Fridge on Propane
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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=7477
Printed Date: 25 Oct 2025 at 11:31pm
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Topic: Fridge on Propane
Posted By: podderfj
Subject: Fridge on Propane
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 9:55pm
| I am sure this is addressed somewhere but I am new to the pod and can't really find what I am looking for. My question is: Can the Fridge be operated on propane without water in the hot water heater. My pod is in storage right now and I wanted to try the fridge on propane but don't really know the proper procedure. Can someone out there give me directions on how to run my fridge on propane, just to see if it works properly, without having any water to the pod? Thank you very much in advance. |
Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:18pm
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Not sure I am following your thought but will give it a try. Your fridge operates 3 ways as you are probably well aware of. Battery, 110 electric, and propane. Water has nothing to do with the operation of your fridge. On our 177 there is a button on the front of the fridge you press until the propane symbol lights up. You will need either 110 or battery to operate your fridge on propane. Don't make the mistake like I did when I first had my pod of operating your fridge on battery alone. My battery was dead after about 10 hours. ------------- 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: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:18pm
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The fridge and the water heater have nothing to do with each other, except that they can both be run on propane or electricity. Or in the case of the water heater, both. Anyway, yes, you can run the fridge without water in the water heater and you can run the water heater without beer in the fridge. Don't turn on the water heater without water in it though. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:22pm
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One other thing to make a mental note of before heading out with the pod. The night before you leave turn the fridge on, we use the extension cord and plug in 110, so the fridge can cool down before you load it up the following day. Depending on outside temps it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours to cool down properly unless you are camping in real cold weather.
------------- 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: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:24pm
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The fridge and the water heater are do not interact and are not at all interdependent. If you have no water in the heater both electric and gas sides of the WH should be turned off tp protect the empty WH from damage. With the propane bottle turned on, press and hold the fridge mode button until it turns on. Push the mode button repeatedly until it indicates gas operation. Set the temperature to its coldest setting. Note that the ammonia absorption fridge will not cool quickly so you will have to wait many hours to detect cooling. It will take 24 hours to fully cool the empty fridge.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:32pm
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Charlie, you are probably correct with the 24 hour to cool properly in warmer climates. I was going by my experience as a northerner where I start the fridge when it is around 65 degrees or less and the fact that when I start it is in the shade, not in sun. Seeing you are from FL the time to properly cool will be greatly extended.
------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 8:54pm
I will need to do some experimentation to see if the beer part is true. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 9:08pm
 
------------- 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: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 9:25pm
No beer in the fridge ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2025 Ford Transit Camper van 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 11:09pm
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I understand that a fan in the refrigerator to circulate the air will help speed cooling. We bought a small blue cube-shaped fan that takes two D cells. The batteries are supposed to last for weeks. It does not move much air, but it is sufficient. We used it on our last trip, and it seemed to work well. ------------- 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: Pod People
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 9:07am
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I will second Stephen's suggestion about the cube fan. We also use it and it definitely helps the air circulation. Another very important aspect of pod refrigeration is to ALWAYS put cold items into the fridge. Never put room temp food in there. We also use a traditional ice chest to keep all of our drinks and some veggies that don't require a lot of refrigeration. We freeze half gallon milk jugs as block ice and then have them as potable water when they melt. Travel safe Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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