Misc Presents For The Firefly

[Lane and Michael]

Planning for our cross country trip coming along in July is fun and our camper has been the recipient of quite a few presents which has made us all happy, especially the credit card company. I had meant to include an LP gauge in my latest purchasing spree from Camp-Inn but managed to omit that. For those of you who have one of these meters have you found it to be a useful accessory? I carry a few small bottles as spares, but I wonder if having a gauge makes judging the necessity of a fill-up an easier thing. I wonder if it is a popular item and whether it is accurate enough to be useful. Two places in Canada last summer charged a set fee whether the tank was empty or full. While not a huge waste of money, I'd prefer not to put myself in that situation again.

Regards,
Michael

 

[hiadventurer]

Not sure how long you will be gone. We've been on the road for 3 weeks plus on 3 occasions and didnt empty the stock propane tank. Used the stove daily for breakfast and supper and the furnace a few times each trip.and returned with propane to spare. For longer than that have switched tanks to the next size larger if you don't mind the extra weight, will save you having to refill.in Canada...R

 

[Lane and Michael]

Planning for our cross country trip coming along in July is fun and our camper has been the recipient of quite a few presents which has made us all happy, especially the credit card company. I had meant to include an LP gauge in my latest purchasing spree from Camp-Inn but managed to omit that. For those of you who have one of these meters have you found it to be a useful accessory? I carry a few small bottles as spares, but I wonder if having a gauge makes judging the necessity of a fill-up an easier thing. I wonder if it is a popular item and whether it is accurate enough to be useful. Two places in Canada last summer charged a set fee whether the tank was empty or full. While not a huge waste of money, I'd prefer not to put myself in that situation again.

Regards,
Michael

 

[Lane and Michael]

It's surprising how long even those little tanks last. I just wondered if anyone who has used one has an opinion about the worth of the gauge.

 

[Randy]

It is amazing how long that little tank lasts. I don't have the heater though.

I haven't tried any of the multitude of gauges, however I concluded after lots or research that none of them are super accurate so went with a scale. The tank tare weight (13.6 pounds) is stamped on the outside ring of the tank. Mine typically weighs 24 pounds after filling. Been very happy with this little scale:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012TDR9E/ref=cm_sw_r_em_tai_i_c_ab5-AbKM8ZV8V

I carry a couple of one pound bottles as a backup in this nifty little holder that I found.
One Pound Propane Bottle Rack

Randy

 

[Lane and Michael]

Cool! What a great idea.

 

[Ben]

Hi Lane and Michael,
I haven't used one of the gauges but have my doubts about their utility just based on my understanding of the physics of liquid propane storage and usage. Liquid propane only stays a liquid at normal temperatures (ie temperatures we'd camp in) because it is under pressure. In a tank, the pressure stays fairly even until most (almost all) of the liquid propane is used up. The reason being that it will boil off or evaporate until enough pressure has formed to prevent it from boiling off more. As long as there is liquid propane in the tank, it will create enough pressure till it stops boiling off. It is far better to measure the weight of the tank - empty (tare weight) and full. By measuring the weight at any time in between it will be pretty easy to know how much propane is left. I hope this helps. Ben

 

[Lane and Michael]

Years ago I must have stayed awake in a physics class long enough to let some of this sink in because there was a faint glimmer of recognition when I read your post. Using a simple, inexpensive scale seems the way to go. And making a little wooden rack to hold a couple of propane bottles should not tax my skills too awfully much. Many thanks.

 

[Tour 931]

I’ve used the strips where you dump water over the top. Very accurate at times but not all the time especially when nearing empty. And can’t be used when freezing.

 

[Les Izmore]

Our experience, using propane only for cooking, is that for the two people the tank usually lasts about three months. The fastest we've ever gone through a tank is a little more than two months. So we just top off every two months, which makes the gauge unnecessary.

I suspect the gauge makes sense if you have the furnace option, and camp a fair amount in cold weather.

 

[Lane and Michael]

I think the thing to do is carry a spare 1 pound bottle or two, and then forget the whole thing. I'm making it too complicated.

 

[hiadventurer]

Randy thanks for passing this on. I ordered one a few months ago and love it. Use it to hold my extra bottle and my Jetboil Stove. We take frequent day hikes and bike hikes and use the stove so the holder is an awesome idea!

 

[Sweeney]

Planning for our cross country trip coming along in July is fun and our camper has been the recipient of quite a few presents which has made us all happy, especially the credit card company. I had meant to include an LP gauge in my latest purchasing spree from Camp-Inn but managed to omit that. For those of you who have one of these meters have you found it to be a useful accessory? I carry a few small bottles as spares, but I wonder if having a gauge makes judging the necessity of a fill-up an easier thing. I wonder if it is a popular item and whether it is accurate enough to be useful. Two places in Canada last summer charged a set fee whether the tank was empty or full. While not a huge waste of money, I'd prefer not to put myself in that situation again.

