We will be taking our first trip with our new to us Motorhome, with our grandsons. We have a park that we love and a spot that we love, as it is out of the way and safe for the boys to just run and play. We are also out of others way, two boys can be noisy. Anyway our question is we would have to boondock and were wondering how long the propane would last running the fridge. We will be there for 7 days at least. Being new to all this, we are very green. Boondocking the first time out may be a bit of an adventure, but what the heck. We do not need to use stove in RV, so I believe it would just be the fridge that would be using the propane. Oh wait hot water I guess also. Thanks

It shouldn't be a problem but it really helps if you say how much propane you have to start with.

We have a truck camper, but we using propane to heat water (turn on only when needed), occasionally run the furnace, plus the refrigerator. One 20 pound bottle will easily last 3 weeks. Using only the refrigerator, one bottle should easily last for a month.

Is there more then one tank ? If yes, then just keep one shut off. When the first one runs out you will know how long your propane will last.You might consider not heating the hot water tank all the time if you believe you will run out. Maybe shut it off at night, or run it every other day. You can always heat up a pot full on the stove if needed. My first pop-up had one of the 5 gallon hot water heaters and I found I could just leave the pilot light lit and it would heat up the tank overnight - but that was before the auto-ignition types we have today.

HappyKayakers wrote:It shouldn't be a problem but it really helps if you say how much propane you have to start with.I believe it may be a 29gal propane tank. Class A 36' RVAnd I believe only one tank

The big hogs for propane are the water heater and furnace. The fridge sips propane. Make sure the fridge is not set to "auto" as it uses more 12v power in this mode, effecting your batteries. Make sure it is set to gas.

Boondocking and fridge | Good Sam Community

Roman_Duck
Explorer
May 28, 2014
As said above, you will have plenty of propane to run the fridge.
More of a concern would be your batteries.
The fridge running on propane also use 12 volts for the gas solenoid to stay open for gas flow.
When your batteries get low the gas solenoid will close and there goes the cold food and drink.
Just make sure you charge your batteries daily
Roman_Duck
Explorer
May 28, 2014
GoPackGo wrote:
If you have a generator, then do not run hot water heater off of propane. Run it off the 'electric' setting when you run the genny.

Some hot water heaters are gas only
Burwoods
Explorer
May 28, 2014
RJCorazza wrote:
0.25 gallons per day is a good estimate for fridge only use.

Thank you
RJCorazza
Explorer
May 28, 2014
0.25 gallons per day is a good estimate for fridge only use.
GoPackGo
Explorer
May 28, 2014
If you have a generator, then do not run hot water heater off of propane. Run it off the 'electric' setting when you run the genny.
opnspaces
Navigator II
May 28, 2014
As others have said your refrigerator is not the propane hog. The biggest is the furnace followed by water heater and stove/oven. But your biggest concern is probably going to be the batteries.

But you have a motorhome so you will hopefully have an onboard generator and solar to recharge those low batteries. So I think you'll be fine. Get the kids and go have a good time.
Burwoods
Explorer
May 28, 2014
KMP44 wrote:
On just about any rv your battery will run out long before your propane. I wouldn't worry about using the stove too. If you start with a full tank, it will last you more than a week unless you really go crazy. Not real familiar with MH's, but on parent's MH, the tank had a gauge, so at least you could monitor your usage.

But to dry camp more than 7 days - I would have a plan for the battery and the holding tanks. At least for us, those are issues long before propane.

Enjoy the trip - I'm sure the grandsons will have a great time!

We can dump the tanks no problem, two dumping station in park one close to where we will be.
Burwoods
Explorer
May 28, 2014
KMP44 wrote:
On just about any rv your battery will run out long before your propane. I wouldn't worry about using the stove too. If you start with a full tank, it will last you more than a week unless you really go crazy. Not real familiar with MH's, but on parent's MH, the tank had a gauge, so at least you could monitor your usage.

But to dry camp more than 7 days - I would have a plan for the battery and the holding tanks. At least for us, those are issues long before propane.

Enjoy the trip - I'm sure the grandsons will have a great time!

solar panel and generator should help us with batteries. Of course will have to keep kids off TVs..lol.

Thanks
KMP44
Explorer
May 28, 2014
On just about any rv your battery will run out long before your propane. I wouldn't worry about using the stove too. If you start with a full tank, it will last you more than a week unless you really go crazy. Not real familiar with MH's, but on parent's MH, the tank had a gauge, so at least you could monitor your usage.

But to dry camp more than 7 days - I would have a plan for the battery and the holding tanks. At least for us, those are issues long before propane.

Enjoy the trip - I'm sure the grandsons will have a great time!
TexasShadow
Explorer II
May 28, 2014
you should be fine. you can turn off the hot water until you want it for dishes or showering, etc.

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