Running the frig while traveling?

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

What?!! You don’t pee in the driver’s seat while in motion?!!

well.. No - Not in the Seneca

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

well.. No - Not in the Seneca

Ah, just while parked, eh?

[GraftonGuns]

We have been using the propane for the refrigerator while traveling in our campers, motorhome etc. since 1988 No BOOM yet........LOL

[Murff]

Murff

[JimD]

It was mentioned that the driver does not pee in the seat while driving. Guess that only leaves poop in the seat.

I had a Lance Camper for 25 years. The fridge in it was a 3-way where it used 12 volt power while driving down the road. Granted it was only a 4 cubic foot unit.

I assume that RV fridges no longer can operate off 12 volts since the fridges are so much larger and most likely require larger heating elements.

Running the fridge off an inverter pulls big power. The vehicle alternator should be able to supply the current provided the batteries are not real low and the wiring is of sufficient gauge.

Regarding the posting of the same questions over and over, yeah that is a bother. I have tried using the search function but it is somewhat clumsy. Maybe I did not use it effectively. I would love to see a separate section in the forum where "common" problems would be listed. Things such as water leakage, converter troubleshooting, etc. etc. Any way that could be done?

[NVGun40]

Oh Man!!!! Late login.... I missed stirring this pot. DANG IT!!!

[Gunfighter]

Originally Posted by ralett

Ok, we have only had our rig (2018 Seneca) for 1 1/2 years. We have always run the frig on propane while traveling to our destination. While discussing plans for our next trip with a new "camping friend", they were shocked to hear that we did this. They feel it is dangerous to have the propane tank valve open while traveling and always stop close to their destination to buy groceries, only firing up the frig after they park their trailer.

Everyone else we camp with loads their food before they start leave and runs the frig while in route.

I'm curious if we are "risk takers" or if the majority of folks also use the frig while traveling.

Your friend must have a big cooler and lots of ice. I leave home after having the refer plugged in on AC for at least two days. Then let it run on propane while traveling, continues to keep freezer cold and makes ice!

[Murff]

Been RVing since 1983. Always run the fridge on profane while driving and, so far, no KA-BLOOIE!

Will continue to run it while driving. Only exception here in the state of Washington, has to be turned off while on a ferry crossing Puget Sound.

Murff

[MichaelO]

Originally Posted by Murff

Been RVing since 1983. Always run the fridge on profane while driving and, so far, no KA-BLOOIE!

Will continue to run it while driving. Only exception here in the state of Washington, has to be turned off while on a ferry crossing Puget Sound.

Murff

How profane do you get?

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by MichaelO

How profane do you get?

You beat me to it, I was going to ask the same question!


Roger

[MichaelO]

One nice thing about my previous trailer that was 41 years old is that the fridge cooled down fairly quickly compared to these newer fridges. Of course it went through the propane faster too.

[MichaelO]

Originally Posted by rkresge

You beat me to it, I was going to ask the same question!


Roger

You've got to be quick if you want to make the smart ass comments.

[Bullitt6283]

Originally Posted by JimD

....Regarding the posting of the same questions over and over, yeah that is a bother. ..... I would love to see a separate section in the forum where "common" problems would be listed. Things such as water leakage, converter troubleshooting, etc. etc. Any way that could be done?

Yes. But we must lobby the site admin to make it happen. (Know anyone?)

We need a "RV-FAQ" forum. Under that forum would be sub-forums.

• RV Fridge
• Domestic Fridge
• Inverters
• Converters
• Coach Batteries
• Chassis Batteries
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Freshwater tanks
• Greywater tanks
• Blackwater tanks
• ???

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

Yes. But we must lobby the site admin to make it happen. (Know anyone?)

We need a "RV-FAQ" forum. Under that forum would be sub-forums.

In a perfect world.... we already have "sticky" threads..

Problem is, getting newbies to find those FAQ threads and sticky threads... good luck with that.

[Bullitt6283]

True. That's why I thought that type of knowledge could reside in a single FAQ area.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

Yes. But we must lobby the site admin to make it happen. (Know anyone?)

We need a "RV-FAQ" forum. Under that forum would be sub-forums.

