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Traveling With the Propane On

Cat_Lady
Explorer
Explorer
For folks wanting to know if it's dangerous to run an rv with the propane on I just saw this on Do-It-Yourself and thought you might be interested.

Cat Lady
As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
59 REPLIES 59

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Explorer III
On for me.

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Come to think of it, we saw a TT start swaying and it ended up flipping on its side (I90 coming down western side). It violently swayed side to side it slammed both sides of the TV (Jeep Wagoneer). It finally tore the "box" off the frame and slid down the road on its side. It came to a stop blocking three lanes. I still remember the PP tanks connected to that empty frame.
When we got out to help, the driver and I ran to the tanks and turned them off. There was no leakage, the valves had done their job.

As a side note, they had two dogs in carriers in that TT. They were both OK.
I also saw a tiny mouse stick its head out a hole n the bottom of the TT with the funniest WTF look on its face. ๐Ÿ™‚

Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Explorer II
This comes up often. If it really was dangerous there would be no propane powered vehicles. As with anything in life you have the doom and gloom folks.
Eddie
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Auto Restoration and Customs 32 years. Retired by a stroke!
We love 56 T-Birds

cbshoestring
Explorer II
Explorer II
Grandpere wrote:
Back in the day before refrigerators had the option of 12 volt or 120 propane was the only way to get the frig cold. All of our travel trailers only had propane and we traveled with the propane on all the time. .



Our system has 120 A/C and propane. It is a two way fridge, not a three way, on a 2012 Kz Sportsmen Classic 170. I unplug----the unit switches over to propane.

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
cbshoestring wrote:
Based upon the video you linked, getting in and out of many GC can be as dangerous as travelling down the road with the propane on. This fireman's biggest concern was a ruptured gas line. Well, I have news for you---that is a concern if you are driving, sitting still, or in a stick framed house. Leaking propane is BAD.

If you are driving off the edge of a road, with a surface so severe that you can rupture the main line that is tucked higher than your frame, then I have to bring in to question your driving abilities---or at the very least your judgment that allows you to put your unit in that unstable of a situation. (climb under there and look---it doesn't dangle loose by the road surface. If it is, you better fix it).

As for damage caused by an accident. Well----accidents by there (edit---their) very nature are dangerous. Always expect to die in an accident so major that you rupture the fuel lines running under your vehicle. If you live, say a prayer of thanks.


WOW XXX2 Cbshoestring could not be more spot on.

My gas is on all the time even sitting in storage so seals stay sealed. Lived several times in all gas houses, never gave it a second thought.

I would worry more about the high pressure tanks than the 2 psi out of a regulated line.

So a blown tire was not the cause of the five fatalities?? It was the gas line that got damaged in the following running off the road.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
IN my small footprint trailer I do not have propane on until we setup for camping.

My small fridge has a 12VDC setup so we usually fire it up on 12VDC a couple of hours before arriving.

We too use the 5-day ice chest big time when camping.

I keep the bottom full of ice all the time and have a snap lid plastic box sitting on top of the melting ice for meats and things we don't want to get water logged.

Roy Ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
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RV_CONUS
Explorer
Explorer
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I travel with the propane on all the time, and there is very little danger beyond what traveling with a tank of gasoline, or diesel fuel.

Do what you want if you are worried about it.

Fred.


I find it's dangerous getting out of Bed in the Morning!:E

But I do!:W

With a 7 or 8 RV's since 76': travel trailers, Class C, Class A, propane has always been on for fridge, etc. :B RV's are designed for travel.:h I thiMk:@

But, to each their own!:p

RV Propane Explosions - (Not Recommended for those leaning towards Paranoia)
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Grandpere
Explorer
Explorer
Back in the day before refrigerators had the option of 12 volt or 120 propane was the only way to get the frig cold. All of our travel trailers only had propane and we traveled with the propane on all the time. Our MH has a residential frig, which is going to get changed out when we get the money. Right now we have to use a cooler for our food until we get stopped for the night. I have an inverter that I need to get installed, so we are in no hurry to get it changed out, but it will have to go so we can go back to the boondocking we like to do.
Berniece & Russell Johnson
Lil'Bit, a Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
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1995 Ford F150 Supercab

