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Another noobie question.

Longshore
Explorer
Explorer
I read some threads in the " beginning RV" dept. about traveling with the propane on to the fridge. Most of the entries are 15 years old.

I respect the knowledge and opinions expressed here. I know there are differing opinions on this subject. So do you leave the LP on while traveling? I know to shut it off before fueling, but on these hot days if I open the fridge once it takes hours to get real cold again. Turning off the gas I might as well pack an ice chest and use the fridge for storage.

Apologies if this is like the TP thread...rehashed to death...
33 REPLIES 33

Sjm9911
Explorer
Explorer
Not sure on hot the truck campers are, but if you have a 3 way frodge run it on 12 v. If 2 way i would and do run on propane. If its a smaller type fridge, and has a vent like on a pop up camper, sometimes the propane blows out. Propane will be coldest. 12 volt, can drain some TV batteries of they dont have a disconect when stopped. If you have a questionable battery in the TV running on 12 v will drain it faster also. Yes i killed my battery in stopped traffic once.
2012 kz spree 220 ks
2020 Silverado 2500
Equalizer ( because i have it)
Formerly a pup owner.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Kayteg1 wrote:
mr_andyj wrote:
nothing has changed in 15 years. People still drive running propane, some are scared to death to.

And some ain't anymore

Click For Full-Size Image.


Thatโ€™s just because it a Ford! Lol
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Geo*Boy wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
^Because no one will ever spill some gas while youโ€™re filling with diesel?

Not that I believe itโ€™s a significant risk at all.

Traveling with propane fridge off in hot weather is basically a death sentence for your food IMO, unless you have DC mode and enough battery power to compensate.
Use the propane.
This is another ridiculous wivestale/fear that I donโ€™t understandโ€ฆ.honestly.

Oh come on Grit you see blown up and burning RVโ€™s on the side of the road every day.:B


I knowโ€ฆ.
Dodged 3 of โ€˜em just this week! Lol
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
^Because no one will ever spill some gas while youโ€™re filling with diesel?

Not that I believe itโ€™s a significant risk at all.

Traveling with propane fridge off in hot weather is basically a death sentence for your food IMO, unless you have DC mode and enough battery power to compensate.
Use the propane.
This is another ridiculous wivestale/fear that I donโ€™t understandโ€ฆ.honestly.


I try to always fuel in truck stops and use the truck pumps. No gas pumps over there so no propane flame worries

Kudos to you, but I wasnโ€™t commenting on your postโ€ฆ
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Nomad II
Grit dog wrote:
^Because no one will ever spill some gas while youโ€™re filling with diesel?

Not that I believe itโ€™s a significant risk at all.

Traveling with propane fridge off in hot weather is basically a death sentence for your food IMO, unless you have DC mode and enough battery power to compensate.
Use the propane.
This is another ridiculous wivestale/fear that I donโ€™t understandโ€ฆ.honestly.


I try to always fuel in truck stops and use the truck pumps. No gas pumps over there so no propane flame worries
2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags

Geo_Boy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Grit dog wrote:
^Because no one will ever spill some gas while youโ€™re filling with diesel?

Not that I believe itโ€™s a significant risk at all.

Traveling with propane fridge off in hot weather is basically a death sentence for your food IMO, unless you have DC mode and enough battery power to compensate.
Use the propane.
This is another ridiculous wivestale/fear that I donโ€™t understandโ€ฆ.honestly.

Oh come on Grit you see blown up and burning RVโ€™s on the side of the road every day.:B

jimh406
Explorer III
Explorer III
My refrigerator is on the opposite side as my diesel tank. My water heater is on the same side. The flashpoint for diesel isnโ€™t very low compared to gasoline, and they donโ€™t have a lot of vapors. I think there is more danger from my water heater, but I donโ€™t intentionally have it on.

Most refrigerators in TCs are electric and propane not 12V. If mine was 12V, Iโ€™d consider running on 12V, but it is not.

The ferries Iโ€™ve been on with RVs tell you to turn the propane off. Keep in mind that leaving the fridge off is not the same as turning the propane off. Even if you turn off the propane, there is still some propane in the line.

Although possible, I think your timing would have to be very unlucky to have the referigerator or water heater have a flame significant enough to light gasoline or diesel while fueling. I think itโ€™s more likely to break a propane line in the RV, but that isnโ€™t going to be that common either.

In summary, I donโ€™t worry about something like this that has a very small chance of happening.

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
mr_andyj wrote:
nothing has changed in 15 years. People still drive running propane, some are scared to death to.

And some ain't anymore

Click For Full-Size Image.

Gooma
Explorer
Explorer
The most dangerous thing most people do everyday is drive across town to the grocery store. If you worry about everything that might happen, you would never leave the house
Oh, wait most accidents occur at home.
I've traveled with the propane running the fridge for years, no problem, If YOU are worried about doing that: DON'T DO IT.

mr_andyj
Explorer
Explorer
nothing has changed in 15 years. People still drive running propane, some are scared to death to.

toedtoes
Explorer III
Explorer III
Depends on the time spent on the road. If I am going for less than 4 hours, I cool it on shore power before the trip, fill it up, and drive with it turned off. When I arrive at the campground, I turn the propane on. I have found that fridge stays cold enough for that distance to not be a problem.

For drives longer than 4 hours, I run it on propane. I could run it on 12v, but I don't want to have to worry if I decide to make a stop - with 12v, I could potentially run down the tow vehicle battery during a stop.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

Slymer
Explorer
Explorer
Fridge on propane while travelling. When fueling I find it easier to turn the fridge off than the propane at the tank. I figure with the fridge off it shuts down any spark attempt to re-light.

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
sbryan@vtbryans.com wrote:
Propane on when traveling. I donโ€™t have 12 volt fridge so it is either propane or shore power. Since we have a diesel truck no issue with fumes.

Several members choose to use inverter to run the fridge.
Having build-in inverter in my F350, I was also considering to run 120V wire to the fridge, but other projects got higher priority.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
^Because no one will ever spill some gas while youโ€™re filling with diesel?

Not that I believe itโ€™s a significant risk at all.

Traveling with propane fridge off in hot weather is basically a death sentence for your food IMO, unless you have DC mode and enough battery power to compensate.
Use the propane.
This is another ridiculous wivestale/fear that I donโ€™t understandโ€ฆ.honestly.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

sbryan
Explorer II
Explorer II
Propane on when traveling. I donโ€™t have 12 volt fridge so it is either propane or shore power. Since we have a diesel truck no issue with fumes.
Shawn
2013 Ford F350 6.7 CCLB Ruby Red SRW, sway bar, Bilsteins, etc
2007 Cyclone toyhauler, 18,000 GVWR
Northstar Igloo 9.5
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2J3zF6J/0/M/i-2J3zF6J-M.jpg
US Army retired