Running fridge while driving

On our 2015 Newfoundland trip the propane was shut off at boarding the ferry in North Sydney NS. Turned on again at Port aux Basques NFLD. I marked down the temp at shutdown and after turning the gas and fridge back on after the ferry trip. The temp only rose enough to see the difference on the thermometer kept in the fridge...less than 1/2 degree...and nothing softened in the freezer.

That was the short ferry trip, only 5.5-6 hours. The longer ferry trip to Argentia on the Avalon penninsula (further east) takes 18 hours, so, even though the bowels of the ferry are not really warm, your fridge and freezer contents might suffer.

Some frozen jugs of water in both boxes might help. Better yet some dry ice from a welding gas supply house in a cardboard box would certainly keep things cold.

SpeakEasy wrote:
(edited to shorten it)...

It all depends on whether your fridge is a 2-way (runs on propane or A/C) or 3-way (runs on propane or A/C or 12v). The OP said 3-way and specifically indicated running it on 12v. If run this way (the 12v battery supplies the energy used for cooling) it will run your 12v battery down quickly.

-Speak

Ahhh... thank you!

We don't tow with the frig running. I turn on the frig at home a couple days before leaving to cool it down and load it up. Usually we'll also have a frozen casserole or two in it. If the campground is within a few hours drive, the frig is still cold when we arrive, and the casserole(s) are still frozen.

We do have a couple tunnels and bridges along the East coast that require propane appliances to be turned off - well, more exactly, the propane tanks have to be shut off. Been awhile since we've gone up and down the coast, so don't remember which ones require this. It was not a big deal when we went, at one toll booth the attendant asked if our propane was off (it was). If it wasn't, we'd just have had to jump out and shut it off.

Also, technically, the frig running on propane should be shutoff when refueling. I don't know if everyone does this, and don't know how if modern frigs require this.

When I unplug from shore power and hit the road, my frig automatically switched to propane. If the propane is not working the "Gas" indicator lamp flashes to let me know.

The electronics are powered by the battery which charges when I drive. When I plug back into shore power it automatically switches back to electric mode.

On my PUP I had to make the change from gas to 12 volt or 120 volt manually.

rockhillmanor wrote:
Back at my old stick and bricks. The big huge truck that backed into my driveway to fill my propane tank RUNS on propane!

So not only is he carrying a huge bomb of propane his truck runs off of propane while he is running down the road!

So no I don't think driving my MH with a tiny propane tank on board in the on position is going to trump that!:C

Have you been trained in the proper handling and emergency procedures? They have. I bet the main tank is shut off when driving.

Back at my old stick and bricks. The big huge truck that backed into my driveway to fill my propane tank RUNS on propane!

So not only is he carrying a huge bomb of propane his truck runs off of propane while he is running down the road!

So no I don't think driving my MH with a tiny propane tank on board in the on position is going to trump that!:C

we use the propane fridge constantly on the road as do almost all of us.

we had to shut ours off for ferry trips a couple of times, we don't see many tunnels! in fact just one, in the middle of montreal.

a really long ferry ride could be an issue like to newfoundland, but the hour long trip to prince Edward island didn't even require shutting off propane, which in reality, really should

swimmer_spe wrote:
OP here.

I thought it was illegal to use any propane appliance while the trailer is in tow.

I was planning on just 12v, no propane on.

Technically your correct, and those nay sayers are the same ones who tear the tags from their mattresses.

I run my fridge on propane while traveling or parked without shore power.
I use 120v while plugged in.
Never heard of any laws against operating on propane unless going thru some tunnels. Tunnels that go down hill(like under a river) may have restrictions to stop and make sure propane is turned off. Tunnels that rise slightly(through a mountain) have no restrictions.

With the exception of a few bridges or tunnels you can run propane while in motion with no issues. Thousands of RVs are doing this right now on the road. Some people shut off for refueling but I think most do not including myself.

12v cooling will give poor performance in most conditions. Best to avoid except for last resort. Good chance 12v draw will exceed what comes through from the tow vehicle. Yes it may keep you cool for 3 to 8 hours on the road if you start with a full battery and your connection is solid. Initial cooling will be slowest on 12 volt.

Hannibal wrote:
I start mine plugged into shore power on propane a couple of days before we load up. Then battery/propane on the road and shore power/propane at the campground. I've never seen one that runs on 12vdc alone.

The older RV fridge's all had that option of 3-way. You won't see many 3way fridges anymore for just that reason of how the batteries won't last very long and/or efficiency.

Fridge also does need 12v for thermostat so it still needs an operating battery on board. If battery runs low or fluctuates the thermostat won't work. I.E. Fridge will come on but when it hits the desired temperature and shuts off it will not come back on.