Propane is a common fuel for living on the road for cooking, heating water, keeping warm, and even refrigeration. It is very popular in the United States since it is relatively low cost and easy to find refill or tank replacement in all cities and most towns. It does have disadvantages though: like all fuels it has some inherent risk of burning when you don't want it to, and it can produce dangerous carbon monoxide. If used or stored indoors, you must provide adequate ventilation. Some nomads prefer to go without propane if they have sufficient electrical capacity on board.
In-vehicle propane use
When used in your vehicle, propane creates quite a bit of humidity. This can create condensation issues during cold weather, which is the second reason you must ventilate during use.
An air quality detector is a valuable safety item in case of propane leaks or carbon monoxide.
Tank storage
Propane tanks should not be stored indoors in case of leaks. If they are stored indoors, they should be in a cabinet that is sealed from the rest of your living space with a vent to the outside. Propane gas is heavier than air, so it will sink to the lowest available level. As such, a vent should be at the bottom of any enclosure.
External tanks
If you mount a propane tank under your vehicle, ensure that the tank is designed for it, and is protected from road hazards (such as flying debris) and theft. For example, a standard 20-lb propane tank is not designed to be mounted horizontally. Also, some refilling services may refuse to refill tanks that are used or mounted in non-standard ways or otherwise modified from their original condition.
Propane shrinks slightly during cold weather[1] but should still work until about -44F/-42C°. Your tank gauges may read lower than actual, and heating performance may be reduced.
International travel with propane tanks
When traveling internationally, an installed propane tank may cause some issues:
- Shipping your vehicle may not be allowed
- Using ferries may not be allowed
- Propane may not be available for purchase in many countries
- Propane connectors may be different in other countries, so you may need extra adapters to refill your tank
Propane canisters
Propane is popular in camp stoves, usually with small 1-pound canisters/cylinders available from most camping supply stores, Walmart and similar, and at many gas stations. If you also have a large propane tank, you can purchase propane canister refillable propane cylinders to save money and reduce waste; then you can refill the small cylinders from your large tank. It is not safe (and not legal in many places) to refill tanks that are not designed for it.
Propane refrigerators
Propane was a popular option for refrigerators in RVs in the past, but is much less common now that low-power-consumption 12v refrigerators are available, and solar systems and battery capacity have improved. Most new vehicles come with electric-only refrigerators.
Altitude considerations
At high altitudes, propane may burn a little "richer" due to the lower air density, but should work fine for most uses. If you have a propane water heater, it may have an adjustable valve.
Resources
| Resource | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Installing propane system | Example build of a DIY propane system in a campervan. | |
| Search forums and groups | Search van life discussion groups for "propane" | |
| Search related sites | Search van life sites for "propane" | |
| Search NomadLife.wiki | Search other pages on this wiki for "propane" |