A stupid question on fridge

[leadhead358]

This is new to me.

When traveling down the road and wanting to keep the refrigerator cold using LP, do I have to have the 12 volt electric disconnect ON in the trailer to get the ignitor to fire the propane for the fridge or does the tow vehicle being hooked up to it fire the ignitor for the LP on the fridge and the disconnect can be left off.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by leadhead358

This is new to me.

When traveling down the road and wanting to keep the refrigerator cold using LP, do I have to have the 12 volt electric disconnect ON in the trailer to get the ignitor to fire the propane for the fridge or does the tow vehicle being hooked up to it fire the ignitor for the LP on the fridge and the disconnect can be left off.

YES. You must have 12 volt controls on to get the propane to ignite and stay on and monitor temp.

You may have a seperate 12 volt aux in your plug for charging the battery but you must check and see if you really do have one (see drawing pin 4) . Either way you should still keep your the battery switch on.

[leadhead358]

Thank you

[JlpLhp]

There is no such thing as a stupid question. Whats stupid, is not asking it in the first place!! You got the right answer.

[Steve38]

Some states do not allow propane to be on while towing and is considered by most to be a risky practice. I had no idea and towed with mine on until it was brought to my attention. If your frig is full and cold, it will last for many hours if don't open the door. Something to think about.Worse case scenario.... If a gas leak occurs while towing your rv it may go boom!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Steve38

... If a gas leak occurs while towing your rv it may go boom!

And if you have a blowout you could go in a ditch.

If it was a problem, with the thousands and thousands towing with the propane on, the highways would be littered with blown up rv's and it would be all over the national news.

[Emptypockets]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

And if you have a blowout you could go in a ditch.

If it was a problem, with the thousands and thousands towing with the propane on, the highways would be littered with blown up rv's and it would be all over the national news.

Old Coot we also tow with our propane on.

[leadhead358]

The way I look at it thats why I pay insurance on it.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Emptypockets

Old Coot we also tow with our propane on.

As do probably 99.9% of rv'ers.

[BarryD0706]

Originally Posted by Steve38

...
If your frig is full and cold, it will last for many hours if don't open the door.

And if you're RV is kept in a storage place with no power available so it's warm (with no food) and you want it to be cold when you get to your destination? What do you recommend then?

BTW, do you know where we can do find a list of states that prohibit this?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Steve38

Some states do not allow propane to be on while towing and is considered by most to be a risky practice.

please provide proof of this.
because every RV forum i've been on, for the past 7 years, only identifies certain tunnels(mostly on the East Coast) that do this while traveling through the tunnel.
i've never seen any evidence of what you are stating.

[Herk7769]

All I know about are certain tunnel restrictions.

ALL the Baltimore tunnels and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel come immediately to mind.

[caper]

Maryland, Massachusetts and New York prohibit propane tanks in tunnels. In New York, it's also forbidden on the lower levels of the George Washington and Verrazano-Narrows bridges and I-95 through Manhattan. Close propane tank valves while traveling in Virginia and New Jersey.

Virgina and New Jersey have laws against driving with propane on.

[joeobx]

Only law in VA is that propane must be turned off in tunnels.

[Herk7769]

So, let me get this straight in my head...

You all are saying propane powered vehicles are prohibited in VA and NJ?
They would seem to be hard to drive with the valves off...

I would like to see the wording of any such law myself.

[OldCoot]

Here's the 2010 list of states and the requirements. 2010 Driving Laws for the US and Canada

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by caper

Virgina and New Jersey have laws against driving with propane on.

Live in NJ, never heard of no propane in use. I've been towing and driving propane tanks for 20 years without restriction. Tunnel you gotta pull off and close the tanks?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by VinceU

Live in NJ, never heard of no propane in use. I've been towing and driving propane tanks for 20 years without restriction. Tunnel you gotta pull off and close the tanks?

NEW JERSEY: Maximum RV width 96 in. (102 in. on certain federal roads); maximum motorhome length 40 ft.; maximum RV height 13.5 ft.; maximum combined length 62 ft. Riding is not allowed in truck campers or trailers.
RV Safety Requirements: Trailers over 3,000 lbs.: trailer brakes, breakaway switch, chains and safety glass.
State Driving Laws: Wipers on/headlights on. Right turn on red is allowed, unless posted otherwise. Seat belts required. At least two riders in carpool lane. Open propane cylinders are not allowed while traveling on open highways. New Jersey Turnpike: Motorhome may tow vehicle as long as all four wheels are on the ground; no tow dollies or piggybacks. Garden State Parkway: Motorhome may tow another vehicle with tow bar, safety chains and emergency tail lights on both vehicles.
More Information: Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Commission, CN-174, Trenton NJ 08666; (609) 292-6500
Emergency number: 911 or (888) SAF-ROAD; *77 on cellular phones

[OldCoot]

Virginia has a limit of 2 20# cylinders according to the 2010 list.

VIRGINIA: Maximum RV width 102 in.; maximum motorhome length 45 ft.; maximum trailer length 45 ft.; maximum RV height 13.5 ft.; maximum combined length for two-vehicle combination 65 ft. Riding is allowed in truck campers. Overnight parking in rest areas is permitted unless posted otherwise. RVs allowed in the HOV-3 (carpool) lanes if there are three or more occupants. In the Tidewater area, RVs are allowed in the HOV-2 lanes only if there are two or more occupants and the gvw is less than 10,000 lbs. Tunnel Regulations: Maximum height 13 ft 6 in. Maximum of two approved propane gas tanks 20 lbs. each. Tanks must be turned off when going through tunnels.RV Safety Requirements: All trailers: safety chains. Trailers over 3,000 lbs.: trailer brakes, breakaway switch. State Driving Laws: Right turn on red allowed, unless posted otherwise. Wipers on/lights on. Front-seat passengers are required to wear seat belts; children up to 5 yrs. must be in child-restraint safety seats. Radar detectors not permitted.
More Information: Department of State Police, P.O. Box 27472, Richmond VA 23261-7472; (804) 674-2000
Emergency number: 911 or #77

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by VinceU

Tunnel you gotta pull off and close the tanks?

YES!! Many tunnels require this. Most I have seen provide sineage ahead of time and some provide a pull-off to shut the valve(s).