Refrigerator not working in transit

[Bette]

We bought a new Cougar 29' and am having a problem- refrigerator goes from 38 degrees to 51 degrees in 3 hours not in hot weather on propane. Propane works at home. Dometic said the pilot is being blown out but I shouldn't be running it. Keystone says we don't have a inverter we have converter so it won't work. I think both don't know why it is not working.

[JRTJH]

No idea what refrigerator you have so the problem could be anything from the dividing strip between the two refrigerator doors (on double door models) to a venting problem or a control board issue on any of the single or double door models. MUCH more information is needed, start with the refrigerator brand/model and a description of what is happening, conditions that you're in when it's happening (driving in crosswinds, sitting in a WalMart parking lot/dry camping, etc) and what you've done so far to investigate or try to fix the issue. It's apparent if you've got an answer from Keystone about an inverter/converter, you've discussed this issue with Keystone and possibly others. What did they do and what did they say ?????

[sourdough]

We bought a new Cougar 29' and am having a problem- refrigerator goes from 38 degrees to 51 degrees in 3 hours not in hot weather on propane. Propane works at home. Dometic said the pilot is being blown out but I shouldn't be running it. Keystone says we don't have a inverter we have converter so it won't work. I think both don't know why it is not working.


Others may disagree but whoever told you what I highlighted did you a disservice on a new trailer. I've never NOT ran my fridge when driving and would think it would be useless without a block of ice in it on a 12 hour driving day with 120 degree temps inside.

I have heard of the flame being blown out in some situations and the remedies varied from a wind diverter at the front edge of the vent to others that I don't recall.

[NH_Bulldog]

For liability purposes, no manufacturer will tell you it’s okay to run on propane while in motion. In fact, everything I have ever read says do not operate on propane while driving. That being said, almost everyone does it anyway. A wind diverter will often fix the issue

[sourdough]

For liability purposes, no manufacturer will tell you it’s okay to run on propane while in motion. In fact, everything I have ever read says do not operate on propane while driving. That being said, almost everyone does it anyway. A wind diverter will often fix the issue


I agree and I've read those same statements but, to me, it's a disservice to a new owner to tell them that they need to shut down their fridge every time they pull up stakes and go somewhere else. IMO that's an effort in futility when traveling longer distances in the summer. I think a new owner, and particularly a first time RV owner, should receive better advice from the RV maker; but I understand why they don't.

[JRTJH]

I'm sure there are numerous "subtle however's" in any owner's manual. Dometic's legal team may urge them to state, "DO NOT TOW with the refrigerator turned on"... Dometic's engineering team likely would state, "TOW WITH NO PROBLEMS even though the legal team says not to."...

In reality, what Dometic has done is "infer that it's OK to tow", absolving themselves of any legal responsibility while at the same time "fulfilling" the cautions from the "sharks in the legal office"...

What you'll find in the Dometic Owner's Manual is this statement:
"When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the
rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either
side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in
the evaporator tubing."

You may have to "read between the lines" but Dometic is saying it's OK to tow with the refrigerator operating.

[travelin texans]

I've heard folks say that they turn it off to travel as it's too dangerous, to me if that's the case take the fridge out & stack coolers in that space. That would also save about $2000 on the RV price.
The past several years the industry has sold 500k units a year & on any given day there's half that many on the highway running their fridge on LP. We've traveled approximately 200k miles the last 10+ years & NEVER seen a RV on fire along side the road. Yes it happens, but if it was so extremely dangerous you'd see it daily on every highway.
Sorry for the rant, but sounds like your dealer just blew you off with their lame excuse!!!
As John said it would help to know what you have to receive better advice.

[skids]

So, I have been reading about tire blowouts. One guy describes how his propane line was destroyed. I have always towed with the propane going to the fridge. I am giving that more thought. Maybe better tires ...

[JRTJH]

So, I have been reading about tire blowouts. One guy describes how his propane line was destroyed. I have always towed with the propane going to the fridge. I am giving that more thought. Maybe better tires ...

If you stop and analyze the entire system, you'd realize that there's a "mass flow safety valve in the propane tank OFF/ON valve, a second mass flow valve in the propane hose and a third safety valve in the regulator. ANY rapid propane leak (such as caused by a severed propane line at the furnace or refrigerator) would immediately activate one, two or possibly all three of the safety valves, shutting off propane to the open hose that was severed by the tire blowout....

Chances are better that you'll win the lottery and be able to pay cash for your replacement RV than that this RV would be destroyed by a propane leak caused by a tire blowout....

[sourdough]

So, I have been reading about tire blowouts. One guy describes how his propane line was destroyed. I have always towed with the propane going to the fridge. I am giving that more thought. Maybe better tires ...

The last blowout I had severed the LP line to the fridge; cut in half. Never knew it, didn't cause a problem, didn't lose LP - never even smelled the LP working on the tire. I'm not worried about it, the safeties work.

