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ldetsf · 11-11-2006, 12:25 PM

So what's the concensus on LP gas safety? Done it both ways but most advice I've heard is to turn it off when driving. If that's the case, then your refer doesn't work unless you have a 3-way and if you stop for awhile, you may drain your battery if you stop for too long. What to do?

Pick · 11-11-2006, 12:31 PM

Off!! Coleman Extreme ice chests will keep food and drink cold for 3-4 days. Other brands like Igloo have good products too.

Boondocker · 11-11-2006, 12:42 PM

As you might guess, the lines of thought on this are divergent. There are several threads that thoughly cover the topic. As for myself, I tow with the propane on for the refer, always remembering to turn off the pliot before entering gas stations.

CanoeStream · 11-11-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

I tow with the propane on for the refer, always remembering to turn off the pilot before entering gas stations.

Ditto -- gas is on quite often. Due to low flash point it is not necessary to turn the pilot off at a diesel island. Good idea though? Probably.

Fyrzowt · 11-11-2006, 01:06 PM

I have found that if I have the refer cold prior to my trip and don't open the door, things stay cold during the trip, especially if the fridge is full of food. If it's only partially full and you're concerned about keeping something cold, I keep a 1 gallon plastic milk container frozen at home that I put in the A/S fridge to help out.
I'm not personally comfortable leaving the gas on. If you are going to have a leak, most likely it will develop under vibration conditions - while travelling. During that period of time there is no one to smell the gas or hear the detector - BOOM.
What are the chances? Probably very low, but so is the head-on collision and we wear seatbelts. It's cheap insurance and I feel that there are practical alternatives to leaving the gas on.
Dave

CanoeStream · 11-11-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

I have found that if I have the refer cold prior to my trip and don't open the door, things stay cold during the trip, especially if the fridge is full of food. If it's only partially full and you're concerned about keeping something cold, I keep a 1 gallon plastic milk container frozen at home that I put in the A/S fridge to help out.
I'm not personally comfortable leaving the gas on. If you are going to have a leak, most likely it will develop under vibration conditions - while travelling. During that period of time there is no one to smell the gas or hear the detector - BOOM.
What are the chances? Probably very low, but so is the head-on collision and we wear seatbelts. It's cheap insurance and I feel that there are practical alternatives to leaving the gas on.
Dave

Good answer! The highlighted area above has been John 'Pahaska' Irwin's operating policy in Texas. I should probably change...

ZoominC6 · 11-11-2006, 01:26 PM

Always on for the refrigerator / freezer but then again, I stop at the diesel islands. If the diesel is combo with gas, it's best to turn it off short of the fueling station.

Fyrzowt · 11-11-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

Always on for the refrigerator / freezer but then again, I stop at the diesel islands. If the diesel is combo with gas, it's best to turn it off short of the fueling station.

Whether you stop at gas or diesel islands, the fact remains that you are more likely to get a leak in the trailer where the fumes can build up while travelling. If you have any gas appliences running in the trailer, there is an ignition source. Don't focus too much on the fuel stop, although that is certainly another source of flammable vapors.

LI Pets · 11-11-2006, 02:09 PM

Waht about traveling in cold weather without the furnace on and freezing pipes etc??

Tinsel Loaf · 11-11-2006, 02:18 PM

Travel in freezing weather with the furnace on to prevent plumbing failures. Set the temp low to save on propane.

**moosetags** · 11-11-2006, 02:27 PM

After due consideration and review of all appropriate threads, we travel with it on to run the refer.

klattu · 11-11-2006, 02:38 PM

On
Leave for trip...
Return from trip...
Off

safari57 · 11-11-2006, 03:08 PM

For me it's always off when travelling. What if I have an accident along the way? I've added way too much potential risk to the whole situation, not just me and my family, but anyone else who is unfortunately involved and whether it's my fault or not. IMHO the potential for a bad situation to become a horrendous situation far outweighs my own desire for a cold fridge when I get to where I'm going. Anything that needs to be kept that cold I buy when I get there or I do without it.
Barry

dwightdi · 11-11-2006, 03:34 PM

OFF OFF I DO NOT LIKE LOUD NOISES. A $1.00 bag of ice in the bottom of the fridge lasts 3 days, if the fridge is cold already. No need to take a large personal and money risk for $1.00 expense.

**jcanavera** · 11-11-2006, 06:26 PM

We run with the gas on, although we turn off the refrigerator before entering gas pump areas. I feel comfortable enough, especially with the new OPD valves that we are safe traveling with it on.

BTW, I do avoid fuel stops where there are other RV's at the pumps. Why? Because I don't know if those folks have turned off their refrigerators. I know I have, but I trust no one but myself.

This topic has been wrung out in various threads over the years. If I remember correctly no one has posted a thread regarding an accident where an operating refrigerator has cause a problem while out on the road. I think we have seen a story or two about a problem while fueling though.

Jack

Bob Thompson · 11-11-2006, 06:51 PM

We travel with gas on for the refrigerator. I am not concerned about gasses building up in the trailer because of the high amount of air leakages in the trailer, especially going down the road at 60 mph. Every window, door/gasket, vent gasket, access hatches, etc., etc. leaks a small amount of air especially when air at 60 mph is blasted at it. The vacuum pulled behind the trailer as it goes down the road helps pull fresh air thru.This air infiltration causes the air in the trailer to be replaced with outside air at a very high frequency. Much higher than say with the trailer parked.

For those concerned about explosions and catastrophies caused by major gas leaks in the trailer, you can relax. I was told by a propane expert this summer that the new OPD gas valves come with automatic check valve. If flow exceeds a fairly low amount, the check valve at the tank trips and shuts off the flow completely. This is not to say propane gases can't build up inside the trailer, especially if parked, only to say a big gas leak is very unlikely if not impossible with the new valves.

wahoonc · 11-11-2006, 06:54 PM

Typically travel with it on, typically for the fridge and/or furnace depending on the time of year. With OPD valves a sudden failure or line rupture will shut the tank down. I do pull off to the side when entering a fuel station to shut down the fridge or furnace prior to refuelling. Also on my current truck that gives the turbo a chance to cool down.

Aaron

scottanlily · 11-11-2006, 07:18 PM

Definately gas on ,have always had the fridge on electric before departure then on with the gas ,done it for thusands of miles ,pull over to a nice place
go into the airstream and get out an ice cold Coke or water .Im not concerned of any trouble and all has been just fine .

Scott

Boondocker · 11-13-2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

. With OPD valves a sudden failure or line rupture will shut the tank down.
Aaron

Didnt know that, thats a nice feature.

Silvertwinkie · 11-13-2006, 07:06 AM

On without question. A call to Dometic, personally confirmed that the fridge is designed to operate while in transit. Newer automatic type fridges will also try to relight if the burner gets blown out. If you have to push one button, hold, while pushing another button to light the fridge (manual type), you have the old version, but the thermocouple would also cut gas to the burner/pilot if a flame out were to happen. Additionally, if something bad were to happen, say a rupture of the LP line, the OPD valve would automatically shut down flow. LP is most likely one of the safest types of fuel to transport. RVing has been using this setup for nearly a half century, with improvements added as found (like OPD) increasing the saftey margin. It is not a foolproof system, but it's pretty darn good in my book, good enought to keep the gas on and the fridge working while in transit. Don't know about the furnace, but I'm sure a call to Atwood would clear that up in a heartbeat.

I would however turn off the fridge when filling the tow vehicle.