Propane

Stewart W · 09-11-2020, 09:23 AM

Are there do's and don'ts for having your propane on while towing your RV down the road? Is it legal?

TheWolfPaq82 · 09-11-2020, 09:36 AM

I do it to keep frig going. Tunnels may require you to turn it off before going thru.

007matman · 09-11-2020, 09:38 AM

I've done it for years. No issues at all.

There are a few tunnels where they will tell you to turn it off. However, I'm gonna bet that most of the time RV owners don't. I've gone through those tunnels before but never with a camper hooked up.

If you have a 2-way or 3-way fridge it'll keep the coldest off of propane. That's how we use it all the time. I only flip to using electricity when I run out of gas.

Some complain that their flame goes out.. I've never had that problem.

Wiscampsin · 09-11-2020, 09:45 AM

Turn the LP tanks off before you pull up to gas pumps.

007matman · 09-11-2020, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiscampsin

Turn the LP tanks off before you pull up to gas pumps.

Why? Do they normally have open flame by the gas pump at your local gas station?

BriaBeck · 09-11-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007matman

Why? Do they normally have open flame by the gas pump at your local gas station?

If I'm understanding your question, You have a flame in your refrigerator, if it is turned on.

007matman · 09-11-2020, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

If I'm understanding your question, You have a flame in your refrigerator, if it is turned on.

Under metal shielding and vented properly, but yes. I wouldn't call it an open flame as it's burnt and exhausted immediately through approved ducting.

BriaBeck · 09-11-2020, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007matman

Under metal shielding and vented properly, but yes. I wouldn't call it an open flame as it's burnt and exhausted immediately through approved ducting.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

But, the risk is present that under the right conditions, that little flame could ignite gasoline vapors present at a gas station.

Unlikely, but still possible. Or, stated another way, not impossible.

NMWildcat · 09-11-2020, 11:53 AM

That reminds me, I need to upgrade my anti meteorite helmet to include foil to prevent alien mind intrusion.

babock · 09-11-2020, 11:54 AM

If you just turn off the tanks, it takes awhile for the flame to go out at the fridge. Just turn the fridge off.

I never bother. My fridge is 30 feet away from my truck fuel tank.

007matman · 09-11-2020, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

That reminds me, I need to upgrade my anti meteorite helmet to include foil to prevent alien mind intrusion.

I totally forgot about that too!!

SlowrideHD · 09-11-2020, 12:00 PM

I have never turned mine off in over 40 years of rv's with propane/electric refrigerators. Have never had a problem.

BriaBeck · 09-11-2020, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babock

If you just turn off the tanks, it takes awhile for the flame to go out at the fridge. Just turn the fridge off.

I never bother. My fridge is 30 feet away from my truck fuel tank.

I don't bother either.

NavyLCDR · 09-19-2020, 11:09 PM

If you are going to shut off the fridge while fueling, it is far better to turn it off electrically with the switch rather than just shutting off the propane tank valves.

TowPro · 09-20-2020, 06:35 AM

Any tunnel I have gone through that requires propane be shut off also includes a required stop where they ask you if it's off. And the 2 tunnels in Baltimore don't allow propane containers over 10 lbs at all (rt 95)

Oaklevel · 09-20-2020, 06:57 AM

You will get opinions both ways.

There have been a few fires while refueling but it is rare. About 10 years ago a motor home was going through a tunnel here in Virginia and had a propane fire and closed the tunnel for several months........ bet their insurance company loved it.

But as I said its rare........

eye95 · 09-20-2020, 07:16 AM

Fires caused by smoking while refueling are also rare.

I still asked the last guy I saw smoking at the pump to please put it out. He didn’t. He made some kind of comment about not smoking at the pump being BS. He probably thought I was some kind of rules/smoking/fueling/propane/weight/axle/tire Nazi.

I wasn’t going to start a fight. The gas station did not catch fire. This time.

But, hey folks, while you are doing you, remember that, even if you don’t survive a disaster that kills others, much of your family will have to live with the aftermath.

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