Water and Gas Usage Rates

[doghouseman]

I am new to RVing and I am pretty sure I would like to do some boondocking.

If possible, could someone give me an estimate of water usage rates for one person?

I am looking at a trailer with a 78 gallon fresh water tank, which seems sufficient. I guess I am wondering how quickly I would go through that water?

Also, lets say I am in a warm environment and want to run my generator during the middle of the day for AC? How much gas/propane can I expect to go through?

I am looking at getting a Cummins Onan 3.6K with a 60 lb propane tank.

Thanks

[Grit_dog]

gbopp wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Remind me not to nuke myself a hot pocket in your microwave....lol.

No but, you could warm up your underwear on a cold morning.

That only work if its moist!

(where's the puke emoji? lol)

[Grit_dog]

There's a whole topic on propane usage, or use the googler. .5-.7 gal of propane per hour for the genny.

Water? Unless you're into making heated wet wipes in your microwave, 5 gal/day/person is reasonable/plenty for dishes, little cooking and a hot navy shower.
Depends what you're doing, IMO. Camping trip in the great wide open (what you're probably asking about with H20 and propane usage), I'm good with a 2 gal shower to knock off the dirt.
Living in it for work for weeks, I can't really subscribe to "survival camping" mode of operation. If I can't live "normally" then I should rent a room or apartment or something.
Bottom line it varies greatly. Camped next to a dude this summer who had twin chit tanks and twin gray tanks (big toyhauler). Him, his wife and kid couldn't go more than 3 days without calling for the turd burglar to come empty their tanks.
So you have to figure out how much you need. No right answer.

[2oldman]

Come back and I'll answer.

[gbopp]

Grit dog wrote:
Remind me not to nuke myself a hot pocket in your microwave....lol.

No but, you could warm up your underwear on a cold morning.

[naturist]

(sigh)

Water usage . . . Had a friend once who managed to hold herself down to 3 gallons of water a day. With those 3 gallons, she did all her cooking, dishes, bathed, flushed the toilet, etc. At the other end of things, when I was studying water & waste water management years go, I learned that the majority of building codes called for sizing a septic system based upon the assumption of 100 gallons per day per person. Expect to use somewhere in that 3 to 100 gallon per day range.

Likewise, fuel for your generator to run the one or two 13,500 Btu or 15,000 Btu air conditioners in your rig for 6 to 12 hours a day in 85 degree to 120 degree weather, um, well, you do the math.

I'm sorry, but estimating any of that stuff requires a LOT more information than we have to calculate. Things like, how dedicated are you to conserving water/fuel, how hot is it, how many ACs, of what size, how many of you are there, etc. are critical, and we have no clue.

[Grit_dog]

pianotuna wrote:
I suggest gasoline rather than propane. Generators burn a LOT of propane.

If you do wash cloths dampened and heated in a microwave, you can stretch water use a lot.

My freshwater tank9(s) are 68 gallons US. I can do three weeks. I do not use the tanked water for cooking or drinking.

If you are serious about boondocking, look into adding solar charging to your RV.

Remind me not to nuke myself a hot pocket in your microwave....lol.

[wildtoad]

If you’re going to visit warm climates in the summer, and MD can get quite hot, you’ll want to run the AC more than you think. The worst thing you can do is let the RV get hot in the first place. Try to find heavily shaded spots. I know squat about gens especially gas vs propane, but the manual that comes with should tell you consumption rates under load. JMO.

[pianotuna]

I suggest gasoline rather than propane. Generators burn a LOT of propane.

If you do wash cloths dampened and heated in a microwave, you can stretch water use a lot.

My freshwater tank9(s) are 68 gallons US. I can do three weeks. I do not use the tanked water for cooking or drinking.

If you are serious about boondocking, look into adding solar charging to your RV.

[Lwiddis]

NO! lol On water its all over the board depending on how long you are staying "planted" and if there is a dump/water fill close or on your route to the next stop. So, if I'm going to be in a spot for three days without DW, I use water...dishes, showers...liberally if I know where I can dump/water fill. If I'm in for longer, such as a week, then I plan BBQ or one/two pot meals, sandwiches etc., wash dishes only once per day, and shower extra quickly. I can live very well on five or six gallons a day with a "reserve." (total 50 gallons fresh on board)

I don't have a propane generator. To me gasoline is easier, I rarely need A/C and recharge with solar.