Like a lot of people, you seem to think that LPG and Propane are equivalent terms.Actually, Liquified Petroleum Gas can be mostly propane, mostly butane, or a variable mixture of both. I've heard that Mexican LPG frequently has a fair bit of butane content. Which works fine down in Mexico, but can be a bit problematical if snowbirds bring full tanks of it back to colder climates. Propane will change from liquid to vapor down to minus 44 degrees, but butane stops doing so at 32 degrees.
Very true. I use a butane/propane mix for home heating (in Southern France) so have had to do a bit of research. Butane and Propane behave very differently at low temperatures. However, most caravanners tend to follow the sun, so don't know the difference.
We could not bake successfully in our RV propane oven until we installed a round pizza stone on the bottom shelf - now we can bake everything evenly! Yes we did get the idea from another RV Vlog, so thanks to all of you that produce instructive videos!
I think it's great you realize some people may be afraid to use their equipment and you boost their confidence by demonstrating how easy it is. Great Job to both of you!
I have seen people use a pizza stone in the oven to even the heat out and make baking easier. The only problem is traveling down the road, don’t forget to take it out of the oven because it will break.
I'm really enjoying your videos. I've just purchased my first camper trailer out of necessity as opposed to desire. I'll be living in a friend's backyard (thank you COVID19 for the unemployment). I'm learning an awful lot from you two.
I am a retired Firefighter/Hazardous Materials specialist. Your tanks should not be overfilling. The triangular shut-off valve is indicative of the mandatory overfill protection device. It's an internal float controlled automatic shut-off device. The vapor escape in your video is merely the fill hose bleeding off. Stand back when your tanks are being filled. I noticed both of you do that. Is non-odorized propane available to the general public? No. Generally the non-odorized LP is moved in large quantities such as railcars. The odorant for propane is a close relative of mercaptan, hence the similarity to odorized natural gas smell. Propane gas is heavier than air. Treat it accordingly. Escaping liquid propane is extremely cold - though it is not classified as a cryogenic. Any skin contact with liquid propane will result in serious injury. The pressure relief valve on portable propane tanks will not function if there is liquid propane is in contact with it - hence the reason for transporting your tanks in the vertical position. If you suspect a leak in your propane system close the tank valve and don't bring your RV indoors.
@@jeffreydw1983 Don't be a dingus! I've always transported LPG tanks upright, but thank you bcgrittner as now I know why! Also, someone above made an erroneous comment that LPG is lighter than air, but I had been informed long ago that it is in fact heavier (as you say bcgrittner) so one must be aware to place gas detectors down low, and that leaks will accumulate in low areas.
Another good video , one thing you did not talk about was leaving the propane on when driving down the road to keep the fridg on . It’s not legal in some states .
This month was wake up the camper. I had my tanks shut off during the winter but on one of our last camping trips our propane alarm tripped twice in a two week trip. Unfortunately it choose 2 and 3 am to go off. We shut off the propane both times and the alarm cleared after a few minutes. I write this to point out if you have a very minor leak it will not often show up until a very still night with no wind. I had soap and water tested my connections and did not find the leak. I bought an inexpensive propane sniffer and found one of my hoses had a very tiny leak where it went into the tank. I actually had to hold the tester there a minute or so to find it. In the meantime had run down all my main lines and their connectors, checked the stove, fridge and hot water heater. All these are places you can have a leak. Also my CO2 side was hitting end of life. Most of the Safe=T-Link detectors average about 3-4 years tops and often they are a year old when you purchase them. I put a new one of those in this week also so you need to be sure yours are working correctly.
In our rig (Winnebago View, Class C), we also have a built in generator that runs on propane. The generator burns about .6 gallons of propane per hour at full load. Just another thing for people to think about in terms of propane usage.
Nice video as always guys! We had a freaky problem that thankfully turned out ok. Somehow one of the knobs on our stove was accidentally turned on a little bit without our notice. We did smell the nasty smell but thought it was coming from our black tank. Thankfully I woke up in the middle of the night thinking that black tank smell was getting worse and I was going to have to do something about it. It was super quiet while I was getting dressed and I noticed a small hissing noise, so I checked the stove and found one of the knobs slightly on. I turned it off immediately and opened windows to let it air out. So now we've become pretty anal about checking those stove knobs, especially before we go to bed. I was just glad we didn't wake up dead.
As a 'newbie', very appreciative. Looking forward to seeing when others like yourselves, will feel better about 'getting out there' again. In the meantime, I know you're staying healthy😁
Great video. Like you said, info for newbies and getting back to basics for seasoned campers. Two things to mention. First, being level is critical. The oven cooks more evenly when the camper's level side to side and front to back. Second, for those of us with 20 lb. tanks an emergency source (pricey, but available) is to swap propane tanks at Lowe's, The Home Depot, or a convenience store. Be well and stay safe.
We have a 2019 Flying Cloud 23FB which is slowly being consumed by weeds at the dealer in London Ontario since we are housebound due to Covid 19. That being said we are vicariously enjoying the RV lifestyle by binge watching your most enjoyable videos even though we know a lot of the technical stuff you cover. Do carry on
Good old London, my family still lives there I used to live there on Highbury Rd, Adelaide and Hamilton Rd. area and then on Southdale Rd behind Hooks Tavern, my son was born at the old Vic hospital back in 73 my favorite hangouts back then were the Rideout Tavern and the Old City hall, They always had great bands every weekend, Now I'm back in good old Windsor where I started from, lol
Perhaps it was more detail than you wanted to get into, but most RVs have an automatic change over regulator, i.e. it will switch tanks if the one currently selected goes empty. Of course, the main valve on the second tank has to be open for this to be useful. Also, some RVs have a quick-disconnect fitting to allow a barbeque or other gas appliance to be connected to the rig's propane supply. Newer RVs tend to have this installed already but older ones can be retrofitted. For example, our 2020 Cougar had it already installed but I had to add to our previous RV, a 2007 Komfort.
