Community Forums

MissyanMe · 05-09-2013, 09:39 AM

We are newbies to all of this and have some questions about what to run when going down the road. I have read that some people run their genny and AC, others their fridge. Is it safe to run the genny and AC while moving and what does it do to the compressor in the unit to be jarred around while operating? Would like to run the fridge but is it safe to operate any LP appliance while the MH is running down the road? Thanks in advance for your help.

Tha_Rooster · 05-09-2013, 09:50 AM

You can run genny for fridge,AC or what ever going down the road or you can let fridge run on lp doesn't matter. AC will not have any problems unless you turn over.

wb7auk · 05-09-2013, 09:55 AM

Another way to say it is anything you can run while parked you can run going down
the road.

pumper9x9 · 05-09-2013, 09:58 AM

If you have a diesel rig you can probably get better fuel milage with the generator on running your AC than you can running the AC on the Engine. Also if your fridg is propane/electric it can run in the electric mode. However there are some negatives to running your fridg while running down the road. If you are in propane mode you have the chance of an ignition source in the event of an accident. Also propane refrigs like to be level when they run. When they run out of level the pipes will become clogged and reduce the effective life of your refigerator. If you start the days travel with a cold refrig and keep the door shut as much as possible you will find that everything stays cold.
Happy Trails

tnrvers · 05-09-2013, 10:10 AM

Welcome to the forum and our answer to you on both your questions is yes. If you need 110 volt power i.e. for the A/C, while driving, run the Genny. The very old refrigerators, heaters and water heaters had pilot lights that blew out while in motion, but the ones now days do not, so use them while driving.

You may and/or will get some replies that tell you not to for whatever reason, but look at your manuals and see what instructions are in them. If you don't have a manual, look on line for your make and model and download one. After you get all the info you can, do what you feel comfortable doing.

I see you have a 1999 Holiday Rambler, we have a 2000 Bounder so age of Gennys, Firdges, heaters are about the same vintage. When in motion, we run the Genny when it is warn for the A/Cs, the firdge switches over to LP gas as soon as we unplug and runs continuously and we turn the LP heaters on if the dash heat isn't enough to warm the coach.

Hope this helps and enjoy your travels with the comforts of your MH, after all isn't that why we buy these things?

Tom and Barb
2000 Bounder 39Z

Skip426 · 05-09-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissyanMe

We are newbies to all of this and have some questions about what to run when going down the road. I have read that some people run their genny and AC, others their fridge. Is it safe to run the genny and AC while moving and what does it do to the compressor in the unit to be jarred around while operating? Would like to run the fridge but is it safe to operate any LP appliance while the MH is running down the road? Thanks in advance for your help.

Unless you fridge has been changed out to residential 110v type , it does not have a compressor. Roof A/Cs do not seem to be bothered by operating in motion. RV fridge & furnace are ok, too.
DO NOT, operate the LP stove or cook top in motion .Hot water heater is questionable too, personally I wouldn't use it in motion.

docj · 05-09-2013, 10:32 AM

With air suspension MH's the ride going down the road isn't all that rough (unless you're on I-10 in Louisiana

). Our MH is wired with an inverter that enables almost everything in the coach (other than the A/C and microwave) to operate while we are traveling. We use it to run our residential fridge and anything else we need. As others have said, when it gets hot out we run the genny to power the A/C's.

Dutch Star David · 05-09-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

With air suspension MH's the ride going down the road isn't all that rough (unless you're on I-10 in Louisiana

). Our MH is wired with an inverter that enables almost everything in the coach (other than the A/C and microwave) to operate while we are traveling. We use it to run our residential fridge and anything else we need. As others have said, when it gets hot out we run the genny to power the A/C's.

Amen to the I-10 comment. I need to go back over that way one of these days and look for some of my gold fillings.

mel s · 05-09-2013, 11:00 AM

Whenever we are moving or camping we continually operate the refrigerator on LP, (sometimes 4 mo at a time)....(the motion while moving prevents "tube clogging").
While moving we occasionally use the furnace.
We always turn the water heater off, because it will often blow out and restart, or try to restart, over and over depending on which way the wind is blowing.
The LP genset is used if/when a roof air, or two, is needed.
We've been doing it that way for 13 years, (103k miles), with this coach.
Mel
'96 Safari

Stump Jumper · 05-09-2013, 11:09 AM

I agree with the others. We almost always travel with the generator running, TV on for the kids and roof A/C running. We typically travel with the fridge on LP because it seems to stay colder. Been doing it for years with no problems. That is one of the advantages of a motorhome!

MissyanMe · 05-09-2013, 11:52 AM

Thanks for all the info. This site is stocked full of knowledge, whenever I have a problem I usually find what I need to know in previous threads. Just wasn't sure about this though. Thanks again for the info.

TRAILERKING · 05-09-2013, 12:43 PM

The wife has even run the vacuum while I was running down the road.

She wanted to even throw a roast in the convection oven

but I talked her out of that one.

PyrateSilly · 05-09-2013, 02:43 PM

We have the inverter on and run things like the fridge and water pump along with the lights and some plugs. We try not to run the genny unless it's absolutely needed for AC as ours runs on diesel and off the same tank as the engine so our MPH goes down about half if we do that. So for the hottest part of the day if we are on the road we stop and eat at that time.
Once thing I will tell you is that if someone tells you that you cannot run the AC while going down the road and that you have to go down the road with the windows open for air they are very WRONG. You will probably have to have the genny on to run the AC but yes you can have the windows closed and the AC on.

mel s · 05-09-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PyrateSilly

We have the inverter on and run things like the fridge and water pump along with the lights and some plugs. We try not to run the genny unless it's absolutely needed for AC as ours runs on diesel and off the same tank as the engine so our MPH goes down about half if we do that. So for the hottest part of the day if we are on the road we stop and eat at that time.
Once thing I will tell you is that if someone tells you that you cannot run the AC while going down the road and that you have to go down the road with the windows open for air they are very WRONG. You will probably have to have the genny on to run the AC but yes you can have the windows closed and the AC on.

PyrateSilly

Why do you need 120VAC for your refrigerator, is it a residential unit?

My water pump uses 12VDC.
What kind of water pump do you have that needs inverter power?

I seldom turn my inverter ON.
I don't think that I have used my inverter to make 120VAC power from my batteries more than a total of 2-3 hours in 12 years, (103k miles).

Thanks in advance
Mel
'96 Safari