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Propane/ Furnace

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
I recently bought a new-to-me fifth wheel, a 2000 Hitchiker II. I am having problems with the furnace and water heater in that they work fine for the top half of a propane tank, but then don't generate any heat. Meanwhile the propane stove lights and runs fine. My last rig had an Aquahot so I don't have a good grasp on the propane heating units.

Does anybody have experience that tells them what I should do to correct it?
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.
17 REPLIES 17

darsben1
Explorer
Explorer
time2roll wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
Propane does not need to be, "fresh." No such thing as a "use by" date or propane expiration date...
Yes.
Most propane is 4 billion years old. We just recently extracted it.

But if unknown it could be butane hence my poorly worded question
Traveling with my best friend, my wife in a 1990 Southwind

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
downtheroad wrote:
Propane does not need to be, "fresh." No such thing as a "use by" date or propane expiration date...
Yes.
Most propane is 4 billion years old. We just recently extracted it.

Dennis12
Explorer
Explorer
I 100% agree with downtheroad. Now when it comes to Budweiser if you have an issue please re-post
Dennis Hoppert

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
CJRuffner wrote:
We just took delivery on a 2014 Grey Wolf Toyhauler 25 RR.
WE do t know a lot about this stuff so bear with me as I find new questions to ask.
It is propane and electric and we are wondering about the furnace. Do we need to have water in the grey tank to run the furnace?
Thanks for your help.


No. grey tank has grey water in it . Grey water is water from your sinks and shower. Black water is from the toilet.
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
enblethen wrote:
I would change the pigtails to the tanks while you are replacing the regulator.


X2^^^^^

Get new ACME pigtails (LP Hoses with Large GREEN NUT---Color of NUT indicates flow rating)
Black Nut------100,000btu flow rating
Green Nut------200,000btu flow rating (standard for RV Cylinders)
Red Nut--------400,000btu flow rating

New Cavagna LP Auto changeover Regulator----924n model with 160,000btu flow rating
Cavagna Lp Reg
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
gonesouth wrote:
I recently bought a new-to-me fifth wheel, a 2000 Hitchiker II. I am having problems with the furnace and water heater in that they work fine for the top half of a propane tank, but then don't generate any heat. Meanwhile the propane stove lights and runs fine. My last rig had an Aquahot so I don't have a good grasp on the propane heating units.

Does anybody have experience that tells them what I should do to correct it?
Top half of the tank? In FL? Could be half full of butane that does not vaporize very well in the cold and remains liquid at about freezing. Go to a real propane dealer and verify you are getting propane and possibly purge out the old.

If the regulator and pigtails are original I recommend replacement either way.
I recommend Cavagna brand for the easier to read indicator.

Vette_Racer
Explorer
Explorer
BobKrogstie wrote:
CJRuffner wrote:
We just took delivery on a 2014 Grey Wolf Toyhauler 25 RR.
WE do t know a lot about this stuff so bear with me as I find new questions to ask.
It is propane and electric and we are wondering about the furnace. Do we need to have water in the grey tank to run the furnace?
Thanks for your help.

My furnace runs on propane only and I don't need water in my grey tank to run it. Of course I have an older rig and maybe furnaces have changed since 2008 but I doubt it.
Actually propane AND 12 Volts for most.
KE5NCP
2016 Ram CC Dually, 2011 HitchHiker 349 RSB DA, 2018 Wrangler unlimited Rubicon

BobKrogstie
Explorer
Explorer
CJRuffner wrote:
We just took delivery on a 2014 Grey Wolf Toyhauler 25 RR.
WE do t know a lot about this stuff so bear with me as I find new questions to ask.
It is propane and electric and we are wondering about the furnace. Do we need to have water in the grey tank to run the furnace?
Thanks for your help.

My furnace runs on propane only and I don't need water in my grey tank to run it. Of course I have an older rig and maybe furnaces have changed since 2008 but I doubt it.
Bob and Natalie
2008 Grand Junction 37QSB
2009 Dodge 3500DRW Big Horn 4X2/CC/LB/CTD/4:10/Auto

shadows4
Explorer III
Explorer III
CJRuffner wrote:
We just took delivery on a 2014 Grey Wolf Toyhauler 25 RR.
WE do t know a lot about this stuff so bear with me as I find new questions to ask.
It is propane and electric and we are wondering about the furnace. Do we need to have water in the grey tank to run the furnace?
Thanks for your help.


You should really start a new thread for questions on your new to you unit.


But no you don't need water in your grey tank to run the furnace.
2016 4X4 F350,CC,SB,Lariat,6.7L diesel,
2015 Coachmen Chapparal 324 TSRK
B&W Patriot 16K hitch.

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
I would change the pigtails to the tanks while you are replacing the regulator.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

downtheroad
Explorer
Explorer
Probably a problem with the regulator....easy and inexpensive to replace.

Propane does not need to be, "fresh." No such thing as a "use by" date or propane expiration date...
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."

Arctic Fox 25Y
GMC Duramax
Blue Ox SwayPro

CJRuffner
Explorer
Explorer
We just took delivery on a 2014 Grey Wolf Toyhauler 25 RR.
WE do t know a lot about this stuff so bear with me as I find new questions to ask.
It is propane and electric and we are wondering about the furnace. Do we need to have water in the grey tank to run the furnace?
Thanks for your help.

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
Chinese OEM regulators (and pigtails as well) have a short lifespan and ate cheap to replace.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
darsben1 wrote:
what is the outside temp. and is the propane fresh?
But the first thing I would do is get a new regulator
The old one is close to 20 years old


X2
Stove will usually run fine with a bad regulator, it is the high demand items that can’t get enough gas. Had a no light issue with furnace, could fire for about 2 seconds then go out. Prior to that it had not run smooth, replaced the regulator all was great.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"