I have a forced air heating system in my truck camper, however, most of the time I'll use a small wave heater which uses much less propane and keeps a camper comfortable. Nice thorough overview , well done.
In 30 to 55 degree temps (F.) a small electric works great if you have shore power (especially if campground is paying for it!) We got our at at Walmart for $16.
You made it simple. Adding comments about propane being colorless, odorless, explosive, etc, etc, was a good reminder not just for newbies. It was good for the rest of us to have a heightened awareness. Talking about uncalled for fears regarding the oven and varying features from various manufacturers on top burners capabilities was practical. Undercarriage views of damaged tubes gave a visual of potential problems and the need for inspection from time to time. Having an unhurried, articulate 'SPEAK' is critical too so that one doesn't have to pause the video, back up, and ask: "What did he say?" The visual of pulling away from the propane fueling station also leaves a good impression of safety 1st. So there's a balance between a camper/traveler being totally carefree and one who is constantly, needlessly, anxious about everything. Indeed a mindset of Safety 1st. puts all in perspective. Thanx, Frank
Great video. Here in Texas, we don’t use our propane often unless we are boondocking. When we travel North, we use it a bit. One of our 20 lb bottles will last six months in the summer. We went to Yellowstone and emptied a full tank in a few days.
Wonderful video ! Our 2014 airstream has a quick connect for our gas grill ! Another “ propano “ use ! Thanks again for the always upbeat and humorous videos !
I use an old milk crate to hold my propane tanks. They fit inside very snug and keep them from tipping over. A tie down strap through the top handle and it stays put against the tailgate or wherever. An old milk crate makes a great stable base
1. Your front window protector reminds me of Van Gogh's "starry Night"! 2. You make Kristy schlep the tanks? You are a man's man! 3. Thanks, Kristy, I've never lit my oven. I might have to try it (If we ever get to enjoy the travels!)
Very helpful. Especially the information on how long your gas lasts. I noted you have extra large tanks, which helps. I spent 3 months looking for a trailer, so RVing is at the height of popularity again, it seems like the 1960's all over again in many ways.
We travel with 4 LP tanks. Two 30# on the trailer and one 20# back-up tank, plus one 11# for the portable grill and Little Buddy heater. I went to the local RV Surplus Store and purchased a LP tank rack (just like the one on the RV) and mounted it in the bed of the truck, for safe transporting. Of course it helps to live in Elkhart County Indiana where there are many local RV surplus stores.
Your back two burners on your stove top does appear to have an igniter on them, so you should be able to use the same igniter knob to 'ignite' all three of them otherwise the little igniter switch (the little white thing with metal looking hook) has gone bad. Just an observation :)
I remember an instance several years ago when a tank-ship carrying the smelly propane smell stuff had a leak (no propane, only the smelly stuff), the whole city smelled like gas and the fire department had to run "gas smell alarms" all day long, just in case there was a real leak
Thanks so much. We got our tt in Sept and I am still trying to figure out how to turn the oven on - typically takes me trying 5 different combos of dial settings, pushing in vs out on the dial - I've never figured out which one actually works because Im on my hands & knees and looking at the pilot while moving the dial. Will follow Kristy's instructions next time. FYI - We will be boon-docking at our storage facility if this crisis doesn't end soon!
Good idea to have a valve adapter for the small disposable bottles in case of an unexpected out of propane situation, and a few of those bottles stashed away somewhere. Also a cheap, portable camping stove, so you can use them on that and cook outside. Nothing tastes better than bacon and eggs cooked outdoors in the woods like that.
Skid plates under the trailer for both gas lines and brake lines would be a great idea. Not airtight, just something to prevent damage. I don't know why I have never seen it yet. Even 18 wheelers have stuff hanging down without shielding. I bought a 1968 last fall, gutted, not much saved, kind of starting from scratch first of June. I almost feel like Wally in 1955.(:-))
Hi from Australia.. LPG Cylinders should always transported in a vertical position as they are normally filled to 80% liquid which leaves a 20% vapour space at the top and if it is left in the sun and the pressure relieve valve on the top bottle (normally built into the service valve) vents to relieve pressure to a safe pressure (below 1250 Kpa max) it only vents vapour not liquid as if it vented liquid 1 litre of liquid will make about 700 litres of vapour at atmospheric pressure combined with air at 10 to 1 equals 7000litres of combustible material where by if only vapour is released you may only have to vent a very small amount to reduce the pressure to a safe limit..Figures used are close but approximate. Hope this is helpfull and answers the mystery..
Not sure if this happens to other RV owners but if i put the pilot knob on and try to light it immediately it does not work, but if i turn it on for a minute then light it then its fine. Also filling my LP 30 lb. tanks have always cost $25-$30 for both regardless of where I go. Recently i discovered Costco fills my 30 lb. for $10 but make sure its empty because its a flat rate. A coworker goes to BJ’s club and its about the same
Don’t forget to mention the level testing trick if u don’t have a gauge. Pour warm water down the side. It’ll show how full by the condensation on the side 😃
Just watched your video on whether or not to travel with the propane on to keep the fridge cold. I agree strongly with you that you should NOT. But I have something to share. We always keep 16 oz bottled water in the freezer. (4 to 6 of them) when we travel and the propane is off, I move 3 or 4 to the fridge leaving 1 or 2 in the freezer. This works well keeping the temp in the fridge. The temp drops much slower. I always put the frozen water near the mayo, eggs and milk. Just wanted to share. The Laniers
Thanks. I’m a newbie and your videos have been a great help. My trailer was delivered with VERY little instructions and I have learned most of what I know from UA-cam videos.
