Rpod Refrigerator
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4639
Printed Date: 19 Aug 2025 at 12:18pm
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Topic: Rpod Refrigerator
Posted By: cody91
Subject: Rpod Refrigerator
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 4:12pm
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Just curious what most folks were doing with their refrigerator while traveling with their tow vehicle? 1) Keep the refrigerator off. 2) Run the refrigerator on gas. 3) Run the refrigerator on DC. Thanks, Cody91 |
Replies:
Posted By: CasaJack
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 4:33pm
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I kept my on using Electrical for my first trip with our 182G. The drive was 2 hours and had no problems. As a matter of fact I turned it on an hour before we left our house so it was nice and cold before we left.
------------- Jackdaddy |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 4:43pm
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It depends... either propane or D/C I keep my r-pod in a storage lot and generally don't go out the day ahead to cool the fridge down. Instead, on the day I head out, I'll head to the lot, turn on the propane and load up the fridge with food. With a full fridge of already cold food/beverages, the propane works very quickly. I've never had any thawing issues - even with icecream/froyo. On a trip of multiple stages, I'll usually put the fridge on D/C while travelling between campgrounds. The battery starts out fully charged, and the charge line from my vehicle provides sufficient power for the fridge and to keep the battery charged up. No need to waste propane (although, admittedly, the fridge uses very little propane). When I've been boondocking and head back home, I'll put the fridge on propane. Generally, the battery will be a bit low when I leave the camping area and I'll want to fully charge it from the vehicle while towing home as the r-pod is headed straight for the storage lot (which doesn't have electric). If the fridge is on D/C, a couple hours of driving won't provide enough power to also charge the battery. In answer to the unspoken question... no, I don't worry about driving with propane on. I can understand why others hesitate to do so, but I don't share their concerns. Of course, I do shut the propane off before filling my vehicle with gasoline and tunnels and the odd bridge also have restrictions where I'd shut off the propane. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 6:34pm
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Just a note about driving with the propane on. If you drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, they require you to turn off the gas (at the tank) before you cross. On the PA turnpike there is a sign forbidding flammables in the tunnels, campers with propane are welcome, but they ask you to turn off the propane. When I stored my motorhome in a limestone mine, they (USBM) were concerned that it have no more than one half tank of gasoline (much more explosive than a full one, without oxygen), didn't care a bit about propane.
Now I would think there is more danger of a leak (and fire) from a plastic tank with 20 gallons of gasoline, than a steel bottle with 20# of propane, in an accident, but all these organizations have their rules (and fears) if you use their facilities. All FYI BTW, I cool mine down overnight on A/C and travel on D/C, and have never had any problems, the ice cubes don't even melt. ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 6:52pm
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i travel in battery mode, and if boondocking will switch over to gas for last hour or so to get a full charge on battery before stopping; no worries however traveling on gas; just what i do. i also turn on fridge 24 hours (plugged in) prior to departure ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 9:28pm
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I believe that all states have laws against open flames while fueling or in the area of a service station. Goose
------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 9:57pm
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Thanks everyone for the responses. I see now it all depends the situation. It's nice to have options. Cody91 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 10:03pm
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True, but I've investigated the properties of gasoline and there is no chance the fumes will make it 3 feet off the ground into the fridge compartment. The fumes are heavier than air for starters, and the flammability limits (upper and lower ranges where there is the right air/fuel ratio) are very narrow. If you turn it off before you fuel up, great, but don't freak out if you forget. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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