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Old 04-07-2013, 08:08 AM   #1
grhertzy
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Running the frig while towing?

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.

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Old 04-07-2013, 08:41 AM   #2
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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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 08:57 AM   #3
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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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 09:00 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 09:05 AM   #5
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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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 09:31 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gepaine View Post
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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 09:35 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by 86GT2r View Post
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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 10:01 AM   #8
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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.
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Old 04-07-2013, 11:09 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhuhn View Post
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.
We also had a 3way reefer in our popup truck camper. It was a 2.8cuft model. It ran on 12VDC/120VAC/Propane. We used DC while travelling, when stopped at McD's or a fuel stop, it was OK, bit if stopped for an afternoon of sightseeing, it would run the battery down. Total time from full charge to "dim lights" was about 3 hours. So, even though it was an option on a small reefer, it was a real battery killer. I wouldn't want to even run it while driving on a reefer the size of the one in my fifth wheel.
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Old 04-07-2013, 11:22 AM   #10
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I light my fridge the night before we are to leave and we put the food in it the morning of.... the fridge is never cut off until we unload it back at home... It stays on automatic and when we hook to shore power it switches from propane to 110...

We don't have any tunnel or ferries to traverse and I rarely have to stop for fuel.... even if I did I wouldn't worry as I'm running a diesel and the fridge is about 25 feet away and on the off side of the trailer...

If for some reason I did use the ferry to Port Aransas, I'd just switch it off for the ride across the channel then back on at the first safe pull out...
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Old 04-07-2013, 03:36 PM   #11
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Old 04-07-2013, 03:50 PM   #12
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We run our fridge on auto so when I unhook from the residence until I plug in at the campground I am on propane. Never thought or read about turning the unit off while re-fueling. I need to remember to turn it off when I refuel. It is quite far away from the fuel hose so never worried about it. Another lesson learned here.
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Old 04-07-2013, 04:21 PM   #13
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Fridge on auto 99.99% of the time. Even when refueling due to pretty much only using diesel pumps and the distance from the pump. AND the constant 20 mph winds in OK.

1x I did go in and turn the fridge off due to the very still conditions and the strong smell of propane - was at a Flying J with the large proane storage tanks nearby.
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Old 04-07-2013, 05:00 PM   #14
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Thanks to all for your input. I won't be re-fueling on this trip, so will light it before we leave and shut down after our return. It's a Dometic 2-way so it's either propane or AC.

Looking forward to our "shake-down" trip.

Jerry
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Old 04-10-2013, 10:51 AM   #15
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I asked the same question at the dealer last weekend.

He recommended if we are plugged in, to run the fridge for a day or so, so it gets cold. Then load up the fridge with our food and run it off propane while we travel. Because it's already dropped in temp, it wont take much propane to keep it cold.

Haven't tried it yet - but just thought I'd add his 2 cents.

Does make me nervous to travel with the propane running - but I'm a bit of a nervous nelly about that stuff anyway!
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Old 04-11-2013, 04:38 AM   #16
GaryWT
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Our fridge will be turned on soon and will remain on until the fall. It is on auto and runs on propane when we travel. We leave it on all season so we do not have to empty it after each trip. We have yet to re-fuel while traveling, we have only done a couple hundred miles a day so we unhook at a campground before heading for gas. So far so good.
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Old 04-11-2013, 06:09 PM   #17
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Although my dealer told me to keep the propane off, most campers I talked to last season said they have the propane on all the time, with the fridge on it. I only drive about 3 hours a day, so I never have to fuel up with the trailer on.
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Old 08-13-2013, 10:50 PM   #18
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I use reusable ice packs. I slide them in between the food in the frig. things stay cold util we stop at night. then I refreeze them over night. I DO NOT TRAVEL WITH THE PROPANE ON.
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Old 08-13-2013, 11:40 PM   #19
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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!

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Old 08-14-2013, 04:05 AM   #20
frano
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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.
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