When we were at the Winter Star Party, the propane hose going to our driver side tank started leaking (5 year old hose in Florida: heat death). Even though the leak was outside, the propane detector (2016 FC) went off in the early evening. Those Green-tipped hoses (green connector that connects to the tank) are special. Don't use another type.
Great video and explanation about "Propano" Sean! ..as you've said,...hope we can be back on the road again soon.., we've already had to cancel two long weekend trips...., hoping to be in Glacier National Park in early July,..if the situation changes....
I use a pizza stone to help even out my oven's temperatures. I simply place it on the bottom flame dissipation level. I remove it when I'm in motion so as not to allow it to bounce and fracture in the oven.
If your LP Tanks are Aluminum I have been told they can last for up to 35 years. I have also been told that the aluminum tanks are VERY expensive to replace with aluminum.
Hello Lolohos, A Fire Chief once told me that LP tanks during transport need to be kept oriented in relation to the way they were manufactured to be used (some tanks stand vertically, such as those on barbeque grills and travel trailers. And some horizontally, such as tanks used to fuel pick-up trucks and forklifts). This is because the pressure relief valve will only be able to relieve LP gas in a gaseous state, not in a liquid state, transporting in another orientation may submerge the relief valve, rendering it useless thus possibly creating a condition of over-pressure and possible rupture, especially if the tank should be agitated, subjected to heat or change in elevation. Safe travels!
Good info wished I had this 30 years ago with our first trailer. Just retired so now I play camp and play with devices in our year old camper. As a note I always take a small spare tank from our home grilll just in case! Thanks stay safe!
Very good, as for the water heater, we use electric to get it started since when we first get to the campground we don't need hot water right off but then after a while switch to gas and the works better for showers and such. Since we are in in a hurry for hot water let the electric work for us. I got rid of our oven since after 6 years we had never used it, I got rid of the unit and put in just a stove top and even that we hardly use since we do most of our cooking out side on my Blackstone grill or my butane cooker for pots and stuff, wife does not like food smells in the camper where she sleeps. I am one that runs the Refrigerator on Gas as we travel, I have heard the no no's but I still do.
Something I found out when my furnace quit working, there is a small amount of oil in the tanks guessing to keep the regulator and things moving smooth. That small amount of oil over time balled up in the furnace and plugged the orifice for the furnace. Took it apart, blew it out and works fine now. My rig is an '05 so not sure if it had ever been cleaned out before.
When you open the valve on the propane tank you should only open it 1 full turn. Also your tank has an automatic shut off to prevent overfilling. You can tell by the three sided handle. Those handles have a float built into them that will shut off the tank inlet when the tank is full (about 80%). When filling the service attendant will open a vent on the propane tank to let out gas to make room (reduces the pressure) for the liquid being pumped in. Since it is propane gas you can smell it. When the tank is full some liquid propane may come out the vent. Keep safe and God Bless.
Note with oven and not cooking evenly find a pizza stone that fits the size of your oven. And this will heat up and spread the heat evenly in the oven. I can confirm this because i do it. This tip was given to me by our salesman.
Hay, is that a new rig! No the old tanks give it a way. I never travel with the tanks open. Too much worry. Chill the frig on house current. Travel with frozen ice packs in the frig. Food stays cold for 5 to 6 hours. Arrive and hook up.
The convenience of the appliances in the modern RVs is nice I admit. No longer having to manually light the fridge for example and all other electronic ignitions. However it was much more efficient way back when. In my first several RVs for instance had the 3 way fridge, making driving down the road safer by shutting down the propane and letting the 12V handle the fridge. Had a hand pump on the sink, no electric pump necessary. The furnace was a wall mount propane, with pilot light and no electricity needed. Oh and does anyone else remember the propane (mantle) lantern over the dinette? Could boondock without any electricity period.
You shouldn't turn on your stove first then light, you should put the fire next to it then turn on the stove. A friend of mine turned his stove on to light it but his kid fell down and started screaming so he went to help forgetting he just turn the gas on, he went back to the stove and went to light it in the way he should have done the first time and boom, husband wife and kid secondary burns all over.
Been using propane all my life...easy to feel how full with your hand...as you run your hand down the side of the tank you can feel the chill at the level of the liquid. Problem now is our 30 year old class A we bought 2 years ago has a 30 year old 30 gallon tank that needs to be certified...as I start to ask how and where it occurs to me to google that so never mind. Have you ever considered protecting the propane line that runs underneath your RV? I'm running a propane line from the passenger side across to the driver side to feed our dual-fuel generator I installed and I used a 10' steel-braid hose inside a 1" PEX hose inside a metal electric conduit. I put the hose in the PEX to prevent abrasion from travel and put the PEX inside the metal conduit because I don't want a tire blowout to rupture the line...which, according to several UA-cam videos I've watched, is a relatively common event. I'm making sure to ground the conduit to prevent build-up of static electricity. Propane is how they make big explosions in the movies. Yeah, I'm being ridiculously cautious.
