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11-21-2003, 07:43 PM
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#1
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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Furnace on when towing??
Ok, I admit, kind of a newbie question, but I gotta ask....
Can you run the furnace while towing the coach.
Reason I ask is simply that I'll be camping in the new Twinkie in a few weeks when I pick it up and it will be at or below freezing with a long way back with freezeable stuff the way home.
If I use the logic of having the fridge running on LP....but hey, you all know my logic sometimes escapes me!
Anyone...anyone?
Eric
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11-21-2003, 08:17 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,486
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Suburban (furnace manufacturer) says "don't".
They claim it is also illegal in some states. I have no information to offer on my own authority, just passing along what they say.
Mark
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11-21-2003, 08:42 PM
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#3
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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Thanks Mark....anyone have info on the Atwood?
Eric
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11-21-2003, 09:21 PM
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#4
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Lutz
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,549
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Maybe I shouldnt, but I do/have done it numerous times. I have always had a suburban model.
When we were towing in WI in the late fall, early winter and still using the trailer I would run it to keep the plumbing from freezing. Towing really sucks the heat out.
Both of my MH have had no engine heat. The heater cores have leaked and they are a bear to find (NLA) so if it is cold the only heat is the furnace. I really needed it on the way home from Washington state this summer. It got Coooold in the rockies.
I have not found any adverse effects to the furnace, or that the CO Monitor did not object.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
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1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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11-21-2003, 09:35 PM
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#5
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Magnetic Quick Release
If one installs some sort of a magnetic quick release to one's trailer hitch, with a switch by the brake controller, then one can just " ditch" the trailer if it explodes while towing with the furnace on. This would keep the tow vehicle from also falling victim to the flames.
Just some pre-weekend humor........
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11-21-2003, 09:45 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
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Uwe, how about replacing one of the propane tanks with a halon tank? As soon as you see an orange flicker in the rearview mirror, hit the halon button.
Or, better yet, instead of filling your tires with nitrogen, fill the interior of your Airstream with 100% nitrogen, while towing. The furnace gets it's oxygen from outside the coach, so no problem!
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
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11-21-2003, 09:48 PM
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#7
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Lutz
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,549
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HA HA HA
I am also one of those lunatics that tows/drives with the refer on gas. If you hear about a MH exploding in flames at some point in the future it may be me. Of course it would more than likely be the 50 Gallons of Gasoline stored in a thin steel tank. The propane tank will likely survive the crash.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
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1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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11-22-2003, 07:45 AM
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#8
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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The problem...
is not so much that you'll have issues going down the road, although I suppose that a leak from a loose fitting or pinhole in a gas line inside would be disasterous...
The problem is that IF you're involved in an accident, and a propane line is severed with the valves open, AND there's a spark, you're toast. So is everyone else around for a hundred feet or so. And then, of course, THAT will probably cook off the gas in your gas tank as well... NOT a happy thought...
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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11-22-2003, 07:58 AM
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#9
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Lutz
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,549
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Roger,
I don't necessarly want to revive the oftenly and sometimes heated (pun intented) discussion of gas on when towing. But I will say this. The development of the OPD standard was done after the DOT requirement for Frame mounted tanks to have a high flow cut off. This cut off is threaded on to the tank with the regulator and protected from shearing by a collar. If the gas line gets cut or severed this cut off is in place to stop the flow of gas. The OPD on the removeable tanks has the same feature. That is why you have to turn them on slow if the LP system is empty. The out rush of gas for the intial fill can cause them to close.
I do take precautions to keep myself and others on the road and in fuel stations safe. I also will stop to turn it off when by law I have to when transiting tunnels, etc.
This is my way of doing the RV thing. Others can and will do what they feel comfortable with doing regarding LP.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
-------------------------
1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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11-22-2003, 11:15 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2001 34' Limited
The State of
, Ohio
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,605
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I always tow with the refrigerator on gas, and with the furnace running if it's near or below freezing. As said, with OPD valves, it isn't a big deal.
__________________
Maurice
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11-23-2003, 07:29 PM
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#11
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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Well, after weighing the pros and cons, I've decided to run the furnace while towing. The main reason is that the coach will have items in it during transport from the pickup that will freeze and could cause issues.
As has been stated, I keep the gas on when I have the fridge on, so as long as the furnace can deal with the additional wind issues for intake and exhaust, then it looks like I may use that to keep the interior warm since the heat strip is kind of out of the question.
Eric
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