Food & Traveling

Allworth wrote:
I cannot believe that I am the only one on this forum who is NOT comfortable with the propane on while in motion. I turn it off at the tanks. Every time the trailer turns a wheel.

The chance of a propane accident is tiny, but why risk it if it is not absolutely necessary. I watched a TT burn in the median about 10 years ago (after rolling over) and while I know there have been improvements in valves and controls, I'm not risking it.

We usually travel one day and then sit and play tourist for one or two days before moving on. On travel days the critical cold stuff goes in an RTIC (think YETI)cooler with blue ice packs and stays there until initial cool down of the fridge is complete at the new location.

Your trailer; your choice! I don't see it as worth even a very small risk.

You are apparently willing to take a much bigger risk and drive to your destination. Your willingness drive vs. non use of propane is just plain nonsense.

RBPerry wrote:
Thanks for your responses, we misunderstood about refrigerator use while traveling, good news, and you all were a great help, this is a big learning process for us.
BB_TX, good idea to pre-cool.
I think husband has a little fear of propane, he has seen some propane fires.

You can't live your life in fear of what "might" happen, or you'll have no life at all.

brdprey wrote:
so it seems if you know your going that way thru a tunnel a block of dry ice and a minor stop before to shut it off is sufficient.
sweeeeeeeet.

It depends on the tunnel. Some tunnels don't permit propane at all (whether turned on or not) -- the Boston area tunnels are one example of ones where propane is entirely prohibited. In that case, you avoid the tunnel, and don't need to turn off the fridge or propane.

I can't imagine why a block of dry ice would be needed in any event. A freezer isn't going to defrost, nor a fridge greatly rise in temperature, in the time it takes to traverse a tunnel.

so it seems if you know your going that way thru a tunnel a block of dry ice and a minor stop before to shut it off is sufficient.
sweeeeeeeet.

For us one of the joys at the begining of a long trip is loading up with fresh Amish meats, enough for almost 2 months. DW portions & bags everything then into the freezer it goes.

We have a big fridge. Lots of room, even with the icemaker tray.

The concern while re fueling is kind of potentially a concern. The exact right conditions at a gas station "could" light off gasoline fumes from a fridge flame. Very low odds of that unless you spray gas at the side of the camper!
An open propane bottle while driving down the road is not.
There are lng powered vehicles everywhere. All gasoline cars are also extremely flammable in the wrong situation. As well, when a propane bottle starts running out gas unchecked, the check valve closes. So short of punching a hole in the cylinder or knocking the valve off the top they are as safe in use or not while traveling.

And for those that don't get out much, very few car crashes end up in fiery explosions like EVERY one you see on a tv show....

Allworth wrote:
Very few traffic crashes happen when you are set up in an RV park. Although I did see one in Louisiana one time!

If that is the concern then you should be worrying about the vehicle fuel tank and all that fuel.
Unlike the RV Propane system......vehicle fuel tank and system has very few safety features

But that is OK. Just was curious why you feared propane usage.

First I don't think I worry while asleep. We travel with the refer packed when we leave the driveway. We have lots of frozen meat to BBQ and some cooked like hamburger per cooked and frozen for what ever the wife or I decide is right for the next meal. The house refer is all but MT when we go as all goes in the RV refer. At home a day or three before travel we set the RV on the drive and load the last items at a slow pace, taking inventory of what staples will need to be added to those that just stay in the RV from previous outings. The refer is turned on from this time on set to auto. I think the odds of a propane problem are about the same as any accident, I fear the fuel on board more than the propane.

LEN

We never carry more than a few days of food with us. Most items that are made from scratch I will measure out and put into an appropriate sized ziplock bag then put all of them with the recipe card in a larger ziplock and store it away in the pantry. (dry ingredients only).

When camping we usually end up in the car every other day so on the way back to the camper we will stop at a farmers market, or store and get the needed items to make the next few days meals.

I enjoy doing canning at home so in the spring and fall we will have home made canned soups and stews.

Very few traffic crashes happen when you are set up in an RV park. Although I did see one in Louisiana one time!