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harvrk · 11-23-2011, 08:38 AM

gonna be gone 2 days how far will 5 gal propane go?

HD4Mark · 11-23-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvrk

gonna be gone 2 days how far will 5 gal propane go?

That would depend on what you are using it for. In our rig the water heater is propane/electric, fridge is only electric and the heat pump can run on electric if the desired temp is close to the ambient temp. This makes for almost no propane use if we want.

If you will be using your propane heater in a cold location I would think you could easily burn 5 gallons. An electric space heater could help there. If you have a standard RV fridge being plugged into shore power will cut down on use also.

Roam America · 11-23-2011, 08:58 AM

Mark is correct. It depends on many factors.

Example: I have a 5th wheel and recently left an area where temps were in the upper 30's to mid 40's at night and 50-60's during the day and the thermostat set to 68. My `fridge was on electric because we were plugged in, HWH gas & electric on, and cooking 2-3 meals per day. I went thru a 30 # (~7 gallons) in about 5 days.

Depending on the temps, you may make it 2 days.

bucks2 · 11-23-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvrk

gonna be gone 2 days how far will 5 gal propane go?

I had this story problem in 5th grade. But they generally say how fast the car is going (A) and how many hours they drive each day (B). The equation is then A x B = C. Oh wait, maybe that was a train question......

sdennislee · 11-23-2011, 08:48 PM

Each gallon of propane produces 91,502 BTUs of heat.

Propane appliances typically have their BTU rating listed on a label or stamped in to the appliance.

1) Combine the BTU input of all appliances to be used and approximate the the length of time each will run per day
2) Multiply the number of gallons in the tank by 91,502, in your case 457,510 BTUs
3) Dived the total tank BTUs by the total appliance BTUs this will give you the operational hours of your tank

Typical Appliance BTU Ratings
Cooktop
Large Burner 12,500 BTU
Small Burner 5,000 BTU

Refrigerator (Norcold)
4 Door 2,200 BTU

Furnace
20,000 to 31,000 BTU

Obviously you will need to monitor the furnace for 24 hour period (longer is better to determine it's typical run/cycle time at the current temps and settings to know how many hours a day it runs. Add a safety margin if the weather looks to be colder while you are away.

I know this is not the simple answer you were looking for but a furnace's consumption is dependent on many individual factors. Level of insulation in the RV, temp setting, outside temps, condition of the burner, area to be heated, etc...

ntrsandman · 11-23-2011, 09:28 PM

Take 2, 5 gallon propane tanks with you. Use the first as you would normally. If you run out, you have backup. Then you know. (Depends on if you are on hookups or boondocking)

We never RV without backup/2nd propane tank. No matter how short the trip is.

Davdeb1 · 11-23-2011, 10:27 PM

I'm confused also. Wouldn't it be a lot easier just to fill you tank before you leave?

ffmd212 · 11-24-2011, 05:32 AM

My advice would be to just fill your tanks before you go, especially if where you are going will be cold. Your furnace will use more than you think and it is no fun to run out in the middle of the night!! Speaking from experience of course. Have a fun trip!

H. Miller · 11-24-2011, 06:20 AM

That depends .... and is very near another age old question "how high is up?"

paz · 11-24-2011, 06:49 AM

As everyone says, it depends.

We're full-timers and we fill the 30 gal tank in our motorhome once a year. It rarely takes more than 12 or 15 gallons. At that rate, we are using an average of only about .04 gallons a day. We use our heat pumps and an electric heater whenever possible, and we rarely see temps below 30º at night. We also run our water heater on electric 99% of the time, so most of our propane is used for cooking.

When we had a TT with a gas-only water heater, without heat pumps and before we were full-time, we could easily go a full camping season (spring, summer and fall) on less than 10 gallons of propane. But we rarely saw 30º at night then either.

Happy Prospector · 11-24-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvrk

gonna be gone 2 days how far will 5 gal propane go?

You must be a 3rd grade Graduate of the Arkansas State School System, I guess it would depend where you are and what size rig you might have.

Propane will last longer in Yuma, AZ than it will in Maine this time of year, and will also last longer in a 16' TT than in a 40' 5th wheel.

So more info would be most useful.

wa8yxm · 11-24-2011, 09:50 AM

On my 37'7" 3 slide out Class A. it will last MORE THAN 2 days.. how much more I can not tell you. This is near Flint Michigan, in October.

bldrbob · 11-25-2011, 06:45 AM

I think he is going to be away from the rig for two days and is wondering if the propane will last.It still depend on where he is and how cold it is.Still need more info.

MikeandClaudia · 11-25-2011, 08:58 PM

The basic question boils down as to whether or not you will be burning your furnace.

The furnace is by far the biggest "user" of the propane. The hwh, fridge, stove don't use much.

Will you be plugged in to the AC (110v.)? If you are, then use electric heaters and there shouldn't be a problem.

Please forgive some of the more "grumpy" answers. Just remember: Many of them have been hanging around relatives for several days.