Dometic Frig RM8501

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   mcarter,the voltage drop I get while running the fridge towing is only about 0.5V so my battery stays pretty much fully charged as long as the TV engine is running and the alternator is producing current. I'm almost always boon docking so it doesn't take long to discharge the batteries once stopped so the first thing I do is switch to propane when I arrive at a campsite. 
Operating on propane while towing solves the problem but I've had a couple of other RV's in the past where the propane has blown out in the fridge while on the road so I've lost confidence in doing that.  

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Topic: Dometic Frig RM8501 Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 6:08pm
	mcarter,the voltage drop I get while running the fridge towing is only about 0.5V so my battery stays pretty much fully charged as long as the TV engine is running and the alternator is producing current. I'm almost always boon docking so it doesn't take long to discharge the batteries once stopped so the first thing I do is switch to propane when I arrive at a campsite. Operating on propane while towing solves the problem but I've had a couple of other RV's in the past where the propane has blown out in the fridge while on the road so I've lost confidence in doing that.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6418	Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 7:02pm
	OTOH, I have never had the flame blow out while we have been traveling. Perhaps the bug screens help.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3332	Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 8:10pm
	That is the first I have heard of the propane flame blown out while traveling down the road. We also have added screens to the 2 panels to keep out bees, spiders and the like but for the first 6 years of ownership I didn't and for the 20,000 + miles of travel, never had that issue. Since then, with screens in place for the past 4 years same result. Overall for the past 10 seasons and 35,000 + miles of travel - we always use propane while traveling (and almost always as we camp as we usually boondock) and have never had the flame blow out on us.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1088	Posted: 14 Nov 2020 at 8:50pm
	I agree that flame blow out has never been a problem for us in 2 different pods-our original 173 and our current 179. We also had screens on the exterior vents. We have always traveled with the fridge on propane. Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1221	Posted: 15 Nov 2020 at 8:52am
	I also have a Nissan Frontier, and I always used the battery option to run the fridge to tow when I had my 172. My longest time towing on battery was about 9.5 hours on my way to, and from D.C.. I then spent the night boon docking at a casino, before returning home. My battery was fine. You don't want to run the fridge on battery once you stop towing. Immediately switch to propane, unless you can plug into shore power. I would not worry about it at all.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 15 Nov 2020 at 9:20am
	+1 to MJ and OG, when traveling I run the fridge on 12Vs. No issues. As long as vehicle is plugged in a running the fridge is fine, also recommend you disconnect and switch to propane or shore power when stopped.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Dirt Sifter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Location: Right side OR Online Status: Offline Posts: 170	Posted: 15 Nov 2020 at 9:48am
	I'm with jato on the propane. While covering less than half the miles he's traveled and using five different TT over a number of years and some very windy conditions, we've not had the propane fail. On the newer TT's I have gone 5 hrs. with refrigerator off and all was ok. To some extent, it depends on the type of camping you'll be doing as to just how important that fully charged TT battery is.
	Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 15 Nov 2020 at 9:53am
	For the record, the on the road fridge flame blowouts I've experienced were not in rpods or the rm85xx fridge, and I'm not suggesting it will. Its just my personal experience from other rv's I've owned, but its the kind of thing that makes one never want to repeat the experience. Its not fun getting to your destination after driving hours through a hot desert and finding all your perishables have to be thrown out. So, I use electric on the road.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

fwunder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676	Posted: 19 Nov 2020 at 3:35pm
	I have experienced flame out on my fridge several times. I came up with a couple of solutions. Both work very well. 1) 100 Watt solar panel on TV to augment 12 supply while towing. 2) Baffle for fridge flame
	2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 20 Nov 2020 at 7:09am
	Fridge blow outs do happen.. I am on 3 different marques forums, Airstream, Lance and here. It has been reported by owners in all of them. No real rhyme or reason to it, and owners with identical setups do not report identical issues. That said, it has never happened to us. We had robust batteries, and a good charging system, and the Pod fridge did fine on 12v. Pretty sure we never towed on gas with it, but the 'stream and the Lance do not have that option, so we run on propane. Around 20k miles combined, no flame outs, no spoiled bacon. Many owners who suffer from flame out do a baffle seems to be a solid answer.