New to RVing question.

GULFer · 06-14-2010, 06:19 AM

I've heard that you should shut off (LP) refrigerator when traveling. Would like to know if this is true... Thanks

lyledavid · 06-14-2010, 06:23 AM

Gulfer, The only time I turn off the refer is when I stop for fuel. For obvious reasons. There are some states that require you to turn off ALL propane appliances before entering a tunnel.
lyledavid

TandW · 06-14-2010, 07:01 AM

My reefer is powered by a dedicated 500 watt inverter when not on pedestal power. The inverter is in the outside access to the reefer power supply center. It is hard wired to the reefer 12 volt supply. This eliminates the worry of on-road flame outs due to crosswinds, downdrafts,or high sustained winds. Good luck!!

GULFer · 06-14-2010, 08:45 AM

Thanks for the reply.....GULFer

GaryKD · 06-14-2010, 11:28 AM

Hi GULFer,
Welcome to iRV2. My propane is turned off only when required by law or for repairs. The fridge runs on propane as we travel down the road.

Stump Jumper · 06-14-2010, 02:14 PM

GULFer,

I think that you will find that most people do run the propane to the fridge when travelling. As someone above stated, make sure that you turn it off when required before entering some tunnels and when refueling.

GULFer · 06-14-2010, 02:43 PM

Thanks for the quick responses.... Lots to learn and the forum is such a great place for sharing of information and experiences. Looking forward to RVing... GULFer

dmason · 06-15-2010, 06:27 AM

Most run with the propane on, but I don't. I use electric. At most large rallies there will be a seminar on fire safety. Last one I attended "Mac The Fire Guy" (real name) recommends against traveling with the propane on. As he put it just another problem not to worry about if it's turned off. Either way you chose travel safe and enjoy.

chasfm11 · 06-15-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmason

Most run with the propane on, but I don't. I use electric. At most large rallies there will be a seminar on fire safety. Last one I attended "Mac The Fire Guy" (real name) recommends against traveling with the propane on. As he put it just another problem not to worry about if it's turned off. Either way you chose travel safe and enjoy.

Some of us have propane generators and run them enroute. For that, the propane valve on the tank needs to be on anyway. I do understand that, in an accident, the potential for a ruptured propane line is there and could add to the severity of that accident.

In truth, some (many?) MHs are not built well enough to afford the occupants much protection in the case of a major collision. I have zero expectation that I'll survive any frontal crash since, as the driver, I'm sandwiched between a very thin fiberglass shell of a front end and the front part of the slide behind me. My personal assessment of the risks in driving the MH is that a propane rupture is pretty far down in the order. We all have to make our decisions and take our chances, I guess.

geeksrus · 06-15-2010, 07:56 AM

I always turn off the propane tanks when traveling. IMHO: the fridge is sealed well enough that we don't have a problem with any of the food on travel days.

Eh!

MaverickBBD · 06-15-2010, 08:51 AM

Welcome to iRV2. This is a great place for information but remember you have to make your own decisions based on part from what you get here. You ask should you turn your propane off? The answer is yes. But we probably should do a lot of things ie drive under the posted speed limit, etc. Most (myself included) run with propane turned on except when specifically told not to, bridges, tunnels, etc.

owl · 06-15-2010, 09:37 AM

We ALWAYS turn the LP off during travel. We did the same when we were pulling a trailer. We now have a 23' Winnebago.

Our reason for doing so was based on long time travelers in our family - a friend of theirs who was pulling a trailer...pulled into a camp and was talking to others before setting up, etc. During their conversation, the door of the trailer blew off from built up propane. They had developed a gas leak and apparently during travel, there was enough circulation to keep the gas from building up. But once they stopped, it did build up and something sparked it.

We always hook the fridge up a day or two before travel, so it's cold when the food goes in. The food will be fine during the day - and especially if you're careful about the amount of time the fridge is open during rest stops, etc.

Have fun with the new RV!
:-)

Lela/owl

ps - Be very careful when you open that fridge door after you've been on the road. Bumps in the road can cause things to jump around and it's possible that a door shelf will come off its brackets....and you'll find pickles all over the floor.

JimM68 · 06-15-2010, 11:44 AM

We travel with the fridge running on propane always.
Every 30 minutes or so, we have our 12 y o run back there and see if the check light is on, and shut off and restart the fridge if it is. Winds on the road blow our fridge out a lot.

I'd like to hear more from the guy who runs his fridge on a 500 watt inverter?
My understanding is the AC heaters in a dometic fridge are a thousand watts each... how you run 2000 wats off a 500 watt inverter? If that's all they draw, they wouldn't bother putting a burner in them...

Quote:

Originally Posted by owl

They had developed a gas leak and apparently during travel, there was enough circulation to keep the gas from building up. But once they stopped, it did build up and something sparked it.

My 99, and every other reasonably modern RV on the road has a propane detector wired into an electric valve right on the tank. detector off, no propane. leak detected, propane is shut off.