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01-10-2018, 07:41 PM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Belvidere
Posts: 72
M.O.C. #10854
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Propane or electric
Is it more economical to use propane or ac to run the refrigerator and heat water?
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01-10-2018, 08:17 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 1,567
M.O.C. #20475
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Electric is way more economical as far as money aspeshaly if it is included in the price of
site. but with most rv water heaters they work better on gas then electric as far as how
fast they recover the newer waters can run on gas and electric at the same time so you
really heat water fast.
Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW crew cab 4x4 LB
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01-10-2018, 08:21 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Electric is cheaper. WH on electric has always been sufficient for us.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-10-2018, 08:33 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #6433
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I run the water on electric since we are only some timers, not full timers, and electric is always included in site fee. But if the weather is fairly cold I operate it on both electric and propane to get better recovery time since the incoming water will also be cold.
Fridge is always on auto so that it runs on electric when we are hooked up, and propane when not.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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01-10-2018, 08:53 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,086
M.O.C. #20477
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Hate to run the generator to heat my water or run my fridge. Also limits what other electric things I can run at the same time without overloading the generator. Would rather use propane. Not sure which is cheaper gas or propane.
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Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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01-11-2018, 04:56 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
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Full timing for years now and electric is the way to go if you can, Propane is more expensive than electric and you don't have to fill the bottles, but i exercise the fridge one day every month on gas and the water heater is using both the electric and gas for quicker recovery
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01-11-2018, 07:25 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 321
M.O.C. #17521
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It can cost as much as $30 to fill one bottle of gas. I went through a bottle every 3 days when cold out because of heater. On just water heater bottle lasts much longer. Fridge goes both ways gas / electric
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01-11-2018, 07:28 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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We have always used Electric and we have no idea which is more cost effective. We will run everything on propane at least on day a month to insure everything works. Our total electric bill here at our Florida lot runs 70 to 100.00 per month depending on A/C usage and how often the furnace runs.
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01-11-2018, 02:25 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We use electric for the frig and water heater except when boon docking or during a power failure. I dislike dealing with the propane bottles anymore than necessary and the furnace will cause more of that activity than I need anyway.
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01-11-2018, 04:20 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bee Branch
Posts: 2,620
M.O.C. #20693
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Like BB Tex we are part timers and usually run totally electric since short term stays almost always include the electric in the cost. In fact if it wasn't for the frequent situation where we have our 50amp monster sitting in a 30 amp site (while some bozo with a popup sits on the 50amp, do they need some rules about that or what). In that case we are running the HW on gas to reduce the electric load. Particularly important since we have a residential fridge....
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James & Irene Wilson
Bee Branch, AR.
2017 Ram 1 ton diesel duallyCrew Cab/Long Bed
2018 Montana High Country 381TH Garage Full of Toys
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01-11-2018, 05:35 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,669
M.O.C. #9969
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I'm in the don't know or care which is cheaper and we're in our Rig 9 to 10 months of the year.
I just know that while running on Electric I don't have to drag my 40 Lb propane tanks out to be refilled.
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Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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01-12-2018, 08:41 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,898
M.O.C. #9561
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electric if it is included:-) and it is still cheaper than propane anyway
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01-17-2018, 02:20 PM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Aurora
Posts: 48
M.O.C. #13124
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To me this is not a either or situation. When on shore power, fridge is electric and WH is always on gas. I've been doing this too long and remember when we didn't have the electric option for the WH.
YMMV.
Mike
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Mike and Diane
2017 Montana 3710FL
2014 F350 CC DRW 4x4 6.7 3.73's and bone stock
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01-23-2018, 02:39 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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Just to throw another twist to this discussion, at Quartzsite a couple days ago, we had a presentation by Paul Unmack, the ARP guy, and during the discussion, he indicated that the use of electric is harder on the steel of the boiler assembly than is the use of gas. He said that when the fridge calls for cooling, the electric elements get hot right away, which stresses the boiler area quite a bit, even to the point of causing stress cracks, but when in gas mode, the heat comes on gradually which is easier on the steel. He says either mode works OK, but his recommendation is to use gas only, and also said the fridge doesn't use much gas compared to the water heater or the furnace, so the cost isn't very much.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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01-23-2018, 05:31 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cuyahoga Falls
Posts: 721
M.O.C. #18572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by George Morey
Is it more economical to use propane or ac to run the refrigerator and heat water?
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Boondocking or staying at camp grounds is what dictates the economics.
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ATC/NAC Jerry A. Burkholder, USN (RET.)
Rule #1. The Chief is always right.
Rule #2. When in doubt, refer to rule #1.
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05-31-2018, 05:35 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: St.Maries
Posts: 1,010
M.O.C. #7329
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If you are a long timer in a park it depends on the price of electricity which can be very high is some areas. We usually use electric because I don't like handling the tanks any more than necessary.
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11-15-2018, 07:47 AM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #10843
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I can't speak to the costs in RV parks, I'm on my own lot...
In above freezing temps, electric is okay and more than anything, it's convenient. It's certainly cheaper if you are filling the small propane tanks that come with your RV.
Once my heater has to run because the electric can't keep up (around 15 degrees f) I use a large external bulk propane tank rented from a local propane place. 100 gallons of propane cost about the same as 3 40 lb tank refills and lasts around a month.
My electric bill goes up more than the cost of bulk propane, so consider that as an option if the place you are at allows it.
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01-27-2019, 10:27 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,107
M.O.C. #8045
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I always use electric for both fridge and water heater when connected to 50 amp. When on 30 I use gas on both. I think I save on propane by turning off WH at night or while gone for a few hours. Since it only takes a few minutes to heat it back up I see no need to keep it on all night.
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