Propane restrictions

[Bob Denman]

Only if it sets off all that leaking propane!

This is actually some pretty serious business... These rules are in place to try and prevent the "Page-One, Top News Story" kind of events.

The ones that you'd never want you or your family to be in!

[Soldier Girl]

Originally Posted by DogLovers

I don't know why they are so concerned about the RV propane being turned off. You would think they would be more focused on my trailer full of M183 demolition charges. :-)

LMAO!!![emoji13]

[Fulltimer50]

https://mdta.maryland.gov/propane.html

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Fulltimer50

https://mdta.maryland.gov/propane.html

Nothing in your link regarding the CBBT.

[Pete'sMH]

So is it even legal to drive with the propane tank valve turned on? I’ve been doing it for decades.....I don’t even turn off my appliances when buying gasoline. (I do when buying propane though!). I’m not too old or stubborn to learn though - SHOULD it be off? My wife would not be happy with a long drive in a hot day with the fridge off!

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

So is it even legal to drive with the propane tank valve turned on? I’ve been doing it for decades.....I don’t even turn off my appliances when buying gasoline. (I do when buying propane though!). I’m not too old or stubborn to learn though - SHOULD it be off? My wife would not be happy with a long drive in a hot day with the fridge off!

It is NOT illegal and is one of the main reasons for having a propane powered refrigerator.

What would make you think it is illegal?

[Bob Denman]

He's just conflating several separate issues...

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

It is NOT illegal and is one of the main reasons for having a propane powered refrigerator.



What would make you think it is illegal?

Well I was exploring the “tons of videos of campers on fire” comment which led to articles on RV fire safety and the first article I read stated it as a fact. I had never heard that before as I too thought that was one of the benefits of a propane fridge. The article said to run it on battery only when traveling. It was not any sort of official document. Just the authors opinion I’m sure . But there it was, since you asked.

[16ACE27]

So you "heard it on the Interweb so it must be true!"?

There's lotsa of made-up/false facts floating around by self-proclaimed experts on lotsa stuff on the Internet. The scary propane use in RVs is just one of them.

In my previous career as a nuclear power plant operator/supervisor we always had to refer to the source documents for any operation/procedure.

Whenever someone tells me something that I suspect is not correct I always ask "where is that written?". In this case I would ask which state/federal statute states that using propane in an RV on the road is illegal.

Does it make sense that using propane would be illegal but we have CNG vehicles on the same roadways?

And I can guarantee you that if it was illegal the DOT would make RV manufacturers install interlocks that would shut off the propane flow as soon as the ignition was on.

[steveha]

Just to keep it going.....

From RV Tripwizard https://www.rvtripwizard.com/rv-info...in-tunnels.php

Propane Tanks in Tunnels
The following information comes from several sources that we believe to be correct, but because state laws change, we cannot guarantee accuracy.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
Tunnels that go down hill have restrictions to stop and make sure propane is turned off. Tunnels that rise slightly have no restrictions.

Virginia tunnels go down under the water. Propane is heavier than air and in theory could pool in the very bottom of the tunnels. So you need to stop and tell an inspector they are turned off.

Most tunnels that go thru mountains have a slight rise to the middle. That's why you don't have to stop for most of those tunnels.

LP-GAS PROHIBITED:
Maryland/Baltimore:
Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry (I-95) tunnels. Alternate route for RVs with propane over the Francis Scott Key Bridge is I-695.

Massachusetts/Boston Harbor:
All tunnels.

New York/East River:
Between Manhattan and Brooklyn: Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

Between Manhattan and Queens: Queens Midtown Tunnel.

New York and New Jersey/Hudson River:
Between Manhattan and Jersey City: Holland Tunnel.

Between Manhattan and Fort Lee: Lower level George Washington Bridge (I-95 South) and George Washington Bridge Expressway. Lower level Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Between Manhattan and Weehawken: Lincoln Tunnel.

LP-GAS RESTRICTIONS:
Virginia/Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel: RVs equipped with ICC-approved compressed cooking tanks not exceeding two 45-pound capacity tanks (or two permanently mounted containers with maximum total capacity of 200 pounds) may cross the facility provided that, in the opinion of the toll collector or police sergeant after inspection, the tanks are completely shut off and securely attached.

Texas/Houston Ship Channel: Washburn Tunnel between Pasadena and Galena Park: Maximum of two 7½-gallon containers (30 pounds gas each) or one 10-gallon container (40 pounds gas) of DOT (ICC)-approved type, with shutoff valve at discharge opening. Valve must be closed when in tunnel. LP-gas as vehicle fuel prohibited. 7½-gallon containers (30 pounds gas each) or one 10-gallon container (40 pounds gas) of DOT (ICC)-approved type, with shutoff valve at discharge opening. Valve must be closed when in tunnel. LP-gas as vehicle fuel prohibited.

[Bob Denman]

Had he mentioned that he saw it on the internet: we all would have known how true it is!

[Pete'sMH]

Hey, I just asked a question. I didn’t know so I asked.

[Bob Denman]

Nobody is complaining: it just shows how a topic can veer off in unplanned directions...

[DogLovers]

Whoop whoop!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

The lines to them and under your coach are charged. Propane is heavier than air and will pool at the bottom of a tunnel or lowest spot. Stand still traffic with a leaking propane tank nearby or a tank line ruptured in an accident or hit by run-over debris could be disastrous...your average 60 gallon LP tank equals approximately 650 cubic feet of gas in the open air.

I meant 60 pound tank...brain fart...

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

So is it even legal to drive with the propane tank valve turned on? I’ve been doing it for decades.....I don’t even turn off my appliances when buying gasoline. (I do when buying propane though!). I’m not too old or stubborn to learn though - SHOULD it be off? My wife would not be happy with a long drive in a hot day with the fridge off!

Leave it on when running...keep the suds cold...turn fridge and furnace off when gassing up. Many RV's have burned to the ground along with the business from gas fumes being ignited by pilot lights or appliance burners at the fuel pumps.

[awong2683]

Make sure they show you where you breaker box is located and also the breaker switch for your generator. During my recent "Pre-trip checklist," the breaker at the generator tripped for some reason. The generator ran fine, but there was no power to my appliances inside the RV.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Over the years, many Rv's have burned to a pile of ashes along the interstates as a result of fires starting behind the fridge while powering it on gas underway...way before the internet. It's your camper and your choice. The days of 3-Way power were nice...run it on 12V underway, gas on boondock and 120V on shore power. If I had a gas fridge I would install an inverter (if you don't have one) just to run the fridge on 120V while underway and keep generator and gas turned off.

[Bob Denman]

I agree: the use of propane for powering a refrigerator seems as if it shouldn't be necessary. I use electricity of whatever sort I can get: whenever I can use it!

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Over the years, many Rv's have burned to a pile of ashes along the interstates as a result of fires starting behind the fridge while powering it on gas underway...way before the internet. It's your camper and your choice. The days of 3-Way power were nice...run it on 12V underway, gas on boondock and 120V on shore power. If I had a gas fridge I would install an inverter (if you don't have one) just to run the fridge on 120V while underway and keep generator and gas turned off.

You know, I’ve never even considered that. I’ve just run on propane for nearly 3 decades now. Just figured that’s what it’s there for. Not sure why a fire would be more likely while underway than when parked but there is a concern about fire from an open propane line in the event of an accident. I believe I’ll look into an inverter for just that purpose. Do you have one to recommend? Thanks for a good idea.