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Old 08-08-2015, 08:59 PM   #1
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Sacramento , California
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Running the Refer on the road

I am asking a question about the refrigerator I think I know the answer to, but I want to make sure.

Back in the 80's, the refrigerator would run on propane, 110, and 12 volts. On my previous motor home it was propane or 110. This was not a problem at the gas station as someone could go back and turn off the refrigerator. This is not so easy with a trailer, but doable. I read what was provided in the manuals for the refrigerator, and could not find anything that said it could or could not run on 12 volts.

So, with all of that, two questions, first, do trailer refrigerators have the ability to run on 12 volts, and second, if not, do you turn off the refrigerator before pulling into a gas station??

Thanks in advance for your responses.
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Old 08-08-2015, 09:07 PM   #2
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1. Some do, some don't.
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Old 08-08-2015, 09:24 PM   #3
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Old 08-08-2015, 09:27 PM   #4
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The original fridge that came in our Avion was a 3-way (12VDC, 120VAC, LP). It was replaced by a previous owner with a 2-way (120VAC, LP) Norcold. The 12VDC wire is still available at the rear of the fridge, tied up out of the way. It works great and we like it a lot, but if it's ever needed, I'll replace it with a 3-way. I don't like running it on LP going down the road, but I do and I turn it off before we go into a gas station. I'd much rather run it on 12VDC on the road and in a gas station.
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Old 08-08-2015, 09:33 PM   #5
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My 13 foot Scamp trailer has a tiny fridge with 3-way power. We run it on 12 volts on the road.

My 25FB Flying Cloud has a larger fridge with 2-way power. We have mucho solar on the roof (435 watts) and an inverter, and we run the fridge on 110 when on the road. Some travel days we end with the batteries 100% charged, some other days they are down by maybe 10 or 20 amp-hours.
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Old 08-08-2015, 11:16 PM   #6
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Running the Refer on the road

Two and three way fridges, they aren't picky about where they live ...
motorized, trailers, remote cabins ...

Our 75 has a 3 way, 12vdc on the road thank you.
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Old 08-09-2015, 12:59 AM   #7
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Running the Refer on the road

There is a big difference in proximity between a b van (as in the video) and a travel trailer. My fridge is more than 20 feet away from the fuel fill on my tow vehicle. When I pull in to fuel, my trailer is nowhere near a pump, or usually even under a canopy!
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:25 AM   #8
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Can't recall the thread, but there was talk about running the refer on an inverter while on the road. No flame! I am not sure why but I find it difficult and awkward using the search function on Airforums, maybe it is just me? I concur with AtomiccNo13. I travel on the road with gas for now.
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Old 08-09-2015, 09:04 AM   #9
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Refer on the Road

Thanks everyone. Turning off the propane is pretty much what I thought needed to be done. I appreciate all of the comments.

Stan
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Old 08-09-2015, 10:42 AM   #10
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When filling up, I use the first pump and the AS is 20ft ++ away from Pump, never pull in all the way under the cover and always stay w/you AS during fill-up.

I see so many walking away to go into station, fill-up and find a place to park after.
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Old 08-09-2015, 11:07 AM   #11
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Running fridge on solar

Hmm. Having trouble figuring out where to type!

We have had solar on every rv we've had since 2005, which is too many RVs, but I never thought to run fridge on 110 w/inverter! A lot of us used to run on 12V when that was still the norm, and then forget to switch it over and have dead batteries (pre-solar).

I don't supposed you have a diagram of how they placed the panels on your Airstream? If you do, I would sure like to see it. We will likely have a local guy install panels and I'm not sure how familiar he is with Airstreams. Our new Airstream is due in at dealer mid-September but that is 5 hours away and I would rather our guy do it. He's incredibly good with just about everything RV related.

Loved all this input.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SSquared View Post
My 13 foot Scamp trailer has a tiny fridge with 3-way power. We run it on 12 volts on the road.

