Propane and Refrigerator

[retiredhappy]

Okay, so my daughter and I are sharing a little travel trailer. Right now we're arguing about whether or not to keep the propane on to the frig while we're driving. I always left my propane on to keep my food cool while driving. I turned it off when I stopped for gas. She has been watching videos so now she's an expert and they are all telling her to NEVER drive with the propane on. What do you all do? We're planning a trip to New Mexico in October to Red Rock Park in Gallup. Bethers is going to join us for a few days - YIPEE. we're planning on boondocking while on the road. Anyone else want to come along????

[JudyJB]

I leave my refrigerator on all of the time, even when driving, WITH the propane turned on! This has been for approximately 2,500 consecutive days (minus 42 days in the UK.) Haven't blow up anything yet!

Nothing like one or two "expert kids" is there? I have two. And i would really love to be in Gallup, NM, this winter, but I am headed to Michigan and Ohio, and then down to FLorida for the winter. Have fun there for me!

[BarbaraRose]

Since it was so hot when I was coming to CA I left it on and just turned it off when getting gas. I think tho it should stay cold without it on if you aren't driving all day and don't open it until after you are hooked up.

[Acadianmom]

One of the RV shops I use had a motorhome's refrigerator running on gas catch on fire and almost burn the whole place down and some of the RV's in for work. If you want work done there the propane has to be off.

My refrigerator is 3 way and I run it on the battery on the road. If it's really hot I put some blue ice in it.

Martha

[Pooker]

I've said this here before -- I NEVER drive with propane on. I have been RVing for over 40 years. My hubby and I traveled all over this country for many, many years in all kinds of weather. I never had anything spoil in all those years. As long as you don't keep opening the door, the fridge will act as a giant cooler and things will stay just fine. I put two of those blue icees in the fridge now that I live in 100+ degree So. Cal. and they are still frozen hours later. Think about it - back in the day when our kids were little, we tented. The only "fridge" we had were a couple of coolers for all our food. We used ice in the coolers. Never spoiled any food then, either.

I am among the minority since most of my RV friends run their propane while driving. I just figure if, God forbid, I should be in an accident I wouldn't want to add an additional fuel to any fire. Since the law states the propane must be turned off at the source when entering a gas station, it would be a pain to have to stop before heading into a gas station, jump out and turn the gas off, jump back in and pull into the station. I can't turn my propane off at the tank from inside. My two cents!

Pooker

[Bethers]

Mine is always on. They are built for doing so. Same as refrigerated trucks. There is usually a secondary reason for fridge fires but everyone blames the propane.

[monik7]

I turn mine off. My frig is 3-way and automatically switches to 12v while driving. I feel better with it off.
Sandi

[OregonLuvr]

I also drive with my propane on. No issues in 40 years of RV'ing but everyone should do what they are comfortable with. I have to turn mine off when I get gas but I plan for that when I get close to 1/4 of a tank I stop at a rest area and turn it off. Or if I am going thru a restricted tunnel you usually have to turn it off. We dont have restricted tunnels out here LOL but many other places do.

[snowball]

this is a on going debate.. some do and swear by it some don't and swear by it... I don't turn mine off mine is a two way gas or electricity. it's up to you and those you ride with
sheila

[MandysMom]

If you want to know for sure what he temps are even when leaving door closed all day on fridge , order the monitor I'd did and watch it on your phone. The "sensor push" shows me that traveling in warm summer weather the fridge even running on 12v creeps up in temperature above what is ideal for food at least for a hour or two during he day. If I can tomorrow I'll use screen shot to show you the weeks I was gone to Oregon tomorrow as a photo here.
I could not run propane as the main fridge burner won't light. Have a tech coming next week. I did have the freezer full of meat which was frozen before I left on trip and it did stay frozen but the fridge section drifted in temp suring the day ESP. I will run propane traveling at least in warmest weather as needed once it's fixed.
Velda

[WickedLady]

I turn mine off in case of an accident. Just one time is all it takes for some idiot to cause a pileup or something. Mine has kept cold during all-day driving.

[SoCalGalcas]

I never turn my propane off!!! Lyn