It's kind of fun to watch a back to basics video even if you are not a brand newbie. Good job. You did not mention whether you leave your pilot light on continuously. As someone who grew up in a household with an old-fashioned gas stove and an oven pilot light, this is not as intimidating as it might seem to someone used to an electric range. When we get to our campsite, we light the oven pilot light and generally don't turn it off until we are ready to move. Curious as to whether you leave yours on or not? Also, on the video, it looked like your rear burners also have a piezoelectric electrode. Are you sure the reason you have to light it manually is not because there is a wiring problem to the rear burners?
Great video, educating the masses, back in Jan. 1985 I started my first business with Snap-On Tools, these trucks have a 50 pound propane tank, a dealer in Wisconsin had his truck running on a 110, when he disconnected the plug the truck sparked 110 to 12volt and the van blew up. The pilot light had went off and His furnace emptied the propane into the van. Propane is lighter than air, and when the system changed over, this sparked the propane, they said people heard the explosion 5 miles away. Sadly he lost his life, we where told to open the door before pulling the shore power. Stay save out there, enjoying all the video’s during this home time.
Really sorry to hear about your experience, but for the people reading propane is heavier than air. If you let it leak outside it will not dissipate. Natural gas is lighter than air.
The “overflow” valve you talk about is not that. The flat blade screw on the side of the valve assembly is called the liquid gauge. There is a small tube that extends down into the tank to the 80% level, the maximum the tank should be filled. This gauge should ALWAYS be opened when filling the tank. Initially, it will vent gaseous petroleum (more on that later). When you see liquid, the tank is at 80% and the filling operation should stop. All current propane tanks must have an Overfill Protection Device (OPD) that shuts off the flow of petroleum when the tank is at 80%. Sometimes the float that shuts off the OPD can stick, so that is why the liquid gauge should ALWAYS be used and why you shouldn’t rely upon the OPD. Since the liquid gauge will vent petroleum and mercaptan during the filling process, the odor can be quite pungent when the tanks are PROPERLY filled. As far as LP, it stands for Liquified Petroleum. Commonly it is referred to as propane, but in some southern states butane is often used instead. The heat content of butane is greater than propane, but the boiling point of butane is around 34°F versus propane at -44°F... Otherwise, the two fuels can be used interchangeably without any undue harm or ill effects. The major downside to butane is that in cold weather, a full tank will be completely useless if the temperature is less than 34°F, as the liquid won’t boil and therefore no gas will flow to your appliances.
Thanks for the video, after watching this I thought I need to look under my RV and check the propane lines... well looks like now I have another project, yikes my lines are in rough shape.
Before and after coffee pics were...interesting. Oh yeah, thanks for the remedial on rv propane except that you didn't mention the effects of altitude.
If you've never cooked in a trailer oven check it out before you get that nice big dutchoven. I inverted the lid it fit, but I'm not good enough to notice the difference. Please answer the question of why it's 3 am and cold when the propane runs out. Every time! Everytime!! Vegas wouldn't take the odds.
The RV i own also drives on the LPG Ford e350 tioga from 1992. Here where i live petrol costs 1.80 € a liter LPG costs 0.57 € a liter. It runs very well the tank capacity i have 580 liters of LPG and with a switch i can toggle it between normal petrol and LPG. System costet me about 4000 € but as im driving a lot and i live in it, this system is quicly cost effective ... and i fill up at any normal gas station.
Thank you for showing where the "dates" are located,. I have been looking but never put them together, so I know now,. THanks Happy Trails Tallahassee!!
Like a lot of people, you seem to think that LPG and Propane are equivalent terms.Actually, Liquified Petroleum Gas can be mostly propane, mostly butane, or a variable mixture of both. I've heard that Mexican LPG frequently has a fair bit of butane content. Which works fine down in Mexico, but can be a bit problematical if snowbirds bring full tanks of it back to colder climates. Propane will change from liquid to vapor down to minus 44 degrees, but butane stops doing so at 32 degrees.
Very true. I use a butane/propane mix for home heating (in Southern France) so have had to do a bit of research. Butane and Propane behave very differently at low temperatures. However, most caravanners tend to follow the sun, so don't know the difference.
We could not bake successfully in our RV propane oven until we installed a round pizza stone on the bottom shelf - now we can bake everything evenly! Yes we did get the idea from another RV Vlog, so thanks to all of you that produce instructive videos!
I think it's great you realize some people may be afraid to use their equipment and you boost their confidence by demonstrating how easy it is. Great Job to both of you!
Could also mention that it is essential to have a propane or gas detector, and you mounted low near the floor since propane is heavier than air
Airstreams have one installed by the fuse panel.
I have seen people use a pizza stone in the oven to even the heat out and make baking easier. The only problem is traveling down the road, don’t forget to take it out of the oven because it will break.
I'm really enjoying your videos. I've just purchased my first camper trailer out of necessity as opposed to desire. I'll be living in a friend's backyard (thank you COVID19 for the unemployment). I'm learning an awful lot from you two.
Did you ever do it ? I’m about to buy an RV for me and my 4 year old with special needs. Any advice ?
We use a tiles from a home improvement store to not burn the bottom of food. I am sure you may know this.
Or a pizza stone.
