Should I turn the propane tank all the way up on my grill?
I have a propane grill (my first one) and the thing cooks food WAY to quickly and burns easily. I've been trying to figure out why and I was settling on a cheap grill when it occurred to me that maybe the valve on the propane tank was open too much.
Do you open your valve all the way or do you play with it so when the grill is on low, the flame is actually LOW?
Thanks!
Your gas grill should have a regulator between the propane tank and the burner. This regulates the pressure from the tank. So you can't control the flame by adjusting the tank valve. Open it up all the way. If you have dual burners, leave one off and cook over the other (indirect heat) near the flame. Hope this helps. Hal
The Right Camping Gear For A Righteous Camping Trip
Many families today enjoy spending time in the out of doors for their vacations. Hiking and backpacking are very popular sports for many. When deciding to go camping with your family, some basic camping gear is required. Tents and sleeping bags are obviously required for the camper who is going to be roughing it. Other campers prefer the more modern approach of camping in a pop up camper or RV. Whichever you choose, it is sure to be an enjoyable experience. Camping gear for roughing it is not usually very expensive. Usually one can purchase all of the necessary equipment for around $500. And since the equipment is reusable, it will be useful for many years to come. Camping gear is also something that can be used for extended trips or for back yard camping during the summer in rural areas.
When planning on hiking or backpacking, there are a few variables that go into figuring out what kind of gear you need. If you are planning just day hikes, a simple backpack that allows you to carry a first aid kid and extra drinking water will be plenty. Overnight hikes require a bit more gear. Flashlights, sleeping bags, food, water, first aid kit and things of that nature will be required. In addition to supplies, you need to make sure that you are wearing the proper clothing for hiking and backpacking. Sturdy shoes or boots help to protect your feet from the terrain and things such as snake bites in certain areas.
Other gear that one might want to have includes: lanterns, propane heaters, propane stove, pots and pans, plastic or metal dishes, a coffee pot or something else to heat water in, and a large cooler for food and beverages. Even an overnight stay will require plenty of food for the family. Flashlights are a good idea to have as well for each individual camper. This way the lantern can be used at the campsite and flashlights can be used for exploring the area.
Family camping trips are a lot of fun for people of all ages. Spending time together with minimal electronics seems to be nearly impossible today. Camping trips provide an opportunity for families to be together as a family and enjoy nature. Exploring nature is a great way to learn about the environment, plants, and animals. If you are camping in a region that is different from where you live, there is so much that one can learn. Also try to see some of the sites around the camping grounds. Many are placed close enough to towns that some sightseeing and shopping can be done during the day as well. It is a great experience for anyone and everyone.
About the Author
Kiowa Outdoors is staffed by avid outdoor enthusiasts that offer their diverse and extensive expertise to aid you in choosing the camping gear you need. All of the gear mentioned in this article, plus thousands of other items, can be found at http://www.kiowaoutdoors.com/
Each year millions of campers leave the confines of their homes and neighborhoods and set off on a quest for the fresh air and open spaces of the great outdoors. But campers are no different than other vacationers, and the degree to which they escape the comforts of home can vary greatly. Some campers like to travel in their RV (recreational vehicle) in which they can enjoy all the comforts of home and then some! Some RVs have more amenities than many homes or hotels!
In contrast to the RV camper, some people truly like to rough it and live off the land as their ancestors did. For them a tent and fire provide their basic necessities, and the fun lies in getting away from modern creature comforts. However, not all campers are interested in staying in one place. Sportsman - like hunters or fisherman - or those who simply like to explore, need something different that will provide them with shelter, comfort, and mobility, and nothing fills that role like a truck camper.
A truck camper is a camper that rests securely in the flatbed portion of a pickup truck. Unlike an RV or pop up camper (a camper that is towed behind a truck or car), a truck camper allows you to bring a solid shelter with you in the smallest possible footprint.
Because it rests in a pickup truck, it can go just about anywhere a pickup truck can go. Back roads or the boulevard, parkways or national parks, a truck camper can go anywhere your heart desires. That is why these campers are the choice for the sportsman who seeks remote hunting or fishing grounds, or the campers who want to find their own campsite far away from the convention of the hardwired campgrounds.
Truck campers offer obvious advantages in their mobility, as well as lower gas mileage and lower profile than RVs or pop up campers. However, do not let their smaller size fool you, they can be incredibly well appointed and more spacious than one would imagine. Like all recreational vehicles, they range in size, features, and price.
