator purchased specifically for this purpose. It can power all the lights and appliances in the house except for the A/C-heat pump and stove. We can cook and sleep in the RV, running the A/C if necessary for comfort. No need to run extension cords from the RV to anything in the house.
Having an outage due to snow/ice adds different complications to the mix that having an outage due to rain/flooding (both knock down the trees that cause the outages), but if you prepare and pre-execute your plan (i.e., get the MH from the storage lot before the blizzard hits) you should have the same successful results.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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12-23-2021, 04:20 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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I hadn't thought about moving the MH over to our house in advance of a blizzard. Thanks.
David
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12-23-2021, 05:29 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,174
THOR #6411
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We have already done the power out the move to the RV. In February, City Power Service (CPS) shut off all power (electricity and natural gas) to the Village for 3.5 days during the big freeze in Texas. When CPS first shut-off electricity, Sunday night, we moved all the food, cats and us to the RV which is located in the Village's RV parking lot. We started the generator plugged in the portable electric generator and set up the DirecTV. We did all this move the golf cart while we had freezing rain and snow falling. By Monday night we had 14 RVs in the RV lot powered up. It was almost like a mini rally. The Village still had water, so we were able to fill our 5 one gallon water bottles. The coach was winterized, but we used the toilet normally with bottled water as all my tanks are heated by the propane furnace. No worry about dumping as the RV parking area has a dump station. We ran the generator for 72 hours straight using 60 gallons of gas. As for the house, we left the water dripping in the outside hose bibs and in the three sinks. The lowest it ever got in the house was 22 degrees on Tuesday night. When we got up Thursday morning the Village had power and we moved back in to the warm house and shut off the water. I had to plug the golf cart to the coach on Wednesday as we had been running all all over the Village helping those without heat find a place to stay warm. The Village sustained over 5 million dollars from water damage due to frozen pipes and water heaters. We had and adventure but no damage. We have camped in the NC mountains twice for Christmas and New Years so this was not a new adventure.
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Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
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12-23-2021, 06:30 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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Your house got down to 22 F? What were the outside air temps during that period? I would hope that really cold weather here (below 10F in NW Connecticut) would coincide with sunny skies and the sun would keep the inside of our house above freezing.
David
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12-23-2021, 07:15 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 1,241
THOR #1249
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A few years ago, after a down sized hurricane to tropical storm, our power went out for a couple of days. I brought rig over to the driveway and used the gen. to keep our frig. cold as well as a couple of neighbors and save some food. Of course we did not have the cold to contend with, but the heat.
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Former owner of 2015 Thor Vegas 24.1 in Ocala
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12-23-2021, 07:59 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: '17-Vegas 24.1
State: California
Posts: 2,227
THOR #13362
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Several years ago I got a quote for a Generac whole house system
I thought I could get by with 16kw
But the salesman insisted I needed 22kw system
Then, added to that, he insisted that I need a dedicated 500gal (400 gal actual at 80%) propane tank.
His quote with all the extras was over $20,000
At 50% run speed, the 400 gal of propane would last just 6 days.
So with the delivered price of propane currently at $3.25/gal, to run my $20,000 system it would cost me $220/day in propane.
I’ve opted for a 10kw Firman portable dual fuel.
It was $850 delivered when I purchased.
For me it runs best on Gas (8 gal for 12hrs), but I have the propane option as needed.
I added a 50amp plug outside of the panel and a 50amp breaker within the panel (instead of an auto transfer switch).
When I lose power I just shut off the main breaker and open the generator breaker.
When power returns at my neighbors house, I shut down the generator breaker and turn on the main breaker.
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'17 Vegas 24.1
Fallbrook, CA
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12-23-2021, 08:12 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,790
THOR #20289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcr1010
A few years ago, after a down sized hurricane to tropical storm, our power went out for a couple of days. I brought rig over to the driveway and used the gen. to keep our frig. cold as well as a couple of neighbors and save some food. Of course we did not have the cold to contend with, but the heat.
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That is exactly what I plan to do, plus live in the motorhome and use the propane furnace to stay warm. I can also keep the neighbors on either side of me from their food spoiling. But depending on how cold it gets, that might not be a problem.
David
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