Do folks run their refrigerators on Propane while towing their RV's?

[Rob]

Do folks run their refrigerators on Propane while towing their RV's?

I never have and I am assuming that is a bad idea, but thought I would ask what other do incase I am being overly cautious.

[Rob]

I suppose I could run it off the battery!  Not sure why that did not occur to me...

[HntnFsh]

I run mine off propane

[teanawayslayer]

I run my propane while towing. Won’t hurt anything

[ghosthunter]

I do not.

I freeze 4-5 water bottles and spread them around refer while traveling.

Pumping gas with pilot going not my idea of a good time.

What refer do you have. ? Compressor refers are designed to operate while driving.

[lewy]

I have and it never hurt anything

[MADMAX]

I usually do
I shut it off when on the ferry and re-light later

[Sakko300wsm]

I suppose I could run it off the battery!  Not sure why that did not occur to me...

don't think it will run off the battery

[Russ McDonald]

There are some 3 way radio frigs.  Mine is and it will run on 12. The battery but I run the propane though.


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[tracksoup]

I run mine while driving

[Boss .300 winmag]

I always ran mine off propane when on the road, never a problem one.

[BD1]

I run mine on shore power the night before. Load once cold usually the night before, unplug in the morning and roll with no propane. I rarely need to open it before arriving at my destination but if I do I grab what I need. I never run propane on the road but it was how my Dad always did it so it is how I do it 

[Rob]

I suppose I could run it off the battery!  Not sure why that did not occur to me...

don't think it will run off the battery

I just tested it and you are correct...

[CP]

I use one of these.

[Rob]

How do you plumb that i to your system so it works while you are traveling?

Seems like almost everyone uses propane while underway without concerns.  Interesting.  I may give that a try

[CP]

How do you plumb that i to your system so it works while you are traveling?

Seems like almost everyone uses propane while underway without concerns.  Interesting.  I may give that a try

I wired in an outlet that I can switch between shore power and the Jackery.  Just unplug it from one and into the other.  Charge the Jackery when on shore power.  I also have an inverter that I can use while driving but the fan is a bit irritating.

 

[Rob]

That is pretty slick!

[CP]

Thanks.  I don’t have propane, so I had to get a bit creative.

[wadu1]

I usually do
I shut it off when on the ferry and re-light later

 
Same here, did it for years without issues.

[Threewolves]

Seems unsafe to be rolling around with the propane open. The big if, if some kind  of accident were to happen....I don't want to be BBQ'D.

I think about all the folks driving around drunk or high or God forbid, on a cell phone.

I have everything loaded the night before, shut the gas of or unplug shore power in the AM, and I can drive across the state, and the food is still cold when I get there.





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[EnglishSetter]

I run mine on propane.  3-way fridges are less common and suck up battery.

To be safe, in camper or motorhome, turn off fridge when refueling if gasser.  On a trailer, the risk is mitigated already. 

[EnglishSetter]

Seems unsafe to be rolling around with the propane open. The big if, if some kind  of accident were to happen....I don't want to be BBQ'D.

I think about all the folks driving around drunk or high or God forbid, on a cell phone.

I have everything loaded the night before, shut the gas of or unplug shore power in the AM, and I can drive across the state, and the food is still cold when I get there.





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What about the 30 gallons of gasoline onboard?


Modern tanks have an excess flow valve.  An open line (say due to an accident) and the flow will be minimized or stopped.

[MADMAX]

Or the lithium batteries in those Teslas ?

[ghosthunter]

There are some 3 way radio frigs.  Mine is and it will run on 12. The battery but I run the propane though.


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Same here


My other concern is….

Leveling: While absorption refrigerators need to be level when stationary, the movement during travel helps keep the internal liquids circulating, negating the need to be perfectly level while driving. However, extended periods of driving on steep grades could potentially cause issues with absorption refrigerators.

[Humptulips]

All the safety advise I have read states you should shut off the tanks while driving. Mine runs off the battery so never been a question for me.

[2MANY]

This is a cool topic.

[Sandberm]

Huh, I have never even thought about it as mine are on while I drive.

[carlyoungs]

I always run mine on propane when driving. Only turn it off of if I get one the ferry.

[fowl smacker]

Mine is 12v only for the fridge.

[scotsman]

Our 2017/Winnebego View has a 3 way fridge. It automatically switches to 12v when the engine is running, switches automatically to 110 when plugged in and automatically goes to propane when no electricity is detected. Pretty sweet it’s always worked flawlessly. Xxx cross fingers now that I said that

[huntandjeep]

I run my propane while towing. Won’t hurt anything

[Rob]

Well, I gave it a go on my trip to Neah Bay.  I did not blow up so that is good.  Since I do not know if I have an absorption fridge, I shut it off in George and turned it back on in North Bend.

Man that road between Callum Bay and Neah is terrible.  My RV was subjected to a 5.0 earthquake for nearly an hour...

[EnglishSetter]

Well, I gave it a go on my trip to Neah Bay.  I did not blow up so that is good.  Since I do not know if I have an absorption fridge, I shut it off in George and turned it back on in North Bend.

Man that road between Callum Bay and Neah is terrible.  My RV was subjected to a 5.0 earthquake for nearly an hour...

TMK, if it runs on propane, it's an absorption fridge.

The compressor RV fridges I'm aware of have no propane attached.

[Smokeploe]

There is no problem using propane while running down the road.  The only thing you have to make sure is that  the inspection port for viewing the flame is closed.  Some people like to store the instructions for fridge in the outside door of the unit, while traveling wind can cause the flame it come out of the port. If something flammable is nearby it could start a fire.  This has caused a few trailer fires.

Smokeploe

[Pnwrider]

Huh, I have never even thought about it as mine are on while I drive.

Same here, never thought about it until this thread. Always ran propane to keep the food cool without issue and have no plans to change.

[EnglishSetter]

There is no problem using propane while running down the road.  The only thing you have to make sure is that  the inspection port for viewing the flame is closed.  Some people like to store the instructions for fridge in the outside door of the unit, while traveling wind can cause the flame it come out of the port. If something flammable is nearby it could start a fire.  This has caused a few trailer fires.

Smokeploe

Never heard of that.  It's a tiny flame.

Only concern I'm familiar with is if refueling gasoline near the fridge, gas fumes can ignite.  There is/was a sticker on my cabover alerting you to such.