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Old 09-25-2016, 09:35 PM   #1
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How long does a tank of propane last?

Just curious how long does a tank of propane last? Obviously this depends on whether you're using it for just cooking, cooking and the refrigerator and heating or cooling the camper and the outside temperature. Can anyone give us an idea of this?

Also where do you find is the best place to go to refill the tanks? Do many campgrounds have propane refill? Or are you on the lookout for Walmarts, Menards, etc. for refills?

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Old 09-25-2016, 09:41 PM   #2
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about the time before thinking of selling and getting a new one....
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:47 PM   #3
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So much depends on how you camp. I usually cook outside, with a BBQ on a separate 10 lb. tank and a single-burner butane stove. Make coffee in the morning inside using the propane.
Fridge generally runs on propane because I prefer to stay in sites off-grid. Furnace and water heater also use propane, but how much is used varies.
Of all the expenses for camping, I'd say propane is one of the least.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:49 PM   #4
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All good questions. Also, popular questions: this link is a Google search within EscapeForum.org for "How long does a tank of propane last?". The first couple of threads found by the search have the answers, and additional threads fill in more details.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:53 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by BetsyRose View Post
Just curious how long does a tank of propane last? Obviously this depends on whether you're using it for just cooking, cooking and the refrigerator and heating or cooling the camper and the outside temperature. Can anyone give us an idea of this?

Also where do you find is the best place to go to refill the tanks? Do many campgrounds have propane refill? Or are you on the lookout for Walmarts, Menards, etc. for refills?

Betsy
We full time and keep the fridge on propane. We use the stove and gas heater too. Generally, we swap switch from one tank to the spare about every 4-5 weeks. We usually fill up at U-Haul, Flying J, or a local dealer.
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Old 09-25-2016, 10:49 PM   #6
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My favorite place to get propone is the Tractor Supply Company. Not all locations have propane, but when they do it's very reasonably priced. They're easy to deal with too!
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Old 09-26-2016, 01:16 AM   #7
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When i had one tank i timed/budgeted a refill every 10 days. Fridge/cooking and heater cutting on about once an hour, so chilly not cold, on the shoulder season. With two tanks i don't think about it. I get refills at Costco and they only charge for what they put in so i get all 3 tanks topped up before an outing. I carry a third tank for the portable campfire/extreme backup. We use an outdoors bbq but it runs from the trailer tanks.


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Old 09-26-2016, 03:55 AM   #8
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When were fall traveling and occasionally using the heat, we can go about 2 weeks, less if I use the fire ring. I look for places to stop for a fill enroute, using campgrounds to fill only as a last resort. If you think about it, I have over a week to find a fill so it's no big deal, as long as you don't forget and check the tanks regularly.

Have run into very few places that charge a flat rate lately. If I see a small propane dealer I stop there, or a Tractor Supply, those I know charge by the gallon. Haven't run into a gas station that uses a flat rate either so those work for me.
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Old 09-26-2016, 08:03 AM   #9
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With fairly heavy usage (heater, hot water, fridge, stove, BBQ, and fire-bowl) we pretty consistently go through about 1 tank per week.
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Old 09-26-2016, 09:54 AM   #10
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About as long as a gallon of pistachio ice cream. Not long if you like it, years if you dont.
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Old 09-26-2016, 11:12 AM   #11
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We tend to use the greatest amount of propane for the heater. If the temperatures are cold outside we will go through a 20 lb tank in a week or less. We do not use an electric space heater but will switch to electric on our hot water tank if we have shore power.
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Old 09-26-2016, 03:56 PM   #12
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Until you are 30 miles from the nearest refill! The first & only time I ran out was at the Grand Canyon in May, 2011. The trailer was new, and I misread the regulator gauge; didn't know it flipped over. It was 34°F and dropping and light snow falling. No hookups.

For a real answer, I get about 2-3 weeks of summer use (no or rare furnace, some hot water on propane).

Last winter in Quartzsite, with the furnace set at 58°F it ran most mornings for anywhere from 15 minutes to as much as an hour on a cold over night. I was filling a 20 pound tank once a week.
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Old 09-26-2016, 06:48 PM   #13
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Reading this thread just reminded me that I am currently at a camping site with an electrical hookup, so I can turn off my furnace and use my electric cube heater instead. Well, duh.
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:04 PM   #14
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Just switched my fridge to house current as well. !!(@#?!!
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:38 PM   #15
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How long does a tank of propane last?

Until it runs out, right?
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Old 09-26-2016, 11:01 PM   #16
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My favorite place to get propone is the Tractor Supply Company. Not all locations have propane, but when they do it's very reasonably priced. They're easy to deal with too!
Yep. Love tractor supply for propane. Full timers and we fill 2x 20lbers every 5-6 weeks during summer. More when the heater comes on. Steve
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Old 12-12-2016, 07:09 PM   #17
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We have a 15' trailer. The vast amount of time we dry camp. We camp at least every other month for 3-4 days at a time. We use propane for refrigerator, furnace and to heat water for coffee in the morning. We've never used our indoor shower and tend to use hot water sparingly when we boondock. We've never cooked inside the trailer mainly because I enjoy cooking outside over a campfire or using our Coleman stove. We also prefer cooking outdoors as we want to avoid grease and odors in our small living quarters. We purchased our trailer November 2014 and are still on our original tank of propane! Last Spring (@ 1.5 years after purchase), I went to have tank filled (we only have the one) and was shocked when attendant told me it was a little less than half full. I realize our trailer is smaller than most and others may be camping more often and in colder climates (we're in California) but I'm surprised to read people are going through propane tanks in as little as 2 weeks when after 2 years we're still using original. I'm curious, has anyone else had a similar experience?
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Old 12-12-2016, 07:34 PM   #18
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We have a 15' trailer. The vast amount of time we dry camp. We camp at least every other month for 3-4 days at a time. We use propane for refrigerator, furnace and to heat water for coffee in the morning. We've never used our indoor shower and tend to use hot water sparingly when we boondock. We've never cooked inside the trailer mainly because I enjoy cooking outside over a campfire or using our Coleman stove. We also prefer cooking outdoors as we want to avoid grease and odors in our small living quarters. We purchased our trailer November 2014 and are still on our original tank of propane! Last Spring (@ 1.5 years after purchase), I went to have tank filled (we only have the one) and was shocked when attendant told me it was a little less than half full. I realize our trailer is smaller than most and others may be camping more often and in colder climates (we're in California) but I'm surprised to read people are going through propane tanks in as little as 2 weeks when after 2 years we're still using original. I'm curious, has anyone else had a similar experience?
I have always bought a new trailer before refilling both of my propane tanks, but I have an electric heater and use disposable for cooking, the propane in the trailer is for the refrigerator while under tow.
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Old 12-12-2016, 07:42 PM   #19
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We must be an outlier. We refill a tank about once every 8 - 12 days when camping. But, we do use the quick connect to grill, and the wife does like to cook in the trailer as well.
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Old 12-12-2016, 07:49 PM   #20
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Thanks, Jim. Good to know we're not alone. And thanks, Rbryan. Sounds as if you get to camp for longer durations than us. Ahhh. someday!
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