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RVing_Photograp's avatar
RVing_Photograp
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013

Can fridge run on propane while you are towing 1500 miles?

Is it OK to leave the Propane fridge on while towing at high speeds on flat land and throgh moutains? We have had a 2 previous TTs over the past 6 years and upgraded to a Fiver last year (will never go back to a TT). We always shut off the power and closed the propane tanks before traveling (rarely traveled over 300 miles so everything stayed cold for the short drives). We are moving to Oregon and I will be traveling from the NE part of South Dakota through ND, MT, into Yellowstone National Park for a few days, back up to MT, WA, and finally OR allsaid and done about 1800 miles and 7 days. Are than any risks, problems, laws, etc. if I leave it on traveling? Will it stay lit? Thanks for any advice.
Seeking Advice
  • FunnyCamper's avatar
    FunnyCamper
    Explorer II
    Sep 08, 2013
    just a note for you that some bridges/tunnels etc. may require you to shut off the propane. Like when we went over the Chesapeake Bay bridge it is required to stop at the hazardous area and they check your tanks to be off.

    other than that, we run it while driving sometimes.
  • woodworker40's avatar
    woodworker40
    Explorer
    Sep 08, 2013
    RVing Photographer wrote:
    Is it OK to leave the Propane fridge on while towing at high speeds on flat land and throgh moutains? We have had a 2 previous TTs over the past 6 years and upgraded to a Fiver last year (will never go back to a TT). We always shut off the power and closed the propane tanks before traveling (rarely traveled over 300 miles so everything stayed cold for the short drives). We are moving to Oregon and I will be traveling from the NE part of South Dakota through ND, MT, into Yellowstone National Park for a few days, back up to MT, WA, and finally OR allsaid and done about 1800 miles and 7 days. Are than any risks, problems, laws, etc. if I leave it on traveling? Will it stay lit? Thanks for any advice.


    We just got back home after a 14,345 mile trip to Alaska and back the Southern Rt. We always leave the propane on if you don't what do you do with the stuff in the frig.? Been RVing since 1969 and have never turned off the gas. Thats why it's there for on the road.
  • Larry_C's avatar
    Larry_C
    Explorer
    Sep 08, 2013
    DiskDoctr wrote:
    Depends. How long is it going to take to go that far? You could go with a dual tank setup with auto-changeover. It should last that long.


    We traveled 9700 miles this summer on less than a half tank of LP. This included cooking, water heater, and refrig....

    Have a good day.
  • DSteiner51's avatar
    DSteiner51
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2013
    wny_pat wrote:
    Just turn the fridge and tanks off when fueling at a gas station and when refueling the propane tanks. In fact, turn them off before you pull up to the pumps. It is a fire code requirement and while many claim it is not necessary, I retired from the petroleum transportation industry and don't want to be near those people who don't turn them off when fueling. It is just like smoking while pumping gas. They should be required to fly a big red warning flag warning others of what they are doing.


    The very reason I always drive truck first into a filling station. Gas fumes are heavier then air so stay low. My truck alternator fan draws the fumes thru the alternator which cools off the sparks and neutralizes the fumes so it is safer for my fridge as it is higher and farther away from my fueling point. :S:W
  • wintersun's avatar
    wintersun
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2013
    Some models will have problems with the air blowing out the flame and for those you will find posts where people have made a small baffle out of sheet metal and installed it. Otherwise you are not likely to have a problem.

    I check the fridge at each stop as I don't want to have it switch over to DC for any reason. A fridge can drain your batteries at a high rate if the propane source is shut off.
  • tatest's avatar
    tatest
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2013
    The fridge should continue to work so long as you have power to the controller. If you don't have a good charge line, energy in the batteries will be the limiting factor. I've not had my fridge flame blow out at 60 mph running into 20 mph winds.

    If a crash causes a rupture in the LPG lines, a flow limiting valve at the tank should shut it off.

    It is a good idea to shut off the fridge, and any other pilot light or spark ignition LPG appliances, at fuel stops, not because of problems with vapors, but because in these days of self service pumping, every so often somebody sprays fuel on all the vehicles around them.
  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    Just turn the fridge and tanks off when fueling at a gas station and when refueling the propane tanks. In fact, turn them off before you pull up to the pumps. It is a fire code requirement and while many claim it is not necessary, I retired from the petroleum transportation industry and don't want to be near those people who don't turn them off when fueling. It is just like smoking while pumping gas. They should be required to fly a big red warning flag warning others of what they are doing.
  • DiskDoctr's avatar
    DiskDoctr
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    Depends. How long is it going to take to go that far? You could go with a dual tank setup with auto-changeover. It should last that long.
  • milo's avatar
    milo
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2013
    RVing Photographer wrote:
    We have had a 2 previous TTs over the past 6 years and upgraded to a Fiver last year (will never go back to a TT).


    :h Exactly what does the above have to do with leaving the propane & fridge on while motoring down the Highway at high speeds?

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