1st PUP trip LP question

[dkradcliffe]

So we took our new Santa Fe out for the weekend....Was quitre eventful in that we didnt think we would need reservations...so we drive around before finding a campground!  

Stayed out two nights.  It got into the high thirties at night and we used the furnace.  Was curious how long the furnace will burn on a tank of propane?  Was paranoid the whole weekend about running out of propane.  Is there any way to know how much propane you have left?  Would love to know when I am about to run out so I could save the last bit for breakfast in the morning!

[tlhdoc]

It all depends on how often and for how long the furnace runs, but usually you can get a weekend out of a tank.  I have 2 tanks on the tongue, so if I run out I can switch to a full tank.  That way I do not worry.

[Walt H]

So we took our new Santa Fe out for the weekend....Was quitre eventful in that we didnt think we would need reservations...so we drive around before finding a campground!  

Stayed out two nights.  It got into the high thirties at night and we used the furnace.  Was curious how long the furnace will burn on a tank of propane?  Was paranoid the whole weekend about running out of propane.  Is there any way to know how much propane you have left?  Would love to know when I am about to run out so I could save the last bit for breakfast in the morning!

I believe you should be able to get some sort of a fuel gauge for your tank. Try Camping World's web site for some ideas. Most of the gauges I've seen run $20-$30. I don't have one (yet), so I can't speak to how well they do or do not work.

[AustinBoston]

I believe you should be able to get some sort of a fuel gauge for your tank. Try Camping World's web site for some ideas. Most of the gauges I've seen run $20-$30. I don't have one (yet), so I can't speak to how well they do or do not work.

There has been a lot of discussion here about LP gauges, and the consesnus is, most of them don't work.  There are simple ways to tell how much LP is in the tank using a little hot water, but I never bothered to understand them.

About the only reliable gauge is the magnetic strips that change color based on temperature.  You have to use some LP to check them, but then they will show exactly how much liquid is left in the tank.  All of the pressure-measuring ones are so highly temperature dependent as to be essentially useless.

Austin

[GrizzlyTaco]

We used our heater day and night for 3 days when we went up to the Mojave Narrows, it was cold!!! When we got home and I checked the tank it was a bit over half gone, not to bad....Hope this helps you.........Ed

[wynot]

You can drain a 20# tank of propane in a late fall, early spring camping trip when the temps are cold burning the furnace over a weekend.  

In general, we will burn roughly a lb of propane over a normal weekend, running the hot water heater and stoves, so going from that to using a full tank is a lot of gas.
 
I guess most of us run two tanks, and just keep one full.  There are a couple of rules though.  
 
1. Propane only runs out between 2 and 3 am.  You will know it runs out because the furnace ignitor keeps trying to light and the flue fan goes on and off.  This is guaranteed to wake you up, otherwise, you would just sleep happily until you woke up with a 35 degree camper that morning.
 
2. Propane will only run out if you figure you have enough propane to make this one trip, didn't have time to fill the tank, or are at a campground with propane at $6.00 a lb.
 
We use our heat strip for most heating needs, which minimizes or eliminates running the furnace for most trips.
 
Gauge-wise, we have a magnetic gauge (I think we still do...).  I bought a third tank last fall that has a gauge integrated into the valve and works while the propane is flowing.  Since I haven't used gas from it yet, I can't tell you if it works.  If I am really curious, I will pour hot water over the tank and see where the propane sweat line comes to.

[AustinBoston]

1. Propane only runs out between 2 and 3 am.  You will know it runs out because the furnace ignitor keeps trying to light and the flue fan goes on and off.  This is guaranteed to wake you up, otherwise, you would just sleep happily until you woke up with a 35 degree camper that morning.

This is true, but incomplete.  

Either:
1a. The propane will only run out when the nearest open place you can get propane is more than 100 miles away.

or

1b.  Propane will only run out when a cold camper will mean small children will wake and start crying loudly.

or both.

Austin

[dkradcliffe]

Thanks all for the advice.  Have never had any luck with the warm water trick on my gas grill at home so will look for the magnetic thingie...is that the technical term?

My kids dont wake up crying loudly but they do tend to migrate into my bunk when really cold and this creates less opportunities for me and makes me grumpy!

[Walt H]

Thanks all for the advice.  Have never had any luck with the warm water trick on my gas grill at home so will look for the magnetic thingie...is that the technical term?

One example of what everyone is talking about (I think) can be found here:
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/RV-Maintenance/Propane/GLI-Gas-Level-Indicator/deptID=3:subOf=14:skunum=4317:src=TSC

I may give these a try as well, especially since they don't cost that much.

[ScouterMom]

you might try one of those electric mattress pads - then you wouldn't have to run the furnace all night...... Unless you're boondocking!  Then just bring a few extra dogs to keep you warm.....

[wynot]

Thanks all for the advice. Have never had any luck with the warm water trick on my gas grill at home so will look for the magnetic thingie...is that the technical term?
 
My kids dont wake up crying loudly but they do tend to migrate into my bunk when really cold and this creates less opportunities for me and makes me grumpy!

Warm doesn't work - has to be HOT.  And the gas has to be turned on and in use.  As the gas leaves the tank, the remaining liquid gets colder.

[wynot]

This is true, but incomplete.
 
Either:
1a. The propane will only run out when the nearest open place you can get propane is more than 100 miles away.
 
or
 
1b. Propane will only run out when a cold camper will mean small children will wake and start crying loudly.
 
or both.
 
Austin

Austin's reply is for areas west of the Appalachians...  

[flyfisherman]

So we took our new Santa Fe out for the weekend....Was quitre eventful in that we didnt think we would need reservations...so we drive around before finding a campground!  

Stayed out two nights.  It got into the high thirties at night and we used the furnace.  Was curious how long the furnace will burn on a tank of propane?  Was paranoid the whole weekend about running out of propane.  Is there any way to know how much propane you have left?  Would love to know when I am about to run out so I could save the last bit for breakfast in the morning!

On my old Coleman Yukon ... which was for all intent & purpose, the same size and layout as your Santa Fe, AND camping in about the temperatures your describing, AND using the L/P for the furnance and the cook stove ... I could get about a week out of a tank.  The secret was setting the thermostat at 55 degrees at night. Oh, I might kick it up a little first thing in the morning for just a short period but the morning coffee & cookstove would add heat to the camper. Obviously, the answer to your question would be the warmer you want to keep the camper the more L/P it will take.  I have a friend who keeps his so warm, to me, it's like walking into an oven! And his tank life would be about two days.  Since I sleep in a sleeping bag (cool weather camping) and cover my head with one of those Navy watch caps while sleeping ... cool sleeping is just right for me ... i.e., to a point and that would be the mid to low 50's.


Fly