[notanlines]

Skids, you may very well stay awake nights dreaming up dangerous things that might happen on the road. To most of us you're 'putting today's sunshine behind tomorrow's clouds."
Our last China bomb incident took out not only the propane line, but the front fuel tank also. The only injury was to Geico when they cut the check ($9K) for repairs. And kudo's to them and the way they handle claims.
Put on great tires, fire up the fridge, and hit the road!

[Roscommon48]

I found it interesting you mentioned the conveter/inveter.
here is some info. https://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/informationcenter/resources/rv-converter-charger-vs-inverter



personally I've never had an issue with the pilot going out... if this is an issue when going down the road just shut off your refrig and turn on when you get to where you are going.

[skids]

Skids, you may very well stay awake nights dreaming up dangerous things that might happen on the road. To most of us you're 'putting today's sunshine behind tomorrow's clouds."
Our last China bomb incident took out not only the propane line, but the front fuel tank also. The only injury was to Geico when they cut the check ($9K) for repairs. And kudo's to them and the way they handle claims.
Put on great tires, fire up the fridge, and hit the road!

Glass half-empty kind of guy? I just want to be safe. :cool:

[flybouy]

Statistically if you want to be safe then fly to your destination and take public transportation to and from the airport. Once upon a time LP appliances were somewhat a hazard I believe mostly from users improperly attempting to ignite the pilot light.
. Standing pilot lights are mostly a thing of the past and so are the "accidents" with LP fires. As stated by others the safety devices in the tanks and regulators.
With that said, you can't stop people from circumventing the safety devices in the appliances when they perceive a shut down or a failure to ignite as a "nuisance" and purposely circumvent those protections.
I think your greatest defense is to stay alert and drive defensively and enjoy the experience.

[08quadram]

My Dometic is doing the same thing on my Bullet. One of the warranty issues that is hopefully being addressed this week.......or next.

[Customer1]

You don't have a pilot, you have a burner.

The burner automatically lights when cooling is needed.

What have you got? Brand and model number of refrigerator.

[Ken / Claudia]

My 1st TT, maybe a 1972 model, did have the pilot light blow out sometimes while traveling, none since.
I have told this story before. TV/TT crash both rolled over. Driver was driving to fast without anti sway control 2/4 ton truck about 30 TT. I beat the fire guys to the crash scene. Normally it's the other way. The 30lb propane tanks detached from the mount and were maybe 50 yards away. Driver said valves were on, these were OPD valves. I waited til fire guys arrived and told them. He said no problem and we both walked to the tanks. He shut the valves off and we carried them back to the crash. No propane was exiting the tanks the OPD valves do work.
Also told this story before, but my fire investigator who told me is now deceased. When there is a fire near the tanks, at some point they can get hot enough with valves closed that the vent does whats its supposed to do it vents any and all propane from that tank. That's when you see the big ball of fire.
So, without a fire at or near the tanks and if equipped with a OPD valve. It's not likely to blow up or cause a fire.
If the pilot light is on, will that blow you up while fueling? Maybe, but that's a different question.

[jdixon980]

I had a issue where my fridge would not run on propane while traveling. Worked while I used camper. Had it in shop 2 different times. Changed circuit board and couple of other things. Still would not work while I traveled. We were going home from a trip. I told my wife to close the slide while I laid underneath slide. Noticed as slide closed, the gas line would fold up and pinch gas off. Cut some wire ties off and has worked flawless ever since. You might give it look to see if you have the same problem.

[GaryUT]

I had a issue where my fridge would not run on propane while traveling. Worked while I used camper. Had it in shop 2 different times. Changed circuit board and couple of other things. Still would not work while I traveled. We were going home from a trip. I told my wife to close the slide while I laid underneath slide. Noticed as slide closed, the gas line would fold up and pinch gas off. Cut some wire ties off and has worked flawless ever since. You might give it look to see if you have the same problem.


Our trailer had the same problem, the dealer fixed it the same way you did. He removed about half of the ties.


Gary

[Justvisiting2day]

Like...W.O.W. a whole bunch o info here . I have never run with ghahzz on, BUT my fridges in all my units have had 12v to keep power on. As I do understand most now days don't come with 3 way equip. I have traveled all over our great country and AK. and always see those big black burned out spots on the road where an RV has burnt to the ground. ..Turn it off and save a headache.

[Ken / Claudia]

The rv fires I had been around were in motorhomes and cause was gasoline supply to the engine. As in fuel line leak or failed. Started in engine compartment. They burn up really fast, but so do cars if the gas line failure starts the fire.

[JRTJH]

Like...W.O.W. a whole bunch o info here . I have never run with ghahzz on, BUT my fridges in all my units have had 12v to keep power on. As I do understand most now days don't come with 3 way equip. I have traveled all over our great country and AK. and always see those big black burned out spots on the road where an RV has burnt to the ground. ..Turn it off and save a headache.

