Suggestions for traveling with a cool Fridge

[Vinnie]

I was told by Dealer that the best way to travel with the 3way Fridge running is
1. Hook up to electricity before travel get Fridge cold put on coldest setting.
2. Right before taking off put Fridge on warmer setting switch to battery.
3. Tow vehicle with tow package has battery charge line that will keep battery from draining.

I guess when stopped and no electricity available switch to gas propane.

Would like to know if others travel this way and any tips that could be helpful.

Thanks

[Butch Wilson]

That's the way I do it ! Works for me !

[DadOfTwo]

I like to also put a couple frozen steaks in the fridge when leaving. Serves more than one purpose!

[NicelyRoo]

We get it cold while plugged in at home and switch ours to propane while traveling. Never had an issue and everything stays cold!!

[Teamfour]

We turn ours on using propane after hitching up just before departure for a trip. The unit will be ice cold in about 1.5 hours.

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by NicelyRoo

We get it cold while plugged in at home and switch ours to propane while traveling. Never had an issue and everything stays cold!!

X2...I did it with my pop up and do it now with the ROO 23SS.

[jpbrough]

we have always traveled with our gas on and have never had a problem with the refrig staying cold.

[tspin818]

We plug it in at home to get it cold before we leave, then switch it to automatic after we hitch it up. Leave the propane on and it stays cold.

[Bocamo]

The first time we took out our Surveyor TT we ran the gas on the fridge and it burned out the thermal fuse. Likely this was due to shifting air currents but the thermal fuse was hard to come by and not readily apparent looking at the unit.

[Oaklevel]

You will get may suggestions and opinions as to use gas or not while driving. It is a risk that you may or may not want to take. But there is a risk.

[PFLOYD75]

So as I live in an apartment complex and can't really have the TT there and plugged into any electricity to cool down the refrigerator for a day prior to leaving for a trip, I plan on going to where it is in storage, turning on the propane and insuring the refrigerator is setup on "AUTO" to run via propane and then going back to hook up the next day to the TV and hitting the road. This should work well as an alternative to early cooling down too, right?


Thanks, All!

[5picker]

Originally Posted by PFLOYD75

So as I live in an apartment complex and can't really have the TT there and plugged into any electricity to cool down the refrigerator for a day prior to leaving for a trip, I plan on going to where it is in storage, turning on the propane and insuring the refrigerator is setup on "AUTO" to run via propane and then going back to hook up the next day to the TV and hitting the road. This should work well as an alternative to early cooling down too, right?


Thanks, All!

Yes. Just be aware the refrigerator uses a small amount of 12v (even when on propane) for the control board.

A day or so won't matter to the battery but don't leave the storage area and shut of your battery cut-off switch as you typically might. The refrigerator will quit.

[DrLewie]

All of the articles I've read on the subject say not to travel with the gas on due to fire risk when stopping for fuel and at other times. I've had a personal experience with a broken spring on the trailer, which resulted in a shredded tire which somehow broke a propane line. Fortunately, someone saw it happen and signaled me to stop. I turned off the tanks before a fire started. These articles also say the fridge loses only one degree an hour when turned off. I've been travelling with it turned off for a couple of years and after a 300 mile trip the stuff in the freezer is still frozen and the stuff in the fridge is still cold, and that included opening it briefly for a drink or snack.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by 5picker

A day or so won't matter to the battery but don't leave the storage area and shut of your battery cut-off switch as you typically might. The refrigerator will quit.

A-frames and popups don't have battery cutoff switches unless an owner installs one.

[ekrus]

Be aware that if you live or camp above 5000' you probably can't run your fridge on propane (not enough air in the air :-)

[lbrjet]

Never had problem with fridge on propane at higher elevations. Spent most of last summer in the 6500 - 9500 range


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[ekrus]

> Never had problem with fridge on propane at higher elevations.
> Spent most of last summer in the 6500 - 9500 range

Just going by the manufacturer's instructions. We live above 5000' and generally go UP to camp. If our fridge runs at all on propane, it doesn't stay very cold. We get more consistent results with electricity (if we have no electric hookup, we use a big cooler with ice and/or cold packs).

[RSchleder]

Cool frig for 24 hours (if possible, if not as much as you can) and add food. Put frig control on AUTO and it will run on 120V when plugged in, 12V when attached to the tow vehicle & propane when not plugged in to 110V or 12V. It's amazing how smart your frig can be!!!!

[lbrjet]

I realize that efficiency takes a hit, but this thread is about cooling while traveling, not boondocking. Took forever it seemed to boil spaghetti water at 8900 feet. We only use propane on the fridge going from full service campground to full service campground.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Teamfour]

Originally Posted by RSchleder

Put frig control on AUTO and it will run on 120V when plugged in, 12V when attached to the tow vehicle & propane when not plugged in to 110V or 12V.

Not quite. The unit runs on either 120v, or 12v AND propane. The unit will not run on 12v only or propane only.