Turn fridge LP off at gas pump - another warning!

[kginder]

I see there are more threads about traveling with the fridge on LP. I do. My class c fridge is always on except, ahhh 98 percent of the time, when fueling.

This actually happened to me this past weekend in MD at a gas station. I was filling up the thirsty giant and watching the dollars tick away when a Harley pulled into the pump, the same pump as mine on the opposite side. He proceeded to fill up. I suddenly heard one of the loudest f bombs I've ever heard in my life. The gas pump did not auto-shutoff when the Harley was full. Gas shot out of the tank with an explosive force sending gas into the air, all over the Harley, the rider, the gas pump, the ground etc. It had covered an area of about 10~15 feet around. This guy was upset! I was still fueling but stopped the flow and went over to help. After I asked him if he had a match (kinda got smile out of him) he got some paper towels and proceeded to clean up. I finished fueling grabbed my multi-hundred dollar receipt and got into the RV.

I HAD LEFT THE FRIDGE ON AND COULD HERE IT BURNING!

If the Harley had pulled into the pump across from me instead of the opposite side, y'all would be reading about our dental records on the news.

I'm going to have a reminder plaque made up to put on my dash "Turn the @#$*&^%$ fridge off before fueling you idiot!"

[wilber1]

msmith1199 wrote:

wilber1 wrote:
So what's the moral of this story? Never fill up beside a biker, or never fuel up beside an RV, or both? I'm thinking both.

Don't go to gas stations. They're too dangerous.

I just find it interesting that some people feel entitled to decide on their own what is safe at a gas pump without giving those gassing up beside them any choice in the matter.

[msmith1199]

wilber1 wrote:
So what's the moral of this story? Never fill up beside a biker, or never fuel up beside an RV, or both? I'm thinking both.

Don't go to gas stations. They're too dangerous.

[msmith1199]

chracatoa wrote:

LarryJM wrote:
I run it while traveling which is what it's designed for and still don't worry about it.

I know it's a dead horse and such... but I have read this many times in this forum. Is this officially documented anywhere?

Out of curiosity I decided to read my Jayco manual to look for this. Here is what I found:

"The propane cylinder(s) should be turned off when traveling. Most refrigerators will keep food cold or frozen for eight hours without running while you travel"

That's one of those things that the company puts in there for liability reasons. Many motorhome fires have started in frig area but they start whether you are on the road or not. It's just clearly more dangerous if you are driving down the freeway in a vehicle that's on fire. So they put these safety precautions in there so in case something happens they can say they told you not to do it. Also it is clearly safer to have the propane shut off at the tank while traveling in case you're in an accident. But I don't do it.

[BurbMan]

Tachdriver wrote:
Time for Mythbusters!!

That's a heckuvan idea!!!! I going to submit it to the show and see if they will do it. I can't see them turning down a chance to blow up an RV!

[lazydays]

Thanks for the heads up but mine will stay on.

[Tachdriver]

chracatoa wrote:

LarryJM wrote:
I run it while traveling which is what it's designed for and still don't worry about it.

I know it's a dead horse and such... but I have read this many times in this forum. Is this officially documented anywhere?

Out of curiosity I decided to read my Jayco manual to look for this. Here is what I found:

"The propane cylinder(s) should be turned off when traveling. Most refrigerators will keep food cold or frozen for eight hours without running while you travel"

Time for Mythbusters!!

[wilber1]

So what's the moral of this story? Never fill up beside a biker, or never fuel up beside an RV, or both? I'm thinking both.

[DiskDoctr]

apr67 wrote:

DiskDoctr wrote:
BTW, the first story linked (Rhino explosion) is from 1892, 1992, 2002? Not directed at poster, but at the author of the story who neglected to include a DATE in the article. It was a "Monday" no idea which Monday, but pretty sure it was a Monday :R

Monday as in the monday of the week the message was posted.

Perhaps known as July 29, 2013

Haha. I was referring to the undated article at the link that was posted. 😉 Referring to the reporter who wrote the message, not any poster here. LOL.

[popeyemth]

My Dometic fridge manual says to turn the thermostat to MAX to keep the flame from blowing out on the highway.

[chracatoa]

LarryJM wrote:
I run it while traveling which is what it's designed for and still don't worry about it.

I know it's a dead horse and such... but I have read this many times in this forum. Is this officially documented anywhere?

Out of curiosity I decided to read my Jayco manual to look for this. Here is what I found:

"The propane cylinder(s) should be turned off when traveling. Most refrigerators will keep food cold or frozen for eight hours without running while you travel"

[2oldman]

mowermech wrote:
That cranking motor (starter) is somewhat sealed, of course, but it is NOT vapor tight, and it is only 1 to 2 feet off the ground! Perhaps we should have second thoughts about starting the engine while sitting at the pumps?

We humans do manage to worry about the most insignificant things while ignoring the obvious.

[nickthehunter]

Wow - I never could figure out why there where so many RV explosions at gas stations!! Now I know!

[mowermech]

The fuel filler on my coach in on the rear, at the driver side.
The frig is on the curb side, in the center of the coach, 4 or 5 feet high.
If the fuel vapors are concentrated enough to have an ignitable mix that high and that far away from the nozzle, we are all dead anyway!
Have you ever seen the commutator on a cranking motor when it is energized? The brushes throw a "shower of sparks" that would be the envy of a Bendix/Scintilla Magneto engineer! That cranking motor (starter) is somewhat sealed, of course, but it is NOT vapor tight, and it is only 1 to 2 feet off the ground! Perhaps we should have second thoughts about starting the engine while sitting at the pumps?

[apr67]

DiskDoctr wrote:
BTW, the first story linked (Rhino explosion) is from 1892, 1992, 2002? Not directed at poster, but at the author of the story who neglected to include a DATE in the article. It was a "Monday" no idea which Monday, but pretty sure it was a Monday :R

Monday as in the monday of the week the message was posted.

Perhaps known as July 29, 2013

[Raften]

DavidP wrote:

2oldman wrote:

DavidP wrote:
As a MC rider I'm a little amazed a fellow rider would not tend to the nozzle and rely on the auto shut off to stop the pump. Moronic.

Really. How much gas can they possibly hold?

Well, my bike holds about 5.25 gallons. Not sure why you’re inquiring or what that has to do with the discussion. It’s just one of those things if you ride a bike you manually tend the pump and not rely on the auto shut off to stop the pump. In the event the shut off fails it’s not just running all over the ground it is running all over a potential ignition source…..a very hot engine and pipes.

I think he meant how much trouble is it to put in 2 or three gallons without the auto shut off.