Traveling with a refrigerator
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11253
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 6:44am
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Topic: Traveling with a refrigerator
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Subject: Traveling with a refrigerator
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 8:33am
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I've been all over the internet on this and so many thoughts as too how. I have never towed a TT with a frig before so I ask: What do you do? Our intent is to drive a max of 4-6hrs to the next destination. Now that can mean, with stops, being 8-10hrs before settling in. On Propane? Consensus on this is very mixed.. On Battery? Again very mixed, but leans towards battery vs. propane. Then, those that just close it up and don't do either. I get it depends on the weather and if your in a hot climate. Knowing we'll be running from such areas and knowing we'll be driving through such, traveling brings the question of how. So: What do you folks do on those long days between stays? ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 8:41am
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If your TV sends a good 12v charge to the Pod, roll on 12v. If it doesn't, then roll on propane. Cue "you are going to die if you tow with propane on" activists in 3.. 2.. 1.. Fact is there are 8 million RVs on the road. Almost NONE of them have a 12v option. 3 way fridges are fairly new, and only the smallest ones. Now, you can believe all those RVs are going down the road with warm beer and spoiling bacon.. OR, you can accept the fact that the roadside is not littered with the burned out hulks of RVs that burned down just so little bobby could have ice cream by the lake.. RVIA reports the number one cause of RV fires are malfunctions of the 12v system. Not Propane. In fact, the number one reason reported for TT fires while on the road is failed bearings. In a dozen years of TTing, we have never traveled with the fridge off. 12v on the pod, gas on the 'stream and Lance. My father has had gas/120v only fridges in the 4 class C campers he has worn out. Never traveled without them on. Side note.. the 5 gallon propane tank will run your fridge non-stop for about 6 weeks.. ------------- |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 9:05am
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furpod sums things up quite nicely.........we usually go with battery because we get a good charge from the TV but I wouldn't hesitate to go propane if we found that 12v wasn't up to snuff. Not having ice at the end of the day's travel.....that would be tough! ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 9:37am
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I Travel with frig on battery, my vehicle outputs either 13.8 0r 14.1 d.c. volts (i forget which) when i put a meter on it. I've gone 3 - 4 hours on battery, and arrived with a cold frig, and a full battery. I only use battery because its illegal to go to some areas with propane on. Like a gas station to get gas. I almost pulled into a gas station with my propane on once, and quickly changed course to go down the street to shut off propane (frig) before going back. You also cant go thru tunnels with frig on propane. I figure I try to do everything I can to make my trips as enjoyable, and stress free as possible. This makes it one less thing for me to worry about. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 9:44am
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Travel with frig on 12V with an occasional use of propane to ensure it still works. Furpod's comments are spot on. And I must admit I always have a real good cooler with me, old habits are hard to break. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 10:06am
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We travel with the fridge on 12V. If we are stopping more than 3 or 4 hours without a hookup, I will switch it to propane. Our TV cuts off 12V charge to the TT after about 20 or 30 seconds, so we don't have to worry about that. I'm one of those who is uncomfortable pulling into a gas station with an open flame, and I don't want to worry about it. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 11:26am
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Thanks folks! You are the best! I pick up Lily in 28 days and so much is going through my mind of what & how.. Love this site and your responses! My thoughts were to run 12v when driving. You folks just confirmed the thought. Again: Thank you! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 11:31am
LOL.. I do see a cooler in the truck bed.. Ya, old habits.. Besides the frig is on the small size.. Since our intent is to Boondock as much as possible, I see no issues with running the propane on occasion. LOL For us, it will be occasionally using the 120v to ensure it still works! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 11:40am
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Yah. I usually put the fridge on AC the day before a trip (and stock it once it's cooled down). Switch it to 12V for the actual trip, and then propane or AC depending on destination.To each his or her own. If you've thought about it, you will settle on what works for you. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 1:30pm
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When we bought our R-Pod, we took off a week later for a cross-country trip. We stopped to visit some friends in Charlotte, NC. I have dual 6V batteries, so I thought I would just leave it on 12V. We were awakened in the wee hours with the refrigerator beeping at us. The TV (Ford Escape at the time) may have been charging the battery adequately, but even dual 6V batteries can't keep the refrigerator running for extended periods. I tried to switch to propane only to see flames shooting back toward the valve and burning the wires. A hasty switch to 110V and a backtrack to our dealer to find out that wasps had nested in the flue. Parts were ordered and we continued our trip. Since we were only stopping overnight with no utilities, I ended up having to run propane (dealer had removed wasp nest). After we got back from that trip, parts were replaced and we have run on propane since unless we have shore power in which case we run on AC. I added bug screens to the openings. No more wasps. An added benefit is that screens act as flame arrestors. I don't have an issue pulling into gas stations to refuel. The R-Pod is far enough away from the pumps that I'm not worried about fumes (that with the screens, of course). For tunnels, if there is a sign, I will pull off and shut down gas until we are clear of the tunnel. We have not encountered any on our travels so far that say no propane permitted, but we may someday. I am describing what I do. If others want to run on 12V while driving, go ahead. It did not seem to work out well for me. I am not sure if our current Frontier would have adequate power to both charge the batteries and run the refrigerator so I stick with propane. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 3:45pm
