Posted 2010-06-17 7:58 AM (#121255) Subject: Traveling with fridge on
Regular
Posts: 76 Location: Holly Mi
Our trailer has an 04 Norcold fridge. It works on gas or electric while camping. My question is. What about going down the road on a 8-10 hour trip? How do you keep things cold?
Posted 2010-06-17 11:36 AM (#121270 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
You can travel with it running on propane but you do have an open flame and could risk a fire in an accident. I turn mine off and have never had a problem. It works like a cooler as long as you're not opening it up a lot.
Posted 2010-06-17 1:18 PM (#121271 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Regular
Posts: 76 Location: Holly Mi
We were at Midwest Trailride in In. for 4 days the fridge was on 5 the whole time. When we left turned everything off put frozen gel packs in the fridge to help keep it cold. Wife left two fudgecicles(sp) in the freezer. Drove 8 hours home and all had melted. I thought those who get to travel alot must have a way to keep their fridge cold while on the road.
Posted 2010-06-17 1:52 PM (#121273 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Regular
Posts: 85 Location: Galahad, AB, Canada
We always travel down the road with the fridge on, running on propane. If you don't keep your fridge on, it warms up quickly, especially in warm weather.
Is there an increased danger when traveling with the fridge on? I'm not sure. Maybe, but I suspect that the risks aren't all that much increased with the fridge on as compared to off. One way or another, you're still carrying combustionable products - both propane and gasoline. These things can easily be ignited even without the fridge being on. In fact, I'd like to read a study that shows the increased risk with having the fridge lit. Wouldn't it be similar to your car running when going down the road? Yes, fuel is being "burned" but does that make a signifigant difference in the risks of a fire if you're rear ended?
This would be a great question to ask a reputable RV dealer.
Posted 2010-06-17 3:26 PM (#121279 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
We just got back from a trip to Wyoming, to Arkansas, in this heat. Ran it on electric while parked, propane when driving. Had ice cream bars in the freezer, they held up perfectly. We grew up traveling cross US and Canada with a 3 way frig in the motorhome, never thought a thing about it. That is what it is for, seems to me.
Posted 2010-06-17 7:18 PM (#121285 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Location: centrally located amongst the "NUTS"
A cursory look with GOOGLE wasnt very helpful. Alot of the same opinions and very few facts that weren't seemingly biased by the publisher. This link seemed to be the most objective.
Posted 2010-06-18 7:28 PM (#121318 - in reply to #121316) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
We typically load our fridge to the Max. This helps it to stay cold longer. When I get where I'm going I turn it on first thing. I have traveled 10 hours in August without losing any food. I do get it very cold before we leave. I wish we had a three way fridge as that would eliminate the issue but they are not cheap.
Posted 2010-06-22 11:01 AM (#121401 - in reply to #121255) Subject: RE: Traveling with fridge on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 504
FWIW - When we rented a motor home in New Zealand, we were told to run the refrigerator on electric while we were traveling and put on gas when we were stopped.
I'm interested in hearing about how you use the 2000 watt inverter to keep the refrigerator going while moving. Is that connected to the truck's battery or to some other battery. I have a 2005 Ford F-350 that has two (new) batteries. Could I use such an inverter and run a refrigerator off my truck's batteries?
Traveling with fridge on
