Swapping Gas Bottles
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 14:08
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Tapdogs1
Hi evryone, thanks to all those people who replied to my previous posting regarding swapping smaller size (1.25kg etc) gas bottles. It seems there is nowhere in
Sydney to swap these sizes, I have rung many
places and have come up blank. Looks like we have to change over to 4kg bottles.
I have another question, related to gas.....Is it ok to have a portable gas fridge running all night in the vestibule area of a dome tent? (ie. separate to where we are sleeping but under cover). I realise it probably isn't the best thing to do, but I imagine it would not be safe to leave it in the car either. The problem we have had is the flame blows out if we leave it outside, plus if it rains.......it has a safety cut-off for the gas if the flame goes out. The tent would provide ok ventilation wouldn't it? (dome tent). Anyone have any ideas about this? What do you do with your gas fridges when
camping overnight?
By the way our fridge is a Jackeroo 3-way from k-mart and apart from a blocked gas jet (fixed now) it is excellent. We use it in out subaru outback, running off the 12v in the back while driving, and gas or power while
camping. Quite a good alternative considering the $$ saving.
Thanks!
Lauren
Thanks heaps
Reply By: David - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 15:31
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 15:31
Hi, I would be very careful about putting fridge in any part of the tent. A while back we had same problem and set up a tarp from roof racks of 4wd down to the ground to hold 3 chestcold gas fridges, had about 1 metre of space between top of fridges and tarps. Next morning the tarp was melted in 3 spots, one from each fridge from where the chimney for the gas vents out. Lucky the whole tarp did not go up in flames!!! After that i just sat the fridge near the rear wheel over night. wiped it down before putting back in the 4wd. No problems after doing that, gas never went out and fridge run
well. Did that for about 4 years then got an Engel.
David
AnswerID:
186514
Reply By: scoof - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 17:49
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 17:49
We have a gas frig in the camper trailer, it has a exhaust pipe that is piped to the outside.
Don't know how you could do that with a tent.
It's not a big flame but as mentioned the heat above the flame would be a threat.
May be a right angled bend on top of exhaust pipe so it don't go straight up onto the tent.
I'm probably no bloody help just my 2 cents.
AnswerID:
186533
Reply By: Kenell - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 18:21
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 18:21
Tapdogs,
I understand your dilemma as I have been in a similar position. Regardless of the inconvenience don't stuff about with flames or gas near where you sleep. Even the risk of warm beer and rotten meat can't justify the potential consequences. The very fact that you are asking about it suggests that you have doubts. Your first instinct in my opinion is therefore correct. Extending the chimney with a bend in it with a piece of tube and putting the frige under a tarp of its own away from the tent is probably the best solution.
AnswerID:
186546
Reply By: Alan H (Narangba QLD) - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 18:24
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 18:24
I don't think the risk is so much the heat generated as the CO2 generated. Especially with plastic dome floored tent it is very easy to gas yourselves.
Be careful, several people have died from CO2 asphyxiation while trying to keep warm with burning appliances in tents.
AnswerID:
186547
Reply By: Max - Sydney - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 19:41
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 19:41
Lauren
WE camped with a Chescold 3 way for about a dozen years, and always left the fridge outside.
Our trick was to use the table as a shelter over it, and to put it on the side of the tent away from the wind, and turn the fridge so the vent is away from the wind.
WE only had one night when we could not keep the flame alight - and that was 60 knot gale force winds. Most peoiple had bigger problems than that - their tents were blowing down!
I'd expeiment with shelter and orientation of the fridge and avoid putting it in the flimsy and flammable tent vestibule.
AnswerID:
186564
Follow Up By: Max - Sydney - Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 19:44
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 at 19:44
Woops - I clicked the Submit button instead of the spell check button. Forgive the typos.
At worst - I'd lie the table on its side as a wind shelter.
Happy
camping
Max
FollowupID:
443632
Reply By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006 at 07:20
Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006 at 07:20
We have a tarp with two melted spots and just sold a screen tent with a similar hole (patched). You may think it is away from the side, but a gust can push the material close enough to burn.
Despite that we have had years of excellent service from our Chescold. It is usually left outside under a small tarp to keep it ventilated. It has never blown out and only struggled once in 4 days of 45º heat when it only kept things cool rather than frozen.
AnswerID:
186653