Driving with lp tanks open to run fridge, right or wrong?

[stervin]

[QUOTE=vega1247;1448133]Newbie here, bought our first TT, Flagstaff Mirco Mini 21DS. Fridge manufacturer recommends turning off all gas appliances before fueling. 21DS with slide in makes it difficult to reach fridge, would probably have to move slide in an out to access fridge. I'd hate to drive to our destination with fridge off an have contents spoil. Planning on driving 6-8 hours at the most in a day. What's the common practice?

Leave it open not an issue

[Charles Firth]

I stand corrected DSI,,, not pilot light. Hard to break old terminology. My Bad.

[cheewilson]

My mistake The control is in the connection to the valve (ie the pigtail). A sudden high flow will cause it to close. I am told this is why my Wildcat came with a 16 lb regulator so as to avoid shutdown when auto switchover of tanks. Of course over riding any safety feature can cause problems.

[atemplesr]

Short distance? The fridge acts like a cooler, keep the doors shut. Long distance, If you are worried about leaving the propane on, put frozen packs in the fridge and they will work, once again, like a cooler.

[dcheatwood]

I've always run with one tank open. Three RVs, never a problem. As I understand it, the modern regulators will shut off gas flow if the flow is too fast as in a broken line or loose connection.

[DreiHunde]

Tanks open, fridge on. If I am going thru a tunnel where I have to shut them off then I will and then open/turn on fridge after I traverse it.

[GreenImp]

Here's a thought...if you're traveling only an hour or three (this covers the vast majority of RV trips for most people)...turn it off in the name of fire safety. If you're traveling 9 hours in 100 plus degree weather...leave it on for that trip, in the name of food safety (and frosty beverages upon arrival!).


So far I have always left mine on.

[wahoonc]

Let's see... ~40# LP, 25 gallons, of gasoline, a battery, hot engine, incompetent cellphone impaired drivers... I will take my chances with the LP on.

I do turn it off when refueling, though my fridge is on the off side and the flame, when lit, is 5'+ in the air, highly unlikely to start any fires.

I have seen vehicle fires caused by blown batteries, ruptured fuel lines, electrical shorts, static electricity, brakes, tires...

There are more BTU's in a tank of gasoline than in 40# of LP...Also there are quite a few LP powered vehicles on the roads.

Aaron

[tomrob1161]

We have traveled since 1970 with tanks open, except where restricted, i.e., tunnels. etc. No problems.


Welcome to wonderful world of RVing.

[Jim in Halifax]

Cannot drive thru all///some tunnels with propane tanks.........BUT big 18 wheelers hauling fuel are OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Bill]

Your guardian angel was with you that day😉

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by dcheatwood

As I understand it, the modern regulators will shut off gas flow if the flow is too fast as in a broken line or loose connection.

We can always hope so Dave, however it doesn't seem like it was the case a few weeks ago over on I-20 in Texas....but this sounds like a motorhome propane cylinder.

http://www.bigspringherald.com/conte...kle-five-fires

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

Out of all the tunnels in the US you can most likely count the ones with propane restrictions on both hands. Lots of tunnels here in SW PA and on the PA pike, no restrictions whatsoever.

Actually, Bette supposed to be off for the PA turnpike tunnels. I have an email from someone at the PA Turnpike Commission verifying it.

Email contents here:
http://learntorv.com/road-tunnel-res...near-maryland/

[dcheatwood]

Originally Posted by wmtire

We can always hope so Dave, however it doesn't seem like it was the case a few weeks ago over on I-20 in Texas....but this sounds like a motorhome propane cylinder.

http://www.bigspringherald.com/conte...kle-five-fires

Ouch

[Crabman]

Get out the popcorn.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Actually, Bette supposed to be off for the PA turnpike tunnels. I have an email from someone at the PA Turnpike Commission verifying it.

Email contents here:
http://learntorv.com/road-tunnel-res...near-maryland/

Interesting to say the least. Having driven through the pike tunnels almost weekly for the last 20 years I can tell you that you will not find any official sign or notice at those tunnels or anywhere else on the pike that states that. I personally would not take an email from anyone at the PATC as gospel, it's not exactly a user friendly organization and makes Chicago politicians look like the Boy Scouts LOL. To me it sounds like the woman made her own interpretation of the Regs concerning commercial bulk shipments. I have never stopped and shut off the tanks, do not know anyone else who ever has, and have never seen nor heard of anyone being so much as questioned about it.

[doulos]

Well... I also belong to an ATV forum and one fella asked about wearing a helmet. A few guys jumped in and said they had "ridden x number of miles/years and never needed a helmet".
They must be the same guys who say "I towed from here to there with my gas on and never had a problem".
Y'all can do whatever you want but IMHO towing with an open flame is as bad of an idea as riding an ATV without a helmet. I even live in a gambling state but those odds do not appeal to me. Just sayin'.

[Quasipato]

I turn mine off when I travel. I start mine a few days before we travel so I figure it will stay cool. Also doing the majority of my traveling in western Canada helps as well.

[TaWiMa]

We turn our fridge on 2 - 3 days before a trip, running on electric. When we're ready to pull out, we turn 1 tank on, switch over to propane and travel with the fridge on. If you are uncomfortable traveling that way for that distance, you could use icepacks. 4-5 in the freezer and 2-3 in the fridge. We always keep some on-board just in case of a malfunction.

[furtrader]

For you information, Propane is classified as a Class 2 dangerous goods. There are regulations how it must be handled, stored and transported. And by the way these rules
also apply to small 20lb tanks. You could try Googling Class 2 dangerous goods.