Life in the fast lane? No thanks, we will stop and smell the flowers at every opportuity

korbe
Explorer
Explorer
We travel with the LPG turned off at the tanks. I'm sure safety measures make problems less likely but "I use my nose to keep an eye on things", and while driving, I can't smell a thing back in the 5er.
.

dave54
Nomad
Nomad
wilber1 wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I travel with the propane on all the time, and there is very little danger beyond what traveling with a tank of gasoline, or diesel fuel.

Do what you want if you are worried about it.

Fred.


Except gas or diesel is not in a pressurized tank.


And your vehicle fuel tank is specifically designed to be safe in a collision, with exhaustive government testing in all kinds of crash scenarios. RV propane systems get little, if any, crash testing.

Driving with propane on is like driving with seat belts unbuckled. You can drive your entire life and never be in an accident, so buckling was unnecessary. You can go camping your entire life and never need a first aid kit or a fire extinguisher in your rig.

Prudent safe practices are not for routine trips when everything goes smoothly without any problems. Safe practices exist for when the unexpected happens. So you check your first aid kit and fire extinguisher on a regular basis, walk around your rig and check hitches at every stop, and check tire pressures daily even though 99.9%+ of the time the effort is wasted and nothing amiss is found. You do these things routinely because no one can say for certain 5 minutes down the road something terrible will not happen.

It turn my propane off at the tanks every time. I realize that it may be unnecessary and a waste of time (God willing!). I do it 'just in case'.

I cannot eliminate every risk in my life. There are some risks I can minimize with a minimum of effort. Turning off the propane is one of them.
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So many campsites, so little time...
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Sprink-Fitter
Explorer
Explorer
I wonder if propane powered vehicles run with the tank open?
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2012 Can Am Commander XT 1000

cbshoestring
Explorer II
Explorer II
Based upon the video you linked, getting in and out of many GC can be as dangerous as travelling down the road with the propane on. This fireman's biggest concern was a ruptured gas line. Well, I have news for you---that is a concern if you are driving, sitting still, or in a stick framed house. Leaking propane is BAD.

If you are driving off the edge of a road, with a surface so severe that you can rupture the main line that is tucked higher than your frame, then I have to bring in to question your driving abilities---or at the very least your judgment that allows you to put your unit in that unstable of a situation. (climb under there and look---it doesn't dangle loose by the road surface. If it is, you better fix it).

As for damage caused by an accident. Well----accidents by there (edit---their) very nature are dangerous. Always expect to die in an accident so major that you rupture the fuel lines running under your vehicle. If you live, say a prayer of thanks.

http://www.propane101.com/propanecylinderexplosions.htm

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I travel with the propane on all the time, and there is very little danger beyond what traveling with a tank of gasoline, or diesel fuel.

Do what you want if you are worried about it.

Fred.


X2.
Also, either the author doesn't know how a PP system works or he's misleading people for his own agenda.
If you suddenly have a large leak, the tank's valve will shut off flow. That's why we see so many posts here where someone filled up with PP but now has no flow. You have to open the valve slowly or it thinks there's a massive leak.
Really your in more danger just driving, or flying and there's a better chance you'll be hit by lightening. While winning the lottery.

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I travel with the propane on all the time, and there is very little danger beyond what traveling with a tank of gasoline, or diesel fuel.

Do what you want if you are worried about it.

Fred.


Except gas or diesel is not in a pressurized tank.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Explorer
I travel with the propane on all the time, and there is very little danger beyond what traveling with a tank of gasoline, or diesel fuel.

Do what you want if you are worried about it.

Fred.
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Porsche or Country Coach!



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