Propane duration
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Topic: Propane duration
Posted By: Lefty
Subject: Propane duration
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 10:06am
| I'm going to the Smokies next week in the pod for three nights. I'm curious how long a new tank of propane will last just using the furnace at night for about 8 hours per night and the fridge the whole time. There will be no shore power. |
Replies:
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 10:32am
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How cold will it be next week? What temperature do you consider comfortable in the pod. Those questions are rhetorical... just illustrating that without full data, it is impossible to predict propane usage.
However, that being said. Your primary concern will most likely be the battery. I don't know if you can make it more than one night on the battery. Or do you have two? But, I could be wrong depending on the cycling of the furnace based on the temperature variables. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: Lefty
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 11:02am
| I have a 2 battery setup. Temps will be in mid to low 20's. |
Posted By: sandlapper
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 11:13am
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The propane itself if you have a full tank should not be a problem. The real problem comes with how long the battery will last and that depends on your thermostat setting and the outside temperature. I think two days at the most unless the temperatures is really mild and you don't use much 12 volts to run lights etc. But I would plan on it lasting one day only. Incidentally I never use the furnace much during the day. I have stayed a the smokies and on the parkway for a week and more in my RV and just cranked the engine up about half hour or so a day to recharge the battery and never had any problems but you will really need to conserve the electricity usages. To avoid using my lights I used l led lights with it on batteries to power them. I also used a voltage meter to monitor my battery status so I would not run the batteries completely down before recharging them with my engine.  ------------- sandlapper StarPod |
Posted By: Lefty
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 11:17am
| Thanks for the reply. Only going to use the furnace at night for about 8 hours set on 60 degrees. Will not be using lights at all. |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 11:25am
Change your interior lights to LED bulbs. This makes a HUGE difference. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171
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Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 11:28am
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With temps in the low 20's you will have a catch 22. With no or little heat, your water tank will freeze. You will be ok if you fully winterize and only use gallon jugs of drinking water.
If you do run the heat, you will need a small generator to charge your batteries. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 12:53pm
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Those temps will reduce your effective battery capacity by 10-15%. By the time you get to -22 F you loose 50%, temporarily. This may mean a daily charge is necessary. If you do use your TV to top-off, hook it up using jumper cables and as someone said, run the engine for 30 minutes. During the summer I only recommend doing this every other day. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 3:13pm
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Living in south Florida we never used the propane very much. We have never refilled it, we still have propane in our tank from when we bought our r-pod in April of 2009. We mostly used 12 volts for the refrigerator and had 110 volts at the camp site and used the microwave for cooking or electric hot plate outside. David ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 3:59pm
| Having dry camped in pa during the winter - 2 Battiries will not last 3 nights without charging them someway. What I do for a 2 night weekend is make sure the camper is winterirized and carry Gallons of water with me in the camper. I will run the heater first thing in the morning as I'm getting up and getting ready for the day and also at night while getting into bed and then turn it as low as it will go during the night. I sleep in a zero degree bag so I'm nice and warm. by the end of the second night the batteries are normally empty. If I need to charge I use jumper cables and my truck running for a while. |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 5:36pm
techntrek, Why would you "only recommend doing this every other day" and only run engine for 30 minutes? I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it seems that a TV with a "strong" alternator and a good pair of jumper cables would be a very efficient method of charging. I read somewhere an estimate of 1 gph auto idling. Thanks! fred EDIT: While Googleing I came across this thread: http://rvitch.com/forum/index.php?topic=73520.0 - http://rvitch.com/forum/index.php?topic=73520.0 Great discussion, techntrek! Even if I did only understand parts of it! ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Lefty
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 5:49pm
| Thanks for all the help. The only thing I'm planning to use is the furnance. No lights, no water, no potty and no stove stop. Just the furnace and only during the night for 8 hours and turned down to 50 degrees. Basically I'm using the winterized pod as a glorified tent. So, I'm hoping the full tank of propane will last three nights. |
Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 6:34pm
| You will have no problems with the Propane (assuming a full 20 LB Unit) Once the unit warms up ot holds the heat well. Crack the roof vent and a window so you do not have rain inside |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 6:42pm
