propane tanks Archives

Category: propane tanks

22 January 2020

Roaming the desert

I spent the last week roaming the desert with only a few days camped at each of several locations and ended up back where I started, more than once.

After almost two weeks just outside the Kofa NWR I rolled north towards Quartzsite to visit Paul. In past years there has been a retired Grand Canyon employees gathering here during the Big Tent RV Show. There’s always some RV trinkets you didn’t know you needed. Plus we’d do big community meals and sit around the bonfire visiting. People come and go during their stay and many have quit coming at all. I don’t blame them. So far this year, it’s just Paul and me. And we sat outside moving our chairs out of shadow to follow the apricity. Then disappeared into our respective RVs after sunset and temperature drop.

It’s generator noisy on the short-term BLM in La Paz Valley, especially mornings and evenings. I find the need for so much power rather amusing. Some of these over $200,000 motorhomes have 4-5 solar panels on the roof and probably a huge bank of batteries. They are set up to be self-contained. Hard to see the surrounding mountains for too many RV roofs and antennas. Plus the bandwidth sucks because of too many people.

I arrived needing to grocery shop, and Quartzsite is not the place for that with only tiny over-priced stores. So the next day I went roaming the desert northward about 30 minutes to Parker for a SaveWay and WallyMart. Because of my late start and too much time in each store I decided not to drive back in the dusk. The Wally’s lot was looking crowded with RVs so I went down the road to the boondocking by Blue Water Casino.

Great sunset and view, very few neighbors, and less noisy than Quartzsite even being within view of SR95.

Nice view north across the Colorado River to California. Plus such an excellent signal I stayed another day and put out last week’s #FotoFridayFun.

Had a nice chat with Joann and finally came to a decision about what to do with two RVs. Right now, nothing. It’s OK to make a decision not to make a decision. There is nothing I can do about the 5th-wheel right now so let go of that until spring when back up in Utah. Enjoy my life now in the camper. Feels good to let that go.

Gathering of Newmar motorhomes

On the return to camp Quartzsite I dumped tanks to the tune of $15 not including taking on fresh water. The big rigs pay the same, that’s not fair. I did the whole thing myself for the first time since the accident, and even got up off the ground with no trouble. I did have employee Ray to call for backup if needed. Next time I will treat myself to hookups in a RV park somewhere. Accomplished PT goal #2.

Two more noisy nights in crowded Quartzsite and I ran away back to the quiet of Kofa. Sadly, it’s much busier than it was but not as bad as Quartzsite plus the signal was weak to nonexistent. It was windy out so I was in and thinking about my next move possibly near Yuma to take care of some business and last minute shopping before another boondock south of Ajo.

When the one propane tank emptied that afternoon, I slowly turned the valve and switched over to the other tank, and it worked. But only for a few hours and I barely heated dinner before having no propane at all. The tank is not empty. The fridge turned off just before an early bedtime because it was chilly as I had no heat. Sure glad it hovered above 50° over night so an extra blanket, and kitty, kept me warm. However, my brain kept me awake trying to solve this problem.

Funny how no coffee in the morning can motivate me to move. I was back in Quartzsite by 9am at Lifestyle RV to ask questions. They couldn’t look at it until next week. In the meantime, my ice cream is getting soft.

There is definitely something wrong with one of the tanks and has been all along. I called B&B in Congress where I bought the tanks last March to tell them I was on my way. This has to be solved somehow. Sure glad they agree. He thinks the valve is bad. Every time there’s an update for “safety” the parts get more complicated.

Filled the tank that does work and talked about some options. Then I drove out the old Ghost town Road thinking I’d boondock for the night. But the signal was non-existent and I wanted to do some propane tank research. Plus the sky was gray with rain predicted for the next day. So, instead I went to North Ranch RV Park and signed in for a few days of electric comfort in Congress. (Seems to becoming my recent home base.) Turned out to be a wise choice as the rain came.

And I was able to learn enough to make a decision about the propane. With the bogus tank out of the compartment it won’t be so hard to pull the working tank out for refilling. Plus I now know how sensitive the valve is and the correct way the tank should be filled. Though I fear some of the people who do fill them don’t know. The ideal fix is a permanently mounted ASME tank like motorhomes have but I’m not spending $500 minimum for that—if it would fit in the hole—when a portable upright 5gal/20lb tank is $35 brand new. And It will fit in another storage compartment with a longer hose.

I hope this resolves running out of propane with only one tank working. Whenever I’ve had two working tanks, when one empties and I switch over, within a couple days, it’s time to look for a refill on the empty. During chilly weather I’m going through about one tank every 7-9 days while boondocking. And that’s what I really want to be doing, boondocking and roaming the desert. I hesitate to say where I hope to be headed next so let’s settle with a coddiwomple southward.