Keep refrigerator cold while driving

[Riich]

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

The propane tank is safe and secure and nothing will happen if you leave the valve open.

Butttttt, what about that flimsy little rubber hose. Any chance it might split and leak? Probably not in a million years...hahaha.

Even if it does leak, the wind will probably blow the gas away....right?

Ever see a propane tank explode? I have.

Do as you please. But if you leave it open don't park next to me at the interstate rest stop. Momma didn't raise no moron.

You better find a new place to park where you are by yourself then. I'm betting 8 out of 10 RVs have their propane tank valve open, as it is designed to be when in use. Including while traveling.

[Kim Gass]

We have a 12 v fridge and the batteries keep it cold even when the engine is stopped. We couldn't run propane anyway even if we had it. The ferry we use is nine hours long and the ferry company seals the tank valves. I think worries about a long drive while underway are unfounded. Our longest and dumbest day was a 17 hour drive and food was fine.

Our next ferry ride is probably going to be 19 hours and I might fret a little as the house batteries might not be enough . The vehicles are in a cargo hold and cannot be accessed by passengers.

[Jaykol]

@Kim -If you are good for 17 hours now, adding another battery might be an easy way to get you there it seems.

[Kim Gass]

that would make three. Its easier to go to the grocery store after we get to Argentia. Three batteries would be an expensive weld job on the frame and add another 50 lbs to tongue weight

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by Jaykol

For the first time, we will be driving multiple days this summer - Michigan to the Black Hills, time there and then driving back, 3 to 5 days each way going thru the UP. Normally we drive 2-4 hours to a campground and for a day or two we just crank up the fridge at home before we go and all is well for a few hours. I feel a drive day of 6-8 hours or so could warm the fridge to much, and I don't want to use propane on the move. Will a bunch of ice packs keep it cold? Or a battery bank and plugging in the fridge directly, then recharging it each night? Or just use a cooler and stock up when we get there? Wife has insulin which must be kept cold.

Ice packs will help with regular food but the frozen stuff will thaw a little.

I bought a 12V refrigerator/freezer chest when our LP went on the fritz for the 3rd time! It’s a great compliment to camping in any situation. Mine even runs on a battery and solar! But our permanent fix was to replace theRV LP fridge with a 12V. It’s a game changer! I can’t tell you the peace of mind it gives us! The only downside, besides having enough battery power for boondocking, (which we do), is this winter I had to buy a 12V 150W heater to heat the compressor, (won’t go on below 30°F.) but it wasn’t a big deal, and we only winter camp once a year, during the holidays!

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

that would make three. Its easier to go to the grocery store after we get to Argentia. Three batteries would be an expensive weld job on the frame and add another 50 lbs to tongue weight

A portable so-gen would fix that issue! And it has many uses!

[cekkk]

Might be to your benefit to join the millions that travel with their propane fired refrigerators. It makes life so much easier. Personally we did it for over a decade.

[Steven&Teresa1]

Just use the propane, it’s cheap as can be, and lasts forever!!

[Antper]

Making camping too complicated and turns into laboring instead of fun.

If you don't wanna use propane another option just fire up the generator during the drive and run fridge off AC. I use propane during my drive always. I do turn propane burner off before fueling as precaution.

[1kpender]

Originally Posted by Jaykol

For the first time, we will be driving multiple days this summer - Michigan to the Black Hills, time there and then driving back, 3 to 5 days each way going thru the UP. Normally we drive 2-4 hours to a campground and for a day or two we just crank up the fridge at home before we go and all is well for a few hours. I feel a drive day of 6-8 hours or so could warm the fridge to much, and I don't want to use propane on the move. Will a bunch of ice packs keep it cold? Or a battery bank and plugging in the fridge directly, then recharging it each night? Or just use a cooler and stock up when we get there? Wife has insulin which must be kept cold.

You might want to check into a newer fridge. Ours is 12 volt and is super cold!

[Capt. Bill]

Originally Posted by Jaykol

For the first time, we will be driving multiple days this summer - Michigan to the Black Hills, time there and then driving back, 3 to 5 days each way going thru the UP. Normally we drive 2-4 hours to a campground and for a day or two we just crank up the fridge at home before we go and all is well for a few hours. I feel a drive day of 6-8 hours or so could warm the fridge to much, and I don't want to use propane on the move. Will a bunch of ice packs keep it cold? Or a battery bank and plugging in the fridge directly, then recharging it each night? Or just use a cooler and stock up when we get there? Wife has insulin which must be kept cold.

Why are you afraid to use the fridge on propane while driving down the road??? I have owner 7 Rv's over the past 52 years & have always ran propane while traveling! Don't believe all those rumors out there. If this was a hazardous practice, don't you think the RV manufactures would have warning signs or interlock the controls to prevent one from using LP while driving??