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I had forgotten about that thread. That was probably the best one on the subject of charging via the TV. I'm sure you noticed the two supposed "experts" on that thread completely contradicted themselves several times... Lefty, the problem is the furnace is the single largest user of amps from the battery and propane from the LPG tank. Yes, the propane should last you three nights. That might be true at 30-40 degrees, but you may go through most of your propane if it is 10 F outside. Then your battery is likely not going to last you 3 nights at those temps... ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2013 at 10:44am
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Our experiences with cold camping go back 2 years when we were at Glacier N.P. Temps at night got to 34-38 every night. Was nervous about freezing our water lines. However, that being said, our propane lasted 6 nights and our battery was changed out after the 3rd night because it was down to a 25% charge at that time and an expert (my older brother) told me to never draw your marine battery down below that level. We had l.e.d. lights on throughout every evening, they hardly draw any amp.s at all. We hiked during the day so the furnace only ran during the evening hours, normally from 7p.m. to 8 a.m.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2013 at 10:08pm
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Just back this evening from 4+ days in the Smokies. First night was down to 21. Nothing new to add about propane or batteries -- the advice so far is very good. Regarding winterizing or freezing water lines, I filled up the fresh water tank when we pulled into the campground (no hookups) and I took the kick-board cover off in front of the water pump and turned the water heater on. I got up several times during the night to check the temp and make sure the water wasn't getting hard. It made it through absolutely fine. Inside temp was maybe 60. The prediction, which turned put to be true, was for warmer nights ahead. I might not have taken a chance that first night if it was predicted to stay cold or get colder. Oh yeah. One thing about propane is that in TN and NC places that will swap out 20 pound tanks are almost ubiquitous. The price is around $15 right now. If you do run out, you trade in your old tank for new one and just keep going. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: mtbmitch
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2013 at 9:41am
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As long as it warms up in the daytime, just insulating the fresh water pick up line from the fresh water
tank should be enough. I am assuming the day time temps will be close to 50. Your battery will be the deciding factor in running the heater. Running it 1 hour total from just before bed, running once in middle of night and then again when waking up will run down the a group 24 battery a third. Led's should come standard in all RV/ trailers. ------------- enjoy the fresh air |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 2:48pm
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An interesting fact about propane tanks: IF you can fill up at a hardware store or other where they fill you by weight you will get a much better deal, paying for your propane by the gallon. IF you decide to exchange your tank at a gas station or similar you will pay a much higher price, even if they only charge 20 -25 dollars to exchange your tank you are not getting a full tank. After getting an exchange (in this case Blue Rhino) I got the tank weighed at the hardware store where I normally purchase propane by the gallon. Come to find out the tank is only 75% filled. Went back to the gas station and let them know, they just smiled and said, "Yep, we know, that is the way it is."
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 4:22pm
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That's generally true about exchange tanks being more expensive -- probably always true. They say there's some sort of safety issue in filling the tanks all the way. I never tried to understand that and tend to think there is a certain amount of bull in that story. In any case, I've never paid more than about $20 for a 20# exchange tank and, for me anyway, the convenience is often worth a few bucks. Especially when you're on the road or in an unfamiliar area, finding someone to fill a tank can be a trick and involve more time and gasoline than the savings of a weighed and filled tank. Plus, a lot of places that fill 20# tanks charge a flat rate anyway. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 6:45pm
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Being the cheapskate that I am, I usually try to save $$ whenever possible. I travel with 2 tanks on my 177 so if one does go empty the back-up second tank will be more than enough to see me through the duration of the trip. I can't go on long trips like some of you (yep, still working full-time) not old enough, wise enough to retire . . . yet, . . . . . . . . so the longest my wife and I go are 2 week stints at a time. I am amazed how long 1 tank lasts. With all the cooking, heating (furnace) and hot water usage a tank will see us through the better part of a whole year.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Lefty
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2013 at 1:36pm
| To all. Thanks for all the useful comments. Got back yesterday after 3 nights at Elkmont right on the river in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Had a blast. Only had to use the furnace one night when it went down to 15. Stayed toasty warm. No problem with anything. |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2013 at 7:15pm
|
Elkmont is great this time of year. We tend to prefer Smokemont for easy camping most of the year just because Elkmont can get a bit rowdy at times. Think a solo camper playing Jimmy Buffett badly on his guitar and throwing glass beer bottles in the fire pit until after midnight. Did you winterize or did you use any of your plumbing? TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Lefty
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2013 at 10:39am
| Elkmont was very quiet. Just the relaxing sound of the river. Not a lot of campers. We saw about 8 tent campers huddled in their cars with the heat on during the coldest night. I had already winterized so we didn't use any plumbing. |