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11-29-2018, 08:39 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
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I also always travel with my fridge on. I didn’t want to be the first one to admit it, haha.
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Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
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11-29-2018, 08:58 PM
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#22
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miles65
To the OP: Read up on the subject of traveling with open propane tanks, online, on sites other than this one. You will find that the experts are divided on this topic. It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. In towing a travel trailer, you have no idea what's going on, inside it, while in transit. For me, I prefer being safe rather than sorry. With my tanks off, I have one less thing to be concerned with. My food keeps just fine. With a closed refrigerator, you'll only lose about 4°F per eight hours. Anyway, I'm done with this thread. Do what you're comfortable with, but do your own research on other sites, as well.
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Don't know if it is appropriate or not but Miles had mentioned he knew all the regulations that would prevent you from using LP for your fridge; sent him a PM and there apparently are none.
"Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough
Miles, not trying to start an argument, and, you are a fellow Texan, but, your comment that you KNOW what the "safety standards" on leaving an LP tank are intrigues me but you then failed to follow up with the new member or the forum....can you elaborate?
No problem. Traveling with explosive gas delivery systems open is ill advised. I'm sure I could find the exact ordinances pertaining to closing tanks before entering tunnels and gas stations, but there's no need to do that, as we both know they exist. As far as a safety standard, vis-à-vis open propane tanks on moving RV's, I'm unaware of any official safety standard, but the intelligent choice seems self-evident, to me.
So, for the OP this is an opinion, not supported by anyone I know or have met based on ….. opinion. Just to set your mind at ease and allow you to go
"camping" with a clear mind!!
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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11-30-2018, 05:31 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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I will add my two cents to this and state refer is always on when traveling. In addition in cold weather I would start the furnace and set the t-stat to about 55, so the 5er would be warm on arrival.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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11-30-2018, 05:39 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 286
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Fridge on while underway.
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2018 Springdale Summerland Series 3030BH
2018 Ram 2500 HD 6.4L Hemi Big Horn 4x4
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11-30-2018, 07:20 AM
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#25
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Alright, way to go everyone! This winter we have a new category: Fridge Police. LOL, sorry I couldn't help myself. Filter's broke.
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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11-30-2018, 08:27 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbruce
Alright, way to go everyone! This winter we have a new category: Fridge Police. LOL, sorry I couldn't help myself. Filter's broke.
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LOL!
Likely to find the furnace police also!
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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11-30-2018, 08:41 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 101
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I'll join in. Have the Fridge on while traveling and always will.
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2016 Chevy 3500hd 6.6l
2013 Keystone Avalanche 345TG
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11-30-2018, 09:09 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Taylors, SC
Posts: 3,031
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11-30-2018, 10:03 AM
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#29
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 68
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I travel with frig on and when re-fueling I always take the end pump so fridge burner is on opposite side of pumps as a percaution.
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 19fbpr
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
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11-30-2018, 10:11 AM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 187
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I have always towed with the fridge running on propane but will probably change to shutting propane off while on the road, mostly because I'm the cautious type and because we're usually at our destination within 4-5 hours. Some tips I've read to keep things cold while under way are: If it can be frozen and then allowed to thaw in the fridge, freeze it... use a battery operated refrigerator fan on the lowest shelf to circulate air... put some frozen plastic water bottles in the fridge.
I have seen one small motor home go up in flames with the mid portion fully engulfed. At one point a side panel opened and a 5-gal propane tank fell out onto the street. No jets of flame so it was either empty or the valve was closed. Impossible to know if someone was trying to cook while under way and something caught fire (rig was sitting in city traffic in a turning lane while burning) or if a propane leak ignited or ???
__________________
Number 4: 2013 Hideout 19FLBWE
Number 3: 1994 Skyline Nomad 1661
Number 2: 1971 Santa Fe
Number 1: 1967 Shasta Airflyte
2015 F-250 Lariat 6.2L CC 4x4 3.73
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11-30-2018, 10:31 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 329
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I look at it this way if the governing bodies were concerned at all about the dangers of LP systems they would mandate manufacturers to not allow appliances to run while the trailer or motorhome were in motion. This could be accomplished via a sensor that the trailer is connected to the truck or something from the axles that they are in motion. I had a 2010 Holiday Rambler Class A and it would even switch between gas and electric when my kids would start the generator for whatever they needed while in motion. When they turned the generator off the fridge would simply switch back. As others have stated. My time RVing with my father and my family began in 1970 and we have always traveled with the fridge on. Of all the safety things we RV'ers need to focus on this is not one of them.
