How do I attach the barbeque to the motorhome propane system?

[Doc Mark]

I want to connect my Coleman Roadtrip grill to my motorhome propane system with a quick-disconnect to allow the hose/grill to be stowed easily. My RV repair shop won't even attempt to convert the system, and so I called the local propane distributor who came out and examined the system. He then took the existing hose/regulator back to his shop and tested the flow. When he returned he said the on-board propane system didn't have enough pressure (or had too much - I am REALLY a propane dummy ). He said it couldn't be done.

I still believe it is possible, but no one I have contacted can help me. Do any of you have any suggestions?

[Doc Mark]

I want to connect my Coleman Roadtrip grill to my motorhome propane system with a quick-disconnect to allow the hose/grill to be stowed easily. My RV repair shop won't even attempt to convert the system, and so I called the local propane distributor who came out and examined the system. He then took the existing hose/regulator back to his shop and tested the flow. When he returned he said the on-board propane system didn't have enough pressure (or had too much - I am REALLY a propane dummy ). He said it couldn't be done.

I still believe it is possible, but no one I have contacted can help me. Do any of you have any suggestions?

[Cruzer]

Well, if it can't be done, I guess I'll have to unhook my setup that I've been using.

I have a Road Trip grill and run it off my coach's LP tank. The Road Trip grill comes with it's own regulator and is designed to take LP straight out of an LP tank. You don't want to go through the RV's regulator or else you won't have enough LP pressure or flow.

I bought an "Extend A Flow" kit (made by Marshall Brass) from Camping World years ago. They no longer carry that brand but I believe that they now carry something called a Stay-Flow Plus or something like that. This kit consists of a tee fitting with POL threads that connect between your LP tank shutoff valve and your regulator. Just unscrew the regulator and drop the tee in the middle. The tee fitting portion of it uses the same thread as the small 1 lb. LP bottles, which fit your grill. They give you a way-to-short 10' hose with the same bottle thread on so that you can run your Coleman grill right off this tee.

The particular model I use is actually an "Extend A Flow Plus" 4 way tee, with an input port so that I can connect a portable LP tank to run my coach should I find the need. Just for reference I did a Google search and came up with This Link that will give you more information on it. The tee fitting has a needle type shutoff valve to prevent LP from leaking out but for safety they also supply a nice gasketed brass cap to screw over the threads to protect it. I also found that the 10' hose was pretty useless so I took the hose to work (where I have bulk LP hose) and cut the fittings off and inserted them into a nice long hose that I made up. You can do this at any propane service place. They may not have the proper fittings but they can easily reuse the ones from your 10' hose.

I did not look into a set of quick disconnect coupling so I don't know if they're available but I did run the LP hose from the LP tank, which is located on the driver's side of the Bus, through the basement to the patio side. I fabricated a hose hanger bracket inside the basement and when I want to run the grill I just set it up and uncoil the extra 20' of hose and attach it to the grill.

I didn't want to run a "live" LP hose through the basement so I also disconnect it at the tank end when I'm not using the grill. That way if the hose should fail I won't be filling the basement up with LP. Quick couplings would be nice but the twist ons aren't that bad. If you had the system plumbed in with a shutoff petcock at the tank end, then I'd leave the hose connected.

Anyway, that's how I did it and the system works well. I have the convenience of setting up my grill in the patio area and reaching into the basement for the hose. Once I hook up both ends, I'm good to go.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I also have an Extend-A-Flow Plus added to my Rv system. Your Roadtrip grill will hook directly to the high pressure port, though you will probably want an extension hose. I also carry an adapter so that I can attach equipment that has the POL or the newer Acme thread regualtors.

[Joe-K]

Add me to the list of folks who's been running the grill on the motorhome propane tank for years.

Sometimes a photo is worth a thousand words.

Looking at the picture, just to the left of the shut off valve knob, you can see the brass cap that is removed to connect the grill hose. I really like using the propane from the motorhome tank rather then using all those disposable tanks. The portable grills use high pressure propane so your fitting installs with a POL before the propane regulator. The exand-a-flow tee is available at camping world, or any propane supply shop.

Incidently, the yellow capped propane quick connection on the right side of the picture is a low pressure outlet. I use if for running any device that needs low pressure regulated gas. I spliced a tee and elbow into motorhome plumbing on the downstream side of the regulator for low pressure propane devices I have.

[Doc Mark]

My thanks to you all. As I said I really am a propane dummy; so...what is POL? And how do I tell whether the system is high or low pressure, and how do I know whether the Roadtrip uses high or low pressure?

In my coach, the propane lines runs under the coach from the tank on the drivers side to the water heater & reefer on the passenger side. Where I want to splice in is near the reefer so that I can install a quick connect there to use the grill on the passenger side of the coach where the awning is and not have to string a hose nder the coach (for safety reasons). Am I making any sense at all?

[RV Wizard]

Mark, first of all the Roadtrip grill is to be supplied with high pressure lp gas. This means that you will have to tap into the lp gas system between the tank and the regulator. A POL is the left hand threaded male connector that screws into the lp tank. The Add a Tee will connect to the tank valve and then the line that was there will connect in to the back of the Tee. Then you will run the high pressure flexible hose that come with the kit to the grill. Good luck and be safe, check for leaks before using any gas appliances.

[Cruzer]

Like Mike said, you'll have to tap into the system before the regulator. Unfortunately the regulator is connected directly to the tank (via the POL fitting) so you won't be able to tap into the system on the other side of the coach. That's why I had to run the long flexible hose in my system. However, the end result is the same - you now have a curbside point to connect your grill to.

[Doc Mark]

OK guys - now I understand. It just takes me awhile sometimes. I have never had any experience with propane other than filling a tank (having it done for me) and turning a valve. And yes, I will be extremely careful to bleed the system, and check for leaks before I light any flame.

Thanks again for your patience and help.

[Flyerpicker]

POL Fitting: an industry standard: Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants.

[Playtime III]

I have two connections curbside. A High Pressure (Black Iron pipe) plumbed back to a connection before the regulator and Low Pressure (Flexible hose) plumbed back to a connection after the regulator. The High pressure end has a shut off valve and a 1/20 connector (same connector as on the 1-lb cylinders). The low pressure end has a shut off valve and 3/8" fitting. I wanted quick connect fittings but through research I found out that they come in two grades. The low pressure ones are $10-15 but the high pressure are $25+. Same with hoses. They are stamped with the pressure rating so not all can be used on a high pressure side. I bought a 12' extension hose with 1/20 fitting at camping store and had a 12' custom hose made for the low pressure ("unique" pipe fittings for our campchef grill). I cannot accidentally connect a low pressure rated hose to a high pressure supply.

[ahicks]

Mark, with all due respect, you don't sound like you're very comfortable doing this. As you've seen it does work. Suggest you try a different set of dealers. Sooner or later you'll find somebody that knows what they're doing. Doesn't seem like finding people like that should be difficult, but you never know!

Just make sure they demonstrate how it works before giving them a dime. Don't let them drop a bunch of parts on you that "should work" when assembled?

[Homey55]

I wonder if he ever got it working after 8 years? Talk about bringing back from the dead...

[ahicks]