How much propane do you guys go through

Rod Johnson · 02-08-2013, 06:15 PM

I know this is a very subjective question. Trying to find a ballpark answer and figure out if I should be concerned.

I do only boondocking. Water heater, fridge, furnace, cooktop, and grill all running off the propane. For the first year, we were getting 6 to 9 nights out of a 20lb 5Gal tank. I was running the generator a lot more, and the fridge was on electricity fairly often. Temps rarely dipped below 40 degrees.

Since adding the solar, which meant most weekends not even using the genny, and adding a tap under the trailer for a grill... The last weekend we went through two bottles of propane in 5 days. It was me and the GF and our buddy with normal, but not great conservation...

Almost 4 times the usage. Granted it was coooooooooooold, and snowy with temps not even breaking the 50s. I also had a lot of issues getting the fridge to stay on. I don't know if it was because with the fridge, WH, and furnace on, the propane flow drops so low that the fridge shuts off?

My first thought was a leak. I went through and bubble checked all my fittings, front to back, and bubble checked all the factory fittings I could get to. Nothing. I checked for chafed lines, stressed or cracked tubing. Also, nothing. The propane alarm has never gone off, and I've never smelled anything funny except for when the tank goes empty and there isn't enough propane to support combustion in the furnace.

I'm going to go spend another $100 this weekend on propane for an upcoming trip. I'd just like to know if this excessive use and I need to keep looking for a problem.

TURBS · 02-08-2013, 06:18 PM

Hey good to see you again stranger !

Furnace is a gas hog when its cold !

And yes when its cold out your propane regulater may frost up allowing no or little flow.
I found this out late this fall ......
I did a post on it .... http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...fyi-30805.html

TURBS

**Herk7769** · 02-08-2013, 06:34 PM

Ditto. Propane usage is temp dependent.
The furnace literally drinks the stuff.

DnD · 02-08-2013, 06:50 PM

$100 for propane??? What's the price for propane in Cali?

TURBS · 02-08-2013, 06:51 PM

23.00 here in lil o Iowa for a 30 lb pig

**Herk7769** · 02-08-2013, 06:53 PM

Propane is a high fraction product of crude oil like gasoline.
It varies based on crude prices.

joelek · 02-08-2013, 07:00 PM

Camping last fall in the new Columbus 320RS. Outside temp at nite 38-45. Go through a 20lb tank in 3 days with furnace set on 65 at nite. Another confirmation the furnace drinks LP. The electric fireplace warms up the kitchen and living room area in about 2 hours from 65 to 70 so when I wake up, the furnace is off.

BillyBass · 02-08-2013, 07:13 PM

Maybe one tank a year and I go from 20 to 25 days a yr.I use a elec heater and cook outside on a elec griddle. Why pay for gas if you pay for elec .I do turn my furnace on for awhile to make sure it works.My hot water tank is gas or elec.

caper · 02-08-2013, 07:16 PM

40 lbs in 5 night when it is cold seems about right. You might want to invest in 2 30# tanks. It is an easy change over and the extra 20# will give you a buffer for your stay.

jar3316 · 02-08-2013, 07:38 PM

if you have enough solar left over you could use a small space heater (1500watt max) I use one when on shore power (no solar); and it works well too. Heats our 26'er hotter than I like it on low even.

DnD · 02-08-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Propane is a high fraction product of crude oil like gasoline.
It varies based on crude prices.

Yes I understand the cost fluctuations. But that can't explain a cost of 5 times more in Cali. If that were the explanation; then that logic would dictate $19.50 a gal for diesel based on the $3.90 I paid this afternoon in AZ.

So for $100 I am hoping he filled a 150lb tank.

jar3316 · 02-08-2013, 07:42 PM

in socal last time I filled up it was 2.09 a gal before Christmas some places as high as 3.80 a gal

Rod Johnson · 02-08-2013, 08:04 PM

As for prices, $3.99/Gal for propane. This place charges a $4 fill fee, but they have the prettiest little girls that work there...

Yes, I was just thinking it was time to look at tank upgrades... I wait until I have a bunch of empty tanks and go get them all filled, hence the $100. Where would one go for bigger tanks? I know the welding supply place gives me credit for the little tanks when I upgrade to bigger tanks. I don't know as they have propane and propane accessories.

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Hey good to see you again stranger !

Hey, thanks. Bug season was good last year. Well good for work, not good for camping and forum trolling...

I do need to pick up a space heater for campground camping and driveway camping. I was wondering about an electric blanket, too. Just wasn't sure how much juice they used. One of my projects is insulating the heck out of the bedroom. I found a ton of that foil bonded bubble wrap stuff. Next was to get some more rugs/carpeting/mats for the bedroom.

jar3316 · 02-08-2013, 08:11 PM

if your tanks sit up right get the 7 gal ones with the gauges welded in i think there something like Manchester 1166TC.2? not cheap but easy to see how full. with out guessing.

TURBS · 02-08-2013, 08:12 PM

menards and lowes sells 30 lb tanks !

DnD · 02-08-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod Johnson

As for prices, $3.99/Gal for propane. This place charges a $4 fill fee, but they have the prettiest little girls that work there...

Yes, I was just thinking it was time to look at tank upgrades... I wait until I have a bunch of empty tanks and go get them all filled, hence the $100. Where would one go for bigger tanks? I know the welding supply place gives me credit for the little tanks when I upgrade to bigger tanks. I don't know as they have propane and propane accessories.

Whew! You had me worried with the $100 cost.

Compared to some folks I thought we were bad in AZ for propane prices. You're playing a buck more per gal. I guess that's the cost for living in paradise!

Good luck!

Rod Johnson · 02-09-2013, 12:16 AM

Found this over at Camping World's website.

DnD · 02-09-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod Johnson

Found this over at Camping World's website.

That's a really good price...Cheapest I could find was $59.00

wyo700 · 02-09-2013, 12:36 AM

I also to only boondocking and mostly all weekend trips and I went on ten total last summer. So the fridge for two and half days each time the water heater probably 3-4 times a day some stove use and the heater probably half our trips during the night and I went through one entire 20lb bottle and just a little from the other through out the entire summer.

Taranwanderer · 02-09-2013, 01:02 AM

I'm with Wyo700 here...I boondocked 7 nights last season, the first being in February (20-30 degrees) with the furnace running but no hot water. The other 6 were weekends in May, June, and Sept, with no furnace but with the fridge, hot water heater, and stove on propane, and then 3 nights at Thanksgiving in a park with electric but had the furnace going there, too, around 30-40 degrees out. I only went through 1 30# tank in the entire season. So you're definitely going through more propane than I do.

I just had propane delivered to my house yesterday (my house uses it for heat, hot water, stove and dryer.) I needed 804 gallons, it's $1.49/gal right now, and they even filled the camper's tank for me. I can't complain about that! You really have to call around--I found prices from $1.49 up to almost $3/gal for the same stuff, all from dealers within a few miles of each other.

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