Hi everyone! Forgive me for posting a lot lately, but I'm totally hooked after picking up my first TT and taking it on two trips already (in under a month! Technically it was for "work" though) ;) I'm fairly familiar with everything in the unit, and how it works - but I can't really put a number on how much propane I'll use, I just have absolutely no clue. Let's say my last trip. Each way we drove about 10hr total, 3 days there so..20hr fridge propane30 min runs of the hot water heater30 min small burner20 min ovenAlso, how much does a 35,000BTU furnace use? I'd imagine quite a bit. I'll probably install a heat coil, forget which AC unit I have though. It does have the "heat" settings and such, so does that mean it's pre-wired? That and a small heater should be fine. Both trips were basically the same, and I haven't checked the tanks. It's got 2x 40's, and I'm also not sure about the switch-over. It's auto but the lady wasn't really clear on how I'd be using / switching it. Thanks!

Estoril, You are asking "How deep is a river?" The reefer uses so little fuel that it is not even an issue. The water heater will use some, but nothing the stove does amounts to much. The propane for the 35kBtu heater, that is something else. You say you have 2ea 40# tanks? (40 is a lot bigger than a typical 20#) That 40# will run the heat about three nights below freezing. By the way, the heat coil in a A/C unit does not do all that much and it is in the wrong place.Matt

It depends on your use of propane, the water heater and the Furnace use a lot more than the rest. I carry an extra bottle in a milk crate (so it does not turn over) I use this bottle also for cooking outside. If we have electric, For heat in the winter We use a cube heater and it does wonders.The AC heat coils are just for "knocking the chill off" and will not take the place of a real furnace. HW heater is turned on after we set up, then after it shuts down we turn it off, we have hot / warm water for most of the day and turn it on again late in the afternoon. If you are staying where there are full hook ups you can shift a lot of items to electric to save LP. You did not state where you are camping our Fl. winters are usually mild Hope this helps, but you will get the feel after a couple of trips.

Well, in the summer, in the US, your furnace usage should be almost nil (unless you are traveling in Alaska). I could easily see your two tanks lasting half a dozen trips, minimum. In cold weather, you could burn a tank of propane in the furnace in a few days.

To get an idea , based on your usage, my suggestion would be to fill both tanks, then operate on one only until you run it out. Then you will know based how long your showers are and how you cook etc you can expect to go on two full tanks. As far as running in the winter, If electric is available, thats the way to go. If you have kids or a dog you may want to look at oil filled portable heaters, a little safer I feel. If your dry camping look at the small propane units, a Lil Buddy puts out a lot of heat but will burn about a pound of propane every 6-7 hours on low, and every 3-4 on high.

Thanks everyone - I know it's it's a tough question, just wanted to get a ballpark. FWIW it's a 2016 TT, so the 6gal water heater and fridge are new, but I guess they haven't exactly changed much in... forever. I figured (from searching on here) that the AC heat coils won't do much, but it's so cheap it can't hurt, especially if it's only 55 degrees outside or something. Plus the TT is ducted, so if I leave the cube heater in the middle I'm hoping it will circulate the air nicely.Matt - it does have the "taller" 40's in it, filled up when I purchased the trailer about a month ago, just trying to gauge how much I might have left. Sounds like I haven't done much to put a dent in it really. That's brutal that I'll blow through an entire tank in 3 days w/ furnace though!I really don't think we will do much in the winter, maybe local horse events as a "base camp" for us and some of the riders to hang out during the day.

How much propane will I use? | Good Sam Community

kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017
To get an idea , based on your usage, my suggestion would be to fill both tanks, then operate on one only until you run it out. Then you will know based how long your showers are and how you cook etc you can expect to go on two full tanks.
As far as running in the winter, If electric is available, thats the way to go. If you have kids or a dog you may want to look at oil filled portable heaters, a little safer I feel. If your dry camping look at the small propane units, a Lil Buddy puts out a lot of heat but will burn about a pound of propane every 6-7 hours on low, and every 3-4 on high.
DanNJanice
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017
Well, in the summer, in the US, your furnace usage should be almost nil (unless you are traveling in Alaska). I could easily see your two tanks lasting half a dozen trips, minimum. In cold weather, you could burn a tank of propane in the furnace in a few days.
nineoaks2004
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017
It depends on your use of propane, the water heater and the Furnace use a lot more than the rest. I carry an extra bottle in a milk crate (so it does not turn over) I use this bottle also for cooking outside. If we have electric, For heat in the winter We use a cube heater and it does wonders.The AC heat coils are just for "knocking the chill off" and will not take the place of a real furnace. HW heater is turned on after we set up, then after it shuts down we turn it off, we have hot / warm water for most of the day and turn it on again late in the afternoon. If you are staying where there are full hook ups you can shift a lot of items to electric to save LP. You did not state where you are camping our Fl. winters are usually mild Hope this helps, but you will get the feel after a couple of trips.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2017
Estoril,

You are asking "How deep is a river?"

The reefer uses so little fuel that it is not even an issue.
The water heater will use some, but nothing the stove does amounts to much.

The propane for the 35kBtu heater, that is something else. You say you have 2ea 40# tanks? (40 is a lot bigger than a typical 20#) That 40# will run the heat about three nights below freezing. By the way, the heat coil in a A/C unit does not do all that much and it is in the wrong place.

Matt

Forum Discussion

How much propane will I use?

About RV Newbies

Related Content

Propane!

RIP Propane

Propane tanks

Propane Refill

Propane problem