Leaving the Fridge on while travelling

[SmileySam]

Hi,
I just bought my first camping trailer. It's a hybrid 16 XRB and my question is: can I keep the fridge on while on the road (connected to propane)? The previous owner told me not to, but how are you supposed to store your food cold or frozen?
Thanks,
Sam

[Marine71-76]

Originally Posted by SmileySam

Hi,
I just bought my first camping trailer. It's a hybrid 16 XRB and my question is: can I keep the fridge on while on the road (connected to propane)? The previous owner told me not to, but how are you supposed to store your food cold or frozen?
Thanks,
Sam

Yes...there are a few exceptions - fueling up and going through tunnels. However, am aware of people who do both anyway.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by SmileySam

Hi,
I just bought my first camping trailer. It's a hybrid 16 XRB and my question is: can I keep the fridge on while on the road (connected to propane)? The previous owner told me not to, but how are you supposed to store your food cold or frozen?
Thanks,
Sam

Differing opinions, but the majority do. I did for over 40 years.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...dge-95709.html

[SmileySam]

Originally Posted by grumpy

differing opinions, but the majority do. I did for over 40 years.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...dge-95709.html

thank you

[Jerry713]

Originally Posted by SmileySam

Hi,
I just bought my first camping trailer. It's a hybrid 16 XRB and my question is: can I keep the fridge on while on the road (connected to propane)? The previous owner told me not to, but how are you supposed to store your food cold or frozen?
Thanks,
Sam

Welcome! It is actually illegal in a few states so check your states laws but I've never heard of anyone getting fined for this. Only issues I can see you might have would be if you were involved in an accident where you were at fault. Could give an insurance company wiggle room if they were to find out. But that's a stretch.

[Murff]

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!

[Craig in Alberta]

Hey Smiley Sam,

As has been implied via prior responses, there's mixed opinions (and laws) on the matter. Rightly or wrongly, I fall into the camp where it seems logical that it's safer NOT to have a propane appliance burning while travelling.

Instead, the morning of (or night before) a camping trip, I just plug my trailer into the house (using a 30 amp to 120v converter), let it cool down for several hours (or overnight), then load it with food/drinks, and turn on the battery setting prior to departure. The battery doesn't cool the fridge down, but it will adequately maintain the coolness that was achieved by plugging in previously for a few hours. Just another solution to consider (plus, you'll save that propane for the campsite). Hope that helps.

[Parrott]

These refrigerators use so very little propane and can take a long time to cool down. Foolish to not keep it running traveling.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Craig in Alberta

Hey Smiley Sam,

As has been implied via prior responses, there's mixed opinions (and laws) on the matter. Rightly or wrongly, I fall into the camp where it seems logical that it's safer NOT to have a propane appliance burning while travelling.

Instead, the morning of (or night before) a camping trip, I just plug my trailer into the house (using a 30 amp to 120v converter), let it cool down for several hours (or overnight), then load it with food/drinks, and turn on the battery setting prior to departure. The battery doesn't cool the fridge down, but it will adequately maintain the coolness that was achieved by plugging in previously for a few hours. Just another solution to consider (plus, you'll save that propane for the campsite). Hope that helps.

FWIW, burning your propane is the least of your worries—at least for me. We traveled 2,500 miles over three weeks, using the fridge on propane in between stops — some of it in 100* weather. In camp, we ran the furnace often, along with the stove and WH. Still used less than a single 5-gallon tank.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Craig in Alberta

Hey Smiley Sam,

As has been implied via prior responses, there's mixed opinions (and laws) on the matter. Rightly or wrongly, I fall into the camp where it seems logical that it's safer NOT to have a propane appliance burning while travelling.

Instead, the morning of (or night before) a camping trip, I just plug my trailer into the house (using a 30 amp to 120v converter), let it cool down for several hours (or overnight), then load it with food/drinks, and turn on the battery setting prior to departure. The battery doesn't cool the fridge down, but it will adequately maintain the coolness that was achieved by plugging in previously for a few hours. Just another solution to consider (plus, you'll save that propane for the campsite). Hope that helps.

That usually only applies to pop-ups most trailers only have 120/LP not 120/12/LP

[CAG]

Originally Posted by SmileySam

Hi,
I just bought my first camping trailer. It's a hybrid 16 XRB and my question is: can I keep the fridge on while on the road (connected to propane)? The previous owner told me not to, but how are you supposed to store your food cold or frozen?
Thanks,
Sam

Use the search bar at the top of the page and you can read for several days on all of the previous posts on this.

[damammel]

Originally Posted by Parrott

These refrigerators use so very little propane and can take a long time to cool down. Foolish to not keep it running traveling.

Yes totally agree.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by damammel

Yes totally agree.

We cannot travel in this part of the country without the fridg on or we suffer spoiled food.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by CAG

We cannot travel in this part of the country without the fridg on or we suffer spoiled food.

Same here.

[travelingjw]

For those who know more than I do...most of you . I thought that the trailers needs to be level within 3 degrees for the refrigerator to work properly. What am I missing, how can you keep it running while traveling. (I have a feeling this is going to be one of my "oh #$%#$% reactions.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

For those who know more than I do...most of you . I thought that the trailers needs to be level within 3 degrees for the refrigerator to work properly. What am I missing, how can you keep it running while traveling. (I have a feeling this is going to be one of my "oh #$%#$% reactions.

From my Norcold manual:

"Operation during travel:
While the refrigerator should be level when the vehicle is stopped, performance during travel is not usually affected."

The motion created by traveling down the road is sufficient to keep things flowing without overheating the boiler in most cases. If you are stopped for any length of time then the leveling requirements should be paid attention to.

For added protection I would recommend installing an ARP Fridge Defend to monitor the boiler temperatures. The device will automatically turn off the fridge before any damage is done due to overheat and then turn it back on once the boiler temp is back to normal. This covers any usual driving conditions such as a very long and drawn out mountain pass or being stuck out of level (i.e. break-down on uneven terrain) where you might not be in a position to turn the fridge off or have forgotten about it while dealing with other issues.

[travelingjw]

Thank you, and that is why I value this forum and the people using it. Interesting that that section is not in my manual.

[DennisH]

We've had RV's for over 50 years our first couple had Ice Boxes, then when they offered Gas/Elect Refers we got one and have traveled with it on ever sense.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

We've got over 50,000 miles on our 2017 16XRB. Refrig is always on. We like ice cream.

We would turn if off where prohibited by law but have not encountered that. We leave it on while fueling but always try to get the first pump on the outside island so the trailer is well away from the pumps.

We love our 16XRB - hope yours brings you lot of good times and great memories.

[alwalk63]

We fill the fridge and cool off at home the day before. Don't bother keeping the fridge on while traveling. 4 to 5 hour trips it doesn't seem to warm up much.