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Old 04-05-2012, 09:02 PM   #1
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Towing with fridge running on propane

Hi all, I done a search on this but could not get an answer. Most concerns were around the fridge running on propane while at the gas pump. My concern is that the fridge should be kept level when running. So when you're towing going up and down hills and temporary stops on uneven grade (red lights, etc.) is it ok to have the fridge running on propane to keep things cool? Does anyone do this regularly with no problems? Can I hurt or damage anything? Maybe some brands or models work better then others, but I have a 17z with a Norcold and wondering how well it performs running on propane while the trailer is in motion. Thanks for any advice.
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Old 04-05-2012, 09:07 PM   #2
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I've ran my RV refrigerators on auto for 11 years.

I've towed coast to coast, border to border and fueled many times without a problem or worry.
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Old 04-05-2012, 11:03 PM   #3
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I run mine on propane when we are traveling but don't tell anyone.
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Old 04-05-2012, 11:05 PM   #4
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We always us our refirgerator on propane while traveling. If we stop for lunch in a parking lot we turn it off if the trailer is not close to level. I would also turn it off at the tank if I were filling with gas. As it is we have a diesel so it is usually left on.
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Old 04-06-2012, 04:10 AM   #5
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I wouldn't worry about not being level while towing up and down hills. My '11 F-150 has an off-road screen on the drivers display that contains an inclinometer for front to back and side to side. Even on the steepest hills around here the front to back never goes past 2 or 3 degrees and the side to side never past 0.
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Old 04-06-2012, 05:53 AM   #6
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I asked our dealer and in our province there is a law against it butno one really cares. We have the same trailer and run propane.
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Old 04-06-2012, 06:19 AM   #7
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Mine stays on auto all the time as well. Not as concerned while fueling up if the diesel pumps are separate from the gas, but I will turn it off if I am near a gas nozzle. I've never heard of anything happening, but I don't want to be the first one either.
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Old 04-06-2012, 06:19 AM   #8
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The being level is only a worry when you are sitting still for long periods... that does not happen when you are driving... Some jurisdictions have laws against propane being on while driving... in an accident propane being on the possibility of a propane line being cut and then adding fuel to any possible fire .....
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Old 04-06-2012, 06:41 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bertscampers View Post
I asked our dealer and in our province there is a law against it butno one really cares. We have the same trailer and run propane.
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm also in Ontario, but if no one enforces this law and it won't damage anything, then this is what I will be doing! It's also against the law to use cell phones while driving and speeding, but we all do that too so why not add one more thing to the list, lol.

Out of curiosity though, and maybe only someone from Ontario can answer this, and that is when the OPP do their spot checks on long weekends and such and like to pull over vehicles towing trailers for safety checks, is this one of the things that they look at? Or are the just concerned about the TT being safely & correctly connected to the TV, tire condition, working lights, etc?
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Old 04-06-2012, 07:30 AM   #10
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We towed our fifth-wheel for 18 years with the frig on with propane. Went up and down some pretty steep hills and don't think we ever had a problem. No law around here about driving with the propane running. If there were an accident bad enough to break the propane lines, I would think it might rupture the tanks as well.
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Old 04-06-2012, 07:44 AM   #11
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I would turn it off if a sign was posted. Other than that I always travel with the fridge on.
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Old 04-06-2012, 07:54 AM   #12
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My parents bought a family RV last fall that anyone in the family can use. The maiden voyage was in early October to a local CG on the beach about 10 miles away. My parents were going out themselves but my brother and I both went out with them to help set up for the first time. We needed the experience so that when we take it with our families for the first time we look like rock stars. lol My brother and I towed it and my parents were behind us in another vehicle.

After we got the RV in place (a huge PITA being it was the first time plus you had to back in, plus it was rainy windy and cool, plus the turning area was small...lol), our parents turned on the fridge, broke out the coolers and began stocking the fridge. I was confused and questioned them on this and they said it was because they couldn't travel with the fridge running.

OK, I get that. What I don't get is why they didn't plug the RV in at home and let the fridge cool off and then stock it before leaving. Even if you don't run the fridge while driving the food will still be cold since the fridge itself was cold and it was stocked with food. Remember, it's only a 10 mile trip. I'm sure it was just part of the learning experience and they'll stock the fridge at home next time.

With that said, does my idea make sense as far as running the fridge at home and stocking it? It makes sense to me but I'm also a newbie. lol If it is the thing to do, how long is TOO long to run it this way? The fridge would never be opened from the time we left till the time we got to the CG.
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Old 04-06-2012, 08:10 AM   #13
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It makes sense to me. I do it all the time and the food is cold/frozen when I get to where I am going.

Here's one article of many I have read on the subject: http://gypsyjournal.net/traveling_with_propane.htm
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Old 04-06-2012, 08:17 AM   #14
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cm11599ps, it's makes perfect sense to run at home prior to leaving if possible to cool the fridge down. Also, when stocking the fridge always try to put cold & frozen items in there from your home fridge and running a fridge fan also helps. However, not all trips are going to be 10 miles. If you're planning a trip that's a couple hundred miles on a long weekend, be prepared to spend a few hours getting to your destination. Add the summer heat along with that and you will soon discover the benefit of having the fridge running while traveling.

Quahog, thanks for the link. Definitely some things to consider when you weight out the pros vs cons. I guess it depends on how long you will be traveling and what you have in the fridge.
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Old 04-06-2012, 08:57 AM   #15
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About spot checks, I am not sure. The OPP in ontario can be strict but I think they are mostly worried about being hooked up correctly and tires being safe. Too many accidents because of stupid mistakes. Having said that, on long weekends I am more careful and I do not travel with the propane on.

At other times I would travel with propane on as I don't think they will care or look to see if fridge is running.

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Old 04-06-2012, 09:52 AM   #16
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It took me a while but I found the old thread on this. You may find some useful in this thread:

http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...=towing+fridge
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Old 04-06-2012, 01:33 PM   #17
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I full time and will be leaving my winter home base in 3 weeks for my summer host position. It is a bit over 250 miles and all I will do with my refrigerator is to check that it switched over to propane after I disconnect from shore power.
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Old 04-06-2012, 02:13 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bertscampers View Post
About spot checks, I am not sure. The OPP in ontario can be strict but I think they are mostly worried about being hooked up correctly and tires being safe. Too many accidents because of stupid mistakes. Having said that, on long weekends I am more careful and I do not travel with the propane on.

At other times I would travel with propane on as I don't think they will care or look to see if fridge is running.

Cheers
Regarding the legality of running propane while driving in Ontario, here is the link to the Ontario Ministry of Transport;
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pub...es/part7.shtml
as you can see, it's quite okay to run propane in Ontario. I saw another web site somewhere that listed all the provinces in Canada, and if I remember correctly, all the other provinces allow it also. Wish I could find that page. It was done by some Canadian RV Club, I think.
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Old 04-06-2012, 04:04 PM   #19
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Snake Plissken, thanks for the link. I actually read that before I posted my question. My question was more about having the fridge running when the trailer is not level due to traveling then the propane issue.

David472, thanks for the link, at least now we all know it is legal here in Ontario.
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Old 04-06-2012, 08:29 PM   #20
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David thanks for link. That goes to show how much misinformation is out there.
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