Propane usage - expectations vs realities

[chorky]

Ok fellow campers (er....overlanders). Let's chat propane.

When I was a kid, I recall using the little green propane (such a waste) bottles for running the camp stove. I remember those bottles lasting forever. Even just a few years ago using them they seemed to go for days (although that was just cooking, and using an older stove that probably didn't push out so much BTU's).

Fast forward and I have a different situation that I want to run by everyone to see what thoughts come by.

Current setup is a JetBoil (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019GPCYDK/ref=emc_b_5_t) for cooking and a camp lux (https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-Port...B08Q347HLT&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_71_t) for water heating. Paired with a 5 lb propane tank (https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...5d-bd54-940321b7c5a1&pd_rd_i=B077BLDL7T&psc=1)


Over the last 9 days of camping, here was my use case:

• 8 days of making coffee via a 6 pot percolator (not the most efficient method)
• 8 days also of washing dishes
• 4 days of cooking breakfast (eggs, bacon, veggies)
• NO dinner cooking - dinner was provided
• 8 days of nightly showers (a 5 minute combat shower - turn water on to wet, water off to suds up, water on to rinse) using approximately 2 gal per shower
  • the shower (on the complex) is turned on maximum water flow but MINIMUM gas usage (coldest temp) - and it still gets hot enough to burn my skin without cold water mixing - on the shower head I have it on medium flow not that it matters much, gas use is gas use
• Total of 25 gal of water used
  • I brought 3 full 5gal jugs, filled up 2.5 jugs once while out
  • Approx half (12.5 gal) worth of shower water
  • Approx 1/3 (4.2 gal) worth of washing dishes
    • maybe half of that was with using the water heater
  • Approx 2/3 (8.3 gal) worth of drinking (cold water, no heater use)
• I have not tested for any leaks - but I turn off the bottle when not in use
• Elevation ranges from 2,500' to 7,500' averaging about 3,500'

Here are my net results of propane consumption

• 5 pound tank
  • At 0.236 gallons per pound = 1.18 gallons of propane (but if you do the 80% rule, its really only going to hold 0.944 gallons)
  • Today I asked the local propane place to top off the tank knowing it was not empty to see what I used
    • they said it took 0.8 gallons
  • 0.8 gallons is 67.7% of the full amount of available propane of 1.18 gallons
    • however, using the 80% rule then this actually equates to 84.7% of the available 0.944 gallons
      • this equates to 4 green bottles (which is actually what I randomly assumed out of my @$$ I would use for this trip, funny as that is)

Now here is the thing. I didn't cook dinner, at all.... So the question (and actually the concern is) if I go on another 8 day trip, and have to cook dinner for myself each night - will I have enough propane?

• I would guesstimate that the amount of propane used for making the coffee would be about the same as the amount used for the water heater for showers.
  • So assuming this lets say that breakfast took 0.35 gallons
    • so lets also assume
      • 0.4 for water heater for showers
      • 0.05 for washing dishes
      • 0.35 for cooking dinner
    • with assumptions, this might mean that I would need 1.2 gallons total to cook breakfast, dinner, and shower for an 8 day trip - which is more than the 5 lb tank can hold even if not adhering to the 80% rule

Why is this important?

• It makes me wonder how in the world these YouTubers are getting away with cooking and a campfire for 4+ days on a single 5 pound tank - unless they are going to a gas station to fill up or carrying 2 tanks of propane and just not sharing that important bit of data with everyone...

Some thoughts

• I think the jetfoil uses WAY more propane than my past stove (my dad's 40 yr old Coleman - the steel green stove)
• I need to clarify if the propane place filled it up to only 80% or if it filled to 100%.
  • 80% is the 'standard' and I dont think these OPD valves even allow you to go over 80%
    • if they used this number, then 2 things exist
      • 1) I used more (84.7% vs 67.7%) total volume percentage than initially calculated
      • 2) I almost ran out of propane on the 8 day trip with not cooking any dinner at all.....(0.144 gal remaining - not even enough to make one more pot of coffee)

So the questions:

• What do you use propane for (this is CRITICAL factor to consider)
• How much do you estimate (percentage and/or gallons/lbs) do you use for each use (breakfast, coffee, dinner, showers - if you have one)
• Over how many days do you get said use before going empty

I am posing this question to see what other uses are to determine if I need a larger tank or if I need a second tank. For shorter 4 day trips I might have enough based on calculations above - but I might consider getting a 10 lb tank that holds twice as much and is only a few inches taller and the same diameter (https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...=10+pound+propane+tank+ysn10lb,aps,245&sr=8-2)

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[Mr._Bill]

Tanks are only filled to 80% now, never 100% due to the risk of explosion from expansion.

Always take the largest amount of gas you can carry. I would suggest two of the ten gallon tanks, or a twenty if you have the space for it.

