How long does a 18lb propane tank last you?

[Bohemia]

Venturing out further now and wondering how long a typical 18 lb tank of gas lasts. I just don't have a feel for it yet even though I somehow can predict when the tank on the BBQ will run out.

I understand this is a question with a high degree of variability. Consider summer wx, 80's all day, shore power at night.

If the fridge is basically the only device on for 8 hours, how many days do you typically see on one tank?

Pardon me if this topic has been covered before, my search found a great deal on whether propane should be on/off while underway but didn't find run time or consumption. :h

[dcb17b]

I have a gauge that screws on the tank and then you screw on the hose that I use to keep track of how much propane I have left. They are cheap,easy to read and will give you a general idea of how much is in the tank.

[TomG2]

Might want to try one of those "Steak Saver" adapters that lets you hook up to a one pound bottle for a backup.

[CavemanCharlie]

They make a magnetic strip that you stick to the side of the tank and then pour hot water over. It changes color to show you how much propane is in the tank. They are cheap. Get one of them and then after awhile you will get to know your own propane use and you can get a idea of how often you need to fill up.

You can go for a long time on a tank of propane as long as you don't use the furnace much.

[smarty]

Ours lasts until it runs out 🙂
Always travel with at least one spare

[valhalla360]

We have 30lb tanks but have ranged from 24hr to all summer on a tank.
- 24hr was at -5F and the furnace going full blast the entire time.
- All Season, we didn't use the furnace as we started after the weather warmed and put her to bed before it got cold. Actually not sure how much of the tank we used...this was full time usage.

[John_Burke]

I use a 4.7 cu.ft. fridge in my cabin. It has two 4 inch fans helping remove the heat from the coils. Depending how hot it is I will use a 30lb bottle every 27-32 days. So about a pound or 1/4 gallon per day. That is my average, everybody will be a little different
Summer it is on the short end of that scale, sometimes even 24-25 days.

[Tvov]

My camper has two 30lb tanks. We have never emptied even one of the tanks over the course of one season. This is a combination of hookup camping and non-electric camping.

At the end of the season, I take off the "used" propane tank and use it all winter hooked to the barbeque. Then in the spring I have it refilled, and start out the new season with full tanks.

I would feel confident with a single 20lb tank for a weekend - even for the whole year. You can always throw a spare tank in the back of the truck just in case.

Now, this all changes in cold weather - similar to what someone else posted, if you use the camper's propane heater you can burn through a lot of propane. In that case, definitely carry a spare tank.

I think you will find in general you will use a lot less propane than you might think.

[ZINGERLITE]

filling lasts way longer. last year my tank lasted through spring/summer/fall. mainly just running the water heater. maybe the furnace a few times. as well as i used it to shrink wrap like 5 boats. Then used it as back up this spring for my grill. a $10 fill up at TSC really lasted!

[mobeewan]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

bukhrn wrote:
"18 lb tank"
I don't believe I've ever heard of an 18 lb tank, just 1,5,20,30,40,& 100, as you've already learned, variable.

Concur !

It really "grinds my gears" that tank exchange places get away with tell you that they only put 15 lbs in the tank because they "have to leave room for expansion". Grrrrr !!!!!

Actually he may be talking about a cylinder commonly referred to as a 20 lb cylinder. It holds 20 lbs of propane, but actually weighs 17.5 to 18.5 lbs when empty depending on who made it and when it was made.

[philh]

It doesn't last as long as a 20 pound tank.

Do your self a favor and fill up your tanks, not exchange tanks.

[theoldwizard1]

bukhrn wrote:
"18 lb tank"
I don't believe I've ever heard of an 18 lb tank, just 1,5,20,30,40,& 100, as you've already learned, variable.

Concur !

It really "grinds my gears" that tank exchange places get away with tell you that they only put 15 lbs in the tank because they "have to leave room for expansion". Grrrrr !!!!!

[TomG2]

If you want to stick with a single tank setup, get one with a built in float gauge. Gets into the red, get it filled. Less than $40 when I got mine. Local U Haul had a good price.

[Huntindog]

Beverley&Ken wrote:
To quote my neighbour "Well you answered your own question complete with variables that no one can calculate to any degree of accuracy. Do yourself a favour and take along a spare 20lb'er and keep track of your usage"
I have a handheld baggage scale, weight the tank full, write it on the side of the tank. When completely empty, weigh and record that weight. Any weights in between will give you a reasonably accurate guess of how much used or left.

Ken

Tanks have the empty weight stamped into the collar.... IIRC, it is TW or tare weight.
So one coud just weigh it daily, or trip etc. and do some rough calculations.

But as others have said. the fridge uses very little. Same for the HWH.....The furnace is a hog.

[rbpru]

I agree our frig uses little and the furnace a lot. So we usually camp with shore power and use a space heater.