Pre-Winter Days of Off Grid, RV Living

[@flyn333]

Jenna, several years ago I had basically the same problem. It turned out after a lot of troubleshooting that my propane supplier had moisture in his big tank when I filled up my 100-pound tank thus the cause of moisture in the regulator. I know you're using 30-pounders and the moisture may have collected in your tanks during storage when the propane was low. Talk with your propane supplier, and see about getting your tanks purged when empty. Good luck.

[@benjamincresswell3713]

Next time filling, have them "purge" the tank. They know what that term is, they do it to every new tank. Make sure they invert the tank to blow the water out with the purge gas. ben/ michigan

[@onrycodger]

That zip tie to the wiper blade earned you the honorary lady Mountaineer award. That was genius young lady. Thumbs up!😎👍

[@davidpotter9462]

We could trade cats, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I got my third lithium battery 🔋 yesterday. Cloudy this morning, so they only got up to 26.2 volts. I'm switching the voltage ⚡ to 12 on the lead acid batteries. I'll be hooking up the other inverter later to those. I have to build a rack to hold sixteen batteries first. I won't get my other controller until next month. I spent $1683 for the three batteries but they'll last. I have to get the wind generator wired up to the 12 volts side so it'll finally be working right. The days are getting shorter. By 4 p.m. most of the solar panels are in the shade. I found out that by spraying the wiper blades with Armor All, it makes them last a lot longer. Mine are several years old, still working great.

[@rosejarman6920]

My mom & dad used a wood stove to heat our house when I was growing up we always had a cast iron tea kettle on for the steam. Plus Mom made soups, and roasts on it. She had that down to a science! Enjoy your content

[@im_agine852]

Jenna, your channel is blowing up. You're Doing it right!

[@traceyelliot8571]

there is our girl roughing it in the woods

[@xlamontx]

Sorry to see you're having a bit of trouble. It's good to see you battle through it. ✊🏾

[@virginiaspence2880]

Sun Feb 4th, just checking in to make sure you are okay. It is a nasty nasty weekend, snow, snow and more snow. Stay safe down that end of Nova Scotia, it sure is wild at the Northern end

[@gypsyjenna]

Oh my goodness, stay safe! So much snow up there! Hunkered down here and doing okay, thanks for checking in!

[@mazenoshana1136]

You are strong woman and God bless you 🙏 ❤️

[@greagior]

I appreciate your work. I live off grid in a 5th wheel snd and have many of the systems and problems. Being in Tennessee makes for different challenges. Thank you!

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

Keeping warm would-be most important thing.

[@larrywarembourg7847]

Jenna, I love your attitude and watch all you videos! Also you are a knockout!

[@laurajohnson8898]

Thanks!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@laurajohnson8898]

Your welcome 🥰

[@maineapple52]

Build a box around the tanks and insulate it. It worked for my parents years ago.

[@scottmorgan1068]

Regardless of how dry wood is, how hot your fire, or would type of wood does not matter. You will always have creosote. Impossible for it not to occur. You are doing nothing wrong. Just clean as often as possible. Love the channel.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you 🙂

[@stevelikespower]

Hey Jenna, yeah. Tabby cats are A-holes at heart.. I have one also.. he loves to bite me and sharpen his claws on the corners of my leather couch.. But anyway, I burn wood also and deal with it drying the air out. I got a cast iron kettle to leave on top of the wood stove with water in it.. a person could use an old cooking pot or anything.. the heat from the stove makes it steam and raise the humidity.. might be a way of helping raise your humidity without using any battery power.. similar to your fan on top the stove that uses the stoves heat to circulate the air.. save battery power where you can..

[@3rubberboats]

So many uses for zip ties. Your common sense and wisdom on how to fix things are outstanding. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and warm and have a wonderful day. Also you could attach two hand warmers around the regulator cover with a towel might keep it from freezing as a thought to ponder.

