Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-03-2016, 11:55 AM   #1
1 Rivet Member
 
2017 30' International
Dublin , Ohio
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 14
Images: 1
Driving with Fridge on?

Greetings, new to all this.
I understand the fridge has to be level (i.e. airstream level) before turning on. But I have heard you run the fridge on LP gas while driving (as long as turn off before entering gas station). What if you are going up and down mountainous terrain, do you have to be concerned about the fridge not being level during these times?

Thanks in advance
Mark Lem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2016, 11:59 AM   #2
Rivet Master
 
Al and Missy's Avatar
 
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,667
From the Dometic Americana manual:

"Leveling is one of the requirements for proper operation with
absorption refrigerators. to ensure proper leveling the vehicle
needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable
sloping of fl oor or walls).
Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator
operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this
loss of cooling."

and

"When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the
rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either
side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in
the evaporator tubing."

Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
Al and Missy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2016, 12:02 PM   #3
2020 Globetrotter 25 FBT
 
GettinAway's Avatar
 
2020 25' Globetrotter
Wildwood , Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,577
I've never turned off the propane fridge when fueling either. Seems like a long way to ignite fumes. Maybe I have just been lucky.
__________________
2020 25GT FBT
2012 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab, 5.7 4x4

Previous AS trailers: (04) 19’ Bambi, and (11) FC 23FB
GettinAway is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2016, 12:25 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor , New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
This recent thread has quite a bit of info. on leveling and fridge operation FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f457...ng-158002.html
OTRA15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2016, 03:45 PM   #5
1 Rivet Member
 
2017 30' International
Dublin , Ohio
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 14
Images: 1
Thanks All!
Mark Lem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 12:07 AM   #6
3 Rivet Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 223
We don't drive with the gas on and haven't had a problem with food getting warm or anything defrosting. I mention this just to relay our experience, not to get in a discussion @ driving with gas turned on/off.
StrmyWeather is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 04:29 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor , New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
On the issue of driving with the fridge propane turned on, here are some additional search results, as there are many earlier threads on-topic:

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=011403...ing&gsc.page=1

Good luck, Mark!

Peter
OTRA15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 11:34 AM   #8
3 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
belen , New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 191
fuel vapors lay low. Is why home water hearers are now raised up!
Ive been doing this for 20 years and have NEVER shut the gas off unless im filling the propane tanks.
The LEVELING issue is only when sitting still for long periods!
alantbird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 12:57 PM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
2016 22' Sport
Concord , California
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 25
Why not switch to electricity when moving? Isn't it safer than propane?
Happy Days is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 01:14 PM   #10
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
3-Way Fridge

Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Days View Post
Why not switch to electricity when moving? Isn't it safer than propane?
For some reason, only the 22 Sport has a 3-way fridge.
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 01:37 PM   #11
2 Rivet Member
 
2000 34' Limited
1985 25' Sovereign
LaGrange Highlands , Illinois
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 98
That has never been a problem RV-ing for 40 some years. Frig setting for sometime for or aft is the problem. When parked. Moving up and down hills will not bother it. Trust me I never shout frig off while in travel.
Jim
rmatkovich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 01:38 PM   #12
Len and Jeanne
 
Len n Jeanne's Avatar
 
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley , British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
There are HUGE debates on this forum about driving with the fridge on.

We're in the minority, but we just don't do this. Not because of the leveling issue, but because the propane could explode if you were ever in an accident while driving.

Our solution to keeping cold food cold when the fridge is turned off is to travel with 3 or 4 of those large blue gel freezer pacs. They go into the freezer when we're camping and stationary. Then when we drive, we turn off the propane and fridge, and put one or two of the frozen pacs go into the fridge area, with the food. We've never had food go off with this system. It works like a picnic cooler. The newer Dometics are really well insulated.
Len n Jeanne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 02:06 PM   #13
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
The Best Kept Secret In Your RV’s Propane System!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne View Post
... but we just don't do this. Not because of the leveling issue, but because the propane could explode if you were ever in an accident while driving.
Perhaps in old trailers and out-of-date propane cylinders, but in modern trailer systems which have the new style propane cylinder valves and the big ACME threads and with the big Green nut on the pigtail, then the propane will be limited at the valve if it senses an unusually high gas flow (not enough back pressure), such as from a broken supply line to the fridge, which could happen in an accident (or some other way).

