Propane

If you are camping you need it. If you are parking and plugging in, you won't.

aftermath wrote:
If you are camping you need it. If you are parking and plugging in, you won't.

There it is in a nut shell....

Old-Biscuit wrote:

aftermath wrote:
If you are camping you need it. If you are parking and plugging in, you won't.

There it is in a nut shell....

X2

Easily 75% of our camping these last few years has been in non-hookup campgrounds... not "boondocking", but state parks that have no hookups. Fantastic camping, huge campsites, usually very much not crowded. And usually in the spring or fall, no A/C needed.

We borrowed a generator for the first time this year, camping in a COE park at a site without hookups in the middle of August. The air conditioning was Wonderful! But even the Honda EU gen was noticeable noise-wise powering the A/C.

Propane makes cooking simple, keeps the refrig cold, lights up the night (if needed), and warms up the camper in the morning when I'm making coffee with the percolator. We could camp without propane, but we don't need to.

theoldwizard1 wrote:
....

Even if I did want to boondock for a night or two, I always carry an old Coleman stove so bacon and eggs in the AM is not a problem. Some disposable propane bottles and a Mr Heater Buddy Heater would be good to knock the chill out in the AM if I was concerned. More storage without a furnace and less weight too.

So... you carry propane and use it when you want.

There are many people who for one reason or another are scared of propane.

Thus you can buy "All Electric" RV.s

I personally do not recommend it. but you an do it.
I do however agree that choice is good. thus it is good they give you that choice.

Why are people scared of propane?
If you mix propane and air in the proper Ratio and introduce a spark BOOM.

I've met folks who mixed them in .. Different... Rato and walked away uninjured when the "POOF" happened. But I do not suggest you try it.

I have lived with Propane. or natural gas (Same dangers) most of my life. and It's been a long life.

I do a lot of camping in the Rockies. Propane for hot water heater, propane for stove, propane for oven, propane for furnace, propane for frig and propane for portable generator. I do need propane.

When we travel to the Rockies, we don't have the benefit of electric hookups. I love camping in the mountains and we do use our propane. I cook on a very old Coleman stove (not propane) and we can cook all of our meals for a month with about 1 gallon of Walmart brand (Crown) stove fuel. We don't turn the furnace on unless it gets below 60 inside at night, but it doesn't take long to warm up the TT when I do turn it on. I love my propane powered refrigerator. Don't want to go without good food.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

I don't see a big benefit for the cost, unless you plan on boondocking for a week ! Most people camp in warm weather and if you are plugged in, there are always electric space heaters.

Not everyone RV's the way you RV. I go places, stay for periods, and get up close and personal with the scenery; propane is essential.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Even if I did want to boondock for a night or two, I always carry an old Coleman stove so bacon and eggs in the AM is not a problem. Some disposable propane bottles and a Mr Heater Buddy Heater would be good to knock the chill out in the AM if I was concerned.

Sounds like you are not going without propane but just getting rid of the ASME tank. Propane is still propane; be it in a Tank or little Bottles.

" I do plan to add a second battery to get a little more off grid frig use. Maybe solar in the future."

While a good solar system has adequate batteries, you could do the panels and controler first. Your single battery should be full at sunset and recharging by 8 a.m. or so. During the day I never worry about electric use since the panels are supplying more to the batteries than I can use.