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  | Jules   Newbie
 
   
   
 Joined: 12 Mar 2015
 Location: WI
 Online Status: Offline
 Posts: 38
 |  Topic: Propane tank Posted: 20 Jun 2016 at 6:34pm
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   Anyone got advice on how long a tank of propane lasts?  We boondock a lot so use the fridge on propane and the water heater.  
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  | Keith-N-Dar   podders Helping podders - pHp
 
   
   
 Joined: 03 Apr 2011
 Location: Mayville, WI
 Online Status: Offline
 Posts: 1447
 |  Posted: 20 Jun 2016 at 8:39pm | 
 
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   I am on the third season with mine, but normally camp in sites with hookups.
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     Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
 2011 R-Pod 177
 2010 Ford F-150
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  | CharlieM   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 23 Nov 2012
 Location: N. Colorado
 Online Status: Offline
 Posts: 1797
 |  Posted: 20 Jun 2016 at 8:54pm | 
 
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   Like anything else in this business, it depends. The fridge sips Propane so a tank will last forever. Maybe several seasons. The HW heater uses more, but depends on how much showering and dishwashing you do. Usually if you're taking lots of showers you are in a campground with hookups and using the electric HW heater. The big demand on Propane is the furnace. If used heavily it can deplete a 20# tank in less than a week. A good solution to Propane is to have dual tanks with an automatic switchover regulator. If you stay with one tank there are methods of determining Propane level including weight, temperature, and ultrasonics, but they do not include the gauges you screw onto the tank top. Buyer beware. 
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     Charlie
Northern Colorado
 OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
 PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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  | jato   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 23 Feb 2012
 Location: Kewadin, MI
 Online Status: Offline
 Posts: 3380
 |  Posted: 20 Jun 2016 at 9:55pm | 
 
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     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."
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  | jato   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 23 Feb 2012
 Location: Kewadin, MI
 Online Status: Offline
 Posts: 3380
 |  Posted: 20 Jun 2016 at 9:59pm | 
 
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   As Charlie stated above, "It depends" and he is correct.  We can normally get about 9 months out of 1 tank and we boondock a lot.  The largest culprit of course is the furnace and when we were in the RMNP last September night time temps were normally in the upper 30's to mid 40's so the furnace would go on quite a bit.  During the day we would be hiking so the furnace would be turned off.  If I were to add up all the nights we use the furnace it would probably be 3 weeks worth on a tank + the hot water + the fridge.
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     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."
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  | Guests   Guest Group
 
   
 |  Posted: 21 Jun 2016 at 5:47am | 
 
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 I get most of a season out of one - with a combination of hookups/no hookups.  If you do a lot of dry camping, two tanks are very nice to have.
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