5th Wheel Refrig. on or off

[wyosteve]

Guys, I'm a newbie to the 5th wheel club (always had slide-ins before) and have a question. Is it safe to head down the road with the refrigerator running off of LP? On my slide ins, I would keep it off because of horror stories about starting fires. A bit more info, the 5th wheel is a 2006 Arctic Fox and has the refrig. in the rear corner. Thanks for any insight.

 

[mwilson]

Guys, I'm a newbie to the 5th wheel club (always had slide-ins before) and have a question. Is it safe to head down the road with the refrigerator running off of LP? On my slide ins, I would keep it off because of horror stories about starting fires. A bit more info, the 5th wheel is a 2006 Arctic Fox and has the refrig. in the rear corner. Thanks for any insight.

I travel with mine on LP. A 2006 will have automatic re-ignition just like mine. 12volt is required to make the LP work.



I have read the horror stories, but if your LP system is leak free and the fridge is in good working order why not use it. It is designed to be used in transit. I don't want the ice for my evening toddy to be half melted after I set up for the night.



Even the old pilot light style fridge's would shut the gas off all by themselves once the thermo couple cooled down. I have a Vermont Castings propane stove that works the same way. No pilot, gas goes off.



There is a Dometic recall and if that is what you have for a unit you should check and see if it has been done to yours.



I had mine done a couple of years ago, not a big deal.



Check it here..... http://67.238.126.140/



Mike.

 

[ScottLewis]

I've always left ours on "automatic" so it switches to gas while travelling. I've heard many say it's unsafe to leave the gas on while travelling but I'm not convinced the risk is sufficient to warrant the inconvenience. I've pulled RVs for over 30 years and many 1000's of miles.

 

[jeepit]

I always keep mine on for travel.
I need ice for my Bloody Mary.

 

[RustyJC]

Propane "on" and fridge on "automatic" here. I've done it for 20 years without incident.



Rusty

 

[Jim W]

The only time I may shut it off is in the east if I am allowed in tunnels and they say the propane needs to be off. I will pull to the shoulder and then turn off the propane bottles on the other side I will turn bak on.

This is the only time that the refrigerator is off all of the other time it i on and on automatic so I can run on electric at the campground and then gas on the road has we travel.

Jim w.

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks much for the info. Just what I needed. I, too, would like ice for the gin and tonic in this hot weather!

 

[JJPage]

The only concern I would have would be while fueling, if refrigerator is on the pump island side and gasoline pumps are present... otherwise, I have always operated my RV friges on propane while traveling.

 

[Bill Stockard]

The only concern I would have would be while fueling, if refrigerator is on the pump island side and gasoline pumps are present... otherwise, I have always operated my RV friges on propane while traveling.

Gasoline fumes are heavier than air; therefore, they go down to the ground when exiting from filling fuel tanks.



Bill

 

[wcoomes]

I've noticed a problem when I leave mine on that it goes off on strong crosswinds. Anyone experience that? Did you do anything about it?

 

[Bill Stockard]

I've noticed a problem when I leave mine on that it goes off on strong crosswinds. Anyone experience that? Did you do anything about it?

I had the same problem and made a baffle to block the wind from blowing out the flame on a Norcold fridge, but still allowed the adequate cooling. I installed a flue baffle on a previously owned Lance slide-in truck camper with a Dometic fridge that helped prevent blow-outs when driving in strong cross winds.



Bill

 

[EricBu12]

Same on the baffle. . just a good sized piece to block the gust wind right outside the flamebox. have done that with no problems

 

[Cummins12V98]

My wife was convinced we should turn ours off. One day we were at our local respected RV guys shop and I asked him about it and he said no problem leaving it on. Now the frig stays on.

 

[wyosteve]

Just an update. Made the 600 mile trip to MT. with the frig on all the way. Sure was nice to have everything cold/frozen when we got here. Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[AMink]

Another "leave it on as long as it's in good condition". I still haven't done the recall and need to.

 

[richardcoxid]

I have been driving some 63 years, the ONLY time I even saw a fire at a gas station was in Salt Lake City about 30 years ago when a guy fueling his car at the pump on the opposite side of the pump that I was using drove off with the nozzle still in his fill hole! I think that the stories of gas station fires are over exaggerated!



Would you rather have Propane or Ptomaine?

 

[HBarlow]

I have been driving some 63 years, the ONLY time I even saw a fire at a gas station was in Salt Lake City about 30 years ago when a guy fueling his car at the pump on the opposite side of the pump that I was using drove off with the nozzle still in his fill hole! I think that the stories of gas station fires are over exaggerated!

Would you rather have Propane or Ptomaine?

A good explanation!