My 25FB Flying Cloud has a larger fridge with 2-way power. We have mucho solar on the roof (435 watts) and an inverter, and we run the fridge on 110 when on the road. Some travel days we end with the batteries 100% charged, some other days they are down by maybe 10 or 20 amp-hours.
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:19 PM   #12
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Does anyone have any info, just one case, of an explosion at a gas station caused by a RV gas fridge?
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:26 PM   #13
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Meant to ask about trailer, not RV. How many trailers or RVs are out there now running pilot lites on any appliance now?
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:34 PM   #14
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Running the Refer on the road

Quote:
Originally Posted by horseylady View Post
Hmm. Having trouble figuring out where to type!

We have had solar on every rv we've had since 2005, which is too many RVs, but I never thought to run fridge on 110 w/inverter! A lot of us used to run on 12V when that was still the norm, and then forget to switch it over and have dead batteries (pre-solar).

I don't supposed you have a diagram of how they placed the panels on your Airstream? If you do, I would sure like to see it. We will likely have a local guy install panels and I'm not sure how familiar he is with Airstreams. Our new Airstream is due in at dealer mid-September but that is 5 hours away and I would rather our guy do it. He's incredibly good with just about everything RV related.

Loved all this input.
Whatever you decide, don't let them start drilling mounting holes! Research the power of VHB adhesive tape! Look to Lewsters thoughtful posts on the subject! You'll forever regret more holes in your roof!
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:35 PM   #15
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Just like many of the claims and outlandish post made here, very little if any evidence to back up these doom and gloom claims.
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:45 PM   #16
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Running Refer on the road

Doom and gloom? You mean holes? Water will find the path of least resistance--many of us know from experience. Water can travel a long ways from where it entered and the source of leaks can be very difficult to find.

I agree, don't drill holes in the roof, or anywhere there is another option.
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:51 PM   #17
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Running the Refer on the road

I have what I call my "solar bowling alley" on the roof of my 34' classic. It is 4x 10 feet weighing more than 100 pounds. I have been in 100 plus mph winds several times for several years now. The tape has yet to fail and let go! I did nothing to cause any leaks, or make fore more leak points! As a disclaimer, I do have a couple stainless safety tethers which will keep them from flying into other people's property. It's a fail safe only to protect my liability.
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Old 08-09-2015, 03:52 PM   #18
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We have always run our refrigerator on LP while underway. We have over 1,600 nights out in the Airstreams, and have towed them over 140,000 miles over ten years.

We have never had a problem doing this. I am always careful to watch where the refrigerator access door is in relation to the fuel pump. I never leave the vehicle while fueling.

We feel comfortable traveling this way, but not all do.

Each of us has to make their own decision relative to this issue.

Brian
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Old 08-09-2015, 04:04 PM   #19
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My Avion also had the Dometic 3-way. I never ran it on 12v. Always LP on the road and 120v at the site. I'd always heard that the heating element draws so much juice that on 12v it's a strong draw. Maybe not so bad with the alternator on recharging, but let it run overnight and....dead batteries.

My new Dometic is a 2-way. I've pulled it about 20,000 miles with the fridge running on LP. Never any problems. I'll turn it off and shut off the gas to go through a tunnel. But it's not a big deal to pull off at the next convenient place and turn it back on. At fuel stations, my truck is a diesel, and diesel isn't volatile like gasoline. I used to turn it off. But I stopped. My truck is 22' long, and the trailer is 36' long. It's way back of the pump. But, I've seen guys throw a match into a bucket of diesel fuel and it just lights. It doesn't blow up. Lack of volatility. If my tow vehicle were gasoline powered, I might think differently.

Only you can decide what's right for you. Personally, I'm going to keep using my LP powered fridge as I go down the road. Otherwise, I'd tear the whole cabinet out and put in a Maytag stainless 29 cubic foot monster and just keep a bunch of ice in the bottom

See ya on the road,
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Old 08-09-2015, 04:04 PM   #20
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It only takes once but we travel with our propane on also. If we are at diesel only pumps, it doesn't worry me but I do go in and turn the gas off if I think of it. My husband doesn't worry about it much. I did have an acquaintance once that opened the door to her camper and whatever was going on in there blew the door off. I don't think we were at a gas station though. It happens but fortunately not often.
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