[@robertbrown9927]

Like you, I am a proponent of woodstoves. All you have to do is keep the flue clean and you have some awesome heat. I used to keep a pot of water on top to humidify the air but maybe because of Ramsey and Rory you can't take a chance of them becoming curious and getting burned. Kudos to you, cat mom! The kitties seem to be happy. Getting close to cookie baking time, eh? Are we going to get to see the finished products of you and your mom's efforts? Mmmm, cookies, aarrgghh! (Homer Simpson droolin'). Lol!

[@gypsyjenna]

That is a possibility, haha. The cats usually steer clear of the woodstove when it's hot lol

[@johnwinden8511]

We keep a small kettle of water on top of our wood stove all the time which helps with humidity.

[@laurajohnson8898]

I'm still a newbie, been watching your channel now for a couple of months. I think I've gotten all your videos in. (or most)..You have done an amazing job over the last 7 years. Be proud! For someone as young as you, you've done very well for yourself. I'm in my late 50s, and still don't have it together 😅😂

[@skywatcher6064]

Batteries- best way to determine battery condition is to perform a load test ( with load tester} of individual battery. One bad battery can spoil the mix. Propane- contains oil contaminants that build up after time in devices and plug up the orfices with sludge, Put inline propane filters at inlets of propane devices and cover your outside supply source with black garbage bags, they will absorb and help retain solar heat. Diesel Fuel- make sure to treat your diesel with anti coagulants in winter time, find that at auto parts supply stores. Hang in there Peace

[@joanneowen4540]

I'm just loving watching you and your past videos..the cats and your wildlife "buddies" are so entertaining.You are amazing at doing all that stuff to keep things working for you.Its soothing to watch.Bravo! Inspiring

[@joecummings1260]

We always just kept a kettle of water on the wood stove for humidity

[@artpatronforever]

With the weather worsening it is a relief to see your fixes are working. Less to cause worry is a good thing, so fun things can be done instead.

[@eby6114]

Regulator. I would imagine even in the coldest of weather having some type of iguana or tank heater wrapped up with your regulator would keep it from freezing. Id only run it if your using the stove 100 watts draw... the lower the temperatures the less pressure liquid propane produces

[@db.mc2]

Hi Jenna 👋🏻 Thank you for sharing a bit of normalcy 🙂 Been a rough time here. My Mom passed, and it's been difficult. Watching you and your furry friends has been a good break from all that's transpired. Thank you for that my friend 🙏🏻God Bless Appreciate you 🫶

[@gypsyjenna]

I am so sorry for your loss, sending my condolences. please take care 🌹

[@db.mc2]

@gypsyjenna Thank you, much appreciated my friend 🙏🏻

[@db.mc2]

@beckymash12 Thank you 🙏🏻Much appreciated 🫶

[@durango8882]

Hi, I’m so sorry for your loss 🙏🏻 ☮️

[@db.mc2]

@@durango8882 Thank you 🙏🏻Much appreciated 🫶

[@oldminer5387]

Thank you for posting Jenna. I agree, heat from a wood burning stove is hard to beat.

[@gypsyjenna]

Absolutely!

[@taniadolphy5122]

I'm rooting for ya. Hope things get better for you 🙏 ❤.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you 🙂

[@TheSimpleLivingAussie]

Have been slowly going through your videos since I found your channel. I'm loving your channel as you have the no nonsense approach and bring the true reality of off grid living especially the challenges of doing it solo. I'm similar to you as I am single and live off grid. Even though I am debt free I also have to go to work to bring home money to pay the normal bills we have in life and when I am not at work, I'm home living the life of a solo off gridder. I don't have any help and have to do everything on my own, rain, hail or shine... preferably shine as that's good for solar ☀😀 Your doing a fantastic job and keep them videos coming, I can totally relate to them although I live in a hot climate so don't have any freezing / winter issues however I have the hot summers in the low to mid 40's C and the challenges that brings 👍

[@gypsyjenna]

@TheSimpleLivingAussie awesome! Hope you have some form of AC there, that is a HOT summer for sure!

