propane furnace on while towing

seanrmz · 11-11-2022, 07:09 AM

Hello everyone, newbie question. I have a Cougar 30RLS '21 and we are heading out to Fl this December. It will be below zero when we leave from Montreal Canada, and I would like to keep the furnace on just above freezing to keep it warm enough so we could bring up the temp easy when we pitstop along the way.

I did look into it and I am not getting a clear answer.

thanks sean

foldbak · 11-11-2022, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanrmz

Hello everyone, newbie question. I have a Cougar 30RLS '21 and we are heading out to Fl this December. It will be below zero when we leave from Montreal Canada, and I would like to keep the furnace on just above freezing to keep it warm enough so we could bring up the temp easy when we pitstop along the way.

I did look into it and I am not getting a clear answer.

thanks sean

I think you're going to get varying answers on this. Some will say it's unsafe. Some will say it's fine. The risk is that while traveling a leak occurs and no one is present to detect it and.....

Personally if it were me in below zero temps, I might be tempted to fire up the furnace 45 minuets or so prior to arriving. Ultimately it's a personal choice.

CedarCreekWoody · 11-11-2022, 08:06 AM

I've run mine while towing, but it was unplanned. I failed to turn it off at the thermostat and as it uses 12 volts and propane it came on. It seems to have worked ok but it is not something I would recommend. Sorry that I can't provide you a definitive answer.

seanrmz · 11-11-2022, 08:24 AM

thanks for the answer, I did some looking on google and yes there are wide spread of answers. Your idea sounds great, I could flick it on from the app while driving.

Old_Stevenick · 11-11-2022, 08:30 AM

I haven't wondered about the furnace, but have looked into the same issue for leaving the fridge on. We turn the propane tank off and sometimes put ice things in the fridge (like you leave in coolers) but honestly the food seems OK for a number of hours without power.

You definitely need to turn off the propane when you're in a gas station, by law, and I believe some states outlaw using it while driving.

seanrmz · 11-11-2022, 08:38 AM

thanks Old Steve, as for the fridge I can run it off my batteries and charging system from the truck. I just finished my solar system and also installed a dc to dc charger running off the trucks alternator.

ChuckS · 11-11-2022, 08:39 AM

Yes I have run the furnace while towing.. Got caught coming back from Vegas one year in late November and going through Ely Nevada the temps were around 10 degrees..

WE had winterized the RV since we were headed back to our home state of Idaho but wife had picked up some plants and we had some liquid items in the Fifth wheel that would have all been frozen and damaged.

I set the furnace temp at 55 degrees and had no issues with the furnace keeping the inside warm while towing

Some will fret and worry about what happens if the furnace blows out while towing.. IF you unit has a furnace with DSI.. and most do then if the flame blows out the furnace will attempt to relight 3 times..

IF relight fails then furnace goes into lockout mode.. blower motor wont run, etc. Propane valve on furnace will not open..

BUT.. if you are gonna do this for long distances be aware that if the temps are really cold you will burn through a lot of propane while towing..

We ran out furnace for about 300 miles of towing

** and yes.. our plants and other tings inside the fifth wheel did just fine.. There were zero issues with the furnace running during this and that was about 5 years ago.. No issues with furnace

travelin texans · 11-11-2022, 08:52 AM

We've rv'd for a lot of years with several different rvs & have always ran the fridge on gas while traveling, fridge always set on "auto" so it ran on either gas while traveling or elec if plugged in, never blown one up!
Typically the the fridge has been on the opposite side of the rv as the fueling spot of the vehicle & 10-15' further back so have never shut off the fridge while fueling, never blown one up!
We've been border to border coast to coast & have yet to travel through any state that required the gas to be shut off while traveling. Curious as to who or how they could enforce that, there's not a visible flashing light indicator that the gas is on?
Have ran the furnace numerous times while traveling with the same scenario as the fridge, opposite side farther back from fueling, never blown one up!
Just my .02 cents!
This is one of those topics similar to flushing paper down the toilet. Rvs were designed to be used, fridge on gas while traveling & toilets with tanks that will handle tp, use as designed or not whatever you choose.
Two things I'd recommend never doing, #1 never leave the rv unattended with the city water turned on if you leave it for any length of time, #2 never leave the rv unattended with the awning extended.

Gkri · 11-11-2022, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin texans

We've rv'd for a lot of years with several different rvs & have always ran the fridge on gas while traveling, fridge always set on "auto" so it ran on either gas while traveling or elec if plugged in, never blown one up!
Typically the the fridge has been on the opposite side of the rv as the fueling spot of the vehicle & 10-15' further back so have never shut off the fridge while fueling, never blown one up!
We've been border to border coast to coast & have yet to travel through any state that required the gas to be shut off while traveling. Curious as to who or how they could enforce that, there's not a visible flashing light indicator that the gas is on?
Have ran the furnace numerous times while traveling with the same scenario as the fridge, opposite side farther back from fueling, never blown one up!
Just my .02 cents!
This is one of those topics similar to flushing paper down the toilet. Rvs were designed to be used, fridge on gas while traveling & toilets with tanks that will handle tp, use as designed or not whatever you choose.
Two things I'd recommend never doing, #1 never leave the rv unattended with the city water turned on if you leave it for any length of time, #2 never leave the rv unattended with the awning extended.