Regards,
Michael

Firefly? Hmm....mine is named Serenity....coincidence? Favorite color brown by chance? LOL

If you are not using the heater, the 10 pound tank will last a LONG LONG time. probably 2-3 years. We were at a park and I had them check ours after the first season, it it was only down 1/3 from full. That isn't to say I don't carry a steak saver and a 1 lb tank but I've never needed it....until I turn on the furnace

The fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable --- they work on pressure, and that changes based on temperature. The pouring water over the top is your best gauge as highlighted above in this thread. Or, do as I did ...just plan on filling the propane tank every 2 years wether it needs it or not.

Your milage may vary especially if you use external devices (such as a webber Q grill) --- these use a fair amount of gas. I check my tank by weight (weight the tank, then subtract the tare weight on the collar) to tell you how many pounds of propane I have left. Using just the burners, a tank will last 2-3 years. A weber Q and furnace will increase the consumption.

The tank can be filled my anyone who fills propane tanks -- there's nothing special about the fittings. The biggest problem you'll have is dumb attendants who freak out because of its size - I suspect they think it will pop or something. I dunno --- I have a good relationship with my propane guy....

Avoid the pre-filled exchange tanks. They are large and under-filled...a 20 lb tank is only filled partially, so you aren't even geting what you think you've paid for. Many tractor supply and ace hardwares refill tanks...

 

[M&L]

Firefly? Hmm....mine is named Serenity....coincidence? Favorite color brown by chance? LOL

Avoid the pre-filled exchange tanks.

Great show. Should have been much more than 14 episodes and a movie.

We often use a 20-pound propane tank due to the fact that it's easier to find replacements than it is fill stations. We tend to take trips farther away from home, and that means we don't always know the areas as well...this can make it challenging when you throw in factors like no cell service, making a quick internet search for filling stations a problem. I suspect there are more propane fill stations back east due to that whole winter thing. Here in northern California, there are way more places where you can exchange than there are places to fill, so convenience is a factor; I can get a replacement tank a few blocks away at the market, but have to drive a few miles to the south end of town (which can be clogged with traffic certain times of the day) to refill my propane tank.

Another factor to consider is how much propane you use. We've been known to camp in cold places up in the mountains, and that takes a toll on the propane. Plus, we don't eat out much, and our cooking has gotten more elaborate in the galley (it helps that Lisa is an amazing cook). I'm pretty sure we use a lot more propane cooking pizza in the galley with the Coleman oven than if we were to just boil some water and eat some freeze-dried food.

I freely admit that I always try to bring more than I will need. I do the same thing with water, especially when we're in the desert. Nevertheless, the stock 11-pounder is a cute little thing and DOES go with the aesthetics of the trailer WAY better than the 20-pounder. I feel the need to personally apologize to Cary every time I use the 20!

Edit: typos

 

[rotus8]

I have a Mopeka Tank Check Plastic Propane Tank Level Indicator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082FQS7ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_K2DQDY6VPJNRN79P1H0R.
It is a sensor that sticks to the bottom of the tank with a magnet. It senses the level of the propane in the tank with ultrasound, then sends the level to your phone using Bluetooth.
It is pretty accurate though requires that the tank be still for a few minutes because the liquid sloshes around when the tank is moved. It has a battery that needs to be replaced about once a year. I added some tape in addition to the magnet to reduce the possibility of losing it on the road.

 

[dustinp]

Firefly? Hmm....mine is named Serenity....coincidence? Favorite color brown by chance? LOL

If you are not using the heater, the 10 pound tank will last a LONG LONG time. probably 2-3 years. We were at a park and I had them check ours after the first season, it it was only down 1/3 from full. That isn't to say I don't carry a steak saver and a 1 lb tank but I've never needed it....until I turn on the furnace

The fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable --- they work on pressure, and that changes based on temperature. The pouring water over the top is your best gauge as highlighted above in this thread. Or, do as I did ...just plan on filling the propane tank every 2 years wether it needs it or not.

Your milage may vary especially if you use external devices (such as a webber Q grill) --- these use a fair amount of gas. I check my tank by weight (weight the tank, then subtract the tare weight on the collar) to tell you how many pounds of propane I have left. Using just the burners, a tank will last 2-3 years. A weber Q and furnace will increase the consumption.

The tank can be filled my anyone who fills propane tanks -- there's nothing special about the fittings. The biggest problem you'll have is dumb attendants who freak out because of its size - I suspect they think it will pop or something. I dunno --- I have a good relationship with my propane guy....

Avoid the pre-filled exchange tanks. They are large and under-filled...a 20 lb tank is only filled partially, so you aren't even geting what you think you've paid for. Many tractor supply and ace hardwares refill tanks...

A lot of places have a flat price for filling 20lb tanks no matter how much may be left in them, and don't offer to charge any less for our little 11lb ones, I have found that at least our local Tractor Supply posts their per/gallon propane refill price on their website, and only charges for the actual amount required to fill the tank. Propane weighs 4.2lbs per gallon at 60 degrees F, and they won't fill tanks more than 80%, so about 2.1 gallons for an 11lb tank. Last time I had ours filled when it was empty they were charging$3.99/gal. so it was a little more than $8, or less than half of what a lot of places charge.