On-road refrigerator use

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by Studiovette

I seem to be having an issue where my fridge will try to light up when propane is off then it relizes it's on shore power and gets stuck. I need to move it to off for a min then bring it back to Auto. Also since I'm new to these types of fridges. Does the freezer generally get cold the fastest? I plugged in about an HR ago ( preparing for trip Fri morn? and the freezer is down to 40deg while the fridge is still at 70! Wth?

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

An hour is not enough time to cool down the frig. There is no fan to blow the cool air around. I added a fan to the cooling coil and it has significantly helps keep the temp consistent and helps cool down the frig down in a couple hours.

[vcbice]

Yes, takes a while to cool.

We run ours on the road (propane) all the time. Yes, in some cross winds the flame will 'blow out' and it won't restart. You have to turn it off, then back on again.

Some units will only try to start a few times and then they stop. Others will keep trying until they start (it may have to do with whether they are on 110V or not). And, yes, if the unit sits a while then the propane may need to run a while for the fridge (or water heater) to work properly. Turning on a range burner will help the process along faster.

[jmbmoore]

This is our first year with the new 3 way fridge. Previously had been just an icebox. Just curious, how quickly would you go through a tank of propane with the fridge?

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by jmbmoore

This is our first year with the new 3 way fridge. Previously had been just an icebox. Just curious, how quickly would you go through a tank of propane with the fridge?

The fridge doesn't burn much propane at all. We put about 6500 miles on the rig each season, and unless we've used the furnace a lot at the beginning of the season, have yet to burn through a tank.

[RAurand]

When getting ready to go camping, I start up the fridge 2 days earlier. Than, the day before departure, we start loading the fridge. When we are ready to leave, 5 minutes After disconnecting from shore power, I confirm the fridge is running on propane.

[Bassdogs]

Really can't understand why there is so much discussion about using RV devices as they are designed to be used. Using a fridge on propane when traveling or camping off grid and switching [as designed] when you get hooked up is just one of the examples. For one reason or another air gets into the propane line from time to time and needs to be purged. My experience is that the first time I fire up the fridge on gas after a long down time I need to bleed the line. I do that by first lighting each of the burners on the stove and letting them burn for maybe 15 sec. Then I switch the fridge to gas. If the warning light starts blinking after a few sec I switch it off, wait a few seconds and then repeat the process. I repeat that process until the gas lite stays on. Once I use it on gas for a few minutes I do not have any issues switching it back and forth in automatic when we hook up or disconnect.

The modern gas/elec fridge works well and uses minimal propane. With propane relatively cheap and available it is silly to jump thru hoops to save gas by not running the fridge during transit.

[RECON]

Good info!

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by RAurand

When getting ready to go camping, I start up the fridge 2 days earlier. Than, the day before departure, we start loading the fridge. When we are ready to leave, 5 minutes After disconnecting from shore power, I confirm the fridge is running on propane.

EXACTLY the way I do it.

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Really can't understand why there is so much discussion about using RV devices as they are designed to be used. Using a fridge on propane when traveling or camping off grid and switching [as designed] when you get hooked up is just one of the examples. For one reason or another air gets into the propane line from time to time and needs to be purged. My experience is that the first time I fire up the fridge on gas after a long down time I need to bleed the line. I do that by first lighting each of the burners on the stove and letting them burn for maybe 15 sec. Then I switch the fridge to gas. If the warning light starts blinking after a few sec I switch it off, wait a few seconds and then repeat the process. I repeat that process until the gas lite stays on. Once I use it on gas for a few minutes I do not have any issues switching it back and forth in automatic when we hook up or disconnect.

The modern gas/elec fridge works well and uses minimal propane. With propane relatively cheap and available it is silly to jump thru hoops to save gas by not running the fridge during transit.

+1. ALL of this.

But if it makes people feel safer/better/warm & fuzzy inside to run with the tanks closed, I'm not going to judge. As DW would say, "you do you".

[vcbice]

We also run our fridge on propane while on the highway. Been doing so for 20 years of camping.

Yes, there have been some rigs burn due to this. The ones I have seen were very old units so not sure if age was an issue or not. The heating units do 'wear out' over a long period of time, just as furnaces will 'burn through' their combustion chambers over time.

[The Logans]

That's what they were designed to do... put it on auto, and stop worrying about it. The only exceptions are where prohibited, or common sense... turn it off at fuel pumps, propane filling station, in tunnels, etc.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by The Logans

That's what they were designed to do... put it on auto, and stop worrying about it. The only exceptions are where prohibited, or common sense... turn it off at fuel pumps, propane filling station, in tunnels, etc.

And on ships. I had to certify and attach red tags on the propane tank handles before boarding the ferry from Nova Scotia to PEI.

[Kim Gass]

We run with propane and electric off. And keep the door closed and a couple of frozen 2 litre bottles in the freezer.
30000 miles or more never an issue. Grocery stores are rare. Today's run over dirt roads and no towns
Fridge fully stocked.
Well put in 300 miles on dirt roads in the Yukon and Alaska. We'd rather not hunt up propane fill stations. It's expensive as is gasoline. 5 bucks a gallon and 300 miles between statuons

[Cranetech]

Of course, you want to be careful around fueling stations and pay attention to the warnings regarding tunnels and ferries. Use a little common sense, and all is well.



100% agree with this. From what I have been told the fridge "should"stay cold for about 4 hrs of travel. I have been running mine in transit with no trouble but DEFINATLY turn it off before fuelling, ferries etc.