Starting with a smaller and more basic model, one would typically find a truck camper that offers floor space that is roughly eight feet in length. While that may sound small, a well designed truck camper can pack a lot in that little space. You can expect to find that even the more basic, lower priced truck campers will have features like an ice box, a sink with hot and cold water, a stove top, Porta-Potti storage area, an outdoor shower with privacy curtain, a sitting area, and a generously sized bed. When combined with propane gas and water storage ability, even a basic truck camper can allow you to venture far from the beaten path without sacrificing comfort or ignoring any of your basic needs.
If you have a taste for things that are anything but basic there are truck campers for you as well. Deluxe campers can stretch to as much as twelve feet of floor length and have a list of features that you would expect to find on a full sized RV. How about a bathroom and shower, flat screen television with surround sound system, refrigerator and freezer, multiple burner stove top and oven, heating and air conditioning, and a queen sized bed? Yes, all of those things and more can comfortably fit in a first rate truck camper.
The truck camper that is best for you depends on several things. Your wants and needs, your budget, and most important, your truck; all of those factors will drive your ultimate decision. Some campers can not fit in the bed of smaller trucks, and some smaller trucks can not handle the weight of the largest truck campers (which can exceed three thousand pounds). Once you find a combination that meets your criteria then your destination is up to you! A truck camper is your key to anywhere you want to go, and you can go with as much style as your heart desires!
Summer means gas prices are on the rise again, and this doesn't make RV Camping any easier. With a few easy adjustments, you can easily make your RV more affordable to travel in as well as contribute to cleaning up the environment. RV camping can be modified from the initial maintenance of your RV, to your camping living habits and even as far as the trash consumed.
If you have a Class A, B or C motor home it's highly recommended that you keep regular maintenance on your RV. Often times, seasonal RV'ers will take for granted the working status of their rig and decrease their fuel efficiency and or overall performance. One of the first things to go is your tires. If your RV has been sitting outside the sun can cause cracking and weather damage which can cause your tires to go flat or cause the RV to lose fuel efficiency while driving. Other suggestions for having top performance of your RV include keeping your oil changed regularly, steady acceleration and perhaps fuel alternatives such as Bio diesel fuel (if permitted).
After getting to your campsite, there are quite a few options for maintaining a green camping experience. Many RV owners are having solar panels installed on the roof of the rig. This is completely worth the cost for long term RV'ers. Solar panels can reduce the use of gas, batteries and even propane gas and the emissions caused from each of them. Map out the costs of your expenses for energy and discover what you can do to decrease your energy costs as well as harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
The idea behind camping and roughing it is supposed to be concise and as minimal as possible. With the luxury of RV's, many times RV campers bring resources that are unneeded and polluting and resume their comfortable lifestyle. RV campers can help conserve water on their trip by installing low volume toilets and shower heads. Along with the low water shower heads, campers can cut down their time in the shower as well as the amount of hot water used. Taking cooler showers can save energy on your generator or propane usage and the expenses it takes to run them.
Depending on where you decide to go RV camping this summer, there are many places that can turn into a quite the heat wave. Even though as RV campers, we have the luxury of being in the comfort of home, step out and remember what the real camping experience is like. If you're going to spend your day outside enjoying the activities, leave the air conditioning off in your RV. Consider adjusting your AC usage to when you will be sleeping, cooking or use the air of the cool evenings and open windows to provide comfort.
As RV campers we also have a tendency to take for granted that they have home-like capabilities and the trash can quickly build up. When shopping for food and supplies for your RV Camping trip, consider using renewable or reusable resources to hold your food and beverages. If you are able to, you should do your best to recycle the products that can be renewed and reused again. If your campgrounds allow you to have campfires, make sure not to burn items like plastics that produce toxic gases as well as items that do not burn like aluminum cans. These can pollute the air as well as the cleanliness of the campgrounds.
Going green with your RV and your camping trip is at the discretion and imagination of the camper. The number of ways to save money and the environment are infinite and have a foundation of creative means. As RV campers, we have a responsibility to take care of the nature that we spend our time in. Whether you're a full time RV'er, a part time or a full timer, there are many green solutions for all of us.
About the Author
Derek Powell is an Arizona based SEO writer and RV Enthusiast, engaging in RV and camping online communities all over the web, works to promote safe, healthy and creative means for RV Camping. After being born and raised by a family who thrived from adventure, wilderness and camping in California, he hopes to share the excitement of the outdoors of everyone that he comes into contact with.
