Norcold Fridges while driving

[Astronuts]

We own a 2016 slx 145rb with a 2.7 cu. ft. Norcold 2 way fridge. This season we plan to drive with fridge on propane. Has anyone had issues while driving such as fridge not staying cold? We are aware of the safety issues but last season we switched the fridge off while driving and it warmed up so much after only 4 or 5 hours of driving and then took forever to get cold again when parked. We didn't trust keeping meat or other perishable items in it. BTW, we have a battery powered fan in it to circulate the air.

[WinnieView]

We have driven with the fridge on propane for 15 years and never an issue.

[Sundancer330]

Always drive using the propane, never had it go out.

[CampNow]

Originally Posted by Astronuts

We own a 2016 slx 145rb with a 2.7 cu. ft. Norcold 2 way fridge. This season we plan to drive with fridge on propane. Has anyone had issues while driving such as fridge not staying cold? We are aware of the safety issues but last season we switched the fridge off while driving and it warmed up so much after only 4 or 5 hours of driving and then took forever to get cold again when parked. We didn't trust keeping meat or other perishable items in it. BTW, we have a battery powered fan in it to circulate the air.

Depending on the location of the frig vents, some trailers do have difficulty keeping the propane lit while traveling at speed. If your frig works well parked (while operating on propane), but doesn't while on the road, you may have to install some baffles/covers to keep wind out of the vents. The only way to know for sure is to turn it on and try. Odds are you'll be just fine.

[ttavasc]

We've not had any issues with it staying lit on our 195RB while underway, but it did not cool as well underway as when parked. I added a vent fan in the top vent to help exhaust the hot air and that helped a lot. Keeping the interior temp of the camper down will also help while traveling. We've added sun shades to all the windows and powered roof vents to help in that respect while traveling.

[eagleback]

just turn it off when fueling up.

[wabirch]

RKS in a rear end collision is a thought I fear, still run with it on

[Rendrag]

Mine was more likely to go out when traveling with a side wind, and when the roof vent was open. I got in the habit of checking the flame anytime I stopped for whatever reason. I could keep it cool that way. Worked fine when parked. Some have installed a baffle to protect the flame when on the highway.

[wabirch]

I think plenty of us commented on that baffle need, must be a 7 inch high piece of aluminum that shields the entire length of the vent on mine. Granted it has square corners which isn't too nice for a cover, but that add on to the roof must help this flame out situation.

[Atlee]

We're always run the fridge on propane while traveling.

Of course the next time out, it could explode, and vaporize me. Or someone could run into the rear of the trailer, and make it explode and vaporize me. Or, someone could hit the rear corner, cause the trailer to sway out of control and end up perched precariously on the edge of the jersey wall on a high over pass, like happened in St Petersburg yesterday.

[rkresge]

Go with it. They're designed to be run on LP gas while you're on the road. Some people worry about having the LP gas turned on while driving, but that's really a non-issue. Loads of safety in the system.

Enjoy your camping!

Roger

[norty1]

I have never had a problem with it blowing out when on the road.

I think the location of the fridge vent has an effect also.

[Rendrag]

Originally Posted by wabirch

I think plenty of us commented on that baffle need, must be a 7 inch high piece of aluminum that shields the entire length of the vent on mine. Granted it has square corners which isn't too nice for a cover, but that add on to the roof must help this flame out situation.

Only two people mentioned baffles and I was one of them. Is that "Plenty"? Sorry if that was too many.

[wabirch]

Originally Posted by Rendrag

Only two people mentioned baffles and I was one of them. Is that "Plenty"? Sorry if that was too many.

Sorry I wasn't clearer, by plenty it was reference to Jayco engineers for adding the deflector to the roof edge along the length of the refridge vent opening.

[Cyclops69]

Never had an issue..

[damammel]

We have a 287bhsw slx and have always traveled with the fridge on propane. We have never had an issue and the temps in the fridge are easily in the high 30s inside all the time.

[hlcapo]

So many ways to get vaporized but at least the meat stays cold.

[nighthawk87]

I don’t understand why it isn’t designed to run on electric when hooked up to the TV.


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[CampNow]

Originally Posted by nighthawk87

I don’t understand why it isn’t designed to run on electric when hooked up to the TV.


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Good question.

If by electric, you mean 120 vac, you would need an inverter. Not an efficient process because you'd be using 12 vdc to power an inverter, then using the inverter to provide power to heat the frig's boiler. Probably need about 20-25 amps of 12 vdc. Too much current for the wiring harness that's connected between the TV and TT. The TV could "help" power the frig's boiler via an inverter (with the primary load being supplied by the trailer's batteries), but it cannot handle the whole load.

If you happened to have a 3-way frig where the boiler could be heated directly by 12 vdc, then you'd still have the same problem. You'd still need to use the trailer's batteries to supplement the overall current load. The TV's wiring harness cannot handle the entire load safely. This is why 3-way frigs are not common or popular. 3-way frigs in 12 vdc mode use so much current (drains the batteries so quickly) it makes them more or less impractical---unless you only need to power the frig (i.e., heat the boiler) for a relatively short period of time.