Vandwelling 101 How much propane do I have left

 How much propane is left in my tank.

Today I sold a BBQ grill with a weight scale telling me how much propane is left in the tank. Cute idea but if you've ever camped in freezing blizzards or cold winter,  you have several ways to tell how much propane is still in your tank.

Method 1

Feel the tank. It's colder when you have propane.  

Method 2

Pour some water on the tank.  Just a little. 

You'll easily see how full it is 

Method 3

Pick It up 

A standard tank is called a 20lb tank. It takes about 7 gallons of propane. Full tank is heavy.  Empty tank is light. 

Propane tips.  Turn the knob on the tank all the way on. Adjust propane on appliances. 

Don't fill half full tank. They have to exhaust all propane to fill them.

Don't keep a leaking propane tank. 

Turn off tank first,  then the appliances hooked up to it. Otherwise you have propane in your hose.

Propane is heavier than air. If you smell propane,  turn off everything and exit leaving doors open.  Propane smells like rotten eggs.

If you have appliances with pilot lights,  make sure that the pilot light stays lit.

Otherwise you will have a small propane leak.

Storing propane tanks on a hitch mounted shelf is not a good idea. 

It adds weight to rear axle. If you are rear ended,  it can be very dangerous. 

I used to store my propane in a milk crate right next to a side barn door or passenger front seat floor.  In case of emergency,  open door,  kick out,  drive at least a couple hundred feet. 

Never travel with propane hooked up to stove or heaters. 

Cost of refills is less than $16. Cost of exchange is about $20

Cost of 20 1lb containers is about $80

Currently 1lb propane bottles are about $4 to $5 each. Generally you save  $64  each time you refill a 20lb propane tank rather than buying 1lb cannister 

See you down the road 

Lou

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Vandwelling 101: People go missing, get hurt, get lost, or die

Although I didn't know or follow newcomer Gabby, it brings up important things often missed or ignored. There is a fantasy element about vanlife. It is a skilled lifestyle and very trendy. It is (in my opinion) no more dangerous than any lifestyle. But ignoring reality or risks isn't safe in any life style. 

I have health issues. I have to always keep in mind that if something happens, help may not be right there. Or a vehicle issue or accident can happen anywhere. 

I know of friends who have changed. I have twice traveled a distance and even after trying to check, it just didnt work out. I bought land by someone with someone else. Mistake. Lesson learned and it was only financial.

I know a few couples who broke up in vanlife. 

Many buy vans only to find out, this isnt what they wanted. Others test out by not selling everything they own.

I believe same lessons found out in the 60s by hippies. 

There is no magic answer. There are as many types of groups as there are people. 

I have decades of having wanderlust in my soul. There are amazing times, there are dark times, and one of the lessons i learned early is that you only see a tiny glimpse. I have had the roughest 3 years in my life. Only because of amazing friends in private have i come through. But i have also met some really icky people. And several stalkers or creeps.

You learn to trust that uncomfortable feeling. But even then, the most skilled person can get lost, injured, or hurt. 

I absolutely almost panic without cell service or unable to charge my phone. 

In colorado, i either had to drive over a mountain or to a town 30 miles away to have phone. And 9 miles by a river to have hotspot. Different service providers. But near enough regular neighbor if maybe a long walk. 

Many young kids prefer texting. But if i have a doubt, i want voice or video.

I have had 3 narrow calls on being in danger of death. Twice were where i just rented a room. You dont see it until you are trapped. 

And was stuck in national forest with someone i found out was abusive. The green herbal medicine turned out to be pcp. I was very indignent since i didnt think i even knew anyone who used it. I checked in twice daily with a friend as a safety check. I thought i was being silly. But i met his new wife at a pow wow. Knew why she hated me. I told her if ever came a time things were bad, come see me. I had him arrested. He finally pled guilty. In michigan you only serve 42 days for inuring someone during domestic assault. I sold my 30ft vintage class a rv for scrap. He kept moving into it in storage. This is years and decades ago.