 

[smlobx]

Wow!
Very thourough calculations and I think you’ve come to the same conclusions as I have. Those dam YouTubers are faking it!

What I ended up doing, and it has never failed me, is that I carry a regular 20# propane tank. You know, the one that’s hooked up to your bbq grill! Before I go on a long trip I get it filled and I’ve been good to go for several weeks. I also carry one of the little green bottles in case I do run out it will last me for a few days until I can drop into a town and get the tank either filled or exchanged. Virtually every little town can either fill one or exchange it. That was one of the primary reasons I stuck to the 20# tank.

On my Hallmark Expedition truck camper where we’ve stayed out for almost 3 months we actually have 2, 20# tanks and when one is empty I look to exchange or fill it the next time we’re in town. It works great but in a Gladiator I don’t have the room to do that.

PS: those 5 or 10 gallon tanks are more expensive than the 20’s!

 

[Free2roam]

I bought an Ignik propane tank 10# then decided to get a second one because it was on sale.

 

[chorky]

Tanks are only filled to 80% now, never 100% due to the risk of explosion from expansion.

Always take the largest amount of gas you can carry. I would suggest two of the ten gallon tanks, or a twenty if you have the space for it.

I don't have room (or remaining weight capacity) for a 20# tank - that seems kinda excessive for an 8 day trip anyway, but maybe I'm wrong. I just threw a 10# tank and larger cradle in my amazon cart after chatting with a friend about it who lives with his wife full time overloading.

Wow!
Very thourough calculations and I think you’ve come to the same conclusions as I have. Those dam YouTubers are faking it!

What I ended up doing, and it has never failed me, is that I carry a regular 20# propane tank. You know, the one that’s hooked up to your bbq grill! Before I go on a long trip I get it filled and I’ve been good to go for several weeks. I also carry one of the little green bottles in case I do run out it will last me for a few days until I can drop into a town and get the tank either filled or exchanged. Virtually every little town can either fill one or exchange it. That was one of the primary reasons I stuck to the 20# tank.

On my Hallmark Expedition truck camper where we’ve stayed out for almost 3 months we actually have 2, 20# tanks and when one is empty I look to exchange or fill it the next time we’re in town. It works great but in a Gladiator I don’t have the room to do that.

PS: those 5 or 10 gallon tanks are more expensive than the 20’s!

Yeah agreed - a lot of those YouTubers have good content but there is a ton of info and datapoints missing - significant info at that. I still like watching the places they go though.

I dont really need capacity for several weeks - just up to 10 days maximum. I can't even carry enough groceries (I opted purposefully for a smaller 45l fridge) for 10 days anyway. Well possibly if I meal prepped or lowered my eating budget. Primarily my trips will be 2-5 day trips. These 7-10 day trips will probably be only twice a year - at best. In fact before 2 months ago I didnt even think a 10 day trip would ever be in my future.

The 10/11# tanks right now can be had for about $60 I think. Funny cause 5 months ago when I purchased the 5$ tank it was 75....seems the covid insanity prices are starting to go down a little finally.

 

[ttn333]

I don't have room (or remaining weight capacity) for a 20# tank - that seems kinda excessive for an 8 day trip anyway, but maybe I'm wrong. I just threw a 10# tank and larger cradle in my amazon cart after chatting with a friend about it who lives with his wife full time overloading.

Being in the west coast we carry more propane due to wood burning bans. I can run through 20# in 3 nights easily with just the campfire.

 

[chorky]

y more propane due to wood burning

I personally do not like propane fireplaces. So I use these. Get's 6-8 hours of fire out of one, provides a good amount of heat, 2-3' flames, and the scented one does a decent job keeping mosquitoes away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B5L9JS5/ref=ewc_pr_img_4?smid=A2VLNG30ZH3YEC&psc=1

 

[bd100]

When I did car camping I used a Coleman white gas stove. Single burner at first, dual burner later. A gallon of fuel lasts forever. Vent the tank for altitude changes before pumping to pressurize.

We now have a trailer with two 20lb tanks and automatic changeover, but seldom use a single tank per season. I could save weight by carrying a single 20lb tank and refilling when low. The trailer uses propane for furnace (seldom used), stove (frequently used), hot water heater (once up to temp the pilot keeps it scalding hot), and 3-way fridge (awesome but small 12V, 120V, or propane).

 

[ttn333]

I personally do not like propane fireplaces. So I use these. Get's 6-8 hours of fire out of one, provides a good amount of heat, 2-3' flames, and the scented one does a decent job keeping mosquitoes away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B5L9JS5/ref=ewc_pr_img_4?smid=A2VLNG30ZH3YEC&psc=1

I think that would be ok for 1 or 2. But We like a larger campfire.

 

[chorky]

I think that would be ok for 1 or 2. But We like a larger campfire.