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I only TRAVEL with 12 v option. When I stop, its either shore power, or propane. I would never run the fridge on 12 v unless the T.V. is running. But I would never pull into a gas station with my propane running, its illegal, again, I try to take every precaution to make my trip as stress free and fool proof as possible. I would hate to be the guy that blows up a gas station. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 4:23pm
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We cannot tow on 12 volts without killing the battery so its always on propane when traveling. And the propane lasts forever. Did not even empty a tank the entire summer. We also always forgot to turn it off when filling up on gas but we do have the bug screens which did not know also serve as flame arresters. We will be taking 16 hour ferry to Newfoundland so will have to shut off refrigerator. We bought a Lifetime ice chest (a poor mans Yeti) to store the food during the crossing. It can keep ice a week. ------------- OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 4:27pm
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StephenH, you make it sound like there is a flame like a blowtorch in the fridge, it smaller the a pilot lite. That is why many people think when they look at the flame that it is a pilot lite and are waiting for the burner to get lid. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 5:53pm
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I run my fridge on propane when on the road. I tried 12v and managed to barely avoid running my batteries down. If your vehicle electrical system, which includes having heavy enough wiring to the Bargman, has the amps, there shouldn't be a problem using 12v but not all vehicles have the amps. Watch what you're doing if you run the fridge on 12v while traveling or you may end up with warm beer, a depleted Pod battery, and, worst case, a drained tow vehicle battery. As for it being illegal to run propane appliances at gas stations, that seems like a reasonable thing to assume, and there are a million citations on the web that say that's the case. I certainty haven't searched the whole web yet, but I haven't been able to find anything beyond assumptions and opinions on this -- nothing official. I'd be interested if someone can find a citation from a state DOT or somethng similar. Totally irrelevant, but I still see plenty of people smoking while they fill up. I've seen the signs for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, and I'm pretty sure I've seen signs for some ferries, but I don't recall ever seeing a sign at a gas station. And as far as I know I've never seen or heard of a burned out gas station where the fire was caused by an RV fridge. Not saying it hasn't happened, but it doesn't seem to happen a lot. Of course I'm fine with people who are uncomfortable with running appliances on propane not doing so, especially at gas stations. I'm not advocating those people do anything they're uneasy about. I think it's worth reiterating though, that one should be careful when first trying the fridge on battery power, to be sure they don't run their batteries down too far. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 6:35pm
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In my case, it was like a blowtorch when the flame was shooting out in the wrong direction. After it was fixed, it looks more like a pilot light. I'm not entirely sure it is working well as this past summer, even with a circulating fan setup inside and the fan outside, it had a hard time keeping consistent temperatures. Before using it this year, I will give it a thorough cleaning. From what I understand, the Frontier has a 110 AH alternator. I do not believe it is sufficient to run the Frontier's accessories plus charge the R-Pod's 6V batteries plus run the refrigerator. I have a voltage gauge inside and can see the state of the batteries when we stop. If I were to upgrade the alternator to one more powerful and if the wire is of sufficient gauge, then I would be more willing to try to run the refrigerator on 12V again while towing. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2018 at 6:45pm
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Propane almost entirely for us. Yes we installed bug screens years ago, (wasp nest necessitated that) and with the screen vent being on the drivers side verses our filling point on our Explorer's being on the passenger side, feel quite safe. Have been doing it this way since we picked up our 177 back in March 2011. Nearing 30,000 miles to date with no incidents. As Stephen H noted above, batteries do not last long. Found that out the first summer as I was pre-cooling the fridge only to find out after 6 hours our battery was dead and the beeper was going on and off. Once in a while we do use the 110V option when we are not boondocking, but that is not too often. It has been a great fridge, don't forget to pre-cool your fridge for a day before leaving and put in cold items straight from your homes fridge. Have only had one incident where we had to throw food away, and that time we were on 110v. The fault was not with the electricity but with the muffin fans behind the fridge not going on when the heat built up. By repositioning the bi-metal switch on the back of the fridge, the fans kicked on immediately and we have never had any problems since. As always "Furpod" is right on with his wisdom and analysis.  ------------- 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." |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 9:46am
