How to keep fridge running when on the road

barrettsr · 05-27-2019, 11:39 AM

I have a small 2019 Jayflight 174BH. My family is new to all of this. Never owned an RV before.

I am planning a long road trip this summer, travelling many days in a row and camping in the nights of course. But how do I keep the fridge cold during the day? It does not work unless on propane or plugged in at campsite.

Is driving down road using propane safe? I have heard it is not. Are there safety precautions built into the campers?

Or what other options or aftermarket things are there?

jimovernon · 05-27-2019, 12:26 PM

There are many posts on here about this subject and much disagreement. I have always traveled with the fridge on propane and will only shut it off if I stop for fuel. Never had a problem in almost 40 years.

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Subaru297 · 05-27-2019, 02:43 PM

You can travel with propane on. Just turn it off when needed. Tunnels and ferries etc...
I have never turned it off while refueling but that is probably good advice to do so as well.
My fridge vent is on the opposite side and pretty far away that I am not concerned while fueling.

Cheers

Les7h · 05-27-2019, 03:01 PM

We always travel with ours on never a problem - 30+ years Les

Murff · 05-27-2019, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimovernon

There are many posts on here about this subject and much disagreement. I have always traveled with the fridge on propane and will only shut it off if I stop for fuel. Never had a problem in almost 40 years.

X2

Murff

Stingray75 · 05-27-2019, 05:32 PM

Congrats on the new memory maker and, welcome to JOF. Your fridge will work on propane and the 12volt electrical system in your trailer. Keep it on while traveling.

Random · 05-27-2019, 06:46 PM

My Norcold N8X wont travel with the propane on it seems. After just a bit, maybe 20 minutes of traveling it flashes an error code of 5 flashes.

"Flash red on 5 time, off 5 seconds, repeat"

LP Gas Flame when flame should not be lit.

Even after 4-5 hrs of travel the freezer ice is still hard, im not paying attention to it. Turning the unit off then on, starts it up fine again on propane or genny/shore power.

us71na · 05-27-2019, 06:48 PM

We keep ours running while traveling. I've never had a problem. You can get a remote reading thermometer such as a Temp Minder and monitor your fridge temp while you drive. We have a two channel one that reads the temp in the camper, one in the fridge and one outside so we know if jackets are needed in the morning.

cekkk · 05-27-2019, 09:40 PM

What jimovernon said.

Neo1130 · 05-29-2019, 11:52 AM

I want to say my 174BH was a three way fridge and we used DC when on the road, traveling. Gas for boon-docking and shore of course when hooked up at a site. Yours doesn't have a DC option?

Mr. McNasty · 06-12-2019, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo1130

I want to say my 174BH was a three way fridge and we used DC when on the road, traveling. Gas for boon-docking and shore of course when hooked up at a site. Yours doesn't have a DC option?

You're right. I have the 174BH and it should run while plugged into your tow vehicle. You may have to cycle the power switch on and off after shutting off the propane or unhooking from shore power.

Gobbledot · 06-12-2019, 03:41 PM

I would like to have one that would just work correctly. Mine will light when I unplug the power if I have the fridge in auto mode but then in about 3 or 4 hours when it cycles it wont light and I am assuming it may be because the camper battery might be low. I have it plugged in to my tow vehicle and thought it would charge from that but it don't

.

GlennB · 06-12-2019, 06:58 PM

something to think about I had a major wreck with my RV a TV fishtailing into a 12 foot ditch and caused the propane flex lines to break at the tanks releasing gas. Thank goodness the fire dept. was able to shut off the tank valve before anything happened. DW and I are OK

rowemi · 06-12-2019, 07:23 PM

We fill some of the spare space in the refigurator and freezer with plastic pepsi bottles that have been filled about 80% full of water and then squeezed to remove the air. While on the road the thermal mass (along with keeping the fidge and freezer relatively full) will keep things cool or froozen most of the travel day.

Mjgibbs · 06-12-2019, 08:58 PM

Always have ours on while on the road. No problems.

Johnnymailman · 06-12-2019, 09:26 PM

When we are on long day road trips, we leave the gas/fridge on. turning it off when refueling. Remember it may not be just you refueling at the pumps.

Not to be a downer but lol... If you were to be in an accident and there was a fire/explosion. And they find your gas was on, good luck on any insurance covering you, regardless of fault.

mitchhelms · 06-13-2019, 02:31 PM

Just got back from a 2500 mile trip and turned my propane on the night before we left to cool refrig/freezer down and did not turn it off until we got back 3 weeks later.

RoWest · 06-13-2019, 02:42 PM

There was a whole generation of propane POWERED vehicles and now it's liquefied natural gas under high pressure. Our local buses and trash trucks are all LNG. Using propane for refrigeration on the road is proven safe.

Johnnymailman · 06-13-2019, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoWest

There was a whole generation of propane POWERED vehicles and now it's liquefied natural gas under high pressure. Our local buses and trash trucks are all LNG. Using propane for refrigeration on the road is proven safe.

It's that flame that's exposed to the open air, is the issue.

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