I am a retired Firefighter/Hazardous Materials specialist. Your tanks should not be overfilling. The triangular shut-off valve is indicative of the mandatory overfill protection device. It's an internal float controlled automatic shut-off device. The vapor escape in your video is merely the fill hose bleeding off. Stand back when your tanks are being filled. I noticed both of you do that. Is non-odorized propane available to the general public? No. Generally the non-odorized LP is moved in large quantities such as railcars. The odorant for propane is a close relative of mercaptan, hence the similarity to odorized natural gas smell. Propane gas is heavier than air. Treat it accordingly. Escaping liquid propane is extremely cold - though it is not classified as a cryogenic. Any skin contact with liquid propane will result in serious injury. The pressure relief valve on portable propane tanks will not function if there is liquid propane is in contact with it - hence the reason for transporting your tanks in the vertical position. If you suspect a leak in your propane system close the tank valve and don't bring your RV indoors.
bcgrittner Nobody asked
@@jeffreydw1983 Don't be a dingus! I've always transported LPG tanks upright, but thank you bcgrittner as now I know why! Also, someone above made an erroneous comment that LPG is lighter than air, but I had been informed long ago that it is in fact heavier (as you say bcgrittner) so one must be aware to place gas detectors down low, and that leaks will accumulate in low areas.
Good information. Thanks!
I’m not a newb but always learn something from your newb vids. Great!
Another good video , one thing you did not talk about was leaving the propane on when driving down the road to keep the fridg on . It’s not legal in some states .
This month was wake up the camper. I had my tanks shut off during the winter but on one of our last camping trips our propane alarm tripped twice in a two week trip. Unfortunately it choose 2 and 3 am to go off. We shut off the propane both times and the alarm cleared after a few minutes.
I write this to point out if you have a very minor leak it will not often show up until a very still night with no wind. I had soap and water tested my connections and did not find the leak. I bought an inexpensive propane sniffer and found one of my hoses had a very tiny leak where it went into the tank. I actually had to hold the tester there a minute or so to find it. In the meantime had run down all my main lines and their connectors, checked the stove, fridge and hot water heater. All these are places you can have a leak.
Also my CO2 side was hitting end of life. Most of the Safe=T-Link detectors average about 3-4 years tops and often they are a year old when you purchase them. I put a new one of those in this week also so you need to be sure yours are working correctly.
Thank you Sean and Kristy! Great noob food! Absolutely appreciate your sharing your knowledge.
From a Alabama born native raised in Indiana thanks for the educational video. I hope to soon start my travels. Stay Safe!
In our rig (Winnebago View, Class C), we also have a built in generator that runs on propane. The generator burns about .6 gallons of propane per hour at full load. Just another thing for people to think about in terms of propane usage.
I graduated from kindergarten today because of y'all. Thanks again
Nice video as always guys! We had a freaky problem that thankfully turned out ok. Somehow one of the knobs on our stove was accidentally turned on a little bit without our notice. We did smell the nasty smell but thought it was coming from our black tank. Thankfully I woke up in the middle of the night thinking that black tank smell was getting worse and I was going to have to do something about it. It was super quiet while I was getting dressed and I noticed a small hissing noise, so I checked the stove and found one of the knobs slightly on. I turned it off immediately and opened windows to let it air out. So now we've become pretty anal about checking those stove knobs, especially before we go to bed. I was just glad we didn't wake up dead.
Yeah, waking up dead is such a drag!
As a 'newbie', very appreciative. Looking forward to seeing when others like yourselves, will feel better about 'getting out there' again. In the meantime, I know you're staying healthy😁
Great video. Like you said, info for newbies and getting back to basics for seasoned campers. Two things to mention. First, being level is critical. The oven cooks more evenly when the camper's level side to side and front to back. Second, for those of us with 20 lb. tanks an emergency source (pricey, but available) is to swap propane tanks at Lowe's, The Home Depot, or a convenience store. Be well and stay safe.
I'm new to the RV world, just bought my first rv!. Very informative video will watching more.
We have a 2019 Flying Cloud 23FB which is slowly being consumed by weeds at the dealer in London Ontario since we are housebound due to Covid 19. That being said we are vicariously enjoying the RV lifestyle by binge watching your most enjoyable videos even though we know a lot of the technical stuff you cover. Do carry on
Good old London, my family still lives there I used to live there on Highbury Rd, Adelaide and Hamilton Rd. area and then on Southdale Rd behind Hooks Tavern, my son was born at the old Vic hospital back in 73 my favorite hangouts back then were the Rideout Tavern and the Old City hall, They always had great bands every weekend, Now I'm back in good old Windsor where I started from, lol
Perhaps it was more detail than you wanted to get into, but most RVs have an automatic change over regulator, i.e. it will switch tanks if the one currently selected goes empty. Of course, the main valve on the second tank has to be open for this to be useful.
Also, some RVs have a quick-disconnect fitting to allow a barbeque or other gas appliance to be connected to the rig's propane supply. Newer RVs tend to have this installed already but older ones can be retrofitted. For example, our 2020 Cougar had it already installed but I had to add to our previous RV, a 2007 Komfort.
But you may not know that one tank is already empty when the second one goes empty without gauges. Suddenly, you have nothing.
I have a forced air heating system in my truck camper, however, most of the time I'll use a small wave heater which uses much less propane and keeps a camper comfortable. Nice thorough overview , well done.
In 30 to 55 degree temps (F.) a small electric works great if you have shore power (especially if campground is paying for it!) We got our at at Walmart for $16.
You made it simple. Adding comments about propane being colorless, odorless, explosive, etc, etc, was a good reminder not just for newbies. It was good for the rest of us to have a heightened awareness. Talking about uncalled for fears regarding the oven and varying features from various manufacturers on top burners capabilities was practical. Undercarriage views of damaged tubes gave a visual of potential problems and the need for inspection from time to time. Having an unhurried, articulate 'SPEAK' is critical too so that one doesn't have to pause the video, back up, and ask: "What did he say?" The visual of pulling away from the propane fueling station also leaves a good impression of safety 1st. So there's a balance between a camper/traveler being totally carefree and one who is constantly, needlessly, anxious about everything. Indeed a mindset of Safety 1st. puts all in perspective. Thanx, Frank
Great video. Here in Texas, we don’t use our propane often unless we are boondocking. When we travel North, we use it a bit. One of our 20 lb bottles will last six months in the summer. We went to Yellowstone and emptied a full tank in a few days.
