Community Forums

Endeavor2BnC · 08-19-2012, 05:55 AM

This story from a fellow Excel owner reaffirmed our decision to NEVER travel with the gas on. His story went like this. They were traveling and hit a rough bump in the road. Something fell from the cabinet above the stove and hit the burner control. It turned it just enough to start the burner with the piezo starter. Now he's got something burning in his rig. As luck would have it, a very short distance down the road was a rest area and they stopped. He went into the rig and discovered the smoke, got a fire extinguisher and put out the fire and turned off the gas. Lesson for us: continue our practice of leaving the gas off when moving.

tomwalt · 08-19-2012, 06:21 AM

I whole heartedly agree – and it is so simple to do.
I think that the Refrig (freezer) is biggest reason folks leave the LP gas on . Not worth the risk to me.

nightriderrv · 08-19-2012, 06:24 AM

X3 Gas off

Dunner · 08-19-2012, 06:28 AM

Hey, hey, hey..., have I got some prime swamp land for you.

If his was anything like my 5er....

First, you have to push the knob in and turn at the same time to turn the gas on.
Second, have you ever turned the piezo knob to ignite the gas? Not something a falling object can do easily.
Third, the gas and piezo knobs are usually several inches to a foot or so apart.
Not something a falling object can do.

rockintom · 08-19-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endeavor2BnC

This story from a fellow Excel owner reaffirmed our decision to NEVER travel with the gas on. His story went like this. They were traveling and hit a rough bump in the road. Something fell from the cabinet above the stove and hit the burner control. It turned it just enough to start the burner with the piezo starter. Now he's got something burning in his rig. As luck would have it, a very short distance down the road was a rest area and they stopped. He went into the rig and discovered the smoke, got a fire extinguisher and put out the fire and turned off the gas. Lesson for us: continue our practice of leaving the gas off when moving.

That's quite a story, 99. Wonder what the chances are that something falling from the cabinet that would hit the gas control knob and the piezo knob (or button) too! I guess it exists, but the odds are about the same as me winning the lottery.

I may be more inclined to believe if the stove was one of the older Atwoods where one knob controls both the gas and electronic igniter (battery controlled).

Not meaning to shoot holes in your point of travelling with the propane on, as they are well taken and makes us think a little deeper. We've all heard (or experienced) some strange things.

I've heard the one of the lady put a piece of cardboard in her shower skylight on the inside (SOB with a clear window) to reduce the heat from the sun shining in. She taped it in. Left and came back to water running out of her rig from under the entry door. Apparently the cardboard/tape got hot and allowed the cardboard to fall and it hit one of the shower water control knobs which turned on the water, then fell to the floor where it covered the drain. Now that's just plain ol' bad luck!!!

rockin'

Dunner · 08-19-2012, 06:35 AM

Rock, I would believe that before the burner story or the guy siphoning sewage instead of gas.

Endeavor2BnC · 08-19-2012, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom

That's quite a story, 99. Wonder what the chances are that something falling from the cabinet that would hit the gas control knob and the piezo knob (or button) too! I guess it exists, but the odds are about the same as me winning the lottery.

I may be more inclined to believe if the stove was one of the older Atwoods where one knob controls both the gas and electronic igniter (battery controlled).

Not meaning to shoot holes in your point of travelling with the propane on, as they are well taken and makes us think a little deeper. We've all heard (or experienced) some strange things.

I've heard the one of the lady put a piece of cardboard in her shower skylight on the inside (SOB with a clear window) to reduce the heat from the sun shining in. She taped it in. Left and came back to water running out of her rig from under the entry door. Apparently the cardboard/tape got hot and allowed the cardboard to fall and it hit one of the shower water control knobs which turned on the water, then fell to the floor where it covered the drain. Now that's just plain ol' bad luck!!!

rockin'

Tom, it was the old Atwood where the one knob controlled them both. I have no reason to not believe this couple's story. I've known them many years and have not known them to be prone to telling "tales" before.

Even if it's one of the newer stoves with the separate dial for the starter. Imagine the gas knob getting hit and raw propane in the rig! Not a pretty site with one small spark from anything then.

Doesn't matter if the story is true or not, I'll continue to travel with the gas OFF!!!

Dunner · 08-19-2012, 06:46 AM

It's not that I didn't believe it was possible. Just that on my 5er it was near to impossible.

Endeavor2BnC · 08-19-2012, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

It's not that I didn't believe it was possible. Just that on my 5er it was near to impossible.

It's impossible on my Excel too. But the gas can still be turned on by accident, leaving you with a rig full of propane. Not what I want at anytime.

Triker56 · 08-19-2012, 07:22 AM

Impossible on my MH. AS there is no cabinets above the stove. Only the Microwave. And in all my cabinets I have installed those safety bars to keep everything inside them, if a door would happen to open.

So I will keep traveling with my LP on.

Dunner · 08-19-2012, 07:24 AM

Micro only for me too.

dajudge · 08-19-2012, 07:31 AM

I have been travelling for 40 years with the gas on for the fridge to stay cool and I am not about to start turning it off now. I know of a couple who died when a tree fell on their vehicle as they were driving down the road, so if that would apply, we would all stop driving in case a tree fell on us.

Ol-Forester · 08-19-2012, 07:34 AM

I leave my LP on to run the fridge/freezer. Hate to think that I have to empty those while traveling. Plan on having freezer full from fishing/bird hunting (I try to be optimistic).

I did hit a range knob while cleaning when I first go the coach. The LP alarm went off. That has made me very careful when I around the range.

Workshop · 08-19-2012, 07:58 AM

I have always traveled with the gas on for the refrig also and will continue to do so. It seems like an impossibe story...but any thing can happen I guess.

On the 2001 Excel I owned, it had an electronic lighter and would light the stove by turning the knob. But it had to be pressed in and turned. On my pressent Attwood Wedgewood, you have to press and turn then rotate a knob to light. Fire or just gas ???

On both the Excel and the Alpenlite, I have cabinets above the stove. Both are shallow and half the depth of the stove. For something to fall out and turn on the gas would be like 'Rockin' said....winning the Lottery.

This morning is the first time the DW has used the Wedgewood stove to make breakfast and not use to having to turn the gass and the 'spark' knob....when she said why isn't the stove lighting....got me out of the chair quickly while I was writting this post.