would you run fridge on the road

[65will]

Hello All,
I have a 69 Trade Wind with the original Fridge.It is a Dometic MB52C. The question I have is would you run this on propane while traveling? For vents it has the opening in the belly pan and the floor covered with chicken wire. If the flame blew out it should shut the gas off. As of yet I have not ran it on the road. Does anyone have experiance running these old units on the road. Thanks

[HowieE]

How else would I keep the beer cold?

[paiceman]

Always

[polarlyse]

We do also. Never had any issues.

[wahoonc]

Yup... 'cept while refueling.

Aaron

[teagues]

I am far more concerned about leaving on the hot water heater than the fridge.

[jaygood31]

I do not ever travel with my tanks turned on. in my opinion much too risky.

Jay.

[gwg]

It's on LP while traveling, always.

[oldiesel]

In previous SOBs i have always run the fridge while underway,however i prefer to have the gas shut off so run it on 120v from a small inverter.The TV alternator carries the load so no battery problems.
I will do the same with our Argosy when i get it road ready.

[dkottum]

We have always traveled with it on, it would very inconvenient not to have fresh/frozen food available on a cross-country trip, months on the road. Is it safe? I believe there is enough safety in the system be be comfortable with it.

If uncomfortable when fueling just shut it off and turn it on again when finished.

[jcanavera]

We travel with it on. The refrigerators have a safety that shuts off the gas valve if the flame blows out. When traveling with the flame on, best practice is to shut the refrigerator off when you fuel up at a gas station. Newer tanks (with the POL connections) also have quick release sensors on the gas bottle valves. If a quick release is detected (such as a hose leak or tear, the valve on the tank closes.

Jack

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by 65will

Hello All,
I have a 69 Trade Wind with the original Fridge.It is a Dometic MB52C. The question I have is would you run this on propane while traveling? For vents it has the opening in the belly pan and the floor covered with chicken wire. If the flame blew out it should shut the gas off. As of yet I have not ran it on the road. Does anyone have experiance running these old units on the road. Thanks

If worry about flame blowing out, make scoop such as on airplane engines to fit over hole, width of hole, flush at front taper to 1-1/2 inch or so at back, bend flange at sides and front then pop rivet on belly pan. This we did on my 66 & 67 AS, never blew out after that. Yes I leave fridge on propane for longer trips, but have on elect. at home nice and cold frozen ice cream etc. after short trips. Bill

[Natty Lite]

Is it legal to travel with your propane tanks open?

[HowieE]

YES


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[dougandlori]

I do. I also turn off the propane when at a filling station.

[rmkrum]

It depends. Some places require propane be shut off in a tunnel or other closed area. For open roads, no.

It is a good practice to turn off open flames in a gas station when refueling. I'm not going to claim that I do that every time I fuel the TV


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by Natty Lite

Is it legal to travel with your propane tanks open?

Absolutely! Before you let paranoia overtake you, read your manual. These refrigerators are designed to run while traveling down the road. There are questions about turning them off while refueling (I don't) and when entering some tunnels back east and when getting on some ferries. But, the general consensus on this forum is that traveling with the valves open and the fridge running is perfectly safe. This topic has been discussed at great length. I am STILL waiting for anyone to show me any evidence of an explosion or fire caused by a refrigerator running while traveling down the road.

I have yet to see one because it simply hasn't happened. Just my opinion here.

[Foiled Again]

In Hampton Roads (aka Tidewater, aka "the 757") the Hampton Roads Tunnel, the Monitor-Merrimack Tunnel and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel require you to stop for inspection and turn your tanks off. They don't inspect at the Downtown Tunnel or the Midtown Tunnel but both of them are short ones.

Take the beltway Around Baltimore, you can't take any propane tank larger than the little ones that fit on a Coleman stove through their downtown tunnel. And BOY are they strict!!!!!!