We just bought our new TT. I found out the fridge in the TT does not run on 12V. It only runs when plugged into shore or run off propane. The manual says to precool the fridge before heading out for a trip. My question is how to keep the fridge cool while enroute to the destination if it's a long day of drive. I don't think it'll be a good idea to run the fridge off propane while driving. That just does not seem safe. What about installing an inverter and somehow connect it to the fridge? Thoughts?

EnzoColorado wrote:I don't think it'll be a good idea to run the fridge off propane while driving. That just does not seem safe.Pretty well all of us do. ;)

We've been running propane while on the road since 2007. (First propane/110VAC fridge)Just shut it off during refuelings and, so I've heard, passing through tunnels that require you to have it off.My brother had a problem keeping the flame lit in his on the road - he added a small baffle between the firebox and the outside vent - it cured the issue.A 12V fridge pulls 9-12 amps, so the line between your tow vehicle & fridge would need to be adequately sized, including compensating for distance and connector resistances.I've always enjoyed the freedom of running propane on the road.

We have used propane frigs while traveling for over 35 years. Never had an issue.

We never run our frig when traveling and once everything is frozen and cold, it stays cold for 6-8 hrs as long as the doors are not opened much. When we stop for lunch like in a rest area, we will run the frig on propane for the half hour or so that we are there. We have never seen the temp in the frig go above 36-38 degrees even after a few hours. I would turn the frig on 48 hr before leaving - after 24 I'd load already frozen into the freezer and already cold into the frig. Everything should then be set for travel the next day. I wouldn't go more that 6 hrs without running the frig in some manner for awhile though. Not sure how much longer it will go before warming too much. Do not try to store ice cream when traveling. We are full-time, so the only time the frig is off is when traveling, or defrosting it.

Propane on while driving Feb 2016Propane when driving-refer blow up? Oct 2015Fridge on at gas stations May 2015Fridge while driving Apr 2015Fridge while driving Oct 2014Fridge on, gas on, fires june 2011Fridge while driving August 2010Fridge on fueling shootout 2011Fridge on driving July 2011Appliances/fridge on 2011RVIA response to gas on query

2-way fridge question | Good Sam Community

Chum_lee
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
The engineers at manufacturers like Dometic and Norcold would have to be more out of their mind than the emission control engineers at VW/Audi if it was unsafe to run a gas/electric refrigerator on propane while moving and not put at least some precautionary warning clause in the owners manual. There is none I've ever seen. (which, IMO few owners would read anyway)

Chum lee
Terryallan
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2016
Just to be clear. Even when on propane your fridge needs electricity. But only to run the mother board. It will need either battery, or shore power. but it will need juice. If on battery. the fridge will also die when the battery does.
EnzoColorado
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2016
Okay so running the propane while driving is okay. Got it. Thank you!
Dusty_R
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
In our last 2 mh I've added a switch near the drivers seat to turn off the power/LP to the refrigerator when we pull into a gas station.
My biggest problem with that has been to remember to turn it back on after we have pulled away from the gas pumps.

Dusty
LarryJM
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2016
dalehelman wrote:
We have used propane frigs while traveling for over 35 years. Never had an issue.

Same here, but for almost 10 years more than you ... now approaching 1/2 of a century :E of propane use while on the road :B

Larry
bikendan
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
majority of RVers run the fridge on propane, while traveling.

only a handful of tunnels in the East, don't allow this practice.

we've been doing it for at least 10 years with no issues.

but we always pre-cool the fridge the day before, on electric. then we switch it to propane for the trip. since we mainly dry camp, we're always using the propane side.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 23, 2016
Will you use that fridge on propane and SLEEP in rig at same time?

There are more safety features & designed control functions in that propane system in your trailer then in the fuel system in your vehicle.

Propane system in your trailer is only 0.4 psi, has shut-off devices in the appliances (flame proofing/lock out failure), excess flow devices etc. PLUS the LP Detector Alarm.

Operating while in transit is part of what 'self-contained' is about.
And it is safe to do so.

If not I wouldn't use it while stationary and sleeping!!!!!
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 23, 2016
Use the fridge on propane while travelling as that is how it works by design.
BTW fridge does require 12v power for the control circuits.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
Generally only pop ups, truck campers, and a few small travel trailers have three way refrigerators. They are very small refrigerators.

Your two way will operate fine on LPG while traveling.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 22, 2016
This is normal.. In the old days they made 3-way Fridges, Gas (propane) 120vac and 12vac, but the fridge draws about 350 watts on A/C. bit less on DC, but that is around 30 amps on DC.. A Grup 24 battery is good for perhaps 1 hr at that load. If that.

So they dropped the 12 volt option some years back... To pre-cool, and charge your batteries plug in for a day before traveling.