Gassing the Squirrels
Safety first !! If you are not certified to plumb LP gas, take it to someone who is.
In my view, a gas grill is an essential part of camping and although some would say that charcoal is better, I'll take convenience over taste. In order to maximize this concept of convenience, I have devised a way to tap into the main gas source in my motorhome. My first solution utilized the pressure regulator that came attached to the grill requiring a connection to the high-pressure side of the system. This approach is not safe because the generally available hoses are not adequate for that pressure. Also, a great deal of gas is expelled when disconnecting the hose from the tank if it is not bled off through the grill. The real danger is if a squirrel bites through the rubber hose releasing gas at an alarming rate. Squirrel bites are what drove me to rethink this. Twice I found myself in a plume of propane fearing for my life. That's right, some of us have to be hit in the head twice before we wake up.
The better solution is to lose the regulator on the grill and pull gas from the low-pressure side of the regulator on the tank. Not all grills have a detachable regulator so start with one that does. For added safety, I use a steel braided hose and equipped it with a quick-connect shut-off valve on the grill end of the hose. No varmint gonna bite through this. I added another quick-connect shut-off valve on the motorhome plumbing. How I have a quick, safe setup and nearly endless supply of LP for preparing meat... like squirrel !
In my view, a gas grill is an essential part of camping and although some would say that charcoal is better, I'll take convenience over taste. In order to maximize this concept of convenience, I have devised a way to tap into the main gas source in my motorhome. My first solution utilized the pressure regulator that came attached to the grill requiring a connection to the high-pressure side of the system. This approach is not safe because the generally available hoses are not adequate for that pressure. Also, a great deal of gas is expelled when disconnecting the hose from the tank if it is not bled off through the grill. The real danger is if a squirrel bites through the rubber hose releasing gas at an alarming rate. Squirrel bites are what drove me to rethink this. Twice I found myself in a plume of propane fearing for my life. That's right, some of us have to be hit in the head twice before we wake up.
The better solution is to lose the regulator on the grill and pull gas from the low-pressure side of the regulator on the tank. Not all grills have a detachable regulator so start with one that does. For added safety, I use a steel braided hose and equipped it with a quick-connect shut-off valve on the grill end of the hose. No varmint gonna bite through this. I added another quick-connect shut-off valve on the motorhome plumbing. How I have a quick, safe setup and nearly endless supply of LP for preparing meat... like squirrel !
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