propane installation survey questions

[k corbin]

I am working on renovating my circa 1970 Campster. The original propane installation comes up through the floor in the kitchen area. That meant the propane line ran underneath the trailer for more than a 6 foot distance. I am not sure that is a great idea to have a soft copper tube or a rubber hose run exposed for that long a distance underneath a trailer without protection. A previous owner had cut the propane line off underneath the trailer just before it entered so I will need to put in a brand new line and this is a good time for me to establish the location of entry. I have a gas line fitting for it on hand.

On the newer trailers where does your propane line enter into the shell? Photos are useful if you don't mind taking the time. I of course realize I also have the option of bringing it through the front wall but I don't know if that is a typical option on the FGRVs.

PS: I am not afraid of propane or installing it. I have the skills needed to do such things. I am just after the information of the typical general area of location for propane line entry into the trailer. I don't have any other travel trailers around to look at for examples. The RV dealers in Seattle are way north or way south of my location. Thousands of boats near me but no travel trailers

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by k corbin

I am working on renovating my circa 1970 Campster. The original propane installation comes up through the floor in the kitchen area. That meant the propane line ran underneath the trailer for more than a 6 foot distance. I am not sure that is a great idea to have a soft copper tube or a rubber hose run exposed for that long a distance underneath a trailer without protection. A previous owner had cut the propane line off underneath the trailer just before it entered so I will need to put in a brand new line and this is a good time for me to establish the location of entry. I have a gas line fitting for it on hand.

On the newer trailers where does your propane line enter into the shell? Photos are useful if you don't mind taking the time. I of course realize I also have the option of bringing it through the front wall but I don't know if that is a typical option on the FGRVs.

PS: I am not afraid of propane or installing it. I have the skills needed to do such things. I am just after the information of the typical general area of location for propane line entry into the trailer. I don't have any other travel trailers around to look at for examples. The RV dealers in Seattle are way north or way south of my location. Thousands of boats near me but no travel trailers

Boat shops are great for working on fiberglass trailers. It's best to have any work done by a boat shop done in the fall and winter.

As for propane entry, my Scamp has the propane entering the trailer on the front above the floor on the driver's side and the copper tubing runs along the bottom corner under the cabinets. This works pretty good for Scamp 13' since all the propane appliances are in that area.

One could consult with a propane expert to figure the best way to shield the under trailer line. Some thoughts include metal conduit like electricians use, PVC often used. However I've not seen rock damage done to the underside of my Scamp, So maybe the black water pipe used in home gas runs would work just fine.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Boat shops are great for working on fiberglass trailers. It's best to have any work done by a boat shop done in the fall and winter.

As for propane entry, my Scamp has the propane entering the trailer on the front above the floor on the driver's side and the copper tubing runs along the bottom corner under the cabinets. This works pretty good for Scamp 13' since all the propane appliances are in that area.

One could consult with a propane expert to figure the best way to shield the under trailer line. Some thoughts include metal conduit like electricians use, PVC often used. However I've not seen rock damage done to the underside of my Scamp, So maybe the black water pipe used in home gas runs would work just fine.

Thanks, I was thinking the front would be the most convenient entry point. I was hoping that was going to be the response.

As to using steel conduit to protect copper tubing...that would be a very bad idea as the two metals are not compatible. Black piping would rust out especially if it went over roads with salt.

As stated I don't need help doing the work as I have the skills required for it

[Borrego Dave]

All the LP lines on every RV I've had ran under the unit and close to the frame rail. Gas/fuel lines were attached to the frame rail for 25-30'. Never any problems with either lines from road use.

[Jack L]

Bigfoot used a transparent plastic hose over the copper tube and routed everything possible in close to the frame to offer some additional protection. If I was redoing the propane lines, I would use flexible plastic electrician's conduit instead. It is available in home centers.

[Johnny M]

If your frame is c channel you could run the new line inside of the channel to protect it from any possible damage from road debris while in tow...if it is a square tubing type frame you could run it inside the tubing but it might be a challenge in fishing it through the frame tubing...

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by k corbin

T

As stated I don't need help doing the work as I have the skills required for it

That may the case, but you if have to ask questions here it indicates to me that it might be a good idea to do a little professional consulting.

[stevebaz]

As above Scamp ran it inside the trailer to the back of the fridge and then up to the stove. I would rather have it under the trailer and brought it up into a different location. I believe if your going to have a leak you want it outside so keep as much of the pipe and its joints as you can outside. Back when my 1986 trailer was made there was no for-thought as to how the tubing was run and maintenance to the fridge burner. I curse that pipe every time I have to deal with the back side of the fridge. Keep the tube attached to the floor with insulated clips next to but not attached to the frame. Copper on wood would fair better than copper on steel. The code requires that all fittings be accessible and not concealed. You need a couple of wrenches 2 swing in a very small space. When I did some work on my propane system I found a sticky oily substance inside the line so it is wise to have the propane lines run up to an appliance rather that split over and run the line down to an appliance. That way no debris flows down to your appliance. My lines were over 25 years old when I opened up the system so who knows how long that stuff was building up in there. I was surprised to find propane gas was not clean.

[mary and bob]

It's been quite some time since I worked for a fuel oil and propane supplier, so things have changed. Where we used 3/8 or 1/2" bare soft copper, I believe now there is copper line that has a covering on it. Most trailers I've been under just had bare copper run in a haphazard way, whatever was quick and easy. I would enter the trailer up through the floor as close to the appliance as possible. If more than one appliance, stove, furnace, fridge, then "T" the line under the trailer. One of our trailers is a Uhaul, and they used iron pipe under the trailer, which they converted to from copper that was originally installed on the early models

[Victor Benz]

In my Fiber Stream, the main line runs along the centerline of the trailer, and is 3/4" iron pipe. There are takeoffs along it for the water heater, furnace, refrigerator and stove, consisting of 3/8" copper tubing. I have encased this copper tubing in split 1/2" garden hose up into the trailer body to protect it from rocks. The entry points to the trailer body are sealed to prevent critter entry. All good so far, after 13 years.