• RV Fridge
• Domestic Fridge
• Inverters
• Converters
• Coach Batteries
• Chassis Batteries
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Freshwater tanks
• Greywater tanks
• Blackwater tanks
• ???

When I started the "RVing With SOLAR" community, I tried, and you see where the SOLAR topic is. RVing With SOLAR now has 362 members... The problem with the "Community" is if you are on the forum (not in the community) and search SOLAR, it does not show the community posts.


Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Bullitt6283]

If this can be done, I'd like to keep it within the main forum structure so it can be searched.

For example, a new category under Jayco Tech and Tow which is named "The Most Frequently Asked Questions Ever"


.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

Ah, just while parked, eh?

nope... only let gas out....

Originally Posted by JimD

It was mentioned that the driver does not pee in the seat while driving. Guess that only leaves poop in the seat.

only the toilet seat...

Originally Posted by NVGun40

Oh Man!!!! Late login.... I missed stirring this pot. DANG IT!!!

yea... sigh - I was trying to bring some levity to this thread... but the trolls...

Originally Posted by Murff

Been RVing since 1983. Always run the fridge on profane while driving and, so far, no KA-BLOOIE!
Murff

sometimes we all run it on more than that... sometimes not!

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

If this can be done, I'd like to keep it within the main forum structure so it can be searched.

.

BINGO...

While my original intent was to throw some sarcasm into the age old debate about Propane on the road... there are a lot of very passionately opinionated folks on the forum that the Moderators should have a list of. (I did when I was host and moderator of a V-bulliten board). I reached out to the OP and sent them a message that my intentions were not to make fun of, or diminish the question at all... but there are a lots of choices that are available to an RV'er - some legitimate, and some not, and a forum is only as good as the worst advice given.

There are some on the fourm that know me, have met me and I stay in touch with many as I can... I strongly feel that, and it is incumbent on all to guide, mentor, coach and assist our fellow JOF members when they are in that time of need... There is nothing worse than being somewhere away from home and you can not get your slide in... Face it, you can not get onto the highway in that shape. Yea... if your water heater is acting up... you take a cold shower, but it does not keep you from getting home.

Many on JOF are brand new... just looking for answers... others have been counting to a trillion... others changing a word for another and even others for "I don't want to know why".

But.... the reason I am here... is to find solutions to the issues we face with our Jayco... to post solutions we have encountered to OUR issues we have ran into - share some ideas we have put into making our Seneca our home-while-on-the-road more comfortable... all the while I might be a bit sarcastic.

No harm intended...
Steve

[JimD]

As a retired electronic technician I actually enjoy using my expertise to help others. The troubleshooting that comes second nature to me often is totally Greek to newbies. I have seen responses to questions from members that appear to be well versed in electronics and I enjoy reading their hints. Kindred spirits I guess.

It appears that many of the same questions get asked about every few days. I believe it may be due to what happens when you try to search a topic. I input a search for battery not charging and it returned 500 posts. Where would you even begin?

It is far easier for a newbie, or even someone like myself who has only been here for a couple of years, to simply ask the question of the forum. This most often will get the results you want. You may not know the answer has been given already a hundred times.

I believe there has to be an easier way. People most often ask "what do I do when my xxx doesn't work?" This could easily be address by adding another section to the forum named something like common troubleshooting. Under that heading may be individual posts on battery charging, inverter problems, ac problems, water leakage problems, how to use a multi-meter and many others.

With a separate troubleshooting section maybe the number of articles to be looked at for an answer would be more manageable. When I help someone troubleshoot an electrical problem most often I am saying the exact thing that I said previously. I almost want to copy and paste my answers.

OK, I will come down from my soapbox. This all comes from my years in tech service where I had to help other techs with the same problems over and over. I feel that I haven't really retired and to be honest, I actually enjoy helping out. Maybe I am a mutant.

[PapiG]

We often move daily on our trips. As a result, run our fridge with the auto switch so it uses propane when driving.

I do wish it would run on 12v, just because propane isn't cheap.... that said, we only filled once on our 6,600 mile trip to Newfoyndland and Labrador this year.

However, Ferry requires propane shut off during the crossing..... 7+ hours to NF, 1 hour to Labrador. Planned ahead and put frozen milk jug in fridge. All was good.