Maybe a "bit over the top" ???

I suppose I must travel on entirely sheltered RV routes. In 50 years of RVing, I've only seen 1 motorhome burn (never a travel trailer while towing). I have, however, seen multiple cars and pick-up trucks and an occasional 18 wheeler (or rather the evidence of where they burned)... If it was so prevalent that one could "always see those big black burned out spots on the road where an RV has burnt to the ground" I'd have sold my rig long ago and bought a safer means of travel (tricycle or bicycle without a generator) ???

[travelin texans]

Like...W.O.W. a whole bunch o info here . I have never run with ghahzz on, BUT my fridges in all my units have had 12v to keep power on. As I do understand most now days don't come with 3 way equip. I have traveled all over our great country and AK. and always see those big black burned out spots on the road where an RV has burnt to the ground. ..Turn it off and save a headache.

Sorry John, have to disagree, this is "WAY OVER THE TOP"!!!!
If you chose to travel with your fridge off then by all means do so.
But to post here that ALL those burnt spots on the highways all across the country were made from rvs traveling with their fridge on gas is absolutely totally inaccurate BS & should not be taken seriously by any new RV owner. There are tens of thousands of RVs on the road at any given time & if this were case you'd be passing a burning RV on the side of the road about every couple of miles. Not to mention with all the safety rules imposed on everything these days the side of your RV & the front of your fridge would plastered with labels "DO NOT USE ON GAS WHILE TRAVELING".
RV fridges were/are designed to be operated this way, yes there is a very slight chance that there could be a problem, but as I said there's thousands on the road traveling this way right now wherever your at.

[flybouy]

I must have missed the signs on the side of the road that said "This big black burned spot brought to you by the RV fridge catching fire!" :eek:Maybe I need to have my eyes tested. Just saying.....:whistling:

[notanlines]

I had given some thought to a comment concerning the big, burned spots, but y’all have done a fine job in my stead.

[NH_Bulldog]

While I enjoy the comments, I think we got away from the OP’s initial concern over why the fridge doesn’t work on the road as opposed to sitting still. Perhaps we can offer some ideas? Like maybe ask if the fridge runs on propane when parked and not connected to shore power? Is the fridge on a slide where the gas line might be pinching when the slide is in? Does the 12v system and/or fridge work when connected to the tow vehicle? Maybe the battery(s) are weak? Let’s offer ideas and help instead of getting so far off topic that we are talking about black spots on the side of the highway.

[flybouy]

While I enjoy the comments, I think we got away from the OP’s initial concern over why the fridge doesn’t work on the road as opposed to sitting still. Perhaps we can offer some ideas? Like maybe ask if the fridge runs on propane when parked and not connected to shore power? Is the fridge on a slide where the gas line might be pinching when the slide is in? Does the 12v system and/or fridge work when connected to the tow vehicle? Maybe the battery(s) are weak? Let’s offer ideas and help instead of getting so far off topic that we are talking about black spots on the side of the highway.

In the very first response (post #2 from John) the OP was asked to post back with some more information. That hasn't happened so having the posts "stray" off the OP's original question shouldn't be surprising.

[sonofcy]

I've heard folks say that they turn it off to travel as it's too dangerous, to me if that's the case take the fridge out & stack coolers in that space. That would also save about $2000 on the RV price.
The past several years the industry has sold 500k units a year & on any given day there's half that many on the highway running their fridge on LP. We've traveled approximately 200k miles the last 10+ years & NEVER seen a RV on fire along side the road. Yes it happens, but if it was so extremely dangerous you'd see it daily on every highway.
Sorry for the rant, but sounds like your dealer just blew you off with their lame excuse!!!
As John said it would help to know what you have to receive better advice.
On our first trip, we saw what was left of a burnt out RV. On our second trip we watched an RV burn. Before the volunteer firefighters could get there the RV was destroyed, maybe 15 mins.

[Laredo250RL]

Recently had our RV repair shop check our fridge for warming up too fast. The circuit board was not opening the gas valve all the way. Replaced the board, problem solved. Just a suggestion you might want to look into.

[travelin texans]

On our first trip, we saw what was left of a burnt out RV. On our second trip we watched an RV burn. Before the volunteer firefighters could get there the RV was destroyed, maybe 15 mins.

We've been hauling RVs with the fridge on gas for 40-45 years, never had an issue & have never seen one burning along the highway.
I never said it couldn't/wouldn't happen, but I believe the odds are better of winning the lottery. If you've seen 2 in 2 trips burning the odds of that are tremendous & even greater that the fridge caused both to burn.

[sourdough]

On our first trip, we saw what was left of a burnt out RV. On our second trip we watched an RV burn. Before the volunteer firefighters could get there the RV was destroyed, maybe 15 mins.

