+ 1 to SH

An open flame would be a candle burning on the outside of the pod.

Inside the pod would not be an open flame until the door is opened.

Last, just for kicks. Proven fact that almost all gas station fires are a result of static, not open flame.

I am well aware of the hazards of propane. In my younger days, I was a volunteer fireman. We did propane safety training which included getting up close and personal with propane fires such as a flaming "Christmas tree" being fed liquid propane by a tanker. We had three people, two with hoses and one in the middle whose job it was to reach the valve at the base of the "tree" and simulate turning it off, after which we had to back away from the fire without getting burned. It was pretty intense! We also had some house fires that involved making sure the bulk tanks up next to the house did not get too hot and to move them away so they would not explode. Boiling Liquid, Expanding Vapor Explosions (BLEVE) are very, very bad.

Knowing all this, I would not risk using propane with the refrigerator if I thought it had a high probability of causing a fire. I would not be able to dry camp if I did not use propane for worry that something might go wrong. As it is, I sleep quite well with the refrigerator on propane and don't worry about using it on the highway, knowing that I do not have an open flame.

Question one: When at the campground have you switched the frig over to shore power?

When I Boon-dock, frig goes over to propane. Frig draws far too much DC power to run on battery.

Question two: Is your TV setup with a large enough alternator to run the Frig and charge the battery?

Many are not..

And lastly (for now): What else are you running that is drawing power?

Everything has to be considered here. Running the AC, Micro, Blender, Electric Heater, etc, etc...

How much power are you drawing and what is left to charge the battery ('s)..

To the balance of this thread: I run my frig on battery while traveling. Why? It works and my batteries get a charge as well. At 17mpg average towing (46 days), I'm happy with my setup.

Rubert & Lily have been very good to me!

Originally posted by mcarter I'm not saying anything pro or con, but the FR newsletter this week published pics and stories on RV fires at gas stations, first I had ever seen, won't comment on every cause but they attributed to propane and gas issues.

What FR newsletter?  Is it accessable online?

TT

Originally posted by mjlrpod I can understand the people that don't have a choice of using battery, or propane, choosing to travel with propane. I've done it once or twice when i forgot to switch over before getting on the road. But IF you have a choice, and you don't use battery, I would call that a poor choice. Most safety rules don't come about because something bad happens every time you do something.

This is an interesting topic.  By all means, to each is own.  I've looked pretty hard though and more or less, at least, invited other people to point to a rule about not using propane fridges while traveling or at gas stations.  An official rule, issued by a state or federal agency or a law.  I haven't found it and no one has pointed me to it. 

My opinion: there's risk to getting out of bed in the morning.  It's all about risk assessment, which, barring clear statistical data, is pretty much a matter of personal judgement.  Sure, there are stories about fires and deaths but there is also documented evidence of meteors striking the earth and destroying thousands of square miles and even wiping out a lot of the life on the planet.  I still go outside and I run the fridge on propane while traveling.  That's just me though.

At this point I'm not sure I'd change my mind about the fridge even if someone uncovers a law somewhere...

TT