Is it safe to use propane for travel trailer?
I recently was given a 1973 Glendale travel trailer, it is now parked in my park of choice and will be used as a getaway in the summer etc. My one Uncle is telling me it's not worth the safety risk (leaks & possible explosion) to use the propane system the trailer comes with (pretty sure it's all in good shape), and to just use a space heater on cold nights and use the park's solar showers. My other Uncle is saying the propane is safe to use (he's a natural handyman who will check my system out for me) and that it's much easier to use for cooking, furnace, water heater etc and with very little risks. I'm very scared of "going boom" and am unsure if I want to use the propane. I would greatly appreciate everyone's opinons/answers on whether or not we should use propane for the trailer. Thanks for the answers so far. I'm still a bit nervous because a trailer at the same park blew up in the past. It was a school bus that had been converted, I don't know the details exactly (I'm guessing something was faulty), but that is why I'm apprehensive about propane.
Other - Cars & Transportation - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Have your uncle check the complete system for leaks and check the exhaust of all appliances. Don't worry, I live in travel trailers 8 months a year for work, you will love it and upgrade. good luck.
2 :
People use their propane all the time, Have your Uncle check it out and use it.
3 :
I'm scared of the explosion risk myself, plus cooking on gas appliances sucks in my opinion, cakes, biscuits burn on bottom yet don't cook too good on top, cooking times on packaging won't work since it does it so quickly, and water boils from mac n cheese or soups (evaporates, because turning down gas RV stove puts the flame out but hisses instead of varying properly) The thing i don't like most is the risk of CO poisoning from the furnace, the amount of gas used is costly, plus even today's RVs (and esp those built in the 1970s) use matches to light. ever since my great grandmom had her Hotpoint blow up from simply trying to light the oven i haven't felt confident to throw matches at gas-anything. I would either avoid winter camping (winters here are too cold to use propane anyways it gets into single digits and propane gets eaten alive in a day or two) or try using a safe heater to heat with and turn it off during the day or when you're out. my travel trailer caught fire because i left a heater on to keep it warm as i left, but i don't understand how but the risk is there both ways. but it's better than exploding. Or use gas stoves outdoors, like propane camp stoves that way if it blows it won't destroy everything. plus there's more air to ventilate with outside, no risk of CO poisoning
4 :
As someone who has been in the propane business for 20 years, let me say this..If propane wasn't a safe fuel to use, we wouldn't have it in homes, RV's or anywhere else! Propane is a safe, economical fuel! Just like a lot of other things people get hurt using, or are dissatisfied with, it is usually due to a lack of proper understanding and especially RESPECT. You don't need to be afraid of propane, but you better give it the RESPECT it deserves or you will have problems! First of all...No offence to your Uncle, but have a professional inspect the entire system before you use it. They are trained and know exactly what they are looking at. They will use specialized tools to verify that the correct gas pressure is going to each appliance and they are burning correctly. You should have a CO detector in any space, house or RV, where a fuel burning appliance is, to be sure you are safe. If the system is properly inspected and maintained in good order you will not go BOOM! Enjoy your RV and your Getaways
I recently was given a 1973 Glendale travel trailer, it is now parked in my park of choice and will be used as a getaway in the summer etc. My one Uncle is telling me it's not worth the safety risk (leaks & possible explosion) to use the propane system the trailer comes with (pretty sure it's all in good shape), and to just use a space heater on cold nights and use the park's solar showers. My other Uncle is saying the propane is safe to use (he's a natural handyman who will check my system out for me) and that it's much easier to use for cooking, furnace, water heater etc and with very little risks. I'm very scared of "going boom" and am unsure if I want to use the propane. I would greatly appreciate everyone's opinons/answers on whether or not we should use propane for the trailer. Thanks for the answers so far. I'm still a bit nervous because a trailer at the same park blew up in the past. It was a school bus that had been converted, I don't know the details exactly (I'm guessing something was faulty), but that is why I'm apprehensive about propane.
Other - Cars & Transportation - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Have your uncle check the complete system for leaks and check the exhaust of all appliances. Don't worry, I live in travel trailers 8 months a year for work, you will love it and upgrade. good luck.
2 :
People use their propane all the time, Have your Uncle check it out and use it.
3 :
I'm scared of the explosion risk myself, plus cooking on gas appliances sucks in my opinion, cakes, biscuits burn on bottom yet don't cook too good on top, cooking times on packaging won't work since it does it so quickly, and water boils from mac n cheese or soups (evaporates, because turning down gas RV stove puts the flame out but hisses instead of varying properly) The thing i don't like most is the risk of CO poisoning from the furnace, the amount of gas used is costly, plus even today's RVs (and esp those built in the 1970s) use matches to light. ever since my great grandmom had her Hotpoint blow up from simply trying to light the oven i haven't felt confident to throw matches at gas-anything. I would either avoid winter camping (winters here are too cold to use propane anyways it gets into single digits and propane gets eaten alive in a day or two) or try using a safe heater to heat with and turn it off during the day or when you're out. my travel trailer caught fire because i left a heater on to keep it warm as i left, but i don't understand how but the risk is there both ways. but it's better than exploding. Or use gas stoves outdoors, like propane camp stoves that way if it blows it won't destroy everything. plus there's more air to ventilate with outside, no risk of CO poisoning
4 :
As someone who has been in the propane business for 20 years, let me say this..If propane wasn't a safe fuel to use, we wouldn't have it in homes, RV's or anywhere else! Propane is a safe, economical fuel! Just like a lot of other things people get hurt using, or are dissatisfied with, it is usually due to a lack of proper understanding and especially RESPECT. You don't need to be afraid of propane, but you better give it the RESPECT it deserves or you will have problems! First of all...No offence to your Uncle, but have a professional inspect the entire system before you use it. They are trained and know exactly what they are looking at. They will use specialized tools to verify that the correct gas pressure is going to each appliance and they are burning correctly. You should have a CO detector in any space, house or RV, where a fuel burning appliance is, to be sure you are safe. If the system is properly inspected and maintained in good order you will not go BOOM! Enjoy your RV and your Getaways
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