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How long will my propane last?

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:48 pm
by robertaw
I have zero experience with propane and trying to determine if I have enough for my camping trip next week.

I have one of those big tanks the size that goes on propane BBQ grills. There is 4" in the bottom of it.

Does anyone know approx. how many hours of cooking this will last on a "low pressure" stove? I have a stove that hooks on the side of my
pop-up that I have been told is a low pressure stove. I'm guessing that means it would use less propane?

My dilemma is that I don't want to turn in this tank for a new full one and waste that much propane. I also don't want to spend the money on a second tank just in case.

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 7:08 pm
by rainjer
Don't take it to a place and exchange it. Take it to a place and have it refilled.

Jeremy

Re: How long will my propane last?

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 7:29 pm
by Steve_Cox
robertaw wrote:I have zero experience with propane and trying to determine if I have enough for my camping trip next week.

I have one of those big tanks the size that goes on propane BBQ grills. There is 4" in the bottom of it.

Does anyone know approx. how many hours of cooking this will last on a "low pressure" stove? I have a stove that hooks on the side of my
pop-up that I have been told is a low pressure stove. I'm guessing that means it would use less propane?

My dilemma is that I don't want to turn in this tank for a new full one and waste that much propane. I also don't want to spend the money on a second tank just in case.


Hi Roberta,

Using two burners you will have 6.75 hours of cooking time. Have fun camping and turn off the gas between meals. 8)

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 7:34 pm
by StandUpGuy
rainjer wrote:Don't take it to a place and exchange it. Take it to a place and have it refilled.

Jeremy
And make sure you have brakes on your trailer. :lol:

Re: How long will my propane last?

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 9:35 pm
by robertaw
Steve_Cox wrote:
robertaw wrote:I have zero experience with propane and trying to determine if I have enough for my camping trip next week.

I have one of those big tanks the size that goes on propane BBQ grills. There is 4" in the bottom of it.

Does anyone know approx. how many hours of cooking this will last on a "low pressure" stove? I have a stove that hooks on the side of my
pop-up that I have been told is a low pressure stove. I'm guessing that means it would use less propane?

My dilemma is that I don't want to turn in this tank for a new full one and waste that much propane. I also don't want to spend the money on a second tank just in case.


Hi Roberta,

Using two burners you will have 6.75 hours of cooking time. Have fun camping and turn off the gas between meals. 8)


Steve, are you serious? That is a way more accurate answer than I expected.
:shock:

Re: How long will my propane last?

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 9:53 pm
by Steve_Cox
robertaw wrote:
Steve_Cox wrote:
robertaw wrote:I have zero experience with propane and trying to determine if I have enough for my camping trip next week.

I have one of those big tanks the size that goes on propane BBQ grills. There is 4" in the bottom of it.

Does anyone know approx. how many hours of cooking this will last on a "low pressure" stove? I have a stove that hooks on the side of my
pop-up that I have been told is a low pressure stove. I'm guessing that means it would use less propane?

My dilemma is that I don't want to turn in this tank for a new full one and waste that much propane. I also don't want to spend the money on a second tank just in case.


Hi Roberta,

Using two burners you will have 6.75 hours of cooking time. Have fun camping and turn off the gas between meals. 8)


Steve, are you serious? That is a way more accurate answer than I expected.
:shock:


:twisted: Only one way to know for sure. :lol:

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 10:21 pm
by Shadow Catcher
I will second do not trade them in.
A if they are Blue Rino you do not get 20#
B if you take it to a place where they will charge you for only what they put in the tank i.e. (Our local Uhaul)

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:15 pm
by Jiminsav
4 inches in the bottom of a 20 lbs tank, times the volume of the cubic inch of the water column = about a weekend of cooking...if you eat light.

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 12:26 am
by robertaw
Steve, when I run out I'll be calling you to bring me more. :lol:

Cowboy, our Wally World's have Blue Rhino but thanks for the heads up.

We are camping for five days so it looks like I'm going to have to find a refill place or bring our Coleman liquid fuel stove as back up. It's acting funny with a yellow flame but I just Googled it and found some possible fixes.

Haven't been camping in 18 months so I'll be happy even if I have to live on cold ceral. I KNOW how the cooler works. :D

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:00 am
by Dale M.
Get one of these.... It's a "Steak Saver"...

Image

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... pter/24028
(look for better pricing)...

And if main tank goes empty just screw #1 cylinder on to this and move regulator from main tank to this... You have "emergency" back up fuel supply till you can get a main tank fill...

Available online and at many hardware stores either in BBQ section or "camping" section also at large sporting goods stores.

Dale

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:58 am
by Mikka
what's wrong with buying two tanks and always have a full one as spare?

I don't know about the States, but up here in Canada, all new tanks that have been sold in the country for the longtest time have a "full shut off valve" in them. It does not matter how much you try, when it's full it shuts the inlet. the only factor influencing those tanks is the weather and temperature of the propane, and it is very minimal.

Also, if you want to know if you own a tank with this auto full shut off valve, you can tell by the form ot the manual shut off valve. It it is formed like a triangle instead of round, only the tank with the triangle manual shut off valve as the new type.

So if you have that type and the place you go, fills by weight, let him know what tank you have (he sure won`t tell you) and tell him to let it run for a little while longer after the scale triggers just to make sure you get a full tank and not only the 18 or 19 lbs the scale is set at!

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:01 pm
by RAYVILLIAN
The gadget that Dale M recommend is really handy in fact for a while we used nothing but the 1 lb bottles instead of dragging the big tank around. Now since most campgrounds have electric we just use a hot plate.

Gary

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:14 pm
by Cliffmeister2000
One tank has lasted me over a year of camping, and I have a 1 gallon backup bottle for "just in case" :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2011 11:17 pm
by robertaw
Thanks for the replies everyone.

I looked at Walmart when I was there today for a "steak saver" and they didn't have any.

Nothing wrong with buying another tank. In fact, I plan to eventually, I just can't afford the extra expense right now. We are at the top of our budget just for our little getaway.

I forgot about bringing another electric appliance. The crock pot may be going with us!

I'll let everyone know if the propane held out when we get back. :D

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2011 10:45 am
by Dale M.
robertaw wrote:I looked at Walmart when I was there today for a "steak saver" and they didn't have any.



While Wally World wants to be the end all point for all you shopping needs, I am usually disappointed in their selection (as they usually do not have what I want) or the quality is so poor I'm not sure it will survive the trip home and I will not even get to use it... It's usually the "last" place on my lists to go shopping.... I'll buy on internet and pay the extra in shipping first....

Dale