We are planning our first epic road trip with our, new to us, travel trailer. We will be driving 2 + days to get to our destination. MO to Calif. Plan to stop road side to sleep during the two travel days. My question is ; do you tow with the propane on to keep the refrigerator on? When going short distances, we turn on the fridge and get it cooled down load food and then the day of travel. turn if off. But we are only going a few hours away. When we arrive and hook up and turn fridge back on, things are still cold. BUt this trip is not like that. And it will be july so the weather will be very warm to hot.. Been told different things by different people / dealers. Want to hear from those of you on the road and what you do.. Thanks in advance. All advice is greatly appreciated.

I've most always run mine on propane. If you have a gas tow vehicle and the fridge is on the gas filler side, it's a good idea to extinguish the burner when fueling up. For safety reasons.Some tunnels prohibit open flames when passing through bit the signage will tell you that before you enter the tunnel, so stop and turn the fridge off.Conversely, only run the fridge when you camp and turn it off when travelling. The fridge will maintain it's cold all day so long as you don't open the door.

sylvesterfam wrote:My question is ; do you tow with the propane on to keep the refrigerator on? Yes, always ... only would turn it off if directed beforehand to do so when we might be entering a tunnel or bridge, etc, otherwise it runs 24/7. Some would insist on turning it off before refueling and although I have the good intention to do so I almost always forget and quite frankly have never had any concern.

If you search the forum you'll find dozens - if not hundreds - of threads on this topic. A non-scientific estimate is that more than 75% of those of us with RV absorption refrigerators keep them on at all times. They are not as well insulated as a residential frig and "loose their cool" more rapidly. Our truck is a diesel and the frig on the fifth wheel is more than 15 feet back from the fuel pump when I stop, so I don't even turn the frig off then.Rob

Refrigerator on while towing? | Good Sam Community

HoodCanalNorth
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018
On
VoodooMedicineM
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018
Always on unless fueling
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Feb 24, 2018
I've most always run mine on propane. If you have a gas tow vehicle and the fridge is on the gas filler side, it's a good idea to extinguish the burner when fueling up. For safety reasons.

Some tunnels prohibit open flames when passing through bit the signage will tell you that before you enter the tunnel, so stop and turn the fridge off.

Conversely, only run the fridge when you camp and turn it off when travelling. The fridge will maintain it's cold all day so long as you don't open the door.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018
sylvesterfam wrote:
My question is ; do you tow with the propane on to keep the refrigerator on?

Yes, always ... only would turn it off if directed beforehand to do so when we might be entering a tunnel or bridge, etc, otherwise it runs 24/7. Some would insist on turning it off before refueling and although I have the good intention to do so I almost always forget and quite frankly have never had any concern.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2018
If you search the forum you'll find dozens - if not hundreds - of threads on this topic. A non-scientific estimate is that more than 75% of those of us with RV absorption refrigerators keep them on at all times. They are not as well insulated as a residential frig and "loose their cool" more rapidly. Our truck is a diesel and the frig on the fifth wheel is more than 15 feet back from the fuel pump when I stop, so I don't even turn the frig off then.

Rob
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2018
Deleted - forum double-posted same message.
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2018
Illegal? also refer 2017
Propane on while driving Feb 2016
Propane when driving-refer blow up? Oct 2015

Fridge on at gas stations May 2015
Fridge while driving Apr 2015
Fridge while driving Oct 2014

Fridge on, gas on, fires june 2011
Fridge while driving August 2010

Fridge on fueling shootout 2011
Fridge on driving July 2011
Appliances/fridge on 2011
RVIA response to gas on query
LP on when travel 5th wheel 2007
Gas on refer driving Class a 2010
Fridge on fueling 2009
Fridge on while driving 2007
bfast54
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018
Well there's two schools of thought to this.
Number one is I've been an RV er for over 40 years I always run with my refrigerator on never had a problem point two is that I was a firefighter for over 30 years, I nor anyone else in my department or departments have ever responded to a travel trailer or motorhome or any type of fire just because the propane was on in the refrigerator was running. They were made to be run

The other school of thought is that if you leave your refrigerator on while you're driving down the road everyone is going to die horribly.........And civilization as we know it will come to an end!!!!!!!

You choose which to believe:W
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018
If you do an internet search you're going to find out that there is only one incidents where there was a propane related fire at a gas pump. And that occurred only because the person filling their gas tank ended up splashing the side of their camper with the gasoline and its play and it sprayed directly into the refrigerator compartment and that's what caused the fire.

We Run with ours on all the time.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 24, 2018
RV Propane System are designed with safety features to allow full function use while stationary and IN TRANSIT.

Just remember........RV needs to be level when stationary and fridge running (electric or propane) in order to prevent overheating issues which will damage fridge cooling unit

Level.........reasonably level/comfortable enough to walk/sleep without feeling like you are tilted.
If titled ....turn fridge off during those times

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Refrigerator on while towing?

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