Fair statement. I'm usually solo or with a small group so it works better for me than propane. Still - I'm curious how much propane folks are burning up, excluding fire use of course.

 

[ttn333]

Fair statement. I'm usually solo or with a small group so it works better for me than propane. Still - I'm curious how much propane folks are burning up, excluding fire use of course.

The answer is probably not much. Not very scientific, but my 5lb bottle probably last me a whole season if just used for cooking. Probably longer lol.

 

[Jaxmax]

So, perhaps skip showers every other day or use the solar type tanks to temper water for showering or really just do a cold wash, have cereal for breakfast, and perhaps a salad for dinner some days. The ten pound tank with a green bottle backup does not sound too bad, or perhaps get a second five pound tank, and when one goes empty swap over to the other one for a day or so then go top them both off, and repeat! Watching this as I have a cook partner stove I want to set up., and always wondered about a small Dickenson heater in my enclosed bed....Jack

 

[mx5red]

Ok fellow campers (er....overlanders). Let's chat propane.

When I was a kid, I recall using the little green propane (such a waste) bottles for running the camp stove. I remember those bottles lasting forever. Even just a few years ago using them they seemed to go for days (although that was just cooking, and using an older stove that probably didn't push out so much BTU's).

Fast forward and I have a different situation that I want to run by everyone to see what thoughts come by.

Current setup is a JetBoil (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019GPCYDK/ref=emc_b_5_t) for cooking and a camp lux (https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-Port...B08Q347HLT&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_71_t) for water heating. Paired with a 5 lb propane tank (https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...5d-bd54-940321b7c5a1&pd_rd_i=B077BLDL7T&psc=1)


Over the last 9 days of camping, here was my use case:

• 8 days of making coffee via a 6 pot percolator (not the most efficient method)
• 8 days also of washing dishes
• 4 days of cooking breakfast (eggs, bacon, veggies)
• NO dinner cooking - dinner was provided
• 8 days of nightly showers (a 5 minute combat shower - turn water on to wet, water off to suds up, water on to rinse) using approximately 2 gal per shower
  • the shower (on the complex) is turned on maximum water flow but MINIMUM gas usage (coldest temp) - and it still gets hot enough to burn my skin without cold water mixing - on the shower head I have it on medium flow not that it matters much, gas use is gas use
• Total of 25 gal of water used
  • I brought 3 full 5gal jugs, filled up 2.5 jugs once while out
  • Approx half (12.5 gal) worth of shower water
  • Approx 1/3 (4.2 gal) worth of washing dishes
    • maybe half of that was with using the water heater
  • Approx 2/3 (8.3 gal) worth of drinking (cold water, no heater use)
• I have not tested for any leaks - but I turn off the bottle when not in use
• Elevation ranges from 2,500' to 7,500' averaging about 3,500'

Here are my net results of propane consumption

• 5 pound tank
  • At 0.236 gallons per pound = 1.18 gallons of propane (but if you do the 80% rule, its really only going to hold 0.944 gallons)
  • Today I asked the local propane place to top off the tank knowing it was not empty to see what I used
    • they said it took 0.8 gallons
  • 0.8 gallons is 67.7% of the full amount of available propane of 1.18 gallons
    • however, using the 80% rule then this actually equates to 84.7% of the available 0.944 gallons
      • this equates to 4 green bottles (which is actually what I randomly assumed out of my @$$ I would use for this trip, funny as that is)

Now here is the thing. I didn't cook dinner, at all.... So the question (and actually the concern is) if I go on another 8 day trip, and have to cook dinner for myself each night - will I have enough propane?

• I would guesstimate that the amount of propane used for making the coffee would be about the same as the amount used for the water heater for showers.
  • So assuming this lets say that breakfast took 0.35 gallons
    • so lets also assume
      • 0.4 for water heater for showers
      • 0.05 for washing dishes
      • 0.35 for cooking dinner
    • with assumptions, this might mean that I would need 1.2 gallons total to cook breakfast, dinner, and shower for an 8 day trip - which is more than the 5 lb tank can hold even if not adhering to the 80% rule

Why is this important?

• It makes me wonder how in the world these YouTubers are getting away with cooking and a campfire for 4+ days on a single 5 pound tank - unless they are going to a gas station to fill up or carrying 2 tanks of propane and just not sharing that important bit of data with everyone...