Wonderful video ! Our 2014 airstream has a quick connect for our gas grill ! Another “ propano “ use ! Thanks again for the always upbeat and humorous videos !
I use an old milk crate to hold my propane tanks. They fit inside very snug and keep them from tipping over. A tie down strap through the top handle and it stays put against the tailgate or wherever.
An old milk crate makes a great stable base
1. Your front window protector reminds me of Van Gogh's "starry Night"!
2. You make Kristy schlep the tanks? You are a man's man!
3. Thanks, Kristy, I've never lit my oven. I might have to try it (If we ever get to enjoy the travels!)
Very helpful. Especially the information on how long your gas lasts. I noted you have extra large tanks, which helps. I spent 3 months looking for a trailer, so RVing is at the height of popularity again, it seems like the 1960's all over again in many ways.
We travel with 4 LP tanks. Two 30# on the trailer and one 20# back-up tank, plus one 11# for the portable grill and Little Buddy heater. I went to the local RV Surplus Store and purchased a LP tank rack (just like the one on the RV) and mounted it in the bed of the truck, for safe transporting. Of course it helps to live in Elkhart County Indiana where there are many local RV surplus stores.
Your back two burners on your stove top does appear to have an igniter on them, so you should be able to use the same igniter knob to 'ignite' all three of them otherwise the little igniter switch (the little white thing with metal looking hook) has gone bad. Just an observation :)
Fear Not the...
Propano!
Great Video
I remember an instance several years ago when a tank-ship carrying the smelly propane smell stuff had a leak (no propane, only the smelly stuff), the whole city smelled like gas and the fire department had to run "gas smell alarms" all day long, just in case there was a real leak
Thanks for showing us how you the light the oven. I still have not used mine because I am afraid to light it. I know, ridiculous.
I enjoyed the video; you might want to have mentioned that the threads on propane compatible items are reversed
Thanks so much. We got our tt in Sept and I am still trying to figure out how to turn the oven on - typically takes me trying 5 different combos of dial settings, pushing in vs out on the dial - I've never figured out which one actually works because Im on my hands & knees and looking at the pilot while moving the dial. Will follow Kristy's instructions next time. FYI - We will be boon-docking at our storage facility if this crisis doesn't end soon!
Really enjoy how you breakdown the explanation! Thanks!
Good idea to have a valve adapter for the small disposable bottles in case of an unexpected out of propane situation, and a few of those bottles stashed away somewhere. Also a cheap, portable camping stove, so you can use them on that and cook outside.
Nothing tastes better than bacon and eggs cooked outdoors in the woods like that.
Tks S & C your humor is enjoyable especially these days
Yep this situation has finally convinced me to move forward and hit the road... when ?
Skid plates under the trailer for both gas lines and brake lines would be a great idea. Not airtight, just something to prevent damage. I don't know why I have never seen it yet. Even 18 wheelers have stuff hanging down without shielding. I bought a 1968 last fall, gutted, not much saved, kind of starting from scratch first of June. I almost feel like Wally in 1955.(:-))
Thanks, I’m still putting my bus conversion together, and you were a big help.
I watch a lot of full-time RV UA-cam channels and you guys always provide some level of useful information. Keep on trucking!
Even I am a seasoned veteran in RV life, I still learn something new. Thanks for this advise.
Hi from Australia.. LPG Cylinders should always transported in a vertical position as they are normally filled to 80% liquid which leaves a 20% vapour space at the top and if it is left in the sun and the pressure relieve valve on the top bottle (normally built into the service valve) vents to relieve pressure to a safe pressure (below 1250 Kpa max) it only vents vapour not liquid as if it vented liquid 1 litre of liquid will make about 700 litres of vapour at atmospheric pressure combined with air at 10 to 1 equals 7000litres of combustible material where by if only vapour is released you may only have to vent a very small amount to reduce the pressure to a safe limit..Figures used are close but approximate. Hope this is helpfull and answers the mystery..
I love the outtakes at the end!
Not sure if this happens to other RV owners but if i put the pilot knob on and try to light it immediately it does not work, but if i turn it on for a minute then light it then its fine. Also filling my LP 30 lb. tanks have always cost $25-$30 for both regardless of where I go. Recently i discovered Costco fills my 30 lb. for $10 but make sure its empty because its a flat rate. A coworker goes to BJ’s club and its about the same
Don’t forget to mention the level testing trick if u don’t have a gauge. Pour warm water down the side. It’ll show how full by the condensation on the side 😃
Thank you sir, always enjoy your videos. Stay safe God Bless y’all an God Bless America.
Thanks. We just used the manual to use our stove today! We love watching y’all. Just down the road from you camping at Minooka in Calera/Jemison!
Good job giving a basic overview of a RV propane system
I heard a rumor Hank Hill of King of the Hill endorsed this video.
Hank never once over-filled a propane tank. That's un-American.
Very good info on this. Thanks for deep diving into propane systems for newbies.
Just watched your video on whether or not to travel with the propane on to keep the fridge cold. I agree strongly with you that you should NOT. But I have something to share. We always keep 16 oz bottled water in the freezer. (4 to 6 of them) when we travel and the propane is off, I move 3 or 4 to the fridge leaving 1 or 2 in the freezer. This works well keeping the temp in the fridge. The temp drops much slower. I always put the frozen water near the mayo, eggs and milk. Just wanted to share. The Laniers
Thanks. I’m a newbie and your videos have been a great help. My trailer was delivered with VERY little instructions and I have learned most of what I know from UA-cam videos.