PA turnpike (I-476 and I-276) requires the propane valves be off going through their numerous tunnels. I could be wrong but the Chesapeake Bay tunnel does not allow propane bottles at all, open or closed. I agree the likelihood of anyone checking is slim to none, but like driving over weight, why take the chance?

NH_Bulldog · 11-11-2022, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gkri

PA turnpike (I-476 and I-276) requires the propane valves be off going through their numerous tunnels. I could be wrong but the Chesapeake Bay tunnel does not allow propane bottles at all, open or closed. I agree the likelihood of anyone checking is slim to none, but like driving over weight, why take the chance?

Most tunnels require propane off, and the dozen times we have traversed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel system we had to show that the gas was off while we were at the toll plaza, but we were not otherwise restricted except for a 13’ 6” max height.

We always travel with the fridge running on gas and have not had an issue. I also don’t see an issue with running the furnace while in transit, but isn’t something that I personally would be interested in doing.

bobbecky · 11-11-2022, 07:42 PM

We have run with the furnace on several times, but our heat registers in the floor are all exposed when the slides are retracted, so the furnace works as designed. If your registers are covered by the slides, you might not want to run the furnace while traveling, you must maintain a minimum air flow through the furnace. We always run the fridge on propane while traveling and have never had a problem. The big hazard to the fridge is it being off level while rolling and damaging the cooling unit. We have an ARP device installed that protects the cooling unit, so that keeps the fridge healthy. We rarely fuel up with the rig in tow, but if we do, it is in the truck lanes as we have a diesel truck.

**flybouy** · 11-12-2022, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Most tunnels require propane off, and the dozen times we have traversed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel system we had to show that the gas was off while we were at the toll plaza, but we were not otherwise restricted except for a 13’ 6” max height.

We always travel with the fridge running on gas and have not had an issue. I also don’t see an issue with running the furnace while in transit, but isn’t something that I personally would be interested in doing.

We were just down in the tidewater area this spring and went thru the Hampton Roads tunnel heading south and the CBBGT going north when we went to Elizabeth City, NC. At the CBBT the toll collector asked if gas was on or off, didn't have to "prove" it. At HRT you pull over just before entering the tunnel. Used to be you had to let them turn the valve to verify but this time a woman with a clipboard and traffic vest just asked if it was closed. I said yes and she said I was good to go. Maybe I just look honest?

wiredgeorge · 11-12-2022, 02:33 PM

I have never pulled a camper through a tunnel in Texas with the gas on. Come to think about it, have never seen a tunnel in Texas. I am pretty sure there are some under the Rio Grande but they wouldn't let my camper in those.

gearhead · 11-12-2022, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I have never pulled a camper through a tunnel in Texas with the gas on. Come to think about it, have never seen a tunnel in Texas. I am pretty sure there are some under the Rio Grande but they wouldn't let my camper in those.

Washburn tunnel under the Houston Ship Channel, between Galena Park and Pasadena.
There was also the Baytown tunnel under the Houston Ship Channel. It was replaced by the Fred Hartman bridge.
Both on the working side of town.

wiredgeorge · 11-12-2022, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Washburn tunnel under the Houston Ship Channel, between Galena Park and Pasadena.
There was also the Baytown tunnel under the Houston Ship Channel. It was replaced by the Fred Hartman bridge.
Both on the working side of town.

Not fond of Houston especially driving in or through...

rhagfo · 11-12-2022, 09:33 PM

In cold weather furnace on propane while traveling, fridge is no longer an issue, 12 volt compressor cooling unit.

Pull Toy · 11-13-2022, 07:46 AM

As previously mentioned, turn off propane were required for tunnels and bridges. AND FUEL STOPS!

Good Luck,

travelin texans · 11-13-2022, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Not fond of Houston especially driving in or through...

I'll take Houston over Seattle any day! Even towing the 5th wheel, but don't want to drive a car through Seattle ever again. Sorry if there's any Seattle folks here, but those folks up there can't drive, but sure can give one finger waves.
I apologize, that had nothing to do with furnaces!!

**flybouy** · 11-13-2022, 08:53 AM

One thought on running furnace .... do the slides cover the vents while retracted? If they do the furnace may trip on overheat. If it doesn't the slide portion covering the vent may get fairly hot.

ChuckS · 11-13-2022, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

One thought on running furnace .... do the slides cover the vents while retracted? If they do the furnace may trip on overheat. If it doesn't the slide portion covering the vent may get fairly hot.

** Great point to mention for the OP.. In my case None of the floor vents are covered with slides retracted so there is no issue of overheat and tripping the thermal overtemp sensor on the furnace.

With so many floor plans out there its an item to verify for sure..

You may also like: