Travel with propane on

Mag · 10-03-2019, 12:26 AM

Planning on a 3 day trip south in Nov. in our 2019 Axis and wondered what the consensus is on travelling with the propane on to keep the frig cold. Will only be doing about 7 hours a day and I don't think it'll stay cold enough if it's off. They put 3 way fridges in travel trailers why not in motorhomes?

JamieGeek · 10-03-2019, 12:30 AM

A frequent topic around these parts. You'll get a ton of opinions that range from "never do it" to "its fine go right ahead".

Personally I leave the propane on and leave the fridge on auto. I turn off the fridge at gas stations when filling as a precaution.

Mr Sunshine · 10-03-2019, 12:55 AM

Same as JamieGeek, fridge set on auto, turn off for gas stations. You'll find a few "never" folks, and a whole bunch of "always" folks. A tank of gas can run the fridge a long, long time.

K0LCB · 10-03-2019, 12:57 AM

I’ve had some sort of RV since 1975. I never shut propane off. I do turn refrigerator off when I refuel or load propane.

ducksface · 10-03-2019, 01:02 AM

It's a religious choice based on nothing but personal preference.

I've challenged for an article where a pilot ignited gasoline fumes (not the dumb woman who sprayed gas int her fridge vent) and got crickets WORLDWIDE.

However, if you turn it off as a routine, it's your routine and I'd do it too if it were practical for me.

My fridge is on 24hours, 365 electric or gas.
We're always loaded, always full of fuel, always food in the fridge.

(if you are truly looking for the easy way to ease the way)
Put the fridge on a $50 inverter and love life.
Every kinda argument goes to sleep if you do that.

mstng · 10-03-2019, 05:10 AM

Mine has always been on auto and I don’t turn it off to fuel. There would be huge red stickers everywhere if RV’s were blowing up at gas stations. Theoretically yes it could happen I suppose but there are many other things that could happen as well. I worry more about my half assed windshield wipers.

GVP-The Boxcar Children · 10-03-2019, 09:03 AM

Our propane is always on. Save some fridge energy by putting a full icebag in the cooler and/or freezer. It will keep the unit from overworking trying to keep things cool.
GVP

Mag · 10-03-2019, 11:32 AM

Appreciate all the replies. It'll probably stay on although I'm going to look into the inverter idea, won't use any gas that way, maybe $50 worth to buy the inverter, then it'll be no cost.

JamieGeek · 10-03-2019, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mag

Appreciate all the replies. It'll probably stay on although I'm going to look into the inverter idea, won't use any gas that way, maybe $50 worth to buy the inverter, then it'll be no cost.

The fridge uses very little propane so it would take a while to even make up that $50.

Bob Denman · 10-03-2019, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducksface

It's a religious choice based on nothing but personal preference...

That's more true than you think; but there are some places where you are supposed to have it turned off.
I think that the list is pretty much limited to tunnels, some bridges, and re-fueling stops...

Oneilkeys · 10-03-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GVP-The Boxcar Children

Our propane is always on. Save some fridge energy by putting a full icebag in the cooler and/or freezer. It will keep the unit from overworking trying to keep things cool.
GVP

I always fill the bottom of the freezer with water bottles (don’t tell my neighbors up here in Canada) when I first turn on the fridge before I start my trip. After freezing everything down using electric, I switch to propane. During my trip, I rotate a few frozen water bottles down into the fridge to help it cool and rotate them back to the freezer as they melt. It gives me a good visual that lets me know that the freezer is working correctly and that the bottom is staying cool. If I really need the water bottles, it also gives me an emergency supply. I also take a three hour ferry ride on my trip south and the frozen water bottles help keep the fridge cold during the time the fridge is turned off. The water bottles also will not run all over the fridge and floor if everything melts.

Pete'sMH · 10-03-2019, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oneilkeys

I always fill the bottom of the freezer with water bottles (don’t tell my neighbors up here in Canada) when I first turn on the fridge before I start my trip. After freezing everything down using electric, I switch to propane. During my trip, I rotate a few frozen water bottles down into the fridge to help it cool and rotate them back to the freezer as they melt. It gives me a good visual that lets me know that the freezer is working correctly and that the bottom is staying cool. If I really need the water bottles, it also gives me an emergency supply. I also take a three hour ferry ride on my trip south and the frozen water bottles help keep the fridge cold during the time the fridge is turned off. The water bottles also will not run all over the fridge and floor if everything melts.

I wanted an inverter anyway so I added the fridge to it. It has its own transfer switch so the fridge almost never uses propane. It’s on shore power or the inverter. Before I added the inverter I used propane while traveling with no fears and never turned it off at a gas station either. Do what makes you comfortable and don’t lose sleep over it.

The Gritz Carlton · 10-03-2019, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

Same as JamieGeek, fridge set on auto, turn off for gas stations. You'll find a few "never" folks, and a whole bunch of "always" folks. A tank of gas can run the fridge a long, long time.

^^^Same as him^^^. Fridge isn't gas but don't like purging lines every time for the few times we use range and water heater. Turn off anything that could ignite while fueling but back on after pulling from pumps.

Bob Denman · 10-03-2019, 03:30 PM

Ours is a three-way...

We run it on electric when we're on shore power,
12 volt when we're on the road,
and propane when at home, and preparing for a trip, and are cooling it down.

Sanford · 10-04-2019, 12:18 PM

Being a retired Fire Marshal, I can't bring myself to leave my LP on while traveling. "It's never a problem until".

**16ACE27** · 10-04-2019, 12:23 PM

I just saw this thread and was going to reply you'll never get a consensus, but I was being proved wrong: until Sanford showed up, then I was proven right. Makes me wonder how he feels about gasoline powered vehicles?

Run the propane on the road for me.

Sanford · 10-04-2019, 12:26 PM

I don't have a choice with the gasoline, I do with the LP. It's a matter of choice.

Vbates · 10-09-2019, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mag

Planning on a 3 day trip south in Nov. in our 2019 Axis and wondered what the consensus is on travelling with the propane on to keep the frig cold. Will only be doing about 7 hours a day and I don't think it'll stay cold enough if it's off. They put 3 way fridges in travel trailers why not in motorhomes?

We have a 2015 Thor Vegas and just leave it on Auto, that way it can use battery or propane. We have dogs in motorhome and if we walk away from fron motorhome for awhile we turn on the generator to run frig and AC.

SteveCie · 10-09-2019, 08:29 PM

Norcold advises not to run absorption refrigerators while vehicle is in motion or in any unlevel position.

**16ACE27** · 10-09-2019, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCie

Norcold advises not to run absorption refrigerators while vehicle is in motion or in any unlevel position.

Please provide that reference. Where is it documented? In motion is not the same as unlevel and running them unlevel is a well documented no-no but in motion it doesn't matter as the motion of the coach keeps the refrigerant flowing.

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