Leave propane on while driving?

[Skyfarmer]

Our normal practice has been to leave our propane on while driving to keep the refrigerator cold and hot water hot, but I know that can be risky. What do you recommend? Thanks, Lee

[Mike134]

MDKMDK wrote:
Not a good idea, particularly when refueling. I wouldn't do it, but many do, and that's why I try to avoid refueling when there's another RV/motorhome at a nearby pump island. I'm never in that much of a hurry.

https://rvlife.com/rv-propane-system-explode/

https://www.saanichnews.com/news/exploding-camper-van-torches-highway-4-gas-station-between-qualicum...

https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/consumer-information/consumer-resources/staying-safe-pump

https://heartlandowners.org/threads/rv-fire-at-a-gas-station.15213/

HMMMM building codes allow gas hot water heaters in garages provided they are at least 18" above the garage floor. I'm guessing they think there might be gas fumes or gasoline stored in the garage. Just an FYI before all the internet horror stories start.

[Dusty_R]

I fixed our mh so I can turn the refrigerator off from the drivers seat, so we can turn it off before pulling up to the gas pump.

[LadyRVer]

I leave the LP on for the refrigerator when driving. If I am fueling, I turn the refrig. off and then when finished, pull away and turn refrig back on. WH is turned on after I stop for the night.

[DrewE]

The only time I've turned the propane off when traveling is when going over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge / Tunnel, as per their regulations. I do turn off the fridge (and any other propane appliances) when refueling, for rather obvious reasons...but there's no need to shut the propane off at the tank then.

Propane cylinders, and I think probably also the built-in tanks (but am not sure about them), have a safety device where a sudden rush of propane due to a broken line connected to the cylinder will trigger and stop the flow of gas. It doesn't seem to me like there's much if any greater danger in driving with the propane on vs. just driving with a propane tank or cylinder mounted on the vehicle. Having food nice and fresh and ice cream not half melted after a full day on the road is reason enough for me to keep it on and the fridge running.

[Terryallan]

rlw999 wrote:

bgum wrote:
We travel with fridge on. We fuel at first pump so that our RV is not near the pumps but is in open air.

That doesn't really help in a big fuel spill. I think what typically happens is that something happens to make fuel spill on the ground (like the nozzle falls out of the tank to the ground while still spewing fuel), the spill goes under the RV and as the vapor rises, it reaches the 'fridge and ignites the vapor and that big fuel spill under the RV.

When I do leave the propane on while driving, I always shut off the propane and turn off the 'fridge off when refueling. Even on a long trip, I almost never refuel more than once in a day so it's not a big inconvenience.

Agree. I also would turn off the fridge when fueling. Then just pull from the pump, and turn it back on. Not a big deal. After all its only one button.

As for the WH. We never run with it on, as it only take a dew min for it to get hot, and their electricity is alot cheaper than my propane.

[rlw999]

bgum wrote:
We travel with fridge on. We fuel at first pump so that our RV is not near the pumps but is in open air.

That doesn't really help in a big fuel spill. I think what typically happens is that something happens to make fuel spill on the ground (like the nozzle falls out of the tank to the ground while still spewing fuel), the spill goes under the RV and as the vapor rises, it reaches the 'fridge and ignites the vapor and that big fuel spill under the RV.

When I do leave the propane on while driving, I always shut off the propane and turn off the 'fridge off when refueling. Even on a long trip, I almost never refuel more than once in a day so it's not a big inconvenience.

[bgum]

We travel with fridge on. We fuel at first pump so that our RV is not near the pumps but is in open air.

[MDKMDK]

Not a good idea, particularly when refueling. I wouldn't do it, but many do, and that's why I try to avoid refueling when there's another RV/motorhome at a nearby pump island. I'm never in that much of a hurry.

https://rvlife.com/rv-propane-system-explode/

https://www.saanichnews.com/news/exploding-camper-van-torches-highway-4-gas-station-between-qualicum...

https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/consumer-information/consumer-resources/staying-safe-pump

https://heartlandowners.org/threads/rv-fire-at-a-gas-station.15213/

[Lwiddis]

I drive with the propane on for the fridge. Wouldn’t consider keeping water hot when driving. Only takes 10 minutes.