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04-17-2011, 06:52 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 31
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Newbie question about propane tank?
Our 2009 Outlook (new to us in December) is in storage, so I can't go look at it. I don't know why I hadn't thought to check this before now, but we are heading out this week for our first time and it occurred to me to check the amount of propane in the tank so we have enough to get us through the weekend. Is there a gauge on the tank so you know how full it is? I know at home with the gas grill, you never know until it runs out. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but we are totally new at this.
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Janet & Jim and the livestock (1 dog, 3 cats)
Sanford, FL
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-17-2011, 07:03 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 164
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Not dumb.. always good to ask if your unsure..
Yes, there should be a gauge to show you... it could be a simple 'red arc/green arc' type, the 'full/middle/empty line' type, or one that show percentages... but it should have one.
Now, the real question is, how big is the tank, and how much do you need to get through the trip?
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04-17-2011, 08:03 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 37
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yes, there should be a gauge on the tank, and maybe a place on the holding tank panel that shows propane level too.
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1999 Winnebago Minnie 29', Ford V10, Close to stock.
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04-17-2011, 08:05 AM
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#4
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 31
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I have no idea how big the tank is and I can't seem to find the information in the manual. We are just going away for a 3 day weekend, so I don't think we need that much. I just want to be sure it's not on empty when we leave, since the Outlook is used. I'm guessing the previous owner probably didn't use much though, as the stove looks like it's never been used!
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Janet & Jim and the livestock (1 dog, 3 cats)
Sanford, FL
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-17-2011, 08:19 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
I have no idea how big the tank is and I can't seem to find the information in the manual. We are just going away for a 3 day weekend, so I don't think we need that much. I just want to be sure it's not on empty when we leave, since the Outlook is used. I'm guessing the previous owner probably didn't use much though, as the stove looks like it's never been used!
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The stove isn't what uses much propane, it's the heat. We are out on our first trip in our new RV. Never used the stove but it's been in the upper 30's all weekend. We used a third of a 28 gal tank of propane in 3 days. Our previous RV was 3.5 years old and the stove had never been used (dw states she's "on vacation" when in the RV ) We went through at least 5 tanks of propane.
Better check that propane level. There is usually a gauge on the tank and a digital readout inside on your monitor panel.
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04-17-2011, 08:21 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 31
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With temperatures forecast to be near 90 that weekend, we SURE won't be needing the propane for heat! LOL
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Janet & Jim and the livestock (1 dog, 3 cats)
Sanford, FL
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-17-2011, 08:24 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 164
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For Hot Water? Fridge? If you not gonna be hooked up, you'll need propane for those...
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04-17-2011, 08:37 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 31
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No, we'll have water and electric, so we're OK there.
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Janet & Jim and the livestock (1 dog, 3 cats)
Sanford, FL
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-17-2011, 08:38 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
Our 2009 Outlook (new to us in December) is in storage, so I can't go look at it. I don't know why I hadn't thought to check this before now, but we are heading out this week for our first time and it occurred to me to check the amount of propane in the tank so we have enough to get us through the weekend. Is there a gauge on the tank so you know how full it is? I know at home with the gas grill, you never know until it runs out. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but we are totally new at this.
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You have an 18 gallon propane tank. It looks like there isn't an inside gauge for the propane, so you will have to look at the gauge on the tank. I would fill it before starting out. You will need it for your refrigerator, water heater and furnace. Here is a brochure with all the specifications
2009 Winnebago Outlook
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2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
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04-17-2011, 10:22 AM
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#10
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 478
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I'd fill it it were me. The gauge may not be accurate and you don't want to run out. I'd suggest you make of note of the gauge needle position if you have one and then you might have a feel for how long you can go between fills when the gauge reach reaches that point again.
Bob
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Bob, Sandi & Marmaduke the Big Pug
SW OREGON 2004 Journey 39K, 330 Cat
If towing: a 2006 Mini Cooper or 1995 Wrangler
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04-17-2011, 02:31 PM
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#11
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,080
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As John Hilley mentioned the propane tank holds 18 gallons of liquid. The OPD (overfill protection device) will only allow it to be filled to 80% of its capacity. That means if it's full to the point the opd shuts off the filling process it will hold only 14.4 gallons of propane.
