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08-22-2021, 04:27 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: AZ
Posts: 112
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Running propane fridge during travel & sleep
We'll be driving for 3 1/2 days straight before stopping anywhere with hookups. (Plan to sleep at truck stops along the way.)
For our dual fuel fridge, we were thinking of running it off the propane during the drive and while sleeping (for 3 1/2 days). Is this reasonable?
If it is too hot, at night, we may run the generator for the A/C. If so, we can switch the fridge to the electric.
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2003 Coachman Aurora, acquired in 2021
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08-22-2021, 04:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,852
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There is no reason not to do that. It is how most of them are used.
Mine is on propane 90% of the time and the only time the fridge is turned off is when it is in storage over winter. I do not switch back and forth while on generator, I will forgot to switch it back to propane and it will kill my batteries.
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Boondockers
2014 Volvo 630 Tandem 2016 Chevy 3500 DRW, crew cab
2016 Fuzion 325T, 675ah AGM, MSH 3012 inverter, 1400w Solar
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08-22-2021, 04:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,762
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The "use propane while driving" discussion is akin to the "gas vs diesel" threads; everyone has a different opinion. Personally, using the propane on the fridge is what it was designed for. We always travel with the fridge on propane.
Actually, if your fridge has an Auto/Gas setting, just leave it on auto. It should switch to electric when you have hookups or when you run the generator.
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Burns & Diane
2005 Winnebago Aspect 26A/2012 Subaru Impreza toad
Illinois! - Where the politicians make the license plates......
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08-22-2021, 05:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,852
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Quote:
Originally Posted by baraff
Actually, if your fridge has an Auto/Gas setting, just leave it on auto. It should switch to electric when you have hookups or when you run the generator.
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Assuming it is not wired into a circuit with an inverter on it.
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Boondockers
2014 Volvo 630 Tandem 2016 Chevy 3500 DRW, crew cab
2016 Fuzion 325T, 675ah AGM, MSH 3012 inverter, 1400w Solar
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08-22-2021, 05:29 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Meshoppen, PA
Posts: 2,008
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We did it with a TT back in the 70's with my dad.. I do the same..
I do get nervous when I am refueling ... I have shut it off now and then..
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08-22-2021, 07:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,899
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Quote:
Originally Posted by baraff
The "use propane while driving" discussion is akin to the "gas vs diesel" threads; everyone has a different opinion. Personally, using the propane on the fridge is what it was designed for. We always travel with the fridge on propane.
Actually, if your fridge has an Auto/Gas setting, just leave it on auto. It should switch to electric when you have hookups or when you run the generator.
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__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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08-22-2021, 08:19 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,948
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The fridges were designed to run on propane, so run it while driving and sleeping. Been running with propane on since 1984 and I have not blown up anything yet.
Be sure you have a functioning propane and CO detector. Shut off the fridge at the control panel when fueling.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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08-23-2021, 07:44 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: So Calif
Posts: 3,533
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Nothing to worry about. We have been doing this for years. The Dometic and Suburban reefers were designed for that.
We have ours set for automatic so when there is 120vac available, it switches automatically. Saves some propane for other things.
Some folks will say traveling with it on will cause the rig to catch fire and burn to the ground. It might if there is a problem with the refrigerant system and it gets too hot, or a line breaks.....But there are protective devices installed to shut it off.
Another point is if there is cold food and frozen stuff in the freezer. it will stay around 40 degrees for a few hours, depending on the outside temps. We don't worry about running it.....better than food poisoning due to the reefer started to thaw out and inside temps reached 50-60 degrees for a period of time.
My opinion....others will vary.
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2020 Coachmen Leprechaun 270QB (COA Member)
Jeep Wrangler toad for the dirt
"Well done is better than well said"....Ben Franklin
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08-23-2021, 09:39 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 205
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i always ran down the road on propane.i actually think it worked its best on the road as the wind over the vents helped suck the excess heat out.
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08-23-2021, 09:50 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 879
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One thing to keep an eye out for is that sometimes the propane flame can get blown out while driving because of the wind currents and then fail to re-light. I suggest to check the fridge at every stop and if that happens, it is easy to reset the fridge (many just turn off and back on) while stopped and it will re-light.
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08-23-2021, 09:55 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,818
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Dometic and Norcold both have flame safety features
LP System has Excess Flow safety features
Fridge/water heater/furnace all have built in safety features so all can be used stationary or while traveling
Stove top/ovens....they are the real unsafe appliances as they are MANUALLY operated by humans
Check that the stove top burner knobs are OFF and your LP Detector WORKS
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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08-25-2021, 10:35 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: AZ
Posts: 112
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Been thinking about this.
If the fridge is set on auto, will it choose to run off the batteries will driving since the batteries are being charged as we travel?
If we run it off the propane while traveling and have to fill the gasoline tank, does shutting off the fridge (as opposed to turning off the propane tank at the tank) provide that level of safety? --the location of our gas fill up is directly above our propane tank.
__________________
2003 Coachman Aurora, acquired in 2021
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08-25-2021, 10:39 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Pierce County, WA
Posts: 474
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Time2roll
Been thinking about this.
If the fridge is set on auto, will it choose to run off the batteries will driving since the batteries are being charged as we travel?
If we run it off the propane while traveling and have to fill the gasoline tank, does shutting off the fridge (as opposed to turning off the propane tank at the tank) provide that level of safety? --the location of our gas fill up is directly above our propane tank.
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The reason for shutting off the fridge is to prevent it from running on propane (flame) or attempting to start (spark). Shutting off the propane at the tank does not prevent the fridge from trying to start a flame. Flame and spark are the issues, not propane.
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2022 Springdale 202QBWE
2014 RAM 1500 5.7L
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08-25-2021, 10:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: AZ
Posts: 112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBike
The reason for shutting off the fridge is to prevent it from running on propane (flame) or attempting to start (spark). Shutting off the propane at the tank does not prevent the fridge from trying to start a flame. Flame and spark are the issues, not propane.
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Thank you for that. So we can just turn off the fridge when we stop to refuel. 
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2003 Coachman Aurora, acquired in 2021
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