[@tedrichards683]

Attaching that wiper with a tie is ingenuity. They sure do come in handy. Enjoy your content greatly!

[@travelingfreakshow]

It's like a house boat always fixing something

[@jedidiah5131]

I had the same problem with my propane regulator if it gets very cold -15 c....the diaphragm will freeze(propane/moisture) so I would just switch the changeover valve back and forth a few times and I could hear the diaphragm pop. I also covered the regulator with a small Styrofoam box and some loose insulation and that solved the problem. Thanks for the video.

[@CharlieM-l2h]

I haven't heard of a regulator freezing up ? Hmmm ... You'll get things figured out ! It can only be water or condensation in your regulator right ? But how ... The adventures of RAMSY !! 🤣

[@larrymcdowell6920]

You can also put the regulator inside the camper and it won't freeze up

[@horstebreedow8608]

Heated blanket set on low inside that cover might help keep those tanks warm

[@SeaforgedArtifacts]

Hey there, I just noticed that your solar voltage in is rather high for your 12v system, reorganizing your panels to output 12--18v to your system will charge your batteries more efficiently.

[@BruceGordon925]

Well you can't get bored, Never ending chores. Thanks

[@GlennAitkenHomeWorks]

Simple fix hang a Duty Light inside your cover 60 w will do just turn it off and on when you need, then take a box of foil and rap the silders and the cover you have .

[@garymcmullin2292]

burning dryer wood is not the answer, you need to keep the stove pipe hot enough to prevent condensation of the wood smoke and moisture on the walls. The habit of most people is to turn down the stove, we do not usually burn at full tilt and in cold weather the pipe will get cool enough to cause the exhausting smoke and moisture to condense on the inner walls. Wood when burned yields water in ratio of 2:1 for a unit weight of wood. This is the oxidation of the wood, mostly cellulose which is a hydrocarbon polymer, in burning atmospheric oxygen combines with hydrogen atoms in that polymer and water is the result. You cannot avoid this, even if the wood is bone dry it still will cause lots of moisture to be in the exhaust smoke. Insulating the stove pipe is one way to keep it warm, keeping the stove burning hotter is the other. Why not get yourself a steel brush and some pole lengths that screw together for cleaning the stove pipe. They are not that spendy and make the cleaning easy and quick. I have one 8 inch brush and 5 segments of fiberglass pole rod to do my stove pipe, still going strong since 1983.

[@StefanHarböck]

Pot of Walter on the Wood stove ist the Same For youminiti greating Form Germany god Bless you 🎉

[@travlincanucks]

Jenna you may want to get a battery monitor that actually shows you the percentage left on your batteries and not just the voltage. A battery that is fully charged will show 12.4 -12.7 and a battery at 50% capacity will also show 12.4-12.7. The monitors that show the percentage usually show the time remaining also. For example showing you you have 3 days left of capacity. I know Renogy sells the monitors fairly cheap

[@gordondavis8317]

Love yur videos..i live in a camper too.i use my crockpot to heat water for bathing lmao. Take hobo baths.🤔collect rain water for daily use. I definetly prefer it over garbage city water. Grew up in rochester ny living in tennessee.

[@traceyelliot8571]

mr squirrel is just watching over you luve --------> this little creature knows how to survive in bitter cold

[@michaelbrinks8089]

Dry pine cones are great fire starters... You probably don't have access to waste veggie oil from a restaurant....But if you do, you can easily convert a woodburning stove into a hybrid wood/waste oil burning stove with some copper line & a few other things.....It burns cleaner, no smoke or soot, you can have it run on a slow drip at night. For steady even heat all night....Then switch to wood once awake & moving around in the morning or keep burning oil if have plenty......I need to get around to converting my current woodstove....I seen some 5 gal jugs of waste veggie around town.

