Helpful Tips For Road Tripping in an RV or Car With Oxygen

Helpful Tips For Road Tripping in an RV or Car With Oxygen

Rate This Story

1 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Wearing supplemental oxygen doesn’t mean you can’t travel. If you want to pack up your RV or car for a road trip, you’ll have no problem with the right portable oxygen concentrator (POC). Unlike bulky home oxygen concentrators (HOCs) or tanks, portable concentrators only take up a little room and are much easier to use on the road.

With some preparation and the right POC, you’ll hit the road in no time.

Choose The Right POC

If you don’t already own a POC, you’ll want to choose one to suit your needs.

You’ll need a unit that meets your personal oxygen demands. First, you must understand your oxygen prescription and whether you require pulse dose or continuous oxygen delivery. Most POCs only provide pulse dose delivery, but some also offer continuous flow.

If you don’t understand or have questions about your prescription, talk with your doctor before choosing a POC.

Road Trip Preparation

Before you take off for your road trip:

  1. Test your equipment to ensure it runs properly.
  2. Run your POC in your vehicle or RV one or two months before your trip.
  3. Test your POC outside of your vehicle.

Testing your POC in advance assures your unit will run for its required duration. It also gives you time to resolve any issues before you leave for your trip.

Charging Your POC on the Road

Your biggest concern on your road trip is keeping your POC charged and running. There are two ways to do this: using batteries or plugging it directly into the vehicle’s power source.

Using Battery Power

If you plan on primarily using battery power for your road trip, you’ll need to determine how many hours of battery life you’ll require. Before you hit the road, ensure you have enough fully charged and then some.

Also, take into consideration when and where you’ll stop to rest. If you plan to park your RV or car for the night, that’s a good time to recharge your battery supply. Use an outlet in your RV or at the hotel.

Oxygen Tips for Planning a RV Road Trip

Using DC Power

Unlike HOCs, most POCs run with DC power in a vehicle. Some POCs also charge while using the unit, but this depends on your oxygen requirements and the car’s power output. Sometimes, when the vehicle doesn’t provide enough power, you’ll need to remove the battery to use the unit with DC power.

If you require a continuous flow POC, your car might not provide enough power. The amount of oxygen a unit can concentrate depends on the vehicle’s electrical system. Before your trip, ensure you can run your unit in the car.

If road-tripping in an RV, you’ll likely have access to DC and AC power supplies. However, always refer to your POC’s user manual before plugging in your unit.

Contact our customer service agents if you face problems running your unit in your car.

Note: The car’s battery could drain if your unit remains plugged into the vehicle while the engine is off. The car must be running before plugging your POC into the vehicle’s power supply, and the engine must remain running while it’s attached.

Renting The Right POC

If you use a home concentrator or your POC won’t work for your road trip, you can rent a portable oxygen concentrator better suited for car or RV use. Most rentals provided last for one week, but you can extend the length of the rental to cover the duration of your trip.

Rental packages may include travel packages with perks, like additional batteries or a larger carrying case.

Tips for Traveling with a POC in a Car Video

Taking a Road Trip With Your POC

POCs make road trips possible for people who require supplemental oxygen. Traveling with oxygen just takes a little bit of preparation. Once you have your Portable Concentrator and know it’s good to go, it’s time to make your road trip dream a reality and explore the open road.

Looking for more information?

Updated: March 22, 2023
Published: April 4, 2018

Rate This Story

1 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

22 thoughts on “Helpful Tips For Road Tripping in an RV or Car With Oxygen

  1. I do a lot of high altitude flying in my own plane, usually around 10 to 14,000 feet. Which unit would be a good choice to supplement my O2 needs? Right now my O2 level at sea level runs about 95 but at 10,000 it drops to 84 to 88. I need to be able to maintain 90 by aviation doctors advice.

  2. I owned the iogen 3 portable unit I have taken it on several vacations, and it worked fine. I have never had a issue.

    • Thank you for your comment, Alan. We are always happy to hear when a customer is happy with their machine.

        • Unfortunately, no. Portable and even stationary oxygen concentrators can put out 15 liters of oxygen per minute. Talk to our Oxygen Specialist for a free consultation, please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

  3. I’d like to see an article about traveling with tanks. My husband’s oxygen needs are more than his POC can provide but we still want to travel. How do we make that happen using E tanks, or is there a larger tank we can carry for in car use only? How long will an E tank last at 6 lpm continuous flow rate, and at 8 lpm? If a larger tank is available to use in the car, what is the size and how long will it last at the above mentioned flow rates?

    • Thank you for your inquiry. I have passed along your information to a specialist who will reach out regarding your request. For more immediate assistance feel free to give our specialists a call at 888-360-9628 or if you prefer email sales@amsrco.com

  4. just bought my G-3 – to soon to make any worthwhile comments – interested in all the tips I can get.

    • We have lots of good information in the blog section of our website and we regularly add new content. Check back often.

  5. Always research the altitudes of your destination. A few months ago, we went to Riudosi, NM, from San Antonio, Tx. My Eclipse5 got a helluva workout, and I went through so many E tanks that we had to cut the trip short.

    • Thank you for your comment, Larry. It is always a good idea to make sure you research your destination to make sure you have what you will need to meet your oxygen needs. The portable oxygen concentrators are all rated to 10,000 ft or higher.

  6. Thanks for sharing this. Your tips are very helpful. I am a travel freak and travel a lot. Next year Alaska is on my card.Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness., and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Next year I definitely want to explore Albany.
    People often have a theme that they base their worldly travels on, but how about a mental mantra for your travel? Out of a cheerleading event that consisted of our family shouting supportive words at our daughter who was attempting to kill a rather monstrous spider that the rest of us were too chicken to get close to, came this great quote, “If you don’t think, and you just do….then it’s done!”

    This quote came back to haunt me when on vacation in Seattle. I thought it would be a great idea to take the kids on the Seattle Great Wheel, the ferris wheel overlooking the ocean, but as we approached it, I realized how high it went and immediately panicked! Just as I had decided to put the kids on it on their own, my daughter says, “Come on dad…If you don’t think, and you just do….then it’s done!” What could I do at that point?! She was telling me to stop thinking and creating more fear about the situation and just get on the thing!
    “If you don’t think, and you just do, then it’s done!” We all now keep this quote in our back pocket, ready to whip out at any time to push one of us forward into an adventure we know they won’t regret. No hesitations, don’t allow any time for fear to set in, and be prepared for your kids to turn your life advice back on you

  7. I am a 85 year old female using a POC with a larger battery which makes the unit too heavy to carry. I am looking for an alternative way to transport this unit.Do you have any suggestions? I have rigged up a do cart with wheels, but it is not attractive, however it is much easier pushing this csrt then carring the unit. please advise me of any suggestions that you may have. thank you. Judith Vernon

    • If your current cart is functional but not aesthetically pleasing, you could consider upgrading to a more attractive rolling cart specifically designed for oxygen concentrators. Our Oxygen Specialist would be happy to help you out with your requirements. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

  8. I am looking for a way to transport my POC, without having to carry it because it is too heavy for a 85 year old female. Any suggestions?

Leave a Reply

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