Posted 2014-03-07 12:23 AM (#157857) Subject: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Regular
Posts: 82 Location: The Land of Ahs
I've always run my fridge on propane while traveling and never thought much about it. There's a discussion on Facebook now with people quoting experts who say that's not safe. What do you all who know the safety issues with propane think? On or off in route?Thanks
Posted 2014-03-07 8:34 AM (#157867 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
I ran mine while traveling too. Until my father in-law(retired and RVing now)went to a seminar on RV fire safety at one of there rally's. He told me, speaker advised not to use any propane while traveling. In fact he said to shut off the valve at the bottle and switch off the main power. I don't recall the stats on the number of fires, but it was high enough for me to change my habits.I try to cool the frig a day or two before traveling and let it warm up a little while going down the road. Jg
Posted 2014-03-09 9:28 AM (#157916 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
My Dad was a highway patrolman for ten years and he went to hundreds of highway motor vehicle fatalities. When I first bought my trailer he pointedly told me to double and triple check that the propane was shut off to all appliances as well as the main valve shit off also. Reason: if you are ever involved in a crash and your propane valve is open there will be an explosion. Still might happen if the closed propane tank is damaged but at least it lessens the odds.No one ever plans to have an accident but they do occur.
Posted 2014-03-09 9:33 AM (#157917 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
One alternative is to get a nine volt operated cooler and plug that in while you are on the road. I didn't have one in my trailer originally but had one installed for fifty bucksAt the Rv place.
Posted 2014-03-09 2:14 PM (#157921 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
ALWAYS turn off the appliance and the valve on the bottle!! I was a first responder at the scene where the horses were severely burned. They were not badly injured during the crash, but the propane explosion caused severe burns to the horses and to the driver who finally got the horses out of the trailer. Your fridge should be fine if you make sure the door latches are secure.
Posted 2014-03-10 9:16 AM (#157944 - in reply to #157921) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
The advice here is not "I've done it... nothing happened, you should be fine." As in Marla's post, the 1st event (the crash) immediately lead to the 2nd event (the explosion) which caused traumatic trauma which possibly could have been prevented with a conscious decision to close the propane tank valve. Just for fun search propane tank explosion. Thanks Marla
Originally written by Marla on 2014-03-09 2:14 PM
ALWAYS turn off the appliance and the valve on the bottle!! I was a first responder at the scene where the horses were severely burned. They were not badly injured during the crash, but the propane explosion caused severe burns to the horses and to the driver who finally got the horses out of the trailer. Your fridge should be fine if you make sure the door latches are secure.
Posted 2014-03-11 8:20 AM (#157970 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
we have ran our frig going down the road for years but this thread makes me think about that, the times that we have left it off the frozen stuff is half thawed in 4 to 6 hours, how effective is a portable 12volt ? this is the only option that I can think of and some times we travel 2 days to get to a show.
Posted 2014-03-11 9:03 AM (#157977 - in reply to #157965) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2014-03-11 12:05 AM
It is not the explosion...it is the fire...http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LbCTQ-FuvE/TaUmxnz6W1I/AAAAAAAAAGs/bTvKu... is propane on "causing" these fires? A friend had her trailer catch fire going down the road due to a bearing in her wheel go out, A passing car saw the smoke and flame and indicated to pull over. Now, had they not got fire out with extinguisher, the propane in lines could have still helped the fire along, yes? I've traveled with the fridge on for 20 years in the cabover camper, and have started with the LQ as I have not seen documentation as to the higher risk. But I'm listening
Posted 2014-03-11 7:44 PM (#157983 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
And how many thousands of RV's travel the roads each day and never catch fire. Is it a fire hazard? Yes and so is the gallons of gasoline or diesel in your tank. You take steps to minimize the risk by inspecting and keeping your equipment in good working order. As for the fridge holding it's temperature when off, it's not going to happen. They weren't designed to be an ice box, so insulation is not that great.
Posted 2014-03-11 9:42 PM (#157985 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
I had put one of those wireless outdoor thermometers in my fridge in the camper, with the receiver telling me the temp in the truck. I could glance on long trips to tell me if it was getting warm. Couple times I had ran out of propane. The distance to do this with the LQ is to far, but I do have it in the LQ, so when camping I can see what the temp is in the fridge. When they go off, it does not take long for them to get warmer than what is thought of as safe for food storage
Posted 2014-03-12 9:59 AM (#157991 - in reply to #157975) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
Originally written by AZgrulla on 2014-03-11 9:46 AM
We haul with the propane on....I have thought about freezing some gallon jugs of water and using those to keep the food cool as we are driving...
I use the milk jugs and or the re-freezable things you buy at Wallyworld, I shudder to think of a fire going down the road and my horses trapped in it!!
Posted 2014-03-12 10:19 AM (#157992 - in reply to #157916) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Thanks to Crowley's Ridge Girl for pointing out my hilarious typo! That is way too funny. I meant to say "shut" off and not what I said in the post. I laughed so hard when I read over my post. Guess I should do that more often. Lol
Posted 2014-03-15 1:12 AM (#158048 - in reply to #157857) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
The risk involved in traveling with our horses is high enough without increasing them by deliberately doing something "stupid." The fridge in my trailer will hold an acceptable temp for about 7 hours. I rarely drive longer than that while hauling. The milk jugs are a good idea.
Posted 2014-03-15 11:40 AM (#158055 - in reply to #158048) Subject: RE: Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
Originally written by Marla on 2014-03-15 1:12 AM
The risk involved in traveling with our horses is high enough without increasing them by deliberately doing something "stupid." The fridge in my trailer will hold an acceptable temp for about 7 hours. I rarely drive longer than that while hauling. The milk jugs are a good idea.
Well thank you for being the authoritative on deeming what is stupid.
Safe to run fridge on propane going down the road?