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Stephen. My frontier runs the fridge, and the battery is fully charged at my arrival. Have you checked the voltage supplied at the 7 pin connector? The pin at " 1 o'clock" and "7 o'clock" are the battery and ground pins. I tow with a/c on all the time. I have never towed more than 3-4 hours at one time, so maybe if i went longer it would run down. I also never shut off the T.V. for more than 10 minutes while towing. I also cool the fridge all day before hooking up. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 12:50pm
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According to the wiring diagrams for our NorCold, to run the fridge on battery power, one is supposed to hook up a separate heavy wire from the TV battery (seem to me it was 8 or 10 awg, but I can't remember) and have it on a separate circuit. It was just too much bother when I replaced the fridge, so we run on either AC or gas. I spoke to a refrigerator repair specialist in the Reno area asked him about wether it was worth it to hook up the battery in our Pod. I can't repeat his response verbatim because of the specific words used (David will get after me for using vulgarity on the forum 👺] but the gist of what he said was it was better not to hook it up. I guess that where having a propane fridge running when you gas up is illegal, the solution is to the gas off while fueling, then back on when you pull away from the gas pumps. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 2:42pm
I will check the voltage when I get a chance. It is the amperage being delivered that I would be more concerned with, but I don't have a meter for that. One other reason I leave it on propane unless I have AC available is that I want to make sure my batteries have sufficient power to run my CPAP machine plus the furnace plus the incidental use of the refrigerator, AC, lights, and other parasitic power draws. One of these days, I will check out the wire gauge and how it is connected. It may be that Nissan used too small a wire. Is your frontier's connector stock wiring or did you change the charging wire out for one of a larger size? ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 2:49pm
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Can anyone point to a state or federal regulation that says it is illegal to run an fridge on LP at a gas station? I've come fairly close; one site (and I don't recall if it was "official") said IF there is a sign posted at the pump saying it is prohibited, then it's a misdemeanor to have an open flame within 20 feet of the pump. This brings up what I think is a valid question: what is an open flame? Or more specifically, is the flame enclosed in a refrigerator an "open flame"? My attempts to answer that so far seem to indicate that it is not. I'd really like a genuine answer as to whether it is illegal to run a fridge on propane at a gas station. A million people saying it is, maybe because 999,999 other people say it, doesn't make it so. And legal or not, there is still the fear a lot of people have about this. I have no doubt that is a real fear -- although I've yet to find any evidence that the fear is justified. Actually, the evidence seems to lean the other way. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 2:59pm
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+1 It would be good to get a definitive answer to this question.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 3:43pm
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+2 I have spent a fair amount of time in an attempt to get to the bottom of this controversy and have not found any evidence or legal documentation to support the "illegal or prohibited propane flame" theory. Still looking, but with the lack of any supporting documentation I will continue to use propane where ever I travel UNLESS I see a sign stating otherwise, which I have never seen . . . . . yet . . . .as I travel this great country. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 3:47pm
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This is from the Dometic manual while not regulatory it could imply liability I suppose.
2.6 Operating the refrigerator with gas WARNING! Operating the appliance with gas is not permitted at petrol stations on ferry boats while transporting the caravan/motorhome by a transporter or breakdown vehicle. There is the danger of fire! Leave the equipment switched off. If you ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: Larry-D
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 5:17pm
| Let's keep in mind that gasoline, kerosene, diesel and the like are heavier than air so they spread out along the ground like water seeking the lowest point. As long as the vapors are uninhibited they spread laterally. Since the flame of the refrigerator is higher I think there is little chance of ignition. Can it happen, maybe. There is a range of ignition, too little vapors (too lean) no ignition, too much vapor (too rich) and there is no ignition. In 33 years of investigating fires for their origin and cause I have never run across or heard from another investigator of an RV refrigerator igniting a fire while the RV or its tow vehicle being refueled. |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 5:18pm
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Dometic is made in Germany, thus the rules may be more restrictive. But, there is certainly an open flame when the refer is running. Flammable vapor from the gasoline pumps may waft into the lower vent for the fridge in sufficient concentrations to ignite. This could lead to some rather unpleasant consequences. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 6:56pm
Jato your post is a big +3! I aAbsolutely agree! If I have to turn my frig off propane to go through a tunnel or travel on a bridge I will other wise gas stations and such forget about it. If the refrigerator police want to pull me over let them come and get me! If you want to run your refrigerator on your vehicle 12vdc system more power to you. Though if you do please don't cry about it when turn off your vehicle and go away from it for awhile and come back to hear your ignition just go "click" an nothing else when you turn your switch. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2018 at 8:15pm
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Swedish but I get the polnt, and for the record I always travel with mine on propane. Headquarters‎: ‎ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm - Stockholm ‎, Sweden ‎Revenue‎: ‎SEK 12.39 billion (2016) ‎Number of employees‎: ‎6,500 (2016) ‎Net income‎: ‎SEK 1.36 billion (2016) ‎Missing: ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |