fridge on while towing----FIRE

[Whitmore]

Just a warning to all campers about going down the road with your fridge on, last week our fire department was called to the outskirts of town for a motorhome (185 K ) major $$$$ any way the ol boy was lucky that we got it out with only 20 to 30 k damage, he could have lost it all!!!!!!!!!!!!! easily. he was running the fridge on propane and for some reason the flame got out of the fir box and caught the whole fridge area on fire. He just paid his first payment and was none to happy. . just something to think about... ... ... . Kevin

 

[tlippy]

That's one in a million! I run mine on propane while traveling and will continue to do so. So does everyone else I know. Cold beer is worth the odds. Keep on kooling!

 

[Jumbo Jet]

The flame on my refrigerator is about the size of a kitchen match burning.



Must've had some combustible materials that worked there way over to the flame, or maybe a bad regulator.



Now the water heater would be a different story. Quite a flame when it lights up.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I'm more concerned with having open propane valves in case of a crash. My fridge keeps everything nice and cold even all day in heat. I tow with it off. Not worth the risk, IMO.

 

[klenger]

My new 5er has an automatic shutoff for the gas is there is an open line. I assume that it will only allow a certain amount of flow, and shuts off if the flow is greater than that.



Whatever caused the fire mentioned in this post must have been a defect. I suspect that just towing a heavy trailer is considerably more hazardous than the odds of have the 'frig catching on fire.



Cold beer for me.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have owned and been around RVs for 30 years and know of 2 fires caused by fridges running on LP.



One of RVs had service work done on the fridge and the service man left the LP gas connection loose--finger tighened the flare nut and forgot to tighten it with a wrench. A case of not checking the connections with a leak dectector after disturbing the gas lines--a big NO-NO.



The other fire was caused by a cracked fitting when the serviceman overtightened the connection to the fridge causing a leak. Another case where they didn't check fo leaks after disturbing the LP lines. This RV was setting on the RV lot being prepared for delivery to the buyer.



Moral to this story--both fires were caused by sloppy work--the service tech not following through with the proper methods after distrubing LP gas lines. The fires weren't caused by driving down the road with the fridge running--the fire was started by the fridge running and setting off a fire caused by the leak.



Bill

 

[dresslered]

My new 5er has an automatic shutoff for the gas is there is an open line. I assume that it will only allow a certain amount of flow, and shuts off if the flow is greater than that.

I would imagine that if the automatic shutoff valve allows all four burners to be lit at once, it will allow quite a bit of gas to escape prior to shutting off. Three-way 'fridge for me.



Also, most refrigerators are designed to re-light in the event that the pilot does go out. Wind while driving can continually blow out the pilot causing it to have to be re-lit over and over. Under these conditions, the pilot may not re-light as easily, and should a fair amount of gas build up, it may not be pretty.

 

[TowPro]

all gas appliances have a backup system that turns off the gas to the pilot light when no heat (flame) is detected.



Plus I think that the auto lighting system will only try to light it pilot the first time, If it does not light the first time (or pilot light blows out) you have to "cycle" the power switch on and off to get it to try to re-light.





I know that the heaters will only try to light one time before shutting off the gas . I had one that would not light sometimes, and the gas would not turn on, but the blower would continue to blow until my wife would get cold and wake me up. Then I would have to "cycle" of the thermostat to get it to light again. We replaced the module with a dinosore module, which gives you the choice of "3 trys" to light before turning off the gas. (later put one in the refrig also that had the same choice of 1 or 3 try lighting)

Originally posted by dresslered





I would imagine that if the automatic shutoff valve allows all four burners to be lit at once, it will allow quite a bit of gas to escape prior to shutting off. Three-way 'fridge for me.



Also, most refrigerators are designed to re-light in the event that the pilot does go out. Wind while driving can continually blow out the pilot causing it to have to be re-lit over and over. Under these conditions, the pilot may not re-light as easily, and should a fair amount of gas build up, it may not be pretty.

 

[DRR-24V]

I was really supprised to hear anyone ran down the road with the propane on. In my years in the CHP I have seen about a dozen fires with RVs. One started a nasty fire while fueling in a gas station. (his insurance bought the station) In almost any crash that RV will come unglued. If the Propane is on it will probably catch fire. You guy's do what you want, but my beer stays pretty cold after pulling all day with everything off. JMO

 

[Fireman Dave]

Well said, Don.

 

[JMorrow]

I keep my beer in a ice chest, because my wife won't let me put any beer in ther refer. she says that it takes up to much space. It's only one case (24 cans)?

 

[dresslered]

Thanks for bringing up the Dinosaur boards. These are the type of devices that I am referring to. Though I think that these boards are a great improvement over most factory boards, they are bypassing the safety feature that the manufacturer had built in by allowing the re-light. This can occur over and over as long as the refrig lights by the third attempt.

 

[Jetson]

I'm obviously ignorant about this since I thought all RV refers could run on 12V. I never run mine on propane unless I'm camping without electric hookups.

 

[Eric_77]

There are basically two types of RV fridge 2 way, Propane or 110 and; 3 way, Propane, 110 or 12V. So those without generators must either have the 3 way model or run propane to have the fridge turned on while driving.

 

[klenger]

Canned Beer. Give me a break!!!

 

[JMorrow]

Can beer camping (don't break and easy to get rid of) and bottle beer for home.

 

[Champane Flight]

excess fow valve.

The valve you mentioned is a excess flow valve. If any line is broken (sheared) it will shutoff flow. I travel with the fridge on most of the time and have never had a problem. I suppose there is that one time with anything. Some large highway tunnels will not allow you to pass through with your gas on.

 

[tlippy]

Retired Cops & Firemen !!!!!!!

I've got a brother-in-law of each of them.

The Cop drives with his foot on the brake - scared to death someone's going to pull out of a side street. New brake pads every 20K.

The Fireman comes to my house with a tape measure to be sure there's nothing within 3' of my electric in-wall heaters.

Both these guys would be perfectly happy sitting in a bullet proof, iron clad fire-proof enclosure with a TV and a bottle of beer.

If I'd pay any attention to either of them - I'd sell the RV, breathe oxygen and lock myself in the house.

 

[Doc Tinker]

LMAO

 

[Fireman Dave]

Had a rescue call last night. Pick-up towing a pop-up camper down the highway hit another truck, then rolled over and landed on it's roof. The camper did not flip, but stayed attached to the truck by only the safety chains. Even the trailer lights were still on when we pulled up on it. The father and little girl were trapped inside - hanging from their seat belts. Took awhile to get them out. I was glad that valve on the gas bottle was off. This is the situation that concerns me about the open valve rolling down the road. Had their been an ignition with an open gas valve - and them not being able to get out of their truck - well, it would have been real sad. Fortunately, no fire, and they seemed to have gotten out of it ok in general.



Not trying to preach or anything, just something to think about. And one more thing - seat belts save lives! Be safe everyone!