Cold weather RVing & propane

[muelldawg]

We just returned from a Tubac, AZ. A two nighter. Camped at Flying W RV Ranch all alone in a farm yard. A terrific RV park with full hook-ups. Thats the good news.

The bad news is it got very cold, by AZ standards, Wednesday night - well below freezing. The result was:

- water froze in outside water hose
- RV furnace would not work (used back up elec heater)
- RV oven burners would not light
- gas pilot light went out
- gray water tank drain valve froze shut (broke handle trying to open)
- RV Refrig would not work with propane

The water hose freezing was not a big deal; we swiched to our fresh water tank. Everything else was propane related. Today I checked all accessories and all now works in 75+ weather.

When I checked the propane tank at camp site it showed little gas; and I had it topped off before we left. My first thought was I had a gas leak. But that is not it. Now I'm thinking the gas regulator simple did not work when it got cold.

Thoughts?

[clutch]

We have never had a propane problem due to cold weather. I always thought that propane would flow to below 0 temps. I would suspect the regulator was not working properly or you had moisture in the line that froze and blocked the flow.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by clutch

We have never had a propane problem due to cold weather. I always thought that propane would flow to below 0 temps. I would suspect the regulator was not working properly or you had moisture in the line that froze and blocked the flow.

Propane will flow well below freezing... I wonder if someone sold him a tank full of Butane? it freezes much easier... When in the S I always ask if they are pumping Propane or butane...

[kcconawa]

Make sure your unit is equipped with the winter package, solve your heater issue and you are good to go next time. Not sure how low a temp the 2010 Jay Feather Sport 165 is rated you need to determine that. And if the furnace quits working again, remember the first to freeze is your underbelly which contains all the tanks etc. If you are hooked up to sewer, one solution is to leave your gray water drain open. Just don't leave your black open.

[muelldawg]

KCC, thanks for heads up on leaving gray water tank valve open to sewer in cold weather!!

Went to Camper World and picked up a replacement handle for valve. The old broken one screwed off and was easily replaced.

After doing some homework on the propane "freeze" issue; I believe when I topped off the tank, it was over filled, thus causing the contamination of propane in line. Although it is still not clear to me why the propane shut down when it was cold. There was no problem using the propane until it got cold.