RV Propane Usage: How Long Does Propane Last?
Dave SolbergDescription
We’ve had a number of Repair Club members ask the best way to tell how long RV propane tanks will last. The short answer is, it depends. The mileage you’ll get out of your LP system on a single fill varies based on two factors: the quantity of propane on your rig and your specific RV propane usage, i.e. the number of components you operate that utilize propane and the frequency of their operation.
For example, if your RV is outfitted with two large tanks and you expend minimal propane per day, you can expect to have gas for quite a while. However, if you only have a small tank and you’re consistently running the fridge, water heater and stovetop, you’ll likely run low in no time. In this lesson, Dave Solberg goes into greater depth on the subject of RV propane usage to give you a sense of how long you can expect your propane to last.
Recently, an RV Repair Club member wrote in asking how long his propane will last. That's a difficult question. The first thing you have to look at is the quantity or amount of propane you have. Smaller tanks, the little small 20-pound tanks aren't going to last very long. Even two of those probably won't last long. Larger ones, like this fifth wheel here will go up to 40-pound tanks with two of them and motorhomes will have an 80-pound ASME tank inside of it, which will last a lot longer. The next thing you want to do is identify what components inside your RV operate on propane. The refrigerator, especially when you're boondocking, you're gonna be using the refrigerator on propane versus electricity. So that's gonna take it, use it quite a bit faster. You have a water heater that runs on propane. So how much, how many showers are you taking? How much hot water are you using? How much is that going to cycle using propane? The heater will run off of propane as well and the stove or the stove top oven. So to look at how long that's gonna last, the more I use the refrigerator, the more I camp in cold weather, I've found sometimes that I've camped in the winter time when it's about 20, even 25 degrees, not really cold out, but that 80-pound tank would only last me about two days. By the time I used a few other things and I didn't use the hot water that much. So calculate how much you have, how many appliances you're using on that propane and eventually you'll find out how long that'll last.
My propane will NOT receive the piopabe gas with in filling. How do I fix this?
How do I connect a small tank to my motor home with a 3 port adapter?
Helping a friend with a 1973 Dodge Class B. She needs to buy a propane tank in order to heat the RV and cook, possibly run the refrigerator. The hook up for propane is outside and there is no place to install the tank to the RV. She will have access to electricity for the Refrigerator, so the main use will be cooking and heat. What size tank would you suggest (30 lb or 40 lb)? How can I estimate how long the propane will last her? How can she minimize usage to get the longest time? Thank you.
I have a 29 pound propane tank. Went on a 22 day trip California to Oklahoma and back. Still had propane left. About 1/4 of a tank.. Used propane for refrigerator and water heater only. Four adults and two children. We used water heater for showers and cleaning dishes then it was turned off. Propane was used for the 9 days on the road, 7 hours a day then switched to electric. Class A Rexhall Roseair 36'. We have electric fireplace at night to warm up the coach. So, if a person is really careful they could go quite awhile with just a little. Jackets and warm blankets saves a lot of propane..
Well, that could be summed up with; if you use a lot of propane your tanks won't last as long. There are a few simple calculations that can be made to determine propane usage. Maybe going into a little more detail would be helpful?