Is LPG a cheaper way of running a motorhome?

[Kryten]

Hi guys/gals,

With diesel not being cheap, I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to get an LPG tank fitted to my motorhome (when I get one, that is! ) to power it rather than use batteries and hookups. I'm not talking about a conversion to actually drive the motorhome, but just as a power source to run all the devices like the fridge, tv and lights etc.

Would this be a better long term idea? (I know there would be the initial cost in getting it fitted, then the cost of topping up). Or would getting solar panels fitted be a better/cheaper way? I'm guessing solar panels only charge up leisure batteries and won't sustain prolonged use of electrical devices whereas a full tank of LPG would be able to power devices for many days (or even weeks!?) at a time. Is this correct?

I'm planning on mainly wild camping rather than staying on designated camping sites and I don't want to be left out in the cold/dark! I also hope to use it all year round and in all weathers too. What sort of motorhome/devices would best suit my needs for this? Is there anything that I simply must have (or not have) or anything I should always do in order to accomplish this?

I look forward to your input and any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Mikeco]

I've not seen a gas run TV and gas lights went out of fashion years ago

Mike

 

[Kryten]

I've not seen a gas run TV and gas lights went out of fashion years ago

Mike

You know what I mean!!

Sensible answers everyone please.

 

[neilydun]

I don`t know what you mean ?
LPG can`t be used as a source of electricity, unless it`s through an lpg genny.

 

[Techno]

I guess you mean LPG to power a generator then? to charge your batteries for your TV and lighting etc

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[Mikeco]

No I don't.
Look forward to reading sensible answers

Mike

 

[neilydun]

With me having an American motorhome, it`s a petrol engine. It`s converted to run on LPG, which as you rightly say, is cheaper than diesel, and unleaded.
It also has a separate lpg tank, which runs the heating, and the hob/cooker, and fridge.
The lpg will not provide electric for tv, toaster etc etc
For that you need hook up, battery power, generator
If your wilding a lot, solar is great. If your at sites, hook up is easy.
If your wilding, and its not sunny, batteries/genny is the way.
A genny could run on petrol/diesel/lpg

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I think the answers were somewhat sensible, pointing out that a leisure battery can only do so much. Just about every motorhome that I know of has LPG tanks in one form or another - ranging from calor gas tanks to built under fixed tanks. Both have similar capacity plus or minus 10-20 litres!

LPG will power, fridge, cooking, hot water and heating and that is about it. Leisure battery has to power lights and everything else, and needs to be substantial if you are going to watch telly, power laptops etc.

A generator is usually a good option, depending on nearness of neighbours. Hope that helps

 

[Allanm]

You would be better getting solar panels and a bank of batteries ( 4 x 110Ah) to power your led lights and tv if your going to be away from mains for long periods. LPG will power your fridge and heating but if you have a fan in the heater system, it will use 12v.
A quiet generator is also a good idea to top your batteries up if need be ( when the sun doesn't shine, so, most of the time in the UK)
Permanently fitted or refillable lpg tanks are the cheapest option and you can also get an adapter to use bottled gas if you can't fill the tank. LPG or Autogas is cheap at about 72p a litre. Half the cost of a pre filled bottle of gas, but you need to do a bit of research to make sure you know which garages sell it.
I just filled the tank on mine. 22 litres at a cost of £16. less than half the cost of a 13kg propane bottle round here.

Allan

 

[DuxDeluxe]

No I don't.
Look forward to reading sensible answers

Mike

I think that Techno 100 DID make a sensible answer - it was your question that was vague

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[aba]

 

[TheBig1]

You know what I mean!!

Sensible answers everyone please.

A great way to endear yourself to the members here....daft answers are just part of the fun on this forum and the FUN attitude

 

[Techno]

I think the reply was in reply to the post before mine

 

[Mel]

You can try Efoy fuel cel

Or this LPG fuel cel Link Removed


Mel

 

[Larrynwin]

LPG conversions to a diesel engine a bit of a no no, costly and only uses a small percentage of LPG.
On a big American petrol RV engine , well worth it if covering plenty of miles.

