Refrigerator on Propane and stopping for Gas

[esox07]

OK, I tried a bunch of different ways to search for threads on the need or no need to shut off the refrigerator when running on propane while filling up the vehicle at the gas station.
I am about to take a 3000 mile round trip with my small 19' KZ Sportsmen travel trailer and will want to have the frig stocked and cold the whole time traveling. So, it will be using propane while in transit. So, you can guess what my question is and I am sure it has been asked and hashed out a million times on this forum but I can't find any threads on it.
So, here is the question:
Is it necessary to shut down the refrigerator when stopping to fill up the truck with gas?
If so, can I just shut it off on the frig control panel or do I have to shut off the propane tank valve too.
Or, am I perfectly fine to stop, pump my truck full of gas and not worry about the frig at all?
Seriously, when was the last time anyone has heard of a travel trailer blowing up a gas station?
Thanks all.
Bruce

[3oaks]

Fire/explosion running Frig on propane while refueling TV.

Can it happen? Yes

Will it happen? Most likely not. I have never heard of an incident.

Running with scissors or loading a black powder gun while smoking is no comparison as to what can happen at a gas station. The first two, in the event of an accident you are only going to hurt yourself. At a gas station, who knows how many other innocent people could possibly get seriously hurt?

[esox07]

Thanks all. I appreciate all the opinions and suggestions. I think I have my mind made up for my trip from Wisconsin to Texas and back.
It has been a good thread so far without anyone getting their panties in a bunch one way or the other.

[StewB]

Well for the doubters, I have personally seen a fire start in a RV fridge while the owner was fueling up with gas. I was standing about 50 feet away from an RV at the shell gas station in the west end of Terrace BC. The RV owner, an older gentlman was filling up with gas when flame erupted out of the fridge door. The fridge was only a few feet from the gas cap as it was a camper van. The gentlman was a little confused about what to do. Got him to stop fueling, shut off pump while someone grabed a fire extinquisher and gave the fridge a blast. I actualy think the fire was out as soon as the gas pump was off but it all happened pretty fast. A real eye opener it was.

In my own rig, I fuel without turning off the fridge as it is about 25 ft from the gas cap. At that distance I just can't see the fuel/air mixture being correct for combustion.

[hawkeye-08]

christopherglenn wrote:
Real world, unless someone sprays gas all over the side of you rig, you have very little to worry about. Gas vapor is extremely flammable, but only with a fairly narrow range of oxygen. Too rich and it only burns at the edges of the fuel cloud, to lean and it won't burn. 5 feet off the ground, 20+ feet from the pump, a blowtorch wont light it unless there is a pumping incident.

I guess that is my concern, a pumping incident. I am very careful myself and take great care, but I see others not so careful. I tend to stay at the side of the vehicle near the pump handle to be there in case of something going wrong (hose coming out, overfilling, etc.

I don't worry about myself having a pumping incident, but others that are not so mindful could have an incident and I ask myself, could my fridge cause problem...

I don't worry about it too much though, I leave my fridge on propane when on the road and don't turn off when fueling.. My risk is low since most of our trips currently don't involve fueling with trailer connected..

Do what is best for you, only you know your risk tolerance.

[rbpru]

As stated it is your choice. I used to shoot muzzle loading guns with a fellow who smoked while loading black gun powder.:E

He lived to be 90+

I suppose we all routinely do things that others consider dangerous.

To answer the OP, I do not turn the gas off. Probably should.

[Samsonsworld]

Nothing tastes as good as an ice cold beer after you set up in hot weather. I wouldn't want to deprive myself of life's little treasures. I say leave it cold, leave it on. 😉

[kodiakcanuck]

Grab the popcorn, this is going to be a long one :B

Always leave mine on...

[Rangerman40]

I leave my fridge on "auto" mode so it's on propane from the minute I unhook at my house until I plug back in at the campground. The way I see it is that it's 30 feet behind my fuel fill, on the opposite side of the truck, and I use diesel...... You are supposed to shut off your cell phone at the pump too lol.......

[christopherglen]

Real world, unless someone sprays gas all over the side of you rig, you have very little to worry about. Gas vapor is extremely flammable, but only with a fairly narrow range of oxygen. Too rich and it only burns at the edges of the fuel cloud, to lean and it won't burn. 5 feet off the ground, 20+ feet from the pump, a blowtorch wont light it unless there is a pumping incident.

[Old-Biscuit]

What I do and what you do is based on what one is comfortable with.

Having operated boilers for 30+ yrs I am VERY comfortable with propane/natural gas/fuels and their use.
My fridge is in 'Auto' mode so it swaps to propane when I disconnect AC power and stays on propane until next time AC power is available.

I sometimes run with scissors too. :E

Lots of opinions/debates about propane on while in transit.
From 'never an issue' to OH THE HORROR!

All three fridge mfg. state OK in that it is not considered an off-level situation.
One mfg. even has a 'wind baffle' kit due to issues of flame going out while in transit.

Bottom line.......your choice

[Rustycamperpant]

I always leave my fridge running on gas when I fill up at gas stations, always have and always will. Besides, the fridge flame is far behind the gas fill of the truck..

[MitchF150]

Some folks say that running with the propane on while just driving down the road is a bomb waiting to happen.

Other's will fill up with fuel with it running and use some common sense.

If it makes you feel better, just switch off the fridge (leave the tanks on) before you pull up to the pump.. Nothing wrong with that. You just have to stop before pulling in. Get out. Go into the trailer. Turn off fridge. Get back into truck. Pull to pump. Fill up with fuel. Pull forward. Get out. Go into the trailer. Turn on the fridge. Get back into truck. Continue on your trip.. 🙂

Or, just pull up to the first pump, leaving your trailer outside of the pump line all together. Fill up with fuel. Drive away... 🙂

Or, just leave your fridge off while you are traveling if that works for you too..

There is only what works for you and that's what you should do..

Mitch

[ScottG]

It could happen but I don't think it ever has.
I never shut it off but it's 40~50 feet in back of me and I use diesel. Even when I fill in an island with gas pumps, the back of the TT (where the fridge is) is so far back there that it's no where close to a pump.

[TxCowboy]

The rule of thumb is no smoking within 50 feet of a fuel operation -- that was the rule for refueling operations in the military.

Not an exact answer but at least an answer is based upon some logic.

[Grumpa]

As I see it, it is an uneducated fear handed down through the years, besides liability. Look at the property of gasoline. The vapors are heavy and are hugging the ground directly out of the filler pipe. They don't very often get any higher than the knees. The pilot light is at least 4.5 to 5 ft off the ground. Could be a rare occasion that something goes poof, that's what they would blame it on. Look at the water heater and furnace in your garage, gas and other flammables are present, they are required to be no more than 18 inches off the floor. To me paranoia. Just do as they say I guess. This is my opinion not gospel. Could make sense.