Motorhome Propane - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Motorhome Propane

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kind of what I thought but wanted to ask the pros - thanks Bill!

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some hardware stores sell propane in fact True Value in Silverthorne has a station where you can fill your propane tanks.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most RV parks have filling stations, we wait until we pull in or out then we fill up....

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Propane is 4.2lbs per gallon, so 33.6 gallons is 141lbs. Don't worry about the weight.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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 · RV-Dreams Family Member

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.