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[Mikeco]

I think that Techno 100 DID make a sensible answer - it was your question that was vague

It was not my question and I agree that the original question was vague.

Mike

 

[Techno]

In Answer to the opening question.
If it was everyone would be doing it and we'd all know about it. :thumb:

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Honestly, we are here to help, some of the humour is good as well. Just ask away - :thumb:

 

[Kryten]

You would be better getting solar panels and a bank of batteries ( 4 x 110Ah) to power your led lights and tv if your going to be away from mains for long periods. LPG will power your fridge and heating but if you have a fan in the heater system, it will use 12v.
A quiet generator is also a good idea to top your batteries up if need be ( when the sun doesn't shine, so, most of the time in the UK)
Permanently fitted or refillable lpg tanks are the cheapest option and you can also get an adapter to use bottled gas if you can't fill the tank. LPG or Autogas is cheap at about 72p a litre. Half the cost of a pre filled bottle of gas, but you need to do a bit of research to make sure you know which garages sell it.
I just filled the tank on mine. 22 litres at a cost of £16. less than half the cost of a 13kg propane bottle round here.

Allan

Thanks for that Allan. :thumb: So, roughly how long will that last you then?

 

[Kryten]

LPG conversions to a diesel engine a bit of a no no, costly and only uses a small percentage of LPG.
On a big American petrol RV engine , well worth it if covering plenty of miles.

Cheers Larry.

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[Kryten]

With me having an American motorhome, it`s a petrol engine. It`s converted to run on LPG, which as you rightly say, is cheaper than diesel, and unleaded.
It also has a separate lpg tank, which runs the heating, and the hob/cooker, and fridge.
The lpg will not provide electric for tv, toaster etc etc
For that you need hook up, battery power, generator
If your wilding a lot, solar is great. If your at sites, hook up is easy.
If your wilding, and its not sunny, batteries/genny is the way.
A genny could run on petrol/diesel/lpg

Thanks for the reply. As you can see from my profile and lack of knowledge, I'm a newbie and I don't know about the various power sources for motorhomes, hence my original question. I was thinking that these LPG tanks that can be installed was just the same as having a diesel generator, only it would work out cheaper in the long term? :Blush:

 

[Kryten]

I think the answers were somewhat sensible, pointing out that a leisure battery can only do so much. Just about every motorhome that I know of has LPG tanks in one form or another - ranging from calor gas tanks to built under fixed tanks. Both have similar capacity plus or minus 10-20 litres!

LPG will power, fridge, cooking, hot water and heating and that is about it. Leisure battery has to power lights and everything else, and needs to be substantial if you are going to watch telly, power laptops etc.

A generator is usually a good option, depending on nearness of neighbours. Hope that helps

Yes, and thanks for the reply and sensible answer DuxDeluxe. :thumb: I am still a tad confused though! oh: What's the difference between a diesel generator you buy and stick outside your motorhome to power stuff and getting an LGV one that is installed under the motorhome? Why can't this power tv's etc?

 

[funflair]

Yes, and thanks for the reply and sensible answer DuxDeluxe. :thumb: I am still a tad confused though! oh: [HI]What's the difference between a diesel generator you buy and stick outside your motorhome to power stuff and getting an LGV one that is installed under the motorhome?[/HI] Why can't this power tv's etc?

Hi Kryten

If you just stand a generator outside you have to get it out and plug it in, chain it up so nobody nicks it, check and refill fuel, start it up when you need power, stop the dog peeing on it etc etc.

If you have a LPG generator properly installed in a vacant space under the floor or in a locker then you dont worry about setting it up and chaining it to a lamp post, it will use LPG from your on board supply for heating and cooking and it will be set up to start automatically when you need the power.

The only other thing to remember with generators is not to park near anybody else as they are noisy and smelly. A better option for me (and more expensive) is a battery bank and inverter and then some sort of fuel cell charging the batteries when solar is not doing its stuff.