Our Fridge and many other new ones are 12V ONLY. So no propane to worry about for the fridge. And it gets 12V from the converter when on shore power.
Always thought Kristy was super awesome, but that cast iron cornbread, she is a queen among queens 👑👑
When we were at the Winter Star Party, the propane hose going to our driver side tank started leaking (5 year old hose in Florida: heat death). Even though the leak was outside, the propane detector (2016 FC) went off in the early evening. Those Green-tipped hoses (green connector that connects to the tank) are special. Don't use another type.
Great video and explanation about "Propano" Sean! ..as you've said,...hope we can be back on the road again soon.., we've already had to cancel two long weekend trips...., hoping to be in Glacier National Park in early July,..if the situation changes....
Great info, we from the Mccalla area and just got a new rv to stay in while building a vacation home in the mountains. Thanks
When it comes to propane always wrap-up and never lead with your head. 👍🏼
I just subbed bc you said exactly what I needed to hear here in this video. Thanks so much. Lol after 100 videos I found what I need
Tractor Supply has pretty good for refilling tanks. Good information as usual.
Please share your recipe for iron skillet cornbread in the RV oven. Mmmmm, looked great!
I use a pizza stone to help even out my oven's temperatures. I simply place it on the bottom flame dissipation level. I remove it when I'm in motion so as not to allow it to bounce and fracture in the oven.
Someone probably already said it, but if you put a fire brick, pizza stone, or a fireproof tile in the oven, it'll cook more evenly.
If your LP Tanks are Aluminum I have been told they can last for up to 35 years. I have also been told that the aluminum tanks are VERY expensive to replace with aluminum.
They just installed a solar/lithium power system, new tanks are a minor expense to them wink-wink.
Hello Lolohos, A Fire Chief once told me that LP tanks during transport need to be kept oriented in relation to the way they were manufactured to be used (some tanks stand vertically, such as those on barbeque grills and travel trailers. And some horizontally, such as tanks used to fuel pick-up trucks and forklifts). This is because the pressure relief valve will only be able to relieve LP gas in a gaseous state, not in a liquid state, transporting in another orientation may submerge the relief valve, rendering it useless thus possibly creating a condition of over-pressure and possible rupture, especially if the tank should be agitated, subjected to heat or change in elevation. Safe travels!
Absolutely guys, stay safe good times ahead.🙏🏻🇦🇺❤️
Miss you guys
I love your education on RVing and now I’m going to try my oven in 10 mins,listen for a loud boom just in case.
Hey Shawn, if you haven't already check out a catalytic heating unit. No electric required for operation just propane. Works great for me.
Good info wished I had this 30 years ago with our first trailer. Just retired so now I play camp and play with devices in our year old camper. As a note I always take a small spare tank from our home grilll just in case! Thanks stay safe!
Good video. Thanks for entertaining me. Stay safe and healthy.
We just bought our first camper and this was extremely helpful. Thank you ❤️🇨🇦
Very good, as for the water heater, we use electric to get it started since when we first get to the campground we don't need hot water right off but then after a while switch to gas and the works better for showers and such. Since we are in in a hurry for hot water let the electric work for us. I got rid of our oven since after 6 years we had never used it, I got rid of the unit and put in just a stove top and even that we hardly use since we do most of our cooking out side on my Blackstone grill or my butane cooker for pots and stuff, wife does not like food smells in the camper where she sleeps. I am one that runs the Refrigerator on Gas as we travel, I have heard the no no's but I still do.
Such as at the end of the video, I love the way Shaun babbles on sometimes. As always, well done. Thank you.
Yet another great video, and a topic well worth discussing again.
I have a couple plastic milk cartons, my canisters fit in them and it helps keep them upright.
Something I found out when my furnace quit working, there is a small amount of oil in the tanks guessing to keep the regulator and things moving smooth. That small amount of oil over time balled up in the furnace and plugged the orifice for the furnace. Took it apart, blew it out and works fine now. My rig is an '05 so not sure if it had ever been cleaned out before.
Thanks, great tip!
When you open the valve on the propane tank you should only open it 1 full turn. Also your tank has an automatic shut off to prevent overfilling. You can tell by the three sided handle. Those handles have a float built into them that will shut off the tank inlet when the tank is full (about 80%). When filling the service attendant will open a vent on the propane tank to let out gas to make room (reduces the pressure) for the liquid being pumped in. Since it is propane gas you can smell it. When the tank is full some liquid propane may come out the vent. Keep safe and God Bless.
Note with oven and not cooking evenly find a pizza stone that fits the size of your oven. And this will heat up and spread the heat evenly in the oven. I can confirm this because i do it. This tip was given to me by our salesman.
Happy Easter to you and your family !! 🐰 🐰 🐰 🐰
I noticed that the outtakes at the end are shorter than others..... Hey... You're getting GOOD at this!! Congrats on the 200K!!
Hay, is that a new rig! No the old tanks give it a way. I never travel with the tanks open. Too much worry. Chill the frig on house current. Travel with frozen ice packs in the frig. Food stays cold for 5 to 6 hours. Arrive and hook up.
As always, another "Award Worthy" instructional and entertaining video from the Michael's. Great stuff!
