For those of you that drive motorhomes I have a questions on propane. How and when do you fill your propane tank? Unlike trailers and 5th wheels you can't take these big tanks out. Do you mainly fill at truck stops when filling with diesel or?
Do camprounds have the ability to fill these tanks either on the way in or way out. Just need to know how you pros do it??
Bill Adams said
08:34 PM Dec 19, 2011
Every possible choice is available. Places like Flying J will have good locations for filling your RV and many campgrounds will have this option as well. Keep an eye on your propane level and you can make an informed decision. We generally fill somewhere like Flying J but there are so many options along your travels that you will likely never be left wanting.
Trabuco said
08:46 PM Dec 19, 2011
Kind of what I thought but wanted to ask the pros - thanks Bill!
Waggin Tails said
09:21 PM Dec 19, 2011
At the park where we are staying, two companies drive through the park at least once or twice a week depending on how cold it is. They just load you up where you park. At another park in San Antonio, they had a dispensing station on site so you just fill up when you came in.
Trabuco said
09:29 PM Dec 19, 2011
Jerry - I like that idea of the propane coming to you, although I would think it would be a little more expensive. But for the ease filling the tank it would be worth it:)
Roz said
06:09 AM Dec 20, 2011
Ken,
When we camphosted in Maine, the propane truck made rounds every Saturday morning. This is true in many campgrounds that do not offer propane for sale. We find it does not cost more as Saturday is usually the day of the week CGs are most utilized, and it was not a special trip just for us. This is prevelant with CGs where extended stays are common.
It sure worked great for us, as we did not have to move the motorhome for four months, and best yet, since it was one of the perks for camphosting, the CG picked up the tab.
We also purchase at Flying J or at local U-Haul dealers.
Charles
Trabuco said
08:48 AM Dec 20, 2011
Charles - That's a neat idea especially if parked for an exstended period of time. Saves a lot of trouble in having to move the rig out just for propane.
Workinrvers said
06:42 PM Jan 29, 2012
the KOA where we stayed when first starting our full time adventures had a propane filling station that had a long hose that reached out to the driveway for filling the motorhome tanks.
-- Edited by Workinrvers on Sunday 29th of January 2012 06:45:00 PM
Colorado_Kid said
12:34 AM Jan 30, 2012
Some hardware stores sell propane in fact True Value in Silverthorne has a station where you can fill your propane tanks.
NorCal Dan said
04:05 AM Jan 30, 2012
I went to a local propane dealer and they built me an extend-a-stay setup for much less than the one Camping World sells. I purchased a 10gal/40# tank and hooked it up outside the coach. Spent last winter on the Washington coast and I filled the tank about every 8 days. Loved not having to move the coach to fill propane.
I've also stayed in parks that scheduled deliveries, very convenient, but they do charge more for the propane.
Lucky Mike said
06:19 AM Jan 30, 2012
I also installed an extend a stay system on my coach......bit pricey but I used a dumont fire system quick connection for restaurant equipment with a second stage regulator and a 28 gallon (100#) bottle and Im wintering in N.H ,Been working great with a 7 day refill !!
GENECOP said
03:18 PM Jan 30, 2012
Most RV parks have filling stations, we wait until we pull in or out then we fill up....
RVPAINTER said
03:34 PM Jan 30, 2012
Do you always have to "fill up" (80%) with propane - as with gas - can't you say "give me 1/2 a tank"
My only concern would be the extra weight carried around if one was not a big user or propane.
Terry and Jo said
04:50 PM Jan 30, 2012
RVPAINTER wrote:
Do you always have to "fill up" (80%) with propane - as with gas - can't you say "give me 1/2 a tank"
My only concern would be the extra weight carried around if one was not a big user or propane.
Richard,
In your case with a Class C motorhome, the source of your propane would have to be someplace that defintely has a meter that reads in gallons. Usually, LPG is sold by meter or by weight. With a tank attached to a motorhome, filling by weight is not an option.
It is likely that most places will have the option of metering, so all you would need to do is determine how much was in your tank, how much you wanted to end up with, and ask for "X" gallons of LPG, being that difference.
Terry
NorCal Dan said
06:05 PM Jan 30, 2012
RVPAINTER wrote:
Do you always have to "fill up" (80%) with propane - as with gas - can't you say "give me 1/2 a tank"
My only concern would be the extra weight carried around if one was not a big user or propane.
All the places I have worked where I pumped propane was very similar to filling a car gas tank. Some people would come in and tell me they only have $10 and I could pump $10 worth of propane into the tank.
So far I have not worked anyplace that filled tanks by weight.
