Saturday, January 18, 2014

Little green cylinders


When I moved into the Turtle almost four years ago I didn't even own a heater. Moving from the frozen tundra of Minnesota I was able to handle any weather the great state of Arizona could throw at me, but let's face it the glory days of sitting around all winter with my doors wide open have definitively come to end, and as much as I hate to admit it I have officially become a Arizonan. Perhaps I've wizened up, or maybe just become a sissy, but whatever the case I now require heater.





So I recently reached a point where I was using up to 5-6 green cylinders a week, and at a average of 3.25 per piece, or $13 a gallon, it definitely starts to add up. Not to mention all the room they take up. My choices were either to buy a bigger tank, which I have no room for, or to figure out how to get the big bomb looking thing (propane tank) mounted under The Turtle fully operational.

I choose the latter, and am please to report after a few trips to the hardware store, 25 feet of hose, seven fittings, about 5 hours of elbow grease running the new line, and cutting out the old junk. The tank is now up and running, and my heating costs have gone down over 75% a huge savings in the life of any nomad.



Cost of hose: $40

Cost of fittings:$30

Watching the boob tube in my shorts, and a T-shirt on the coldest desert nights: Priceless


Another addition to my never ending compilation of Road Runner Pics. Right outside the Turtle. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!



13 comments:

  1. I say 'wise'. Impressed that you can do all that work yourself. Cool! (I guess that's the wrong phrase). I think I recognize that road runner.

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    1. Couldn't have done it without help from my local hardware store.

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  2. Nice job. I really need to come out and see you. I need help figuring out how on earth to carry a deep cycle battery for my warmth. Talk about limited space. LOL Love to Candy

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  3. Gee, what are you going to do with all that extra money??? Great work! AND you are not filling the landfills with the green bombs.

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  4. Brilliant! What kind of heater are you using? Found you through other nomad bloggers....really enjoying your blog.

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  5. GREAT JOB! Here in NC, we like heat too when it is quite cool outside. We are expecting a little snow today, and much cooler weather for the rest of the week. I'm sure Candy enjoys the nice heat you have created inside the turtle.

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    1. Thanks, I think she rather be laying in a snowbank though :)

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  6. That's a propane tank under the van? Isn't that a bit dangerous? I mean if you hit something down there, and there's a spark? or am I missing something?

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    1. Every motorhome made to date has a propane tank mounted on under one side of them. Chances of explosion are extremely rare. Even when shot with bullets they dont explode into flames.

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    2. Good to know :)

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