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How long does your propane last?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:00 pm
by xe1ufo
We are back from our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Israel, and had an absolute blast!! 25 years with tyhe same one!
:thumbsup:

I have a design question: There is very little difference in price here between a 6 kilogram and 10 kilogram propane bottle. I am assuming this is close to about 1.5 and 2.5 gallons capacity (?)

1. What size of tank are you using?
2. How many days does it tiìcally last?
3. Do you have a stove and oven, or just a stove?

By the way, I plan on using the Mexican Flamineta propane stove/oven on ours. My goal is to get about 5 days out of a tank, as our missiojns trips usually start Thursday morning and end Monday evening. We are considering maybe 7-10 meals prepared in the Teardrop during a typical trip. But we are also concerned about exceeding the recomended toungue weight on the VW bug (old beetle), which is just 90 pounds.

Blessings!

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:16 pm
by campadk
We use a 5lber tank. Lasts about 8 days. Costs us $5 Cdn to refill. The disposable canisters last 1.5 to 2 days for about $4 Cdn.

Using a Coleman grill stove.

For longer trips I would go with a 10lber.

Disposable canisters are an environmental hazard. We try not to use them unless we have to.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:28 pm
by Marck
I am set up to use a 20 lb tank.
So far I have used the same tank at Hickory Run, Knoebels and Promised Land and it's still a bit more then half full.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:28 pm
by Rob
Doc Steve--

I have a 20 pound propane tank. It seems endless for the stove, BBQ, and lantern that it runs. If you want to decrease the tongue weight just put the tank in the galley. :lol:

Rob

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 4:32 pm
by mexican tear
Dr. Steve

Welcome back to Mexico. I am glad that your trip was great.

I have a 10lber that last about 2 weeks with the Flamineta. Lois likes to cook, so the stove got lots of use. Part of the time we did not have electricity, thus we made a lot of coffee (you know how much we drink) on the stove.

The 10lber is just about right, but remember that if you want to get it filled in the States that it will have to have the new system. Overfill valve inside.

Hope you get a trip to Veracruz in the near future.

kai

20 pounder

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:18 pm
by Q
I have a 20 pounder mounted on the tongue and it lasts me about a year, even with those occational cold nights camping in the winter using the forced air furnace.

On the subject of the new style valve, if the bottle is a sideways type it doesn't need one of the new valves. Don't tell anyone but I have taken a couple standard bottles, installed a bracket, and made them look like lay-down bottles.

Q

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:44 pm
by Chris C
Hey guys, I think I've missed something. What's up with this new overfill valve requirement and the sidways laying tanks? :o I haven't heard a thing about it.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:04 pm
by Juli n Bill
we found a small 4.5 lb. tank and it lasted 9 days of our 10 day trip. Actually it lasted longer than we thought it would, we used it quite a bit.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:26 pm
by Q
Chris,

A few years ago a law went into effect that made it illegal for a propane retailer to fill upright tanks under 20 gallons in size unless they had the new type valve. Larger tanks with the old valve are OK as well as horizontal tanks of any size.

I use a horizontal 5 gallon tank on my tear and noticed that the only difference in looks is a sheet metal bracket rivited to the valve protector thingee. I simply got a piece of sheet metal, bent it to the right shape, and rivited it to my upright tanks. Looks just like a horizonal tank and the propane folks fill it no problem.

Note, upright tanks will not work in a horizontal position because liquid will flow into the regulator and ice it up.

Q

Chris C wrote:Hey guys, I think I've missed something. What's up with this new overfill valve requirement and the sidways laying tanks? :o I haven't heard a thing about it.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:32 pm
by Chris C
WHEW! I bought my tank new last November, so I'll assume it is in compliance. I traded in my old one because the man who was filling it said it had the wrong kind of fitting. Guess that's what it was about, huh?