Running a Grill from Your RV’s Propane Connection


This post may contain affiliate links.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you click them, but it does not change your price. Though this post is sponsored by Camping World, all opinions are our own.


Many RVs today, including our Winnebago EKKO, come with a propane quick-connect built in.  When its present, this port is plumbed directly into the RV’s propane system, and is a super-convenient way to power grills, griddles, and other propane accessories – like our Weber Q1200.  BUT!!!  You can’t just use any grill with it.  There’s a catch.  Watch the video below, where I explain.

 

As easily as I can explain it – your RV’s propane system contains a regulator.  That regulator takes the high pressure propane in your tanks, and lowers the pressure to something your grill (and all your other propane appliances) can use.  So if you try to hook up a grill that comes with its own regulator… it won’t work right.  You can’t regulate the low pressure again and wind up with the right propane pressure for your appliances to work.

It might be possible to cobble together an adapter with hardware store parts, and bypass the second regulator.  But we’re talking about an explosive gas here!  I didn’t want to chance a fire on random adapters from the home center.  So for us, this meant that if we wanted to ditch the propane cylinders and use our onboard propane system, we had to say goodbye to our Coleman Fold N Go, and get a new grill.

Enter the Weber Q1200

We use a Weber grill at home.  It’s going on 5 years old now, and we just love it.  It’s still going strong, and beyond normal cooking debris, it shows no signs of aging at all.  So I liked the idea of getting a Weber grill to use on the road.

I narrowed down the size pretty quickly, and while browsing Camping World, I came across a model of the Weber Q 1200 that came with a propane hose, and was meant for low-pressure propane.  Problem solved.  I just went down to our local Camping World store and picked it up in person, because I’m impatient and like instant gratification.

We’ve been using our RV grill for a while now.  It’s held up well and honestly the food tastes great, so we’re done looking.  The best thing about it though, is being able to use the quick connect on our RV and not fussing with the little propane bottles anymore.

If you don’t like Weber, or are looking for something at a different price point, there are are other options available.  The key is to look for something that’s called a “Low Pressure Grill“, or that comes with its own quick connect hose.  Those are your clues that the grill will work with your on-board propane without any adapters.  I’ve linked a few of these below.

Happy Grilling Season, everyone!


 

The Weber Q1200Our grill, exactly as seen in the video
Low Pressure Gas GrillThis comes with a way to use it freestanding, or mount it to the side of your RV.
Weber Traveler Propane GrillOK. It's another Weber. But this is the RV-propane hookup version of the grill we used in our cookoff show!
Camco Olympian 5500 GrillThis one is stainless steel, and the lid locks down for transport.

 



James is a former rocket scientist, a USA Cycling coach, and lifelong fitness buff. When he's not driving the RV, or modifying the RV (or - that one time - doing both at once), you can find him racing bicycles, or building furniture, or making music. In his spare time, he works for a large IT company.


    4 thoughts on “Running a Grill from Your RV’s Propane Connection

      1. James - Post author

        Are they broken? Let me check.

        Nope. They all work fine for me.

        They are affiliate links, so if you have an ad blocker or something, it may not let them pass.

        Reply
    1. Michael Kaylen

      The Q1200 looks great and your video, as always, is fantastic – informative and fun!! I’ve been using a 17″ Blackstone Griddle, but I prefer a grill. Would the 12′ hose I got for the Blackstone (to connect to my Ekko’s tanks) work with the Q1200?

      Reply
      1. James - Post author

        Most likely. But I give no guarantees.
        We have a Blackstone as well, and take one or the other depending on our whim.
        The hoses themselves are the same, they’re just quick connects.
        But if you don’t get the Q1200 that comes with the hose, I can’t say if the flame adjustment and regulator will be separate devices or not. As in, I can’t guarantee you could use this hose with a “regular” Q1200.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear once we have had the chance to review it.