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Dumb ‘n00b’ Mick here. Planning on getting a Host Mammoth this fall for beaucoup boundocking. It carries 15 lbs of propane. The wife thinks she’s a fish that needs to swim in a warm shower frequently. I figure getting her into the Navy shower mode will be tough. Water isn’t the issue as the Mammoth carries 65 gallons and I can probably carry an extra 20. She also doesn’t like being cold so if we camp into the fall, or even winter in the desert, I’m wondering how long 15 gals of propane will last. I figure I could carry an extra 15 gals but let’s ignore that for now. I can order a gas/elec water heater but the genny runs off the propane so it may not really save much propane when showering. Solar will help but let’s ignore that too for now.
Thanks!
It’s good to be a n00b - so I can aspire to be just stoopid.
Monrovia, CA
Wow, answers here would be all over the map as usage varies so widely. Certainly don’t run genie on propane to heat water.
Propane has roughly 90,000 BTU per gallon. Water heater will use about 8,500 BTU per hour, furnace about 25,000 (all rough estimates).
Then you also have generator use plus dish washing, etc. And since water heater recovers quickly, we don’t leave it on constantly, just when we use it and furnace obviously is not on continuously either.
Given you are new to this, my guess is you are need to give it a go and see how it works out. At the very least I can’t imagine it will not last a very long time and generator use will be the deciding factor.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCMick D, guessin you are talking boondocking? Yes, 15 gals seems a bit niggardly especially when you factor in the Onan genset runs on propane. Bad equation: Buy the Onan to boondock, but only 15 gal of propane, ain’t boonie bashing for long. Now you can run the fireplace heat on the Onan and with the DSI you got your shower. So the limit is 15 gal.
I have an e mail into Host asking the following, will post when I get an answer:
1) Propane: 15 gal seems small. And as the Onan runs off propane then it’s a real challenge to do a long boondock in cold weather.
2) Difference between Mammoth and Everest, they appear to be one in the same???? Or the real question is why buy one over the other.
On another note: Do you want a King Bed for you Host?
On another note: Truck outfitting to work with this unit is critical to owner acceptance. My AF 1150 was not lightweight unit and fully loaded tipped the scales near the 5000 lb mark. Driving the ranch roads of Texas is a swing ‘n sway if there ever was one. My wife was petrified. Fine out on the Interstate, but get off into the motorcycle roads and my ’15 F 350 dually wobbled like an out of balance spinning top. But wait, I got tricks and can make the dually handle like a Corvette.
Hellwig Big Wig Rear anti-sway bar
Rancho RS 9000 XL adjustable shocks
Torklift Upper Stable loads
Do those 3 things and that dually is a as stable as a block of granite. NOTE: I did not mention “air bags”! Every forum from TC’s to TT’s and 5th wheels, has more fan boys promoting Air Bags like they own stock in the company. Nothing but a waste of your money!
Helps being an engineer…
Don
US Army Retired
2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
Hill Country of TexasYeah, I hear y’all on the genny but I’ll be putting as much solar on as there is roof so the genny won’t be disturbing the peace too much. I hope the solar will cover the water heater. Maybe I should haul my Honda 2K along to run the water heater? It’s really efficient. A pity the Onan can’t run off the truck’s diesel. I’m more concerned about running the furnace. I see a vent-free propane heater in our future – much more efficient and probably more than adequate for hanging out at night. If I only run the furnace for half an hour in the morning to get Her Highness out of the rack and use the vent-free for the rest of our heating I’m hoping 30 gals could last a week or a little more. I guess baking bread might not be indicated.
Don, not worried about rockin’ and rollin’ with an F550. I figure I’ll be 5000 lbs under my payload limit. Yeah, air bags are for people who don’t buy enough truck. I’m planning on doing this once, correctly. 😉
It’s good to be a n00b - so I can aspire to be just stoopid.
Monrovia, CA
Man, I can’t imagine how you could go through even 15 gallons in a week.
Maybe i’m not following, but you don’t need solar for the water heater. That DSI board draws next to nothing.
My thought here is you need to try it. Until you get into serious all day cold furnaces are not that bad. We carry a small ventless because the furnace is too much in most conditions.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCGood to hear that! Thanks! I do plan on going as deeply into fall as possible as often as possible so just planning for the worst. Planning on getting a gas/elec water heater to save propane, hence the solar references.
ProCom Blue Flames seem like good units. I wonder if a 6K is enough or should I get a 10K. I guess I can just turn the 10K down but it would be hard to squeeze more heat outta the 6, huh?
It’s good to be a n00b - so I can aspire to be just stoopid.
Monrovia, CA
Yeah, I hear y’all on the genny but I’ll be putting as much solar on as there is roof so the genny won’t be disturbing the peace too much. I hope the solar will cover the water heater. Maybe I should haul my Honda 2K along to run the water heater? It’s really efficient. A pity the Onan can’t run off the truck’s diesel. I’m more concerned about running the furnace. I see a vent-free propane heater in our future – much more efficient and probably more than adequate for hanging out at night. If I only run the furnace for half an hour in the morning to get Her Highness out of the rack and use the vent-free for the rest of our heating I’m hoping 30 gals could last a week or a little more. I guess baking bread might not be indicated.
Don, not worried about rockin’ and rollin’ with an F550. I figure I’ll be 5000 lbs under my payload limit. Yeah, air bags are for people who don’t buy enough truck. I’m planning on doing this once, correctly. ?Is that 550 a flatbed? IF you don’t know this already (you prob do) you need a resilient pad under that TC. Want it good, strong, just enough to soak up the bumps, yet not be a sponge or let it slide around…Tractor Supply Horse Stall Matting https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4-ft-x-6-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat?cm_vc=-10005 Most rural stores have it on rolls and you just tell them what you want, its 4ft wide and just about any length you want, I get it but to 8ft for the bed of my truck. Its made from recycled rubber. My mat sat under my TC for 8 years and I kept it in the bed of my truck year round. I use the 3/4 thick grade. Nothing better!
Don
US Army Retired
2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
Hill Country of TexasWay too inefficient to use inverter. Water heater element about 11 amp draw AC means 110 amp draw plus loss do to inverter inefficiency. Heck of am amp draw off batteries. Again rough estimates, element sizes can vary.
Industry rule of thumb: inverters are not used to power things that heat or cool I.e. water heaters or AC for example.
Your has water heater is set to heat water much warmer than your water heater at home, usually 140 degrees so you can mix a good bit of cold water otherwise it will scald the crap out of you.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCThanks. So a 3 minute Navy shower is better done using the propane. Check.
Don, getting the SherpTek flatbed with storage system. I need my toys!
https://sherptek.com/truckbedIt’s good to be a n00b - so I can aspire to be just stoopid.
Monrovia, CA
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