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perryg114 · 10-03-2011, 12:19 PM

I was wondering if you can run your Dometic on gas while towing? The last camper I had, the pilot light would blow out. Airstream probably has things figured out a little better. The Dometics run best on gas and it is all you have when towing unless you have a generator. My old camper fridge would let you run on DC but it would kill a battery even while hooked to the tow vehicle.

Perry

handn · 10-03-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perryg114

I was wondering if you can run your Dometic on gas while towing? The last camper I had, the pilot light would blow out. Airstream probably has things figured out a little better. The Dometics run best on gas and it is all you have when towing unless you have a generator. My old camper fridge would let you run on DC but it would kill a battery even while hooked to the tow vehicle.

Perry

I run mine. It never blows out. There is a warning message to turn the refrigerator off when fueling.

Jammer · 10-03-2011, 12:38 PM

You can and most people do. There are a few people who consider it unsafe or who find it unnecessary because they are rarely on the road for more than an hour or two.

perryg114 · 10-03-2011, 12:45 PM

Well I am probably going to be on the road for about 8 hours so it might be an issue. It is a good idea to shut it off when refueling. It is amazing how many yahoos you see that leave their car running or smoke while filling their gas tank. A while back I brought it to the attention of the attendant that the fire extenquisher had been discharged. I got this deer in headlight look, like who cares.

Perry

twilder · 10-03-2011, 12:47 PM

I run mine on the DC, my tow charges the system as I go. If yours doesn't, have it checked. Or run a line from the tv to the fridge.

idroba · 10-03-2011, 01:04 PM

I have run my refrigerators on propane on the road for the past 32 years and probably 100,000 towing miles. Once in a while in heavy gusty cross winds while towing at speed, they have gone out, but it has been very uncommon. Many self light when they go out these days. Older ones do not.

Skatiero · 10-03-2011, 01:10 PM

We run ours on the road!

perryg114 · 10-03-2011, 01:11 PM

Mine is 1981 Vintage and it does not have the DC option as far as I know.

Perry

**DKB_SATX** · 10-03-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perryg114

Mine is 1981 Vintage and it does not have the DC option as far as I know.

Perry

Only refrigerators installed by an owner in an Airstream trailer would have the 12v heating element installed, though lots of later trailers have 12v systems for gas-to-120v changeover, and flame ignition on gas operation.

Some people have issues with the flame blowing out (either poor airflow control, low gas pressure, dirty burner orifice or a combination of some of those things.) As long as the system isn't REALLY broken, it shuts off the gas flow when it blows out so the only risk is that the refrigerator compartment starts to warm up.

At least some of the fridges with the 12v control system and 12v ignition will relight automatically when they detect that the flame is off, but I don't know which model does what. Mine's old-school, no electronics.

Jim in Pima · 10-03-2011, 01:59 PM

Atwood makes a "relighter" that runs on a 9 Volt battery. I have installed several over the years and no more pilots blow out. You can find them on ebay, price has gone crazy, paid 33 for the 1st 20 years ago, 99 bucks now, same model. Present one is to replace old spark lighter on my Dometic RM100 Fridge.

perryg114 · 10-03-2011, 06:27 PM

You should be able to get a complete used fridge for that. Sorry but I am cheap.

Perry

Mike Leary · 10-03-2011, 06:57 PM

The newer Dometics will run fine going down the road on propane. They no longer have the 12 volt provision and do not require a carpenter's level when you land.

seldencove · 10-03-2011, 07:05 PM

I run ours on the road too. We tend to travel a maximum of 8-10 hours a day with the fridge running "non-stop" the entire trip. Never any problems. Gas stations are a different debate, I have filled lots of times with the fridge running. You decide for yourself, my setup may be different than yours.

polarlyse · 10-04-2011, 01:43 PM

We run with the reefer on propane. My truck is a diesel so I don't feel the risk at fueling is there to the same degree as with petrol. I don't have a 12v option but if I did I would probably use that while on the road rather than the propane.

Pahaska · 10-04-2011, 03:41 PM

I had a 3-way in a previous SOB trailer. The 12v element was barely big enough to hold the current temperature in the box most times and would not hold temperature above about 95. The downside is that it pulls a lot of 12v and at every stop of any length, I had to relight the propane and then switch back to 12v when leaving. I found that once the stack was allowed to cool down, the 12v element took forever to get it hot enough to cool the box again.