The convenience of the appliances in the modern RVs is nice I admit. No longer having to manually light the fridge for example and all other electronic ignitions. However it was much more efficient way back when. In my first several RVs for instance had the 3 way fridge, making driving down the road safer by shutting down the propane and letting the 12V handle the fridge. Had a hand pump on the sink, no electric pump necessary. The furnace was a wall mount propane, with pilot light and no electricity needed. Oh and does anyone else remember the propane (mantle) lantern over the dinette? Could boondock without any electricity period.
I think youi find that all propane fridges have a circuit board that reqiores 12v. Otherwise they would reach a point where everything freezes up.
Awesome informative and very well made video guys. Love the look of your refurbished trailer. It looks like new again. Thanks for this video.
Rewatched, ready for first grade!
You shouldn't turn on your stove first then light, you should put the fire next to it then turn on the stove. A friend of mine turned his stove on to light it but his kid fell down and started screaming so he went to help forgetting he just turn the gas on, he went back to the stove and went to light it in the way he should have done the first time and boom, husband wife and kid secondary burns all over.
Sorry to hear about your friend!
Yes! Open the gas to the flame. Very good advice!
Been using propane all my life...easy to feel how full with your hand...as you run your hand down the side of the tank you can feel the chill at the level of the liquid. Problem now is our 30 year old class A we bought 2 years ago has a 30 year old 30 gallon tank that needs to be certified...as I start to ask how and where it occurs to me to google that so never mind. Have you ever considered protecting the propane line that runs underneath your RV? I'm running a propane line from the passenger side across to the driver side to feed our dual-fuel generator I installed and I used a 10' steel-braid hose inside a 1" PEX hose inside a metal electric conduit. I put the hose in the PEX to prevent abrasion from travel and put the PEX inside the metal conduit because I don't want a tire blowout to rupture the line...which, according to several UA-cam videos I've watched, is a relatively common event. I'm making sure to ground the conduit to prevent build-up of static electricity. Propane is how they make big explosions in the movies. Yeah, I'm being ridiculously cautious.
It's kind of fun to watch a back to basics video even if you are not a brand newbie. Good job. You did not mention whether you leave your pilot light on continuously. As someone who grew up in a household with an old-fashioned gas stove and an oven pilot light, this is not as intimidating as it might seem to someone used to an electric range. When we get to our campsite, we light the oven pilot light and generally don't turn it off until we are ready to move. Curious as to whether you leave yours on or not? Also, on the video, it looked like your rear burners also have a piezoelectric electrode. Are you sure the reason you have to light it manually is not because there is a wiring problem to the rear burners?
Great video, educating the masses, back in Jan. 1985 I started my first business with Snap-On Tools, these trucks have a 50 pound propane tank, a dealer in Wisconsin had his truck running on a 110, when he disconnected the plug the truck sparked 110 to 12volt and the van blew up. The pilot light had went off and His furnace emptied the propane into the van. Propane is lighter than air, and when the system changed over, this sparked the propane, they said people heard the explosion 5 miles away. Sadly he lost his life, we where told to open the door before pulling the shore power. Stay save out there, enjoying all the video’s during this home time.
Really sorry to hear about your experience, but for the people reading propane is heavier than air. If you let it leak outside it will not dissipate. Natural gas is lighter than air.
The “overflow” valve you talk about is not that. The flat blade screw on the side of the valve assembly is called the liquid gauge. There is a small tube that extends down into the tank to the 80% level, the maximum the tank should be filled. This gauge should ALWAYS be opened when filling the tank. Initially, it will vent gaseous petroleum (more on that later). When you see liquid, the tank is at 80% and the filling operation should stop. All current propane tanks must have an Overfill Protection Device (OPD) that shuts off the flow of petroleum when the tank is at 80%. Sometimes the float that shuts off the OPD can stick, so that is why the liquid gauge should ALWAYS be used and why you shouldn’t rely upon the OPD. Since the liquid gauge will vent petroleum and mercaptan during the filling process, the odor can be quite pungent when the tanks are PROPERLY filled.
As far as LP, it stands for Liquified Petroleum. Commonly it is referred to as propane, but in some southern states butane is often used instead. The heat content of butane is greater than propane, but the boiling point of butane is around 34°F versus propane at -44°F... Otherwise, the two fuels can be used interchangeably without any undue harm or ill effects. The major downside to butane is that in cold weather, a full tank will be completely useless if the temperature is less than 34°F, as the liquid won’t boil and therefore no gas will flow to your appliances.
Thanks for the video, after watching this I thought I need to look under my RV and check the propane lines... well looks like now I have another project, yikes my lines are in rough shape.
I hope to see you out there on that day that we can get out on the road again.
Love you guys. We hope to meet on the road someday. 🙏🏼⛺️😎
Before and after coffee pics were...interesting. Oh yeah, thanks for the remedial on rv propane except that you didn't mention the effects of altitude.
If you've never cooked in a trailer oven check it out before you get that nice big dutchoven. I inverted the lid it fit, but I'm not good enough to notice the difference. Please answer the question of why it's 3 am and cold when the propane runs out. Every time! Everytime!! Vegas wouldn't take the odds.
The RV i own also drives on the LPG Ford e350 tioga from 1992. Here where i live petrol costs 1.80 € a liter LPG costs 0.57 € a liter. It runs very well the tank capacity i have 580 liters of LPG and with a switch i can toggle it between normal petrol and LPG. System costet me about 4000 € but as im driving a lot and i live in it, this system is quicly cost effective ... and i fill up at any normal gas station.
Great video learned mucho!
Thank you for showing where the "dates" are located,. I have been looking but never put them together, so I know now,. THanks Happy Trails Tallahassee!!