Do you drive with your propane on?

Well, I wasn't going to add my two cents worth but changed my mind. :B

So many people get all dialed up about propane exploding and burning the place down and killing everything in a 2 mile radius etc etc etc ad nauseum......

I once had a very catastrophic steel belted radial tire failure. Completely destroyed my TT by the time I noticed I lost a tire on a single axel trailer. 69 Prowler.

Steel belt tore through everything in its path. Wiped out the floor, shower, kitchen cabinets, fridge, water lines, propane lines, shore power, electrical and....
oh wait! Did he say propane lines?

Yeah, fully charged propane lines. The one feeding the fridge and HWT

When I noticed the tire had come apart, I had smoke billowing out back, sparks flying, debris scattering, and so on. Looked like a scene from a movie.

Pulled over to the side of the road. Got out to inspect, got down in the wheel well, or what was left of it. The entire inner wheel well galvanized lining was ripped open like an old style sardine can and crumpled into a pile at one end and dragging on the ground, sending a shower of sparks back directly onto the now fragmented, torn open propane line.

Contrary to popular belief, my TT didn't go off like a bomb, nothing exploded, nothing caught fire.... ( that was a small miracle) but the damage was so extensive that the trailer was a total write off. I sold it for parts.

Even back in 69 they had a very simple built in safety feature that if your gas line gets ruptured, the sudden change in flow pressure simply shuts off the gas flow before anything serious can take place.

Could it have blown up? Yeah probably, but it didn't.

I think the chance of a propane explosion or fire issue is next to nothing. Unless you leave a burner going and it takes a spark from somewhere. But that will happen regardless of whether you're driving or parked somewhere.

I always have and always will run with the gas on and the fridge running...

Reality Check wrote:
bb_94401..... what a fantastic post.

The best and worst parts of forums; digging through all the information and trying to figure out what blowhards are spouting vs facts from those knowledgeable in their subject.

Oh, and little life lessons in common sense wisdom. Lot's of that.

Priorities.. again, a well articulated post with levity and reality slid in. Thanks.

Very much agree with all points made by bb_94401. Thanks for the actual data which can be a rare thing on forums such as this.

Yes, I drive with it on. I once ran the furnace while on the road, so the rig was warm when I stopped for the night.

Steve_in_29 wrote:
Based on the replies to this thread, it appears that RV owners as a whole are mostly a bunch of adrenaline junkies that like to live life on the ragged edge.

Yep, that's how most people would describe RV owners. :)

Based on the replies to this thread, it appears that RV owners as a whole are mostly a bunch of adrenaline junkies that like to live life on the ragged edge.

bfast54 wrote:
Yep I have RV almost my entire life !!!!!


Firefighter for almost 30 years --never ---never ever ---went to a fire caused by leaving the propane on

never once!!!!

X2 always with propane on.

bb_94401..... what a fantastic post.

The best and worst parts of forums; digging through all the information and trying to figure out what blowhards are spouting vs facts from those knowledgeable in their subject.

Oh, and little life lessons in common sense wisdom. Lot's of that.

Priorities.. again, a well articulated post with levity and reality slid in. Thanks.

I made it up long time ago that statistics can prove whoever you want them to prove.
My maternal grandmother lived till 101. My paternal great aunt die just short of 100. My father is 91 in good health and is shooting for 100.
Does that mean I drive without seat belts because I have guarantee for long life?
Than I can use the way of argumentation used in this topic.
Since in 40 years of driving seat belts never helped me, that MUST mean they are not necessary.
Shall I cut them off ?

I retired at 48 because I planned way ahead I'm 53 now...no debts, own my home, vehicles and toys....so I wouldn't consider myself ignorant(which by definition means not knowing), I know what I'm doing and I don't think having my propane on while traveling is any greater risk than driving down the road in the first place. The valves in your appliances shut off if for some reason the burners get extinguished, and a propane tank is way safer than the tank under your truck with 35 gallons of fuel....it's not me who I worry about, I learned long ago that worrying about everything is no fun at all....let your hair down and enjoy what life you have left is what I say....and thank you for that last post bb 94401 , very informative information.

Great post bb_94401. I will accept it as true.

Wayne