Fantasy youtube and blogs rarely cover reality. 

My life has never been running away. It didnt solve any problems. It has been dangerous at times from weather. 

This life is just life. It requires common sense, luck, skills. 

She could have been me, several friends, or some aquaintances. A friend in private broke a confidence and saved me from a very bad decision.  I might have been in a dangeruous situation without money or help. It can happen to anyone. 

I have no desire to capitaise on a trajic situation. I hope by sharing my experience, that someone else doesn't die from a similar situation. 

Vandwelling 101: You want power in yout van?

There have been questions and confusion about power. 

It is easier learning in sections

Here is how i learned.

Step 1. Learn to make power box

Its a battery separate from other systems. 

I got a used reconditioned interstate deep cycle. 

Pair jumper cables. Battery box. 

It sat on passengers front floor wedged so it couldnt tip. I used it to jump my van when needed and kept hooked up 20 minutes after starting van to charge back up. 

Did that couple years. Got knocked out rear door and had to replace. 

Next i added clip on power socket. 

After that, next addition had 2 usb plugs and a digital voltmeter. Pretty simple. When not using unhook negative cable. 

Finally wired in van to starter battery, added dorman switch and bought multimeter, 100 watt inverter. 

I found 2 10 watt solar panels in free box at ltva in quartzsite. Got expert at moving for best power and how much they charged. 

Last year bought big solar panel.

Found out too big for me, 24v, and charge controller really expensive. Sold it and had bought used 100 watt panel and charge contoller. 

Starting out 10 watt panel and experimenting was good choice. 

Here are some tips

Dont go all in at first. I promise you will ruin at least one battery while learning. 

There are some good things about not having money at first..i learned as i went. 

Never ever hook jumper cables under hood to charge house battery unless parked. Dangerous. One new idiot tried it. Hood flew up on I95. And she passed herself off on youtube as expert teaching. 

Safest to learn power with battery in box charging by jumper cables. 

Use the free apps with wire sizes, fuses, and safety. 

I know wiring 12v. Got interupted. Know better, picked up where i left off rather than check from scratch.  Started small fire.  Think was less than 2 amps. Cross connected positive and negative.  Promise wire insulation becomes liquid n drips instantly and open flame. Grabbed wires, pulled hard, tossed out open door.

A van's interior and engine electrical are NOT 2 separate systems, they are 2 interconnected systems. 

This is merely an overview. 12v wiring will start a fire faster. You need to understand power before installing.

Screwing up or not being careful can start fire under hood, under dash, or interior. You can explode batteries or fry your entire electrical system.

See you down the road

JustLou

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Vandwelling 101 -- Fire, Propane , and Safety

Life is always about risks. 

Those who take no risks or play it safe often have no joy as well. Their lives become stagnant.  Those who take too many risks experience chaos and too many ups and downs.  

So,  where is the line on risks.  What factors into risking/not risking. 

First,  let's look at fears.  Not all fear is bad.  A healthy fear prevents us from taking risks that will injure or kill us.  

As a child,  I was told don't touch the stove, you'll get burned.  As an adult,  I'm careful using a stove and know that carelessness can burn down my van, kill or injure me.  But, I'm not afraid of using my stove or propane.  I always double check the propane valve,  the hose and hookup,  and the burner knobs. I keep a box of baking soda (the big one)  on hand for a fire.  (It's used much more for cleaning. )

The Propane Tank

I hear of too many who disregard updating,  upgrading,  or having their propane tanks inspected.  In my opinion,  this is one of the most dangerous things you can do.  I also disagree with refilling the one use propane bottles.  They make a refillable one pound propane bottle.  I have the adapter to fill one pound bottles from a larger tank,  but I've yet to use it because I've not bought the refillable one pound tanks.  Could I refill the throwaway ones,  yes.  Will I do it? No.  All it would take is one open flame and a leaking tank to cause a fire.  

