Community Forums

ArtGomez · 07-21-2005, 12:05 PM

We have always stayed at sites for short periods where we didn't have to break down and drive away to refill our propane tanks. We plan on spending a couple of months our next trip out but don't want to have to take everything down when we need more propane for cooking, heating, etc... We were going to install a "Extend-a-Stay" however, the people at the RV store said I need to go to a Propane dealership and have a valve installed beforehand. I am sure I am not the first person to encounter this proplem. Sooooo, how does anybody else deal with maintaining a supply of propane during extended stays in the RV. FYI, our current RV is a '05 Bounder

ArtGomez · 07-21-2005, 12:05 PM

We have always stayed at sites for short periods where we didn't have to break down and drive away to refill our propane tanks. We plan on spending a couple of months our next trip out but don't want to have to take everything down when we need more propane for cooking, heating, etc... We were going to install a "Extend-a-Stay" however, the people at the RV store said I need to go to a Propane dealership and have a valve installed beforehand. I am sure I am not the first person to encounter this proplem. Sooooo, how does anybody else deal with maintaining a supply of propane during extended stays in the RV. FYI, our current RV is a '05 Bounder

rvr2352 · 07-21-2005, 07:28 PM

Hi Art, Are you going to be hooked up to electric etc? If so, you can limit your propane use by using the electric water heater (if so equipped) or installing an after market rod type heater. The fridge doesn't use much propane but here again, use electric. If you need heat, you can use a "cube" heater or two instaed of the furnace. If you are going to be in an RV park, many of them have propane delivery trucks that service the guests when needed. If you are going to be in a situation where you MUST use an "extend-a-stay" it is easy to install one. The equipment comes with detailed instructions. (Or at least the last one I bought did) Hope this helps, Steve

Cruzer · 07-22-2005, 04:21 AM

First, let me welcome you to IRV2 Art.

Steve's remarks about conservation are good. If you want more propane, an ExtendaStay isn't hard to install. It's a tee fitting that connects right onto your LP tank shutoff valve. I have a combo unit on mine. It's actually a 4 way "cross" rather than a three way "tee". I can hook up an additional portable LP tank to feed the coach (that's the Extenda-Stay part of it) or I can hook up an output hose to run my gas grill from my main LP tank (that's the Extenda-Tap part of it) using the same thread as the disposable 1 pound propane bottles. This combo unit is readily available at Camping World or any other RV supply center.

I would also check with your intended RV park to see if they have LP cylinder rentals available or if they have a local LP supplier where you can get them from. You really don't want to haul a big 100 pound LP tank around in your motorhome's basement. It's big and bulky, heavy, and isn't very safe. If you can get it once you arrive, that's be the easiest.

As a new member you may also want to modify your signature. If you include basic information about your coach, toad, etc it'll be easier for others to better understand your posts and you won't have to type it in every time.

Again, enjoy the forum. I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful information here. There's lots of good folks here who are more than willing to help a fellow RVer. Be sure to post often with any questions and also please share your experiences with the rest of us.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-22-2005, 05:33 AM

Chances are you will not need any extra propane for your Bounder unless you use need to use the furnace a lot. I'm guessing your LPG tank holds 16-20 gallons of propane, so you have more than enough propane on board to handle cooking and even if you also use it for refrigeration and hot water, there should be enough for two months. However, if you have a propane powered generator and use that, it will gulp a lot of LPG.

So, the base question is whether you have any electric power at all where you will be camped.

As for the tee of the Extend-A-Stay, anybody handy with a wrench can install it in the line. It couplkes to the existing fittings - just disconnect the line from the regulator and insert the tee. The tee comes with the full Extend-A-Stay kit, but the basic extend-A-Stay hose does not include the tee. Perhaps your Rv store not sell the full kit, so they directed you elsewhere to get a tee installed.

Novi · 07-24-2005, 06:40 AM

Another option that I did not see in the other posts is to have a propane supplier come to you at your camp site. Can usually be arranged thru the campground. We have done this when needed. It probably cost a bit more but I do not have to unhook or drive somewhere.

jdoc · 07-24-2005, 07:58 AM

Art, my Bounder( see sig ) has a forty gallon tank on it. It actually holds about 32 gallons of propane. You can only fill them to 80% of full. On one of our trips the refrigator ran on propane for about 24 hrs. before we could it plugged in. On the trip home it ran for 8 hrs. We then had to take the coach in for some warranty work. It sat at the dealers lot for a week running all the time on propane. We were getting ready to go on another trip and called our propane dealer here to come fill it up. After all those days of running on propane it only held 2 gallons. That also included all the cooking my wife did while we were out. We haven't used the heater yet so I can't tell you what that will do to your propane usage.
I don't know if yours is equiped like ours. Both a/c units have heat pumps in them which will help cut down on propane usage.
Hope you are enjoying your Bounder as much as we are ours.
Jerry