Traveling with refrigerator on gas???
I've traveled with the refrigerator running on gas for years but recently heard it is against the law to do that. I was just wondering how many do it. Thanks,
Forum Discussion
old guy wrote:
rv experts like rv education 101 people or the rv DR advise against it. As a firefighter for many years I have fought many fires on the freeways and at gas station because of people who use the frig with gas on. You do what you want to but I hope we aren't next to each other at the gas station.
Retired FF myself, and yes I have too.
The worse was a minor rear end accident that somehow caused a gas line to break and ignite. Motorhome engulfed in flame by the time we arrived. No one hurt, but the fire ignited the trees on the steep hillside next to the road and 50 acres burned before controlled.
So it was an unusual sequence of events. Improbable could ever happen again. The recommended safe practices are not made for the normal situation. They are written to prevent an unusual malfunction turning into a bigger problem.
The owner manuals say to turn it off while traveling (at least mine does). Not because traveling with it on is inherently unsafe but because leaking propane could cause a minor accident to turn into a major disaster.
It is a lot like always wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts do not prevent vehicle accidents. You are equally likely to be involved in an accident whether you are wearing a seatbelt or not. Wearing one reduces the chance you will be killed in case an accident occurs. Since my crystal ball does not tell me if I will have an accident today, I wear one every time I am in a vehicle. Same for crossing safety chains on a hitch (is towing inherently unsafe? Do you plan on your hitch becoming unfastened) or carrying a first aid kit (Do you intend to cut yourself today?). Safe practices prevent an unexpected problem from getting worse.
Having said all that, I drive with one tank open and one tank closed most of the time. Sometimes both off if I feel the risk is greater than the benefit. I am cognizant of the risks and have a procedure established that enables me or DW to immediately shut the tanks down if needed.
