OK - here's a question for those of you who have been RV'ing a while (we are still newbies)When driving to your RV campground do you have your onboard fridge ON and powered by propane, or do you turn it off while driving?I have seen a recent blog post that said it might be dangerous to have it on - but wanted to hear what the rest of you think and doThanks for any replies you can giveChris

On. Probably 95% of the RVs on the road have their refer running.

We travel with the fridge on propane, have done this fo over forty years without any problems, just make sure the vents are free and we do try and keep the back of the fridge as clean as possible.

On. Usually on propane. If it's hot and need to run the roof AC then start then gen and run the fridge on the gen.

Propane fridge is on all the time, except when filling with gas ( gas fill just a few feet below diagonally) or when filling with propane. Also learned to have the propane function ready to go when parked in the driveway with food in fridge and on AC power. Had the home circuit breaker pop during the night one time while plugged in.

On for me, which generally means propane, unless there are restrictions that prohibit it (such as some tunnels and bridges have). I do try to remember to turn it off before refueling (and on again afterwards).While they are the cause of a not insignificant portion of RV fires, fridges are nowhere near as dangerous as some let on, not by a long shot. Engines, overheated brakes or tires, and electrical system failures also cause a good many RV fires, and people don't generally seem as afraid of driving, stopping, or plugging in.

Fridge On or Off? | Good Sam Community

pnichols
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2015
rockhillmanor wrote:
Yup. If you have the propane turned on for the fridge it's going to the stove also. And those knobs can be bumped on VERY easily.

What kind of stovetop knobs do some of you folks have, anyway?: The knobs on our stovetop (2005 Itasca RV) must be pushed in, and held in ... as they are then turned .... in order to cause propane to flow.

That seems very safe to me. It must be that older stovetop designs did not have this type of dual-action knobs on them. :h
tenbear
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Many years ago, when I had a TT, I tried running the refrig off an inverter. I found that the TT battery would be discharged to the point that the inverter stopped working in 3-4 hours. I never did try to install bigger wire between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

I just ran the fridge on propane and have been doing that ever since.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 01, 2015
Islandman wrote:
Guess I'm one of the minority who runs the fridge on DC when travelling, and then switch it to propane or AC when getting to the campsite. I always turn off the propane near the tank when we travel, don't have to worry about turning it off when fueling up or when on ferry travel.

Minority because most RV fridges now a days don't have DC heat element....just 120V AC or propane hence the use of propane while in transit
Islandman
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Guess I'm one of the minority who runs the fridge on DC when travelling, and then switch it to propane or AC when getting to the campsite. I always turn off the propane near the tank when we travel, don't have to worry about turning it off when fueling up or when on ferry travel.
hhornig
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
I run mine on propane, but turn it off when parked in a filling station or on a slope. The life of a propane fridge will be significantly shorten if run off-level when not moving.
tenbear
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
Dusty R wrote:
Several years ago, there was a story about an RV, 5th wheel I think, that pulled in to get gas. There was a guy changing the filter on one of the pumps. The furnace and/or refrigerator must have been on because when that RV pulled up there was an explosion and fire. The guy changing the filter died.

A good reason for turning the refrig off when stopping for gas. I have a wireless switch for turning the refrig off from the driver's/passenger's seat. The hard part is remembering to turn the refrig back on.:h

Edit: Here is a link to my post about the above wireless switch.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
Several years ago, there was a story about an RV, 5th wheel I think, that pulled in to get gas. There was a guy changing the filter on one of the pumps. The furnace and/or refrigerator must have been on because when that RV pulled up there was an explosion and fire. The guy changing the filter died.
John_Betty
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
KristinU wrote:
Another ON vote here.

and another ON vote
PghBob
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
Travel with fridge on except when getting gas.
fortytwo
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
On - for 50 years. No problems. Propane tanks have a safety valve that shuts if a gas line should break and allow full flow. Whether you travel on or off you have to monitor for small leaks.

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