Leave gas fridge on while traveling?

[D White]

Dec, 2001 Coast to Coast magazine has an excellent article on this very subject. You don't need to be in an accident to have propane system problems. The #1 cause of propane system troubles are from simply traveling, road vibration.



Myself, I travel with the valves turned off at the tanks.



The odds of something going wrong are slim to none, but why not put the odds in your favor.



The writer of the article had a faulty connection to the back of his stove come loose from road vibration and leak propane inside his trailer. Yea, the new tanks should shut down if this happens, but will they?



Don't want to start one of these:-{} just giving my opinion.



Read the article, I think most people will have a different opinion after.



Doug

 

[jwdeeming]

I always traveled with mine on, and I always checked it at every opportunity. Only time I ever had it blow out was on severe 4x4 roads where the camper was getting tilted and rocked from side to side, or when driving in a HARD crosswind that seemed to find it's way through the vents in a way the louvers weren't designed to block.



I never read a spec or recommendation about this but, come to think of it, it wouldn't matter to me anyway. Having a gas-fed flame in the back of a vehicle is something I would want to inspect at every reasonable opportunity. And if it started going out during regular driving and I couldn't identify a reasonable cause, I'd quit doing it.



JimD

 

[Deezul1]

Done it both ways and mostly leave the gas on when its real hot outside other wise it stays cool enough if you leave it closed.

 

[merryman]

While traveling a few years ago, I forgot to turn the tank valve off, stopped for some reason and noticed a strong smell of propane. On opening the trailer door the smell was real strong. Turned valve off and left door open to air it out. After a while on investigating nothing appeared to be wrong untill we opened up the back of the stove. Whether it was a defective piece of pipe or an installation problem, I have no idea, but the copper tubing was broken so that there was a large crack where it attached to the stove.

Wonder what would have happened if there had been an ignition source in the trailer? Would a refer running offer such ignition?



Vaughn

 

[pwr2tow]

After much thought and deliberation on my part I think I will start traveling with the propane shut off at the tanks. I'am not saying I'am turning into a weiny but I have always beleaved in an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. After reading some of the things that can go wrong, I will reverse my acts and travel with the propane off at the tank not just shut the refridgerator off. This is not meant to flame or install pride in one persons perspective or anothers, it is just what I perfer to do in the future.



Ron

 

[dremelts]

Well, we picked up the 5er last Friday and I did ask the service guy about it. He did not seem to think there was any problem with leaving it running while on the road.



I'll probably leave it on, but I was wondering if there is a way to get some sort of remote warning device in the cab from a propane detector in the trailer. That may at least provide some peace of mind.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Ron, when I first bought our trailer there was a problem with our fridge (since fixed with an update kit) that would cause the flame to go out (and shut off the gas as well) when driving down the road. What I did for a while was plug the trailer in and turn the fridge on (on AC) and turn it to it's coldest setting. Then I'd put two tupperware dishes (the double sandwich size) and put about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom and put them in the freezer. Then I'd load up my food the next morning, move one of the tupperware dishes to the fridge close the doors and turn the fridge off then hit the road. After 13 hours of driving with the fridge off the ice had barely started to melt in the fridge - kept everything nice and cold.



-Steve

 

[BK]

I understand the risk of traveling with it on. All industry sources tell you to run with the gas off. I'm sure their lawyers tell them they need to say that.



I know of 2 fires from running with it on that caused the truck and trailer to burn to the ground. Luckly not sole was hurt.



I myself almost lost my trailer to having the gas on. An 18wheeler lost a cap of a tire. Tore a large hole in my siding and was fractions of an inch from tearing the gas line to shreads.



I almost was towing a camp fire. Got real lucky. But with out a 3 way fridge, these 10 hours trips arent doable without leaving the gas on. For local camping trips I pack the night before and will turn the gas off.



When I need a new fridge or if I ever buy a new camper, it will be a 3 way fridge.



If you do it, don't blame anyone else if you windup towing a camp fire behind you.



Just my $. 02



Bob

 

[pwr2tow]

Steve,

Thanks for the tip, useing your techneic it won't take up much space either.



Thanks,

Ron

 

[whiteknight]

I do travel with mine on. When I was in school, the school bus I rode on used propane instead of gasoline. I assume the propane tank had to be open for this to happen. I have seen advertisements for propane injection systems for diesel engines.



My uncle USED to have a "chow mobile" truck that he drove around and sold sandwiches and stuff from. He was side-swiped by an 18-wheeler and ended up rolloing it off the side of the interstate with propane on and whatever appliances it had on. There was no fire, but the fire dept. did foam it real good and they shut down the highway causing a huge traffic jam. He was beatup pretty good but alright.



I like the idea of using a 12vdc to 110vac inverter my self and am thinking of trying it.

 

[DUNE RACER]

I had a turbo charged chevy blazer that ran on LP, the auto motive applications use a very heavy braided liquid fuel line that goes to a vacume operated shut off valve. The holding tank also has an automatic shut off for open flow and all the tank valving was required to be frame protected.



I can't keep the fridge in my camper on for anything, I've rewired, tried new boards, plugged holes and it still shuts off when traveling (even in 12 volt mode ) I can't win