Martin

 

[Terry]

Hi Kryton, lets start from beginnings99% of vans come with onboard chargers (electric hook up-ehu ) to charge the leisure battery (lb) while on ehu, this will power almost everything in the van direct from power coming into the van. When not on ehu everything is powered from the lb or gas or combination of both.
off ehu the fridge will run off gas as will hot water and heating but they will need some power from lb -- lights etc will also use lb -- most people also run a 12v tv from lb.
All vans are different but ours has only 1x lb @110 amp which runs all heating, hot water , and fridge (all with gas) lights tv etc are all 12v we mange 2 nights with 4 hrs ish tv per night without problem.Adding another lb will double this time to 4 days and if you find yourself in this position a extra lb is by far the cheapest way to go :thumb:
The lb, s are charged from the engine while running -or ehu when pluged in
the fridge will also work on 12v off engine while running-not running= gas or ehu.
There are variable's to this but the above are basically on most vans
terry

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Lb's are leisure batteries


Peter

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[Ed Excel]

Also, an alternative to LPG is diesel, which is obviously more readily available. You can use diesel for space heating, water heating and cooking.

 

[Kryten]

Hi Kryten

If you just stand a generator outside you have to get it out and plug it in, chain it up so nobody nicks it, check and refill fuel, start it up when you need power, stop the dog peeing on it etc etc.

If you have a LPG generator properly installed in a vacant space under the floor or in a locker then you dont worry about setting it up and chaining it to a lamp post, it will use LPG from your on board supply for heating and cooking and it will be set up to start automatically when you need the power.

The only other thing to remember with generators is not to park near anybody else as they are noisy and smelly. A better option for me (and more expensive) is a battery bank and inverter and then some sort of fuel cell charging the batteries when solar is not doing its stuff.

Martin

Excellent stuff. This is the sort of thing I was thinking of. Thanks for the info funflair. :thumb:

 

[Kryten]

Hi Kryton, lets start from beginnings99% of vans come with onboard chargers (electric hook up-ehu ) to charge the leisure battery (lb) while on ehu, this will power almost everything in the van direct from power coming into the van. When not on ehu everything is powered from the lb or gas or combination of both.
off ehu the fridge will run off gas as will hot water and heating but they will need some power from lb -- lights etc will also use lb -- most people also run a 12v tv from lb.
All vans are different but ours has only 1x lb @110 amp which runs all heating, hot water , and fridge (all with gas) lights tv etc are all 12v we mange 2 nights with 4 hrs ish tv per night without problem.Adding another lb will double this time to 4 days and if you find yourself in this position a extra lb is by far the cheapest way to go :thumb:
The lb, s are charged from the engine while running -or ehu when pluged in
the fridge will also work on 12v off engine while running-not running= gas or ehu.
There are variable's to this but the above are basically on most vans
terry

Thanks for this info terry. I'm a little bit more educated now. :thumb:

 

[Kryten]

Also, an alternative to LPG is diesel, which is obviously more readily available. You can use diesel for space heating, water heating and cooking.

Thanks for the info Ed, but although diesel is far more readily available, it's also more than twice as much as LPG though which isn't much of a selling point as far as I can see.

 

[pappajohn]

You know what I mean!!

Sensible answers everyone please.

actualy, your question is misleading.

LPG can only power electrical items...tv etc...if fed into an LPG converted generator.
Obviously it will power heating, cooling (fridge) and cooking as it is.

Back to the questin.

An underslung LPG tank is the most cost efficient method of using gas once the initial instalation outlay is recouped.

Bottled gas is expensive and obviously need periodic changing whereas a tank will/can hold a lot more so requires less refilling and the cost per liter is whatever you pay at the fuel pump.

Another advantage of a tank....you need only put in what you need.
Could be a full tank or just a top up of a few liters.

A bottle would be empty, possibly at an inconvenient time, before changing...or forfiet whatever gas is remaining if not empty..