Having driven what has to be in the millions of miles all over the country in my lifetime I have to say that to see the recent remains of a burned out RV or one on fire in your first two trips is......astounding/bad luck etc. Don't doubt your word but you must live in the RV Bermuda triangle. Whether they came from the fridge being left on is ? but highly doubtful.

I've never turned my fridge off while traveling in decades; never thought about it nor had an issue. In those millions of miles/decades I have seen RV accidents and units totally destroyed due to owner malfunction but not units "burned down" due to fridge failure. I have seen 2 units burned; one on the side of the road with the episode over; to assume it was the fridge would be ludicrous. The other was a motorhome on the highway under me going over an overpass in FL - it had been hit by another vehicle causing the fire. The only other one I've ever heard about was when one of my employees told me of his daughter pulling his pickup with his tractor, tried to cross a highway but was in front of an oncoming motorhome and it hit his pickup. The accident caused the motorhome to burst into flames due to ruptured LP tanks. Still, no issues pointing to a fridge that I've ever heard.

All this to point out to any new owner that rhetoric warning that running the LP on the RV fridge is doom and gloom.....is only rhetoric not backed up by any substantive, real life, evidence as far as I know. JMO/YMMV

[Gord]

You could purchase and install an Inverter which converts 12VDC to 120VAC and then wire an outlet to the fridge compartment from the inverter and move the 120v plug to this outlet when you travel. The only caveat to this is if you stop along the way you'll need to put your fridge on gas to save your battery. Just a suggestion that you may wish to explore.

[ctbruce]

Unfortunately, Bette, the OP, has not been on the forum since 10/28.

[Ken / Claudia]

Regarding post #20. I just finished 700 miles of interstate travel. I know what a burn spot is.Thinking about post #20 comments. I seen 3 on the shoulder, maybe 1 on the travel lanes. Of the 3 that were clearly burn marks, were if you looked where about the size of a car on the shoulder that burned. None were from any RV unless it was about 16 ft long. Good luck thinking all burn marks are from an RV and if they are what type? Been there done that, motorhomes is the answer that will be most.

[comfun1]

I thought one of the biggest concerns was the open flame when at the gas pumps refueling.

[captcolour]

Bought my first pop-up back in 1998. Came with a 3-way fridge. Always pulled it set to 12V. Never really stayed cold. Learned from friends who had a 5th wheel at the time to pull using propane instead. Indeed, fridge stayed nice and cold. Been pulling running propane to the fridge ever since.

[flybouy]

I thought one of the biggest concerns was the open flame when at the gas pumps refueling.

Who's biggest concern? There are LOTS of previous posts on the subject of traveling with the fridge on, many of them pertaining to refueling. There are also many "urban legends" that go around like the cell phone use while fueling will make the pumps explode.

Some gas stations even posted stickers telling their customers to not use cell phones. I'm guessing some corporate attorney told them to CTA with that. This was disproven many times due to the overwhelming evidence from CCTV footage that proved the majority of those fires at the pump were caused by people starting the pump, getting back into the vehicle to stay warm, then exiting the vehicle and grabbing the pump handle. The static charge from dragging their clothes across the seats would cause a spark at the nozzle causing the explosion. When the pump is running a "voper recovery" system sucks the fuel fumes back into the pump's system (the big black "boot" around the nozzle). When the pump "clicks off" the pump stops and the vapor recovery system stops, which lets the now full fuel tank vent to the outside.

Back to fueling at the pump with the fridge on LP. In my opinion (like other things, we have one) on my unit with a mid kitchen the fridge is a good 20' to 25' behind the fill neck of my truck. Actually, my truck is diesel so it's irrelevant but I'll continue as if it were gas. The flame for that fridge is inside a burner tube, some distance behind the exterior wall/fridge vent.

Logically, if there is enough gasoline vapor to reach that open flame and pose a threat for explosion than there is a HUGE issue with a "major" fuel spill. I seriously doubt that anyone would be able to breath if a sufficient amount of fuel vapor were present to ignite in that scenario. If there were, then my guess would be that when you open your door and that interior light switch on the door made contact it would be irrelevant as that would be your first source of ignition, ot your driver's side door.

JMHO

[chuckster57]

Gas pumps usually have a placard that says no open flame within 25 feet. The flame on the refer is behind at least one if not two "wind" shields. I remember as a kid, riding in the back of my dads '64 Dodge in a camper shell, 4 siblings and the fuel tank for the truck right behind the bench seat in the cab. Pops was a diabetic and LOVED his Dometic refer that ran on LP to keep his insulin fresh. Never shut off the fridge when we stopped for gas.

Don't remember trailer MY but I think it was a 67 Ideal, 19 foot and had a Propane light above the dinette table. Water tank across the front with an air pump to pressurize the water system, Man we have sure evolved haven't we?