[@allenmouldey7784]

Hey Jenna just a thought, when you take your propane tank for a refill, when empty turn the tank upside down and open the valve for a moment. If anything comes out leave the valve open until it stops.

[@tammyfordsmith-ob7tm]

All you have to do is put a boiler of water on top of your wood burning stove and that will put moisture back into the air.

[@paulibarra5449]

You must store food, fuel and more to get through the winter for months without going to the village. We do that in Switzerland when it is winter season when the snow does not allow you to leave your house and use your car. You must have an exclusive chalet to have food and provisions. Cheers!!!

[@loadingcomment3147]

Another issue that can develop with propane and campers is there can be an excess of oil in the tanks from refills, I use my camper furnace through the whole winter. I've had 2 midway through the winter's the gas line to the furnace fill with oil to the point the furnace won't run. The fix is simple disconnect the line to the furnace under the camper and let the oil drain out.

[@garymcmullin2292]

you do need a very reliable VOM, that is volt, ohm, milliamp measuring device. The digital controllers, of which you probably have a few of on the various equipment may or may not be accurate so the VOM can be used to verify their readouts.

[@johnsemrau6412]

Put some Aluminum cans filled with water on top of your stove 4 humidity without electricity 😊😁👍

[@XCX237]

Sometimes you gotta clean the fan on diesel heaters. A price of debris can stop the fan. I have a big dog and 2 cats and even though they can't get near it, it find them 😅

[@jimhurley714]

Your one tough cookie. ❤

[@hans5130]

Cleaning glass on wood stove. When it’s cold you might want to try oven cleaner on it. For humidity id just put a pot with water on wood stove

[@roycew8218]

Additional comment on the diesel heater one other person did have to change the glow plug. another problem is the fuel hose gets soft which does not allow the pump to work right. This seems to be a very common problem.

[@davidrenwick6718]

I was just thinking of Jenna maybe a new video an there we go👍😃

[@davidseo190]

There is a store called JJ korean Mart in Nova Scotia that has the perfect affordable super hot propane stove. Its like 20 dollars US with disposable propane tanks. I dont know if you allow links in the comments but you should check it out to get around your regulator problem with it gets cold. Also pick up some korean bbq or shin black ramen packages. Korean ramen cooking would be so cool!

[@dixiemae5042]

75th from Indiana 👊🏻💪🏻

[@geraldclavenna6413]

Always fascinating😂❤

[@philzammit1180]

You can always use steel wool a medium or fine course to clean your glass door fireplace just a thought.? ✌🏼🤗

[@shatnersufolanded7785]

For the frozen regultor you need a shot of methanol in the tank or poured into the regulator. I delivered propane for many years and dealt with this all the time ask the supplier to put some methanol in your tank or get a new tank unless you can put the methanol in yourself.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I think buying an acre of land & living in a RV while you build an earthship type home or underground home. That stays cool in summer & warm in winter. Is a much better idea than a 30yr mortgage on a house in the suburbs. I like the earth ships with the indoor greenhouse so you can grow plants yr round. The windows are set at a certain angle so in winter. You're getting direct sunlight to help with heating & summer only partial sunlight to avoid getting too hot.

[@gypsyjenna]

Sounds like a great setup!

[@tammyfritz9531]

Wow you are handy...good thing

[@SuperHurdman]

Good way to clean the glass is dip some of your newspaper in water and dip it in the ashes and rub the glass cleans rite up!

[@richardwhite4923]

Build a simple enclosure for your propane tanks. On the coldest of days wrap your regulator with a low voltage heating pad.

[@robinwilson8435]

You can wipe the glass of your wood stove with some wet ash to clean it. Just wet newspaper, dip in ash & wipe the glass, then toss the paper into the fire!

[@jamespeters920]

This is weird. I just had a deja-vu episode while watching your video. No kidding. Must be a glitch in the matrix lol.

