Propane tanks
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
Forum Discription: Pull a chair up to the campfire and chat. No religious, political or weapons talk, please.
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8973
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 7:43am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Propane tanks
Posted By: Vector1952
Subject: Propane tanks
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 8:02pm
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Has anyone left their propane tanks connected in the winter, l live in new england ------------- Xxxx7 |
Replies:
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 8:15pm
| I have left mine connected on various campers and trailers over the years without any problems. Propane is one fuel that you can store almost indefinitely. It also keeps insects and spider webs out of the connection |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 8:58pm
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Other then when refilling or swapping out, mine are always mounted..
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Posted By: Vector1952
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 9:15pm
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Thank you, also will the plastic cover crack if left out or should I take it inside... ------------- Xxxx7 |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 10:17pm
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If you have the soft Vinyl cover it will get brittle when cold and crack if handled. If you don't try to open it or look at the tanks when the cover is cold it will probably be OK. The hard sided cover should be OK in the cold.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 10:42pm
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We have had 2 tanks on our 2011 177 since we picked it up in March 2011. We are like furpod, they are always on until they run out. As far as the cover goes, ours is hard sided and has seen 5 Michigan winters, still looks great, no cracking.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 11:57pm
| I see no reason to disconnect the propane tank ever. I do turn it off at the valve whenever we're not using it |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:26am
Sometimes the soft Vinyl cover will crack even when it isn't cold. The tab that holds the nut and bolt that tighten to secure the tank will likely cause the vinyl along the edge of the velcro to split. That was the first place mine did. I have since replaced that cover with a Camco hard sided cover as detailed in my mods. Also, when one is camping in the cold and the tank needs to be changed, opening the cover is unavoidable. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Vector1952
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 10:05am
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Thanks guys, been following the forum for quite some time now...very informative! Very fast replies...Finally got my rpod 179 (the blue one,with the Rdome)...I'm glad, the awnings small...got the extras (larger sewer tube, electric jack, outside gas connection, better walls in bathroom, glass top stove and the USB receptacles) at no extra charge...looking forward to meeting some of u on the trail... ------------- Xxxx7 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 1:54pm
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The outside gas connection would be really nice. I have mixed feelings about the glass top stove. It looks nice, but I would have concerns about how well it would hold up. We have the older stove without cover. It now does (see my mods). I added USB receptacles, so it is nice that Forest River is seeing the mods and making changes to make the R-Pods even better.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Vector1952
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 7:29pm
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I noticed u bought a generic, (I believe that's how it's spelled) generator....you said it runs ur a/c but not ur micro,that's ok with me.... was considering champion 3100w, but it's heavy...if the 2000w will run the a/c it will save me money also...ur thoughts we'd be appreciated... ------------- Xxxx7 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 8:36pm
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The Generac iX2000 will run the generator, but it is running near max when the AC starts. The running wattage is less, so it works okay. The 3100 would do better and I think it has a 30A outlet on it. I have to use a 15A to 30A converter plug with the iX2000. I was also quite disappointed when I found out that the 2000 Watt generator with 2200 surge Watts was insufficient to start up the HiPointe microwave. The starting surge for the magnetron must be quite large. I would have gladly settled for a less powerful convection/microwave if it would run with the generator I bought. The Generac iQ2000 is different. It is actually 1600 running Watts with 2000 surge Watts, which is less than the iX2000's specs. However, unlike the iX2000 the iQ2000 can be run with a second one using a parallel kit. That keeps the weight of each part lower but at the cost of two generators instead of one. The benefit would be that two iQ2000 generators run in parallel would supply plenty of power to run the AC and the microwave. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 9:48pm
| Just remember --- 3000 watts is a lot heavier to carry than 1000 or 2000 when you are trying to store the beast. We are both in our mid 70s, and the 2000 is about the max. I bought the AC because all the trailers had one. I don't have 30 amps here in the barn so I may never know if it works. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 10:31pm
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John, If you have 20A available, you can run the AC. Just don't try to run the refrigerator (on AC) or the microwave at the same time. The breaker for the AC in the R-Pod is a 20A breaker. 15A is not sufficient. It will trip but 20A will work. I just turned 63 and so I understand about the weight. That and cost are why I chose the iX2000. Even so, it is about the maximum I would care to lift without assistance. It may not be too many more years before even it would be too heavy. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Vector1952
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2016 at 9:41am
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Hi, yes I'm almost 65 my wife 60, the weight was the issue...had picked the champion 3100 till your post of the ix series, since then I've researched and compared (you tube, internet)...Still have time to decide...thanks again.... ------------- Xxxx7 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 7:40pm
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Things to consider when deciding on wattage. First as StephenH mentioned, you need a minimum of 2000 watts running wattage - when you are running at 500 feet and it is 75 F outside. However, if you will be camping at higher altitudes you will need more. The output is derated depending on altitude and ambient temperature: -3.5% per 1000 feet, -1% for each 10F above 60F. So you'll lose 31% at 8000 feet and 90F, and your 2000 watt genset now will only output 1380 watts at best. Plus the A/C gets harder to start the warmer it is, requiring more power. You'll want 3000 minimum running wattage in those conditions. A single, larger, genset may be harder for you to move, but it is harder for a thief to move, too. Two smaller gensets that are paralleled are easier for you to move, but easier for the thief, and requires more maintenance. Then there is conventional vs. inverter-generator types of gensets. Conventional are always loud and use a lot of gas, but are cheap to buy. Inverter-genset are much quieter and usually use less gas, but are more expensive. Over time the reduction in gas will offset the additional cost. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 11:24pm
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Just an update here. I recently had to have the convection-microwave replaced. The sound had faded out to the point where we could no longer hear it when something was done. I called, and it was replaced by a new HiSense convection-microwave. This new microwave has a difference that makes me think the first one was defective from the start. I had noticed that the first one was rather silent when it was running. Unlike most every microwave I have had, I couldn't really hear any fan running. I thought it was just the way this was built. It turns out that it may have had a defective fan which lead to the sound problem. When the new one is running, I can hear the fan running and feel the air being vented. This difference seems to confirm that the first one was defective or incorrectly installed. The second thing was a pleasant surprise. While I could not run the first microwave on our Generac iX2000 generator, I tested our generator with this new convection-microwave and IT WORKS!  The microwave does not immediately reset when the magnetron kicks in. I can hear the generator engine speed up which tells me that the load has increased. It does not overload.  We will be taking off soon on a cross-country trip. It will be nice to connect the generator and warm up some meals while we are traveling without having to use pots and pans that would then need washing. I'll have to post an update when we get a chance to test it more but for now, it seems to be working great. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |