I saw a 2017 Northern Lite with a big L P bottle somehow attached to the rear bumper. Cummins gave me paperwork on how long the generator would run usually half power with two 5 gallon standard L P bottles just about eight hours in the fall winter and spring these numbers might be sufficient. To run the fridge hot water and some heat. But summer camping that is inadequate. Would it be best to try and mount two more of the 5 gallon tanks to the bumper and swap them out as needed, or something bigger permanently running the line into the regulator. Our second truck camper was a 1998 Real Lite. It had two 7and 1/2 gallon L P tanks that slide in sideways and we never ran out but that is a little over three of the smaller ones filled at 80%With cooler weather coming on I have some time, we enjoy mostly dispersed camping so I do need to get a plan togetherWith the large bumper on the Northern Lite I could make mounts for two 5 gallon tanks to swap them out or maybe a larger one that is constructed to lay sideways. I am going to check out factory type mounts for the bumper, if that is not successful it will be time to put the fabricating hat on. I f you have suggestions please let me know. We very much want to make a trip to Alaska so extra propane would be a big help not knowing the distance between L P stations

I am getting a feeling that for long weekend in summer you will need a trailer with propane cylinders. For comparison - 5 gallons of gas with Honda EU3000 will run AC for about 28-32 hr.

You can check with Northern Lite, but I don’t think your bumper is designed to carry large amounts of weight. A small gasoline generator as in Honda 2200 or so is much more efficient on fuel. You can move the weight to a front hitch if it is absolutely required or consider a small trailer if you plan to carry other things.But, spend some effort to minimize the use of Air Conditioner. For instance, park in shade use shade cloth etc. Then, you should be able to get by with less Air Conditioner. Also, consider hookups when it is extremely hot. You can pay for a lot of hookups for the cost of one generator. Or, simply stay home when it is the hottest.

An auto start LP generator is very convenient and might make sense for someone who only takes short trips. Otherwise it is a disaster. An LP generator will quickly drain a standard 20# propane tank. Depending on location, trying to find propane can be an issue. In fact more and more fill stations have been replaced by exchanges. Exchange stations will give you 15# instead of 20# making refills even more of an issue. Often the exchange tanks are old, out of date and not recertified. You will not be able to get them refilled even if you find a refill station.Start over with a gas generator. An EU2000 runs my A/C with no issues.

For comparison - 5 gallons of gas with Honda EU3000 will run AC for about 28-32 hr.That's weird,I only get 7-8 hrs running a 13.5 btu AC with my Honda EU3000 on the 3.5 gallon tank..If I had one of those big step bumpers,I would ad a couple propane tank bottom anchors for the extra propane..I generally take extra propane tanks on long stay's when I tow the ATV trailer.I am considering extending my currant bumper enough to have my little honda and a propane bottle anchored there.

jaycocreek wrote:For comparison - 5 gallons of gas with Honda EU3000 will run AC for about 28-32 hr.That's weird,I only get 7-8 hrs running a 13.5 btu AC with my Honda EU3000 on the 3.5 gallon tank..My eu2000i runs about 5 hours with a roughly 10K btu a/c. That is with the roughly 1 gallon of fuel in the tank. If I need to run an A/C continuously hour after hour, it is time to move.

Best way to install extra propane | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

jaycocreek
Explorer II
Oct 12, 2019
For comparison - 5 gallons of gas with Honda EU3000 will run AC for about 28-32 hr.

That's weird,I only get 7-8 hrs running a 13.5 btu AC with my Honda EU3000 on the 3.5 gallon tank..

If I had one of those big step bumpers,I would ad a couple propane tank bottom anchors for the extra propane..I generally take extra propane tanks on long stay's when I tow the ATV trailer.I am considering extending my currant bumper enough to have my little honda and a propane bottle anchored there.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Oct 12, 2019
An auto start LP generator is very convenient and might make sense for someone who only takes short trips. Otherwise it is a disaster. An LP generator will quickly drain a standard 20# propane tank. Depending on location, trying to find propane can be an issue. In fact more and more fill stations have been replaced by exchanges. Exchange stations will give you 15# instead of 20# making refills even more of an issue. Often the exchange tanks are old, out of date and not recertified. You will not be able to get them refilled even if you find a refill station.

Start over with a gas generator. An EU2000 runs my A/C with no issues.
jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 12, 2019
You can check with Northern Lite, but I don’t think your bumper is designed to carry large amounts of weight. A small gasoline generator as in Honda 2200 or so is much more efficient on fuel. You can move the weight to a front hitch if it is absolutely required or consider a small trailer if you plan to carry other things.

But, spend some effort to minimize the use of Air Conditioner. For instance, park in shade use shade cloth etc. Then, you should be able to get by with less Air Conditioner. Also, consider hookups when it is extremely hot. You can pay for a lot of hookups for the cost of one generator. Or, simply stay home when it is the hottest.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Oct 12, 2019
I am getting a feeling that for long weekend in summer you will need a trailer with propane cylinders.
For comparison - 5 gallons of gas with Honda EU3000 will run AC for about 28-32 hr.

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Best way to install extra propane

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