RVPAINTER said
08:23 PM Jan 30, 2012
Thanks guys - I guess time will tell - I'd love to say "give me $30 buck worth" Our rig will have a 42 LB tank and why drive around will all that weight if you don't need/use a lot of propane. We cook mostly on a Webe Q-100 and will be staying in RV parks 95% of the time not too much need for propane to justify carrying full tanks - I'd be happy to maintain 1/2 full. Time will tell - a learning curve for sure.
melvonnar said
01:44 AM May 23, 2012
80% of 42 gallons is 33.6 gallons; say propane weighs 8 pounds per gallon; 8 times 32.6= 260 pounds doesn't seem to be that much weight to haul; hardly worth the effort to buy only a half tank of propane.
bjoyce said
02:51 AM May 23, 2012
Propane is 4.2lbs per gallon, so 33.6 gallons is 141lbs. Don't worry about the weight.
NorCal Dan said
03:18 AM May 23, 2012
Just for figuring weight, propane is actually 4.2 lbs/gallon. And he actually has what is commonly referred to as a 10 gal propane tank. That's the same size I use with our extend-a-stay hookup. I've never been able to get more than 8 gallons in it when filling.
We use the most propane for the furnace. This summer our space is limited to 30 amps so I am using propane for hot water to keep from popping the parks circuit breaker. I don't pay for electric or propane so it makes no difference to me. Hoping it doesn't get hot here this summer as we can't use the air conditioners. If I had 50 amp service I could use the heat pumps in the air conditioners instead of burning propane but on 30 amps it's not possible.
Speedhitch said
02:05 PM May 24, 2012
I had the propane dealer out at the lake stop by and fill me up the other day and it was less than any other place I have stopped for propane in the past! WOW was I surprised! Most of the time we just stop by propane dealers or Flying J to get our tank filled.
NorCal Dan said
04:33 PM May 24, 2012
I seriously doubt hauling 42 lbs of propane would have any measurable impact on mpg of your coach (if that is what concerns you). More and more parks are charging for electricity (even on overnight stays). You may find it cheaper to heat hot water with propane rather than using electricity to do the job. And it can also be used to cool the refrigerator.
For those of you that drive motorhomes I have a questions on propane. How and when do you fill your propane tank? Unlike trailers and 5th wheels you can't take these big tanks out. Do you mainly fill at truck stops when filling with diesel or?
Do camprounds have the ability to fill these tanks either on the way in or way out. Just need to know how you pros do it??
Ken,
When we camphosted in Maine, the propane truck made rounds every Saturday morning. This is true in many campgrounds that do not offer propane for sale. We find it does not cost more as Saturday is usually the day of the week CGs are most utilized, and it was not a special trip just for us. This is prevelant with CGs where extended stays are common.
It sure worked great for us, as we did not have to move the motorhome for four months, and best yet, since it was one of the perks for camphosting, the CG picked up the tab.
We also purchase at Flying J or at local U-Haul dealers.
Charles
the KOA where we stayed when first starting our full time adventures had a propane filling station that had a long hose that reached out to the driveway for filling the motorhome tanks.
-- Edited by Workinrvers on Sunday 29th of January 2012 06:45:00 PM
Some hardware stores sell propane in fact True Value in Silverthorne has a station where you can fill your propane tanks.
I've also stayed in parks that scheduled deliveries, very convenient, but they do charge more for the propane.
My only concern would be the extra weight carried around if one was not a big user or propane.
Richard,
In your case with a Class C motorhome, the source of your propane would have to be someplace that defintely has a meter that reads in gallons. Usually, LPG is sold by meter or by weight. With a tank attached to a motorhome, filling by weight is not an option.
It is likely that most places will have the option of metering, so all you would need to do is determine how much was in your tank, how much you wanted to end up with, and ask for "X" gallons of LPG, being that difference.
Terry
All the places I have worked where I pumped propane was very similar to filling a car gas tank. Some people would come in and tell me they only have $10 and I could pump $10 worth of propane into the tank.
So far I have not worked anyplace that filled tanks by weight.
We cook mostly on a Webe Q-100 and will be staying in RV parks 95% of the time not too much need for propane to justify carrying full tanks - I'd be happy to maintain 1/2 full. Time will tell - a learning curve for sure.
We use the most propane for the furnace. This summer our space is limited to 30 amps so I am using propane for hot water to keep from popping the parks circuit breaker. I don't pay for electric or propane so it makes no difference to me. Hoping it doesn't get hot here this summer as we can't use the air conditioners. If I had 50 amp service I could use the heat pumps in the air conditioners instead of burning propane but on 30 amps it's not possible.