What's the best way to set up oxygen therapy equipment in an RV?

We recently received the following inquiry from Freda K. Do any of you have suggestions which can help her and others requiring oxygen therapy travel easier and safer in their RVs with their equipment?

Dear RV Travel, 
 
I think as our RVing membership ages, more and more folks need supplemental oxygen to maintain a quality lifestyle. But trying to find good information on how the adventurous manage concentrators and oxygen tanks is very limited, especially for those requiring more O2 than the nice little portable concentrators can provide. Information on how to set up an RV for traveling with O2 is just not out there -- like where and how to secure the equipment, including a large concentrator, oxygen tanks for use while driving, a liquid oxygen tank and spare tanks. I am sure if more people knew how to travel in an RV with their oxygen, theirs lives would improve greatly. 

Thank you,
Freda K.

CPAP users don't need to buy an expensive generator

Dear RV Travel: 

I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP breathing device when sleeping.  I am planning a coast-to-coast trip soon and thought that I would need a generator when having to sleep overnight at a Walmart, etc.  So I thought I would need an expensive generator and have to carry a container of gas and worry that someone would steal the generator, etc.  

Then I got the idea that I could use the receptacle in my truck, which has its own inverter -- Wrong! The truck would have to be running all night as the inverter only works for about 13 minutes when the engine is turned off.  (Every winter I remove my deep cycle battery from my fifth wheel and store it inside.)

This past weekend I decided to purchase an inverter from Harbor Freight on sale for about 30 bucks and change. I got the 750-watt minimum capacity and hooked it up to my battery. I then plugged my CPAP into the inverter and let it run -- not eight but 10 hours, as I figured that I may end up going to sleep early and then get an early start the next morning. The results were great! It was still working even after 10 hours. 

I charged the battery with my battery charger after use, which is what I would normally do at our next stop in an RV park so the battery would be ready for the next emergency boondocking. I will simply purchase another deep cycle battery and keep it charged for the CPAP, or if I need it for the RV. The battery, charger and inverter take up less valuable space and weight than a generator and will ultimately cost less to buy and use.  

Happy camping from John F. in York, Pa.