Some thoughts

• I think the jetfoil uses WAY more propane than my past stove (my dad's 40 yr old Coleman - the steel green stove)
• I need to clarify if the propane place filled it up to only 80% or if it filled to 100%.
  • 80% is the 'standard' and I dont think these OPD valves even allow you to go over 80%
    • if they used this number, then 2 things exist
      • 1) I used more (84.7% vs 67.7%) total volume percentage than initially calculated
      • 2) I almost ran out of propane on the 8 day trip with not cooking any dinner at all.....(0.144 gal remaining - not even enough to make one more pot of coffee)

So the questions:

• What do you use propane for (this is CRITICAL factor to consider)
• How much do you estimate (percentage and/or gallons/lbs) do you use for each use (breakfast, coffee, dinner, showers - if you have one)
• Over how many days do you get said use before going empty

I am posing this question to see what other uses are to determine if I need a larger tank or if I need a second tank. For shorter 4 day trips I might have enough based on calculations above - but I might consider getting a 10 lb tank that holds twice as much and is only a few inches taller and the same diameter (https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-YSN10LB-Protection-Overlanding/dp/B07Q5CP7WS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1ICTXK7OIOCVK&keywords=10+pound+propane+tank+ysn10lb&qid=1690332071&sprefix=10+pound+propane+tank+ysn10lb,aps,245&sr=8-2)

Some thoughts from a homebrewer…
Water is an excellent heat sink.

I bet you’re using way more gas than you realize with the showers (and heating dish water).
The Amazon link says camplux uses 3,4000 BTUs? (I’m guessing 34,000) and I believe it. Heating a couple gallons of water takes a lot of energy.. doing that on a home stove takes a long time.

Is the jetboil one burner or two(thought two)? 10,000 BTUs per burner or divided?

how do your containers compare to the size of the flame on there? Meaning, a small diameter pot does not efficiently use the heat from a wide burner. The heat goes outside and around the pot. That’s why the jetboil pots have shrouds that cover the flame, to trap the heat under the pot.
Adding a simple skirt of aluminum foil around the bottom of my coffee pot drastically cut down the boil times on my Coleman, for example.

Also, could you double dip? If you have a campfire I’d use that for as much heat source as possible, like for dishes.
You could collect your shower water then wash your dishes with it? Use your dish water for a shower? Just kidding.

 

[chorky]

The answer is probably not much. Not very scientific, but my 5lb bottle probably last me a whole season if just used for cooking. Probably longer lol.

how long is a season and how many camp days for you? I could easily go through a 20lb tank in a summer worth of camping Given the current rate.

So, perhaps skip showers every other day or use the solar type tanks to temper water for showering or really just do a cold wash, have cereal for breakfast, and perhaps a salad for dinner some days. The ten pound tank with a green bottle backup does not sound too bad, or perhaps get a second five pound tank, and when one goes empty swap over to the other one for a day or so then go top them both off, and repeat! Watching this as I have a cook partner stove I want to set up., and always wondered about a small Dickenson heater in my enclosed bed....Jack

yeah that was my thoughts as well. If I changed things up and got a dickenson it probably wouldnt even last a day. But something must be leaking somewhere because when I lived in my 18’ trailer I installed a dickenson and ran it 24/7 in the winter and even that didnt go through a whole lot of LP. I wonder if there is a small leak somewhere.

Some thoughts from a homebrewer…
Water is an excellent heat sink.

I bet you’re using way more gas than you realize with the showers (and heating dish water).
The Amazon link says camplux uses 3,4000 BTUs? (I’m guessing 34,000) and I believe it. Heating a couple gallons of water takes a lot of energy.. doing that on a home stove takes a long time.

Is the jetboil one burner or two(thought two)? 10,000 BTUs per burner or divided?

how do your containers compare to the size of the flame on there? Meaning, a small diameter pot does not efficiently use the heat from a wide burner. The heat goes outside and around the pot. That’s why the jetboil pots have shrouds that cover the flame, to trap the heat under the pot.
Adding a simple skirt of aluminum foil around the bottom of my coffee pot drastically cut down the boil times on my Coleman, for example.

Also, could you double dip? If you have a campfire I’d use that for as much heat source as possible, like for dishes.
You could collect your shower water then wash your dishes with it? Use your dish water for a shower? Just kidding.

I think the jetboil is 10K btu per burner. I really only use one at a time except for breakfast when making coffee. The coffee pot is about the same size of the burner so I only up the flame to medium heat at most to avoid waste. But it does take a while. The pot for cooking is plenty large to absorb all the heat.

The camplux rating is hard to tell. the flame it produces is small in size but intense. That being said I doubt its 35K btu. That would be larger than my old 18’ trailer main furnace. The showers are kinda necessary for keeping my old surgery scar clean. I am about to order a 10 lb tank but still find it odd to go through so much lp so fast. I wish there was a way to gauge its use per item. Maybe there is an inline gague somewhere?

 

[bleda2002]

I'd think it's the showers honestly, it's a 28k btu heater according to online. This is probably your biggest propane use.

We can cook for a few days on a single small green bottle on our double burner Coleman camp stove. The YouTubers mostly aren't showering every day or even every other day, and just cooking is very low use so they can easily get away with a single 5lb tank.

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