However, if you are in an accident and the LPG bottles themselves are ruptured, then that could be a problem.

Here is a link to a 2001 article by Dave Shearer on this "secret".
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 02:08 PM   #14
Moderator
 
moosetags's Avatar

 
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
Images: 5
We have always traveled with the refrigerator on LP gas when underway. We have done this with three different Airstreams over the last ten plus years. We have almost 1,800 nights of Airtream camping under our belts, and we have towed our Airstreams over 150,000 miles all over the United States.

Running the highways with the refrigerator on is a personal choice that each Airstreamer has to make for him or herself. We choose to do it; others do not.

Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
moosetags is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 03:40 PM   #15
Rivet Master
 
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario , Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
Just about all of the answers above are as close to correct as Damn is to Swearing.
Just remember when crossing the waters on a ferry boat, the propane MUST be shut off, or 'they' will certainly let you know about it.
MelGoddard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 03:55 PM   #16
4 Rivet Member
 
sb55's Avatar
 
2018 30' Flying Cloud
South Hero , Vermont
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 259
"Just remember when crossing the waters on a ferry boat, the propane MUST be shut off, or 'they' will certainly let you know about it."

Really? I was on a ferry twice in the last 2.5 weeks and was not told to shut off the propane. No signs to that effect either.
But, Lake Champlain is usually quite windy, so stagnant fumes shouldn't be an issue.


On an island in Vermont
sb55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 03:59 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
urnmor's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Berlin , Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,784
Many of us travel with the fridge running on propane, however, there are restrictions such as traveling the bay bridge tunnel that crosses the Chesapeake in Virginia. There it must be off. Also in Maryland you cannot even use the tunnels in Baltimore if you are traveling with propane tanks. So I always check ahead of time when I am going to go through tunnels
urnmor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 04:12 PM   #18
3 Rivet Member
 
2016 30' Classic
Santa Rosa , California
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Days View Post
Why not switch to electricity when moving? Isn't it safer than propane?
You can run the fridge without propane if you are on shore power (120v). However, while traveling, you have to use propane AND leave the Use/Store switch in the Use position so there is 12v power for the fridge circuit board. It can't cool on 12v electricity without propane.
__________________
Happy Trails,
Phil
phann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 04:15 PM   #19
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by phann View Post
You can run the fridge without propane if you are on shore power (120v). However, while traveling, you have to use propane AND leave the Use/Store switch in the Use position so there is 12v power for the fridge circuit board. It can't cool on 12v electricity without propane.
The Sport 22 has a 3-way fridge and will run from the battery while travelling.
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2016, 04:45 PM   #20
2 Rivet Member
 
C21Tiger's Avatar
 
2004 30' Land Yacht 30 SL
Surprise , Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 29
When running with the refrigerator off you need to consider how often you open it. Put a thermometer in the refrigerator with door closed. Open the door take somethings out and close. Do that several times and the temperature will climb to much higher level (>50deg). Your use on the road will help you make the decision to leave it on or off. Food safety is the bigger concern in my opinion.
C21Tiger is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
DC to AC inverter for fridge while driving the ponz Refrigerators 22 09-14-2021 12:33 PM
inverter to power fridge while driving? duggie Batteries, Univolts, Converters & Inverters 39 01-24-2015 05:28 PM
?driving with fridge on? cbcnm LP Gas, Piping, Tanks & Regulators 101 10-07-2012 01:40 PM
fridge on while driving J Goertzen Refrigerators 61 09-08-2008 01:30 AM
Fridge While Driving Chaplain Kent General Motorhome Topics 18 08-22-2005 12:29 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.