Running the frig while towing?

[grhertzy]

We're taking our new Outback 316RL out for our first camping trip this coming weekend. We're only going about 1 1/2 hours away. Do any of you run your frig while towing? Or is that not advised?

Also, anyone else out there who has the same model?

Thanks.

Jerry

[raytronx]

Many people will run with propane on for the fridge. My personal preference is to have the propane off when traveling unless it is super hot out and I'm going to be traveling for many hours. Most of our travel days are under 4 hours and the fridge stays cold even with the propane off, they are very well sealed units just like the ice chests everyone uses for tent camping.

I'm just not a fan of driving into a fuel stop with an open flame burning and possible spark igniter going off, although in the real world I know it happens all the time and very few problems arise.

Ray

PS. I travel full time so my fridge and food is always very cool when I leave unlike a weekend user who may need to have it on to keep cooling food that is not quite as cold.

[gepaine]

Driving with the refrigerator on propane doesn't mean you have to pull up to the pump with an open flame. We enter the fuel stop, turn off the refrigerator before pulling up to the pumps, fuel up, pull away from pumps and turn on refrigerator before leaving station. It may seem like a bit of a hassle, but it works for us.

[86GT2r]

I don't know why the refrigerator manufacturers' don't have a 12v operating mode. When I had a pop up, you could travel using 12 volts to keep it cool. It wasn't as efficient as LP or 120v, but worked ok.

[raytronx]

Originally Posted by 86GT2r

I don't know why the refrigerator manufacturers' don't have a 12v operating mode. When I had a pop up, you could travel using 12 volts to keep it cool. It wasn't as efficient as LP or 120v, but worked ok.

I think because the bigger fridges now would need more juice and the wires need to be heavy for the extra current draw, plus the batteries are usually a long way from the fridge and the extra cost. Nowadays people use an inverter instead.

[Dhuhn]

Originally Posted by raytronx

I think because the bigger fridges now would need more juice and the wires need to be heavy for the extra current draw, plus the batteries are usually a long way from the fridge and the extra cost. Nowadays people use an inverter instead.

I stand corrected from my previous quote, we had a smaller truck camper before our 5th wheel which had a small refrigerator it ran on AC, dc, lp. It makes sense that the bigger units need more power to operate thus only using AC and LP.

[raytronx]

Originally Posted by gepaine

Driving with the refrigerator on propane doesn't mean you have to pull up to the pump with an open flame. We enter the fuel stop, turn off the refrigerator before pulling up to the pumps, fuel up, pull away from pumps and turn on refrigerator before leaving station. It may seem like a bit of a hassle, but it works for us.

ya, for me it's mostly the hassle factor, one more thing I don't need to worry about for fuel stops and if in an accident. Like I said if it comes down to food going bad I do run the fridge while driving, just most times it doesn't make a difference to my cooling temp.

[Dhuhn]

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't most new refrigerators run on 3 sources so if your not plug in or you propane is off doesn't the battery's take over so you can turn your propane off while traveling.

[jamesfamilytx]

With temps continuously in the 100s this summer in Texas, we've been running the fridge on propane even when traveling 1.5-2 hrs. Ordinarily we'd just turn it off for this short of a trip, but even with a well-insulated fridge that already has been cooled and is full of cold food, it seems to make a difference. And I don't want to take a chance of any temp drop in the fridge when transporting lots of yummy cookout foods!

Beth and Dennis James
Austin, TX
2013 Bullet 248RKS

[frano]

Our Vantage has a 2 way fridge and we have been running on propane when traveling with no issues. It seems that most new trailers only have a 2 way fridge and I wonder if it's to keep the battery up in case of a break away situation where the brakes are activated by the battery rather than the tow vehicle? Just my thought.

[Outbackmel]

3 years towing and use propane refer when traveling and switch to electric when stopped. My unit has an automatic switch. Requires no manual intervention.

By the way, just a question: you do understand the slide mechanism in the refer box that is adjustable for desired temp, right? I say that only because our refer is PACKED when we travel and have no, nada, none temperature variance. Actually one of the best parts of the RV. Maybe because Keystone does not make it

[suza]

Originally Posted by Outbackmel

3 years towing and use propane refer when traveling and switch to electric when stopped. My unit has an automatic switch. Requires no manual intervention.

By the way, just a question: you do understand the slide mechanism in the refer box that is adjustable for desired temp, right? I say that only because our refer is PACKED when we travel and have no, nada, none temperature variance. Actually one of the best parts of the RV. Maybe because Keystone does not make it

I made a label with my label printer for the inside wall of the fridge and marked a scale so I know about where to set the temp control. I find it depends on how full the fridge is, if there is frozen food/ice in the freezer and whether it is running on elec or propane. Anyway, the tape guide comes in handy. I also find the control seems to work its way down during transport.

I love the fridge. A step up from the old one in our mid 90's Nash

[Javi]

Have never worried about the propane running the fridge while towing, I light the fridge the day before we leave, load up the food, beer and ice for the whisky and go.

Since the diesel fill port is far from the fridge I ain't scared.

[Randy_K]

Originally Posted by Javi

Have never worried about the propane running the fridge while towing, I light the fridge the day before we leave, load up the food, beer and ice for the whisky and go.

Since the diesel fill port is far from the fridge I ain't scared.

Whisky you say,,, here we go again

We have our trailer plugged in at home. Turn on the fridge a day before we go and let it switch to propane on its own when we head out. Not having to buy ice and pack a cooler is one of the reasons for the TT.

[lightning79]

My favourite one about leaving things running was when a couple told me last year that friends of theirs would light the oven, pop in a roast and then hit the road, so that when they got to their destination, the roast was done!

[JRTJH]

We used to do that with baked potatoes on the manifold, but never with a roast in a pan in the oven. With our rear kitchen, I could easily see the roast being somewhere between the bathroom and the rear wall <YIKES>

[michol02]

Never thought of turning off propane while refueling. Glad I read this thread. The only time I turn off the propane is when we get on a ferry(think its a law). We camp often, so the frig stays on and full of stuff 24/7. When Friday evening comes, we just load a few perishables, medication, and the dogs(everything else is already in there). I keep it set up at the house like we're camping(it's my "Man Cave" during the week).

[suza]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

We used to do that with baked potatoes on the manifold, but never with a roast in a pan in the oven. With our rear kitchen, I could easily see the roast being somewhere between the bathroom and the rear wall <YIKES>

As another RKS owner, I agree I don't enjoy cleaning up messes!

[Msemma]

I just purchased the 316 RL in July , we ran it on propane on our first trip out worked fine .

[Hansel]

I've read everyones reply, I want too do whatever is the safest way too travel. My first question is, has anyone ever heard or seen where someones trailer caused an issue (fire) while at a fueling station??Most of my travels are within a few hours and I've always used the auto setting which it switches too gas when I'm not hooked into electric. The last 2 trips have been where I've need to fill up (diesel) and never even thought about the frig being on and running on gas, now that I think about it how remote is the chance of a fire from vapors at the filling station?? My fuel tank fill is on the drivers side and the frig is 10-15ft away and on the other side. I'm more concerned that a gas line would fail while driving down the road, then the frig starting a fire while fueling up.