[@Greystone1]

As the temperature of the propane inside the tank drops, it's pressure drops. (google propane pressure temperature chart). The regulator will open up to compensate but if the pressure isn't there it just isn't there. You might want to get a heat tape to warm the tanks. Wrap it around the tanks, put the insulating cover back on and plug it in. This will warm the regulator also as the warm(er) propane moves through it.

[@haydenwells9171]

Hi Jenna, It is refreshing to see a young person having a go. Your water pump would be using more power than all your other items combined. You need to compare apples with apples.

[@mikewhitlow4155]

Hey Hun, try a small pipe heater on ur gas regulator. It will keep it open for u. Btw u r awesome

[@himie236]

Switch out thoseta safety hand green fitting for old school left hand ends. More volume.

[@demitaylor8873]

I am a rv'er- living full-time in rv- in cold weather I placed a hose sticker cover over my regulator. That stopped the freezing up...

[@douglasw804]

You need to equalize your batteries. I have been off grid for l in e 45 years. To equalize your batteries you need to have a 4 stage charger. Equalizing your batteries is a controlled over charge that cleans the sulfides off the plates and puts it back to solution. This will make your batteries last for years. You need to follow your batteries manufacturer recommendations on Equalizing.

[@CARNIKELLI]

Growing up in Maine we always had a wood stove, my dad would put an old pot full of water on the stove to put moisture in the air. Would defiantly save you using your power for the humidifier albeit probably doesnt use much but something to consider.

[@roycew8218]

extreme cold weather effects propane It reduces pressure in the tank, Propane Thermo blankets help. The tiny valve on the side is used for filling the tank. Do not open. The regulators do go bad once in a why'll. I had to change mine on my trailer.

[@johnlougheed2095]

hi jenna.john here on the alaska hiway.jenna go on line an google,comate cleaner for wood stoves ok/it kills the creasote gas in the chimney and it turns the grud in the pipe to more of a powder and is so much easier to.clean.good luck with it an keep warm .just john

[@norm5785]

Glad to see all is moving along better. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[@billsmith5166]

You may have a bit of water in your propane. Here in Minnesota propane dealers add some methanol to their gas to break up the water molecule so our regulators don't freeze as often. One other thing, a wrap over a tank isn't to keep it warm, it's to keep the regulator dry. I'm getting ready for another winter here. Goody. Stay warm and thanks for the videos.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks for the tips. Where are you experiencing winter?

[@billsmith5166]

@@gypsyjenna South Central Minnesota. We pretty much always get to around -20 F. (-29 C, I think) for a while Ugh. We just had an unbelievably nice fall so I can't complain.

[@gypsyjenna]

@billsmith5166 wow so cold! I am further south than you I suppose according to the map so I guess I shouldn't complain about my winters lol

[@billsmith5166]

@@gypsyjenna I think you may benefit from the ocean a bit. Cooler in summers, warmer in winter. It's probably colder around here because of all the Scandinavians. It's always OK to complain if you can't go out in a jacket. That and the dark dats are depressing.

[@gypsyjenna]

@billsmith5166 they sure are depressing! Experiencing that now!

[@megadwood18]

Try to find an old metal teapot. Without the top on it

[@joeclark9042]

Hey just to let you know I'm cleaning your glass on your fireplace get you a rag a warm Rag and dip it in some hot water and then taking dip a little bit into some ashes and rub some ashes on their and nothing to clean right up

[@martydix4257]

I would just get some insulation an zip ties an seal your regulator they can be a pain for sure but keep all the chilled wind an cold air off of propane an regulator couldn't hurt for a fast fix in the woods lol

[@LaurieNCooper]

Regulators build up condensation and freeze. Just set it close to the wood stove for a nite or two and it will dry out.

