Old Aint Fun

[Smokin Don]

Sep 15 2015

Over 4 years ago when I built my smoke deck I had some nice pieces of 2X6’s left. I built a box large enough to store two 20 lb. gas bottles in and keep out of the weather. It had a top lid I could just lift off. I didn’t realize just 4 years later after having a back operation I could no longer lift the bottles in and out.

I always had a bottle hooked up to a grill and two spares in the storage box. I had a gas single burner but I only had it hooked up in the summer. Last year when I bought a new Weber Spirit 2 burner grill I gave my almost new Weber Q120 to our son along with a full bottle of gas.

This spring I was hobbling around with a cane. I bought a new Camp Chef Pro 30 single gas burner. When I wanted the gas bottle I had to have the son get it out of the storage box for me. I can still roll them around and use a 2 wheel cart to move them. I got a nice cover for the gas burner and wanted to leave it out for the winter.

I looked at the box and after some measuring all I had to do was remove 3 of the front boards and saw the cross piece out of the bottom. Then I screwed the lid on permanent. I was able to slide the gas bottle in and leave my burner hooked up. It’s a comfort to know it’s there and if the snow isn’t too deep and I can get to it I can use it. Before winter sets in I want to buy another bottle and get it filled; I have room in the box for it.

I have a total electric home and when the power is out I am out! I thought about getting an emergency generator but over the 42 years I have lived here we have only been without power twice in the winter; once for 2 days and once for 3 days. We never lost power during the 1978 blizzard. I have an infrared gas heater that will keep the house comfortable and a bottle of gas will burn for 12 hours.

The two times I needed it the gas heated water for bathing, gave us some hot meals and kept us from being too cold! Meanwhile as long as I can hobble out to my smoke deck and cookers I am going to keep on smoking and cooking and stay warm if needed. I am not sure but I think if I was freezing I could manage to drag one of the bottles in the house with my 2 wheel cart!



Smokin Don

[Smokerjunky]

Looks like a good set-up Don!

I am starting to understand how you are feeling as I am not as strong as I used to be and as much as I hate it, I have to ask my Son to come over from time to time to help me with some heavy lifting - fortunately he is an awesome kid (24 yrs old so I guess not so much a kid anymore) and he ALWAYS is happy to come help out.

[Big Dawg]

The two times I needed it the gas heated water for bathing, gave us some hot meals and kept us from being too cold! Meanwhile as long as I can hobble out to my smoke deck and cookers I am going to keep on smoking and cooking and stay warm if needed. I am not sure but I think if I was freezing I could manage to drag one of the bottles in the house with my 2 wheel cart!

Smokin Don

Just be real careful, Don ! ! !  There's usually nothing, in your house, that should be run off propane.





BD

[Smokin Don]

The two times I needed it the gas heated water for bathing, gave us some hot meals and kept us from being too cold! Meanwhile as long as I can hobble out to my smoke deck and cookers I am going to keep on smoking and cooking and stay warm if needed. I am not sure but I think if I was freezing I could manage to drag one of the bottles in the house with my 2 wheel cart!

Smokin Don

Just be real careful, Don ! ! !  There's usually nothing, in your house, that should be run off propane.

I am,, the heater is ventless and it and the bottle of gas goes on my fireplace brick hearth with the chimney vent open. I have a carbon monoxide alarm. I know it is not the safest but before I had  kerosene heater that was worse. It's either that or freeze. Don



BD

[Big Dawg]

Yeah, I've got a gas log in an original wood fireplace in our den.  One year, when the girls (whoa rein int her 30's now) were little, we lost power in an ice storm.  I cranked that bad boy up and it was sleeping bags in the den.  But I cracked windows in the kitchen (downstairs) and my bedroom (upstairs) just to be on the safe side.





BD

[IR2dum]

SD, old age hasn't hampered your problem solving skills. That is some good work on reworking your propane storage barn. I wish my old age would allow me to be so resourceful.