Vic

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Victor Benz

In my Fiber Stream, the main line runs along the centerline of the trailer, and is 3/4" iron pipe. There are takeoffs along it for the water heater, furnace, refrigerator and stove, consisting of 3/8" copper tubing. I have encased this copper tubing in split 1/2" garden hose up into the trailer body to protect it from rocks. The entry points to the trailer body are sealed to prevent critter entry. All good so far, after 13 years.


Vic

The garden hose cover seems like a sensible solution that anyone could add to protect their copper gas lines that run underneath. Much sturdier than the split loom covers for wiring.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by k corbin

I am working on renovating my circa 1970 Campster. The original propane installation comes up through the floor in the kitchen area. That meant the propane line ran underneath the trailer for more than a 6 foot distance. I am not sure that is a great idea to have a soft copper tube or a rubber hose run exposed for that long a distance underneath a trailer without protection. A previous owner had cut the propane line off underneath the trailer just before it entered so I will need to put in a brand new line and this is a good time for me to establish the location of entry. I have a gas line fitting for it on hand.

On the newer trailers where does your propane line enter into the shell? Photos are useful if you don't mind taking the time. I of course realize I also have the option of bringing it through the front wall but I don't know if that is a typical option on the FGRVs.

PS: I am not afraid of propane or installing it. I have the skills needed to do such things. I am just after the information of the typical general area of location for propane line entry into the trailer. I don't have any other travel trailers around to look at for examples. The RV dealers in Seattle are way north or way south of my location. Thousands of boats near me but no travel trailers

Not sure where our propane comes in in our Casita but in our motorhome it is black steel pipe outside and turns into copper inside. Maybe that is the way to go on your trailer.

[GrregP]

If steel and copper are not compatible, how is the transition from one to the other made?

[stevebaz]

Use a brass fitting between the copper and the steel. That is how they make the transition in plumbing

[k corbin]

Please, no more lessons on how to work with propane. As stated in the first posting I am not looking for that kind of help and I do not need it. I just wanted to survey for answers of where the common entry points of the gas line through the shell are.

Sometimes you just have to spell it out for people instead of making a simple statement saying you know how to do something so here goes....
I am a professional aircraft mechanic. That professional background requires working with lots of tubing and fittings for hydraulic and oxygen lines as well as doing pressure testing of them for leaks. I am professionally trained and certified to do that kind of work. In addition I have worked on remodeling older homes for many years and know all about connecting black pipes to copper pipes as well as hooking up to gas appliances and pressure testing those connections. I have worked on the propane in my Sunrader RV. I understand that there are codes spelled out for RV gas line work. Those codes are posted online in the professional websites covering those standards. Because I am a professional who has to comply with standards for installations with critical safety requirements I do read the requirements before I do a job.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

Use a brass fitting between the copper and the steel. That is how they make the transition in plumbing

Thank you. I hadn't thought of that. I am going to look for the brass fitting in my motorhome but I believe the gas lines run under the floor but above the belly of the Casita. We've never seen them anywhere except going up to the stove and fridge.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by k corbin

Sometimes you just have to spell it out for people instead of making a simple statement saying you know how to do something so here goes....

So, what's your point?

[k corbin]

I would hope that anyone would be able to understand why I would like to get this thread back on track so that I can obtain the information I am in need of instead of having it, as has now happened, diverted away to information I am not in need of such as the merits of black pipes and methods of using that material versus other tubing. Or even people debating the merits of my requesting that a thread remain on track.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by k corbin

I am working on renovating my circa 1970 Campster. The original propane installation comes up through the floor in the kitchen area. That meant the propane line ran underneath the trailer for more than a 6 foot distance. I am not sure that is a great idea to have a soft copper tube or a rubber hose run exposed for that long a distance underneath a trailer without protection. A previous owner had cut the propane line off underneath the trailer just before it entered so I will need to put in a brand new line and this is a good time for me to establish the location of entry. I have a gas line fitting for it on hand.

On the newer trailers where does your propane line enter into the shell? Photos are useful if you don't mind taking the time. I of course realize I also have the option of bringing it through the front wall but I don't know if that is a typical option on the FGRVs.

PS: I am not afraid of propane or installing it. I have the skills needed to do such things. I am just after the information of the typical general area of location for propane line entry into the trailer. I don't have any other travel trailers around to look at for examples. The RV dealers in Seattle are way north or way south of my location. Thousands of boats near me but no travel trailers

I checked on my motorhome. There is a steel black pipe coming out of the propane tank that is belly mounted for about a foot. Then soft copper wrapped in the black plastic insulation like what the electrical wires run through in your vehicles. There is a brass fitting between the steel and copper. Maybe this is something to use for protection on your soft copper. Have never had any damage to the soft copper with the insulation on it. The weight is very light. With this protection you could run the pipe up anywhere you want near your appliances.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by k corbin

I just wanted to survey for answers of where the common entry points of the gas line through the shell are.
I am a professional aircraft mechanic.

I think your answer is that any RVs LP lines are installed in a general area, run from the tank, under or in the RV and then come up through the floor close to the first unit needing LP and tees to other LP users. Your choice with your TTs layout. With millions of Rvs travelling many millions of miles out there, adding protection to the LP line for any road rash may be a bit overkill. I've never heard of any RV having a problem with that, rocks or salt. Now if our little eggs could fly I may have a different opinion on that but LP isn't rocket science either .