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John & Ekeen
2009 Ford F-150 5.4
2015 Nissan Armada 5.6
2021 Keystone Residence 40FLFT
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11-30-2018, 01:48 PM
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#32
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Galena
Posts: 6
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I appreciate all the comments! My original question (which was answered) was if the refrigerator has to be level to operate, how does it operate when moving. As far as the safety question, I leave that to each person to decide for themselves. As I stated earlier, years ago when I borrowed my dad's motorhome, I always had the refer running on gas while traveling. And just so everyone will know, I will probably operate the refer on gas while traveling on long trip. Thanks!!!
__________________
David & Diane
Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
2019 Cougar 26RBS
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11-30-2018, 01:51 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Mine is set to "auto", when connected to shore power it switches to AC, unplugged it automatically switches to LP. That's my recommendation that's always worked well, set once & done, one less thing to forget to do.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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11-30-2018, 02:38 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
To date I've only ever heard of 1 rver that DID NOT leave fridge running while traveling & he just posted here, Miles65.
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Yeaaaa! I'm #2. In the past I, like most (all) of you, have traveled happily down the road with the propane tank turned on to keep the refrigerator cold. However, I have to admit I have NEVER been comfortable doing that. I have always stopped short of the fuel pumps and closed the tank valve before refueling. I have seen videos of RVs going up in flames after an accident where the situation could have been exacerbated by an open propane valve. I know, I know, specific details are severely lacking.
Anyhow, when I obtained my current trailer I installed a 1000 watt inverter. It is connected, through an automatic changeover switch, to the "Outlets" circuit breaker in the electric panel. The outlet for my refrigerator is fed from that CB. So, now, when I am traveling down the road, my refrigerator is running on 120 V AC power from the inverter and my propane valves are off.
One reason I really like this is that my refrigerator is installed in a slide out. That means there is a rubber hose that connects gas from the steel pipe along the frame to the slide out. It is directly above the axles on the trailer. A blown tire could easily rip that hose apart and release the gas.
I am much more comfortable driving down the road with the propane turned off.
Another poster linked a document from Amerigas concerning "RV Propane Safety." This is a quote from that document:
"On the Road
Most RV refrigerators can keep food/beverages cold during several hours of travel without a power source. It is recommended that propane systems be turned off while driving."
YMMV.
__________________
Merlin B.
U.S. Army Aviator, Retired
2016 Cougar XLite 28SGS
2007.5 Ram 3500 DRW
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11-30-2018, 02:42 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MerlinB
Yeaaaa! I'm #2. In the past I, like most (all) of you, have traveled happily down the road with the propane tank turned on to keep the refrigerator cold. However, I have to admit I have NEVER been comfortable doing that. I have always stopped short of the fuel pumps and closed the tank valve before refueling. I have seen videos of RVs going up in flames after an accident where the situation could have been exacerbated by an open propane valve. I know, I know, specific details are severely lacking.
Anyhow, when I obtained my current trailer I installed a 1000 watt inverter. It is connected, through an automatic changeover switch, to the "Outlets" circuit breaker in the electric panel. The outlet for my refrigerator is fed from that CB. So, now, when I am traveling down the road, my refrigerator is running on 120 V AC power from the inverter and my propane valves are off.
One reason I really like this is that my refrigerator is installed in a slide out. That means there is a rubber hose that connects gas from the steel pipe along the frame to the slide out. It is directly above the axles on the trailer. A blown tire could easily rip that hose apart and release the gas.
I am much more comfortable driving down the road with the propane turned off.
Another poster linked a document from Amerigas concerning "RV Propane Safety." This is a quote from that document:
"On the Road
Most RV refrigerators can keep food/beverages cold during several hours of travel without a power source. It is recommended that propane systems be turned off while driving."
YMMV.
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Running the fridge on AC power off an inverter is a good idea. I’m going to consider that.
__________________
Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
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11-30-2018, 05:12 PM
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#36
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,348
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dlcasaletto
I appreciate all the comments! My original question (which was answered) was if the refrigerator has to be level to operate, how does it operate when moving. As far as the safety question, I leave that to each person to decide for themselves. As I stated earlier, years ago when I borrowed my dad's motorhome, I always had the refer running on gas while traveling. And just so everyone will know, I will probably operate the refer on gas while traveling on long trip. Thanks!!!
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I’m glad you got the answer you were looking for. This thread is now closed
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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