[@michaelgolding6560]

interesting.....love your lifestyle you go girl

[@bitzclipsmatt214]

Good to see your charging your Ecoflow whist your generator is running. Wood fire and a fry up for breakfast what more could you want.😀

[@XCX237]

I had a problem with propane freeze ups for a while in the dead of winter when I was using it for heat. I found out the place I was getting propane was overfilling the tanks trying to be nice. I didn't say anything because it was intended to be kind . I did talk quietly to the person about it.

[@-Star-Soul]

I have a suggestion. Maybe get some more cats, because they give off a little heat so the more you have the warmer it will be. I just love cats. ❤

[@hoss2229]

If your batteries are out in the cold, the cold will suck the energy right out of them

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

You don’t use the wood stove for cooking? That’s a missed opportunity. Any video with Ramsey is a great video

[@terryrobinson1416]

You can soak the cats hard food in some,warm water for 5 or 10 minutes. I do it with my dogs food. They drink less water because it rehydrates the food. The food is cooked at 400 degrees to kill off bad and good nutrition. Its kinda like us eating a mountain house meal without adding water. Try that once.

[@curtismuller490]

FYI, liquified propane will not turn to gas if the air temperature is too low.

[@kristenvincent3622]

And “too low” is usually -25C or colder… but if there’s any water contamination in the tanks or regulators though you can freeze up at even a few degrees below 0. We had a cold snap of -5 two years ago, our on island propane supplier sucks, and I had to bring my tank for the heater inside, crank the generator and put the electric heater on to get the regulator functioning again. I need to get all my tanks purged.

[@johnsemrau6412]

Put a Lil heater in with your propane it will be more efficient k 👍

[@barfass]

I literally had this issue at my camp this weekend. Got there and it was cold, but everything is new and we have a 400lb tank now (upgrade from 100lb tanks). Anyways, I had all the burners on heating the place up and then all of a sudden there was silence... zero propane! I then lit everything again and it all came back on, then back off again. 4 times. Overnight the furnace barely kept lit, but was OK for temp wise. Guys came the next day and changed the regulator. I wondered if my issue was not using it for weeks at a time and then asking ALL of it to heat he place up. However, you use yours regularly, and have a pilot on the fridge. So that isn't the issue. Frustrating to say the least.

[@jasonkelly9373]

Hi jenna if you take pink foam Pink Panther foam and build yourself an insulated box around your propane tanks and put a thermometer in there you won't have any more problems with your propane stuff we do that with our RV and also we do that with our water spigots that come out of the ground about 3 ft we build a little box around it and keep it insulated

[@jasonkelly9373]

Oh and also invest into some wind power just type in Google and type in wind power and they'll be a different types of wind turbines that are not very big and you can put that up when you don't have any SunPower wind power is your next best friend

[@jasonkelly9373]

just wondering do you have a Facebook or Instagram to follow you on

[@donnamount151]

Cooler r great in the winter

[@JohnTripp-y7j]

Nice videos t y 4 your time

[@Lfs1891]

The flame looked more dirty then clean.

[@survivewithjon]

FYI JENNA, CLEAN YOUR WOOD STOVE GLASS WITH DAMP NEWS PAPER DIPPED IN WOOD STOVE ASHES IT WILL CLEAN IT LIKE NEW.. HAVE A TRY.. 😊😊❤❤

[@wascalywabbit]

The only thing the little valve is for is that when they fill it,the propane will push any air out and you'll get a fuller fill

[@denisestarr2314]

Put some alcohol in your gas line , to dry out moisture..keep it from.freezing ,

[@appalachianunderground8474]

Under adverse circumstances you really seem to keep your cool lol , I’m trying to teach my grown daughter to take life in stride 😂I’m going to recommend your channel to her lol 😆 ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻

[@DebbieNobodyneedstoknow1]

Reflective bubble insulation helps to keep the tanks and regulator warm. I built a sun room/dog house over my tanks and so far so good this year 🤞Hope your propane behaves!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you! 🙂