Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #100 – July 12, 2013, 09:44:41 pm My refrigerator says it's a 1500 Btu/hr model, which figures out to about 100 days on a 40 gallon tank. I suppose the temperature makes a difference because it probably doesn't run at full capacity in cooler weather. Somehow I was expecting it to run much longer. It seems like it would take a long time for such a tiny flame to drain such a big tank. As was pointed out earlier in this thread, there's a reason why Foretravel installed a big tank. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #101 – July 13, 2013, 09:21:58 pm I guess you're not using hot water either?My tank ('90 u280) is 80 Gal. (64 gal propane). I keep running out because I use it for heat too. It lasts much longer in the summer.Since your toad has only 2 wheels, it will probably be difficult to use a 100# spare extenda-stay-tank. I did discover that $3.00/gal at convenient service stations and hardware stores is a bit steep. At the Falcon Meadows Park near Falcon, CO the local bulk distributor circles the park every Friday and the price was $1.90, last I checked. This spring, I filled up from the bulk distributor when he topped off my host's household 500 g. tank at $1.86. $1.90 makes it nearly affordable. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #102 – July 13, 2013, 10:12:31 pm Quote from: sgwynn – July 13, 2013, 09:21:58 pmI guess you're not using hot water either?My tank ('90 u280) is 80 Gal. (64 gal propane). I keep running out because I use it for heat too. It lasts much longer in the summer.Since your toad has only 2 wheels, it will probably be difficult to use a 100# spare extenda-stay-tank. I did discover that $3.00/gal at convenient service stations and hardware stores is a bit steep. At the Falcon Meadows Park near Falcon, CO the local bulk distributor circles the park every Friday and the price was $1.90, last I checked. This spring, I filled up from the bulk distributor when he topped off my host's household 500 g. tank at $1.86. $1.90 makes it nearly affordable.Isn't the hot water heater 6-7k btu's ? Big flame....Long time shop owner mentioned 1 gallon a month. Not sure how the figuring matches but?...... Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #103 – July 13, 2013, 10:35:54 pm I was thinking ahead to the troubled times if you know what I mean. I'll be heating water and cooking on a wood fire and definitely saving my LP gas for the refrigerator only. I wanted to have a freezer and refrigerator for as long as possible. I'll look into kerosene refrigerators when my gas refrigerator finally dies. I'm sure the kerosene refrigerators must be able to run on diesel, probably for several years on a 150 gallon tank. I could probably convert my gas refrigerator to run on dual fuels if I were really inventive. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #104 – July 14, 2013, 01:46:11 pm Got smart after finding out our 06 Dometic Classic was using 300 watts per hour for about 24 hrs a day due to hot weather, removed it, sold it for $500 and bought a $300 Magic Chef 10 cu. ft Residential for $325.00. Took a little to build a new platform and install aux. cooling fan, now works great and only drawing 1.4 amps. Next will be Solar, getting closer to cutting the cord. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #105 – July 14, 2013, 03:31:44 pm Quote from: RRadio – July 13, 2013, 10:35:54 pm I'll look into kerosene refrigerators when my gas refrigerator finally dies. I'm sure the kerosene refrigerators must be able to run on diesel, probably for several years on a 150 gallon tank.I don't know how offhand how diesel compares to kerosene in terms of btu value, but a 7.3 cu. foot Servel kerosene refrigerator is specified to consume 1/4 gallon of kerosene in 24 hours (no idea at what ambient temp they are rated at nor how real world efficiency would compare). That would be 600 days on a 150 gallon tank.From what I have read they need some routine wick adjustment/replacement and also cleaning (kerosene is "dirtier" than propane). Also clearance at the top (a foot or two). Many people used to have these at their north woods cabins. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #106 – July 14, 2013, 03:48:40 pm Very little experience with the kerosene refrigs, but know they work, but are not a set and forget, lots of tweeking plus attention to detail. Takes a special sort of custoer to be joyful. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #107 – July 14, 2013, 10:46:44 pm I wasn't aware kerosene refrigerators use so much fuel or that they're dirty. I've never actually encountered a kerosene refrigerator, which is sorta surprising to me, but I've seen quite a few gas refrigerators in cabins and RVs over the years. Some of them were over 50 years old and still running. I remember a cabin in the woods on the lake behind the house I grew up in had a gas refrigerator, gas stove, and gas lamps. The old man who stayed down there during the summer had a telephone but no electricity. He ran the whole summer on one tank of LP gas. I can't remember how big the tank was. The refrigerator was probably a 1930s model but he kept it in good running condition. I doubt it was as efficient as modern RV gas refrigerators. Quote Selected
Re: Newbie boondocker questions Reply #108 – July 14, 2013, 11:30:14 pm LP tanks for fixed residences tend to be larger than RV tanks. The tank for our home is a 500 gallon unit, which is a very common size in our neighborhood. The 500 gallon tank holds 400 gallons of LP when full. The LP company tracks usage by degree days, "normal" usage, and upcoming weather conditions. They usually deliver about 100 gallons for the house and top off the RV while they are on site. We normally get no deliveries in the summer and a few in the winter, depending on weather. We use LP for central heat, to heat water, and for stove top cooking (very little).A 500 gallon LP tank would supply a modest cabin for a long time if a person were frugal. Quote Selected
Topic: Newbie boondocker questions