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Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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04-17-2011, 02:44 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NE. Ohio USA
Posts: 20
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In our tt (hybrid) we camp about 50 nights a year. We might use the furnace 5 or 6 nights a season and do some cooking on the stove. 90% of the time the hot water tank is on electric. I'll go thru about two 20 gallon propane tanks a year. Since I have two 20 gallon tanks, as one runs out, it gets refilled before the next trip.
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Jim, Diane & Robert ~ NE. OH.
2013 Aerolite Hybrid #232 ES
2014 Toyota Tundra Limited 5.7L
IRV2 Photo Album ~Let's Go Places~
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04-17-2011, 02:54 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
With temperatures forecast to be near 90 that weekend, we SURE won't be needing the propane for heat! LOL
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90, I am jealous. My point was the lack of stove use is no indication of how much LP the PO used. I'd top it off before your trip. We stopped on the way home this afternoon and put 12 gallons in our 28 gallon tank. Heat, hot water and lp for the fridge ate up a lot this weekend. We also ran the heat quite a bit this winter while prepping the brand new RV since we bought it in november.
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04-17-2011, 02:57 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Superslif
In our tt (hybrid) we camp about 50 nights a year. We might use the furnace 5 or 6 nights a season and do some cooking on the stove. 90% of the time the hot water tank is on electric. I'll go thru about two 20 gallon propane tanks a year. Since I have two 20 gallon tanks, as one runs out, it gets refilled before the next trip.
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20 gallons or 20 pounds?
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04-17-2011, 05:36 PM
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#15
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 169
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You live in hurricane territory, fill the tank.
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Peter
1997 F53 Adventurer 37rw
IAFF L-792 (Retired)
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04-18-2011, 11:49 AM
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#16
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Mesa, AZ USA
Posts: 263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midniteoyl
Not dumb.. always good to ask if your unsure..
Yes, there should be a gauge to show you... it could be a simple 'red arc/green arc' type, the 'full/middle/empty line' type, or one that show percentages... but it should have one.
Now, the real question is, how big is the tank, and how much do you need to get through the trip?
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There is no such thing as an "accurate" propane gauge. Best to check the gauge and then fill the tank. The fill amount is = to the difference in the gauge vs 80%/Delta pounds of the rated full value. The 80% is the max fill allowed per tank to avoid overfilling!
Doing this will get you close to an estimate gauge reading vs. actual!
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Wretched excess is just barely enough.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser - WH Chassis - 35U - 2006 Jeep Liberty
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04-18-2011, 02:17 PM
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#17
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 31
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OK, guys, we'll check the gauge Thursday afternoon when my hubby brings it home from the warehouse. If it looks like it needs propane, I'll have him take it over and get it filled. Can that be done at a regular hardware store that fills propane tanks for gas grills?
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Janet & Jim and the livestock (1 dog, 3 cats)
Sanford, FL
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-19-2011, 07:26 AM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
OK, guys, we'll check the gauge Thursday afternoon when my hubby brings it home from the warehouse. If it looks like it needs propane, I'll have him take it over and get it filled. Can that be done at a regular hardware store that fills propane tanks for gas grills?
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We get ours filled at the local garden center. If they are set up for filling commercial caterers trucks and the like, you're good.
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04-19-2011, 07:40 AM
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#19
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 14
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Take the tank off and weigh it. Compare it to a tank you know is full or one that is empty. This will give you a rough idea as to how much is in your tank.
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04-19-2011, 02:13 PM
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#20
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,080
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NITEHAWK
Take the tank off and weigh it. Compare it to a tank you know is full or one that is empty. This will give you a rough idea as to how much is in your tank.
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I believe the tank is permanently mounted to the chassis and permanently plumbed to the appliances. It's not the same as portable ones used on a gas grille or travel trailer.
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Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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