I transport my propane tanks inside.  I make sure thet they are upright, and i strap or bungee them in place if they are not wedged in.  I also always store them right next to a door so that in an emergency,  i can open the door,  kick them out,  and drive the van a safe distance away.  As a matter of fact,  i store all flammable liquids right next to a door.  

There was just an article in the news of a big RV totaled by a fire started with the propane refrigerator.  So, I don't think my precautions are out of line.  

Some people refuse to use propane.  I understand their fears and respect their choices.  But, i use fears to think about what things I can do to prevent bad accidents by having safe processes on hand to try to mitigate any risks. 

Do not ever ignore your fears,  but use those fears to think about your life and lifestyle. Use those fears to develop good safely practices. 

Good coffee to you,  see you down the road

Just Lou  and Kira too.

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Vandwelling 101 - Vandwelling is a skilled lifestyle with a learning curve

I've seen so many that discount the amount of skills needed for this life.  

I just had to wire on the fly,  a better solar and battery setup in my van without losing the food in the fridge; safely,  without doing it halfway,  with only what i had on hand.  I used an old set jumper cables,  two battery cable ends,  and had it up and running in less than a half hour.  

My starter has gone out again.  A stalker caught me as i was being towed into the LTVA and has pushed me repeatedly for the guy who works on his van to fix it... for only $450 plus the parts.  He's assured me his mechanic (who has never seen my vehicle)  knows that it's the flex gear in the transmission causing this issue.  Lol.  Can I get a new flex capacitor at the same time. Luckily I know a fair amount of mechanics skils. 

Too many try to do everything all at once.  Stop it. That's a good recipe for failure.  

Too many also try to make it into a house. A house doesn't jolt and jiggle going down the road.  You may store dry and canned food anywhere it fits,  not just in the kitchen.  

I think this is the first time,  since having my trailer,  class a 30 ft motorhome,  or old travel trailers that I've had a kitchen and power prewired in.  

I know it's the first time I've had a fridge in years.  I didn't miss any of these items.  You simply change your buying habits and cooking habits.  

I could turn around tomorrow and start over in a compact car and still cook, sleep,  and have power with much less than $100 build.  

You need to learn power systems.  You need to relearn food and cooking.  Every drop of water you use,  charging your electronics,  what electronics you use.  

My point is this is a very different alternative lifestyle and not just anyone starts out expert.  Don't expect yourself to be one.  And what you think you want and need will change drastically your first year out. 

Good coffee to you

Vandwelling 101 -- Personal updates

It's been a while since I wrote this blog regularly.  A lot of things happened in my life,  including my van down constantly for over 6 months.  

Just as I was ready to get on the interstate for a trip that's been postponed month after month,  again my van didn't start.  This time it's just a V-belt, and was a bit harder to find the correct size. It's a 48 hour $11 delay.  I am so grateful it was literally 5 minutes before I left,  that it's an easy and inexpensive fix. 

New batteries,  new fuel pump,  new alternator, 2 starters, oil change,  and everything ok.  The correct belt on Monday.

I'm so excited to be back traveling finally.  I only planned on staying one month. 

So finally,  Monday,  i start off once again

See you down the road,

JustLou 

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Vandwelling 101 - When Your Van Breaks Down

Someone asked me what do you do when you're broken down.  Lol.  I've spent most of the last eight months one problem after another. 

First, go directly to store or lot owner and be honest. I've a fixed income.  I've had to wait for mechanics.  Up to a month or three non running van.  

Keep exterior area clean.  Whether you or others.  I've picked up trash left by others.  

Don't have people congregate where you are.  Don't cook or sit a chair outside.  Don't leave food waste or human waste or dump bunches gray water. 

It's basic common sense.  I had to tow away to different spot twice.  Better than having an issue.  Both times were because of someone else. 

You just communicate,  do your best,  and as long as you're doing something about it,  generally you'll manage to work it out.  

See ya down the road, 

JustLou

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