Towing With Refrigerator On Propane

[1L243]

I was wondering how many tow with there refrigerators running on propane?

[IndyCamp]

We always have and will always do.

My FIL has owned every form of RV over the last 35 years and he says he always has and will continue to do so.

[down_home]

always towed our Fifth Wheel with gas and Refrigerator on. Always have our refrigerator running in the MH.
When we first got our Fifth Wheel, in the middle ages we tried without the gas on and fridge running. I think we had some things ruin. Been a while.
On a longish trip involving several stops with it off everything is going to be semi fried or spoiled, so to speak, here in the south, in August.

[bukhrn]

Slate CM wrote:

1L243 wrote:

At least they have a heavy enough TV. :B

Looks like a little Overkill, but you wouldn't have to put up with the weight police. 😉

[Slate_CM]

1L243 wrote:

At least they have a heavy enough TV. :B

[mabynack]

Mine wouldn't stay lit after a guard fell off on one trip, so we didn't use the propane. We never had an issue with food spoiling. The fridge stayed cool enough just by keeping it full of soft drinks and plugging in the RV every night.

Given a choice, though, I run it on propane when I'm driving.

[mlts22]

My current rig, propane and fridge go off before it moves. I use freezer packs to keep stuff cold, which does work for 8-12 hour stretches.

Next motorhome, I'm looking at a rig with an inverter and/or a 12 volt line, so when on the road, I'll have the fridge run from the alternator or generator.

Propane is a safe fuel. Unlike gasoline, it has to build up to just the right amount before it goes boom. The main reason I turn it off is because when towing, the fridge is usually empty, and with a motorhome, might as well use the energy from the engine or battery and not bother using LP gas.

[2oldman]

..

[wilber1]

marspec wrote:

kohai wrote:

1L243 wrote:
I was wondering how many tow with there refrigerators running on propane?

Look at where your propane lines run and where your tires are going to go if they blow. For me, it is likely I damage the propane lines when the tire blows. I would prefer the gas to be off if that happens.

Question: Don't the newer propane bottles have a shutoff if gas flow exceeds a certain amount? If so, would a torn/broken propane line meet that flow?

Yes but you are gambling that the leak will be large enough and sudden enough to trigger the shutoff. Your furnace and water heater can light at the same time without triggering it. That's a lot of gas.

[1L243]

It was being towed but parked at the time. I don't think they know what caused the explosion except it was a gas leak that was ignighted in some way. The RV was in poor condition and the occupants were across the street (luckily) when it blew... Explosion blew out it's own fire. Just got me thinking about leaving the gas on at all till you get where your going when you may be able to actually smell the gas leak or hear your detector if it goes off.

[2oldman]

1L243 wrote:
I witnessed a gas explosion in a RV a few weeks back, it blew the roof up, windows and slide out. Pretty impressive. It started giving me second thoughts about leaving any gas on...

And this had something to do with towing?

[tenbear]

Mispost, sorry.

[marspec]

kohai wrote:

1L243 wrote:
I was wondering how many tow with there refrigerators running on propane?

Look at where your propane lines run and where your tires are going to go if they blow. For me, it is likely I damage the propane lines when the tire blows. I would prefer the gas to be off if that happens.

Question: Don't the newer propane bottles have a shutoff if gas flow exceeds a certain amount? If so, would a torn/broken propane line meet that flow?

[tenbear]

I made a wireless switch for turning off the refrig when fueling. Now we can turn it off before entering the gas station, and turn it back on after leaving. Would be even handier if we towed a TT or 5er.

If interested, Here is a post I wrote at the time.

[CavemanCharlie]

On, and I don't shut it off when refueling either.