Happy Trails

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill

Why are you afraid to use the fridge on propane while driving down the road??? I have owner 7 Rv's over the past 52 years & have always ran propane while traveling! Don't believe all those rumors out there. If this was a hazardous practice, don't you think the RV manufactures would have warning signs or interlock the controls to prevent one from using LP while driving??


Happy Trails

"Fill the fridge the day before, add ice packs and keep the fridge running. When you travel, turn the fridge off. When you get to the camp site turn it back on". That's in Jayco's manual. I guess they decided that telling you was better than putting in expensive interlocks.

You have to turn them off in tunnels, gas stations and ferries. Why does the gomnt persecute us like that?

"Err on the side of caution". "I been doin dis fur furty fur years and aint never hert miself yet". Common phrases.

When catastrophes happen, the new phrases are "I didn't know, and "I didn't think".

It all comes down to do what you want, but don't be guided what internet rumors tell you. Just take responsibility for your actions.

Back in my youth I saw a propane explosion that should have never happened. It was a freak one-in-a-million occurrence. Who woulda thunk that little baby leak would have caused all that! A man lost his business, a young man lost his life and I lost my job. Made me a believer.

[Johnynorthland]

Easy fix, go 12V your never revolt !

[1kpender]

Agreed 100%!

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

A portable so-gen would fix that issue! And it has many uses!

I have no idea what you are talking about. We have a generator. We cannot run it on the ferry. Marine Atlantic ferries are like cruise ships with enclosed vehicle holds. We generally wait till off the ferry also for restrictions on food you can bring to Newfoundland.

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

I have no idea what you are talking about. We have a generator. We cannot run it on the ferry. Marine Atlantic ferries are like cruise ships with enclosed vehicle holds. We generally wait till off the ferry also for restrictions on food you can bring to Newfoundland.

You said in your previous post “3 new batteries and a welding job would be too expensive”. So-gen is short for solar generator, but it’s more of a battery backup with a built in inverter. But so-gen is the name they were given. I have one. I plug my RV into it to extend my 12V refrigerator usage. It works out great for us. And I use it in my house and for parties, etc… sell the RV and keep the so-gen. It’s a good investment.

[videoarizona]

I live and camp mostly in Arizona. We do get warm around here. I've found frozen water bottles placed in fridge, fridge door and freezer work very well to help keep the fridge temps decent while underway. Yes, I leave the fridge running on propane. Next up will be a pair of fans on the roof vent to help pull the hot air out.

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by videoarizona

I live and camp mostly in Arizona. We do get warm around here.

“Warm”! Lol

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

You said in your previous post “3 new batteries and a welding job would be too expensive”. So-gen is short for solar generator, but it’s more of a battery backup with a built in inverter. But so-gen is the name they were given. I have one. I plug my RV into it to extend my 12V refrigerator usage. It works out great for us. And I use it in my house and for parties, etc… sell the RV and keep the so-gen. It’s a good investment.

I think you have to consider where you travel and camp. Solar isn't a good investment for us. There are just too many trees and cloudy weather. We are in Maine and we looked at solar panels for home. We wouldn have had to have some 40K worth of non marketable timber removed to even start ( the price is now over 100K)
We seldom see any hot weather either and the A/C in our unit is mostly there for decoration. ( the fan is useful)
We don't worry about the fridge anymore. It seems to keep things cool and at a safe temp for at least 8 hours. But then again I don't think we have ever camped at even 90 degrees.

Solar here does work for some folks in the winter with trees down if the panels are angled correctly but I can't see it viable for us.

We only started RVing some eight years ago and come from an extended canoe trip background. We could easily stay out two weeks with no refrigeration and no cooler.

I think solar is here to stay. We power our home with a whole house standby generator but it is propane fueled. ( we lose power a lot and the genny is needed about two weeks a year. The reason.. those pesky trees and lines that run for miles through woods with no road )

[Nailzscott]

Interesting that you mention that little rubber hose to the refrigerator and not having a problem with it. Well, it did happen at least once - but not in a Jayco. We were in line getting into a park when my daughter-in-law (who’s family just happened to be behind us) called and said there was smoke coming out of the side of the camper. We jumped out, got the fire extinguisher out of the camper, and put out the small fire. $4000 in damage. The little rubber had been installed with a bend in it that apparently became crimped and caused a leak. That leak caused the fridge’s pilot to blow out - so when we stopped in line park’s entrance the sparking of the pilot lighter caught it on fire. During repairs a copper line was used in place of the rubber. My Jayco has a 12v fridge so we won’t see that scenario again.