Keeping Things Cold on the Road

jaycocreek wrote:
Running your frig while traveling is a personal choice,not a necessity!You don't have to run your frig just to be like the cool kids.I don't run mine in trailers or fifth wheels but have in motorhomes...My choice for my reasons.

It's just to easy to shut down the propane completely while traveling by using ice bottles in the refrigerator for long trips.With a pre-cooled refer your beer will be cold 8 hours later.

Have I heard of fires from running the frig,Yes, but it was all here say from snow birds..Have I seen RV,s burnt to the ground on the road,yes but reason unknown at the time.

So I choose not too,which is my choice and it presents no problems at all in keeping the cold items cold.I come from the ice box days of RV refrigerators and I never have to worry about being level fro long lunches or hunting/fishing adventures.

Thank you.
My post was in answer to the OP's question.
I refuse to stoop to the level of the poster who took me to task and therefore won't give him the satisfaction of a reply although I am very tempted to take a picture of the section under "General Safety Information" and send it to him

jack l

Running your frig while traveling is a personal choice,not a necessity!You don't have to run your frig just to be like the cool kids.I don't run mine in trailers or fifth wheels but have in motorhomes...My choice for my reasons.

It's just to easy to shut down the propane completely while traveling by using ice bottles in the refrigerator for long trips.With a pre-cooled refer your beer will be cold 8 hours later.

Have I heard of fires from running the frig,Yes, but it was all here say from snow birds..Have I seen RV,s burnt to the ground on the road,yes but reason unknown at the time.

So I choose not too,which is my choice and it presents no problems at all in keeping the cold items cold.I come from the ice box days of RV refrigerators and I never have to worry about being level fro long lunches or hunting/fishing adventures.

NoVa RT wrote:
I'm still pretty new to this, so I may be missing something, but why the preference for running the fridge on propane while traveling, rather than the batteries, which I have been mostly doing? Agree about hooking up to shore power before a trip to start out with a cold fridge, but I also saw some value to conserving propane, and didn't worry about running down the batteries since we'd hook up to shore power again when we stopped.

IF you have a 3 way fridge (110V AC heater, propane and 12DC heater) then that is what the 12V DC option is good for.....while in transit.
But he 12V DC is NOT a very good option for any other time......small wattage element that draws lots of DC power. They can maintain temps while traveling and battery draw is maintained by tow vehicle charge line/alternator.

BUT lots of fridges are not 3 way any more.....just 110V AC and propane.
So propane is the option for in transit.

Deleted after reading more carefully. Sorry.

JFI after reading what I thought was "WILD SPECULATION" and totally "INACCURATE" information by NanciL who said their manual did not recommend operating their refer during travel, I did a quick search thru my owner's manuals I have on my computer and those readily available online and while they might not be all inclusive or the most recent below is what I found:
_______________________
From the "OWNERS MANUAL" for
For N61X models: 6 cu.ft., 2-way, R.V. refrigerators
For N81X models: 8cu.ft.,2-way, R.V. refrigerators
Part No. 63221B (6-09)

On page 3:
Operations during travel:
While the refrigerator should be level when the vehicle is stopped, performance druing travel is not usually effected.
____________________
____________________
From the Dometic Operating Instructions for Absoreption Rerigerator for Recreations Vehicles "RMD8501, RMD8505, RMD 8551, RMD 8555.
T.B. MBA 04/2009
Type C40 / 110
822 6113 - 00

On page 8 under para 2.6 "Operating the refrigerator with gas" there is a warning which says:

Operating the appliance with gas is not permitted
-at petrol stations
-on ferry boats
-while transporting the caravan/motorhome by a transporter or breakdown vehicle.
There is danger of fire!
Leave the equipment switched off.

On page 16 under para 4.3.2 "Gas operation (Liquid gas) there is a bullet which says

In Europe, gas operation is permitted while travelling only on the condition that the gas system of the vehicle is equipped with a hose rupture protection. The national regulations of the respective country mus be observed.

Additionally in the Dometic instructions there are several warnings that if you have the refer in Auto and on 12V operation you need to be careful if you stop for refueling since the refer will automatically switch to gas mode after 15min of stopping the vehicle (i.e. it is supplying the 12V power) and you should prevent that from happening since they do recommend not running it on gas during refueling.
___________________________________

Nowhere in either sets of instruction manuals do either Norcold or Dometic even hint as any problem running their refers while the vehicle is in motion and definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND TURNING IT OFF DURING NORMAL TRAVEL.

Now if NanciL comes back and provides proof of their claim that their manual does recommend not operating their refer during travel then I will stand corrected, but I want to be able to independently verify this information and not simply "TRUST ONE'S WORD". Unless this happens I will add that it is quite frankly beyond me why what should be more experienced and seasoned RVers would make such Controversial Factless and False statements that are IMHO a "HUGE DISSERVICE" to the more uniformed members here that might just believe what is said is actually true. I have no problem with one's personal preferences of whether to operate their refer when the vehicle is in motion, but to somehow add some third party and supposedly more authoritative support such as from a manufacturer in this case to further support that personal preference is where I have the issue.

Larry

I also run mine while on the road. I do however turn it off. When, and IF the fridge stops beside a fuel pump when I stop for gas. If it stops out from under the cover, and the fridge is 25 feet or so from a pump. I leave it on

As far as I know, the propane detector will just scream if it smells propane. We run ours on propane while traveling. One tip not mentioned is to plug into shore power a few days ahead and let the fridge cool down by shore power. I like to let mine cool down a full day before storing any food in it. We usually shop and deliver those items directly to the RV, but I would never put cold goods directly from the store into a fridge that isn't already cooled down sufficiently. Also, I've found the the freezer stays frozen better when full as opposed to empty. These units work differently than household units. There's no fans to circulate the cold air, for one.

mosseater wrote:
As stated, bleed the air by lighting the stove first to make sure you have gas to the closest point to the frig. Make sure it lights, don't just hit the button and walk away.

Good advice here! Earlier this year I assumed that since my fridg was set on auto, it was good to go. 8 hours later, after driving across Oklahoma in 100 degree temps, I discovered thawed meat and lukewarm milk. I now make sure it makes the switch from AC to gas before I drive off.

NanciL wrote:
We won't run our refrig. on gas while traveling.
I don't care what others say.
My manual advises not to and I'll go with that
Jack L

Well that statement ran my B.S. Flag FULL STAFF. What make and model of refer and what is the manual nr. on the document you are referring to. Also, the page nr. would help, but I won't be holding my breath since I seriously doubt that recommendation is in any refer manual.

Larry

As stated, bleed the air by lighting the stove first to make sure you have gas to the closest point to the frig. Make sure it lights, don't just hit the button and walk away. If you do and it doesn't light, the control will lock out on flame failure and you'll have to reset it, usually by turning the "propane" button off and then back on. It's a very quiet burner, but you can usually hear it running if you listen carefully. I believe the indicator on the frig button lights also when it isn't operating, or maybe it blinks. I always check mine after I unplug for a trip but before we pull out.

Also, remember to shut if off if your trailer is parked off level drastically for a longer period of time.