Life is full of risk, but I think that reducing what risk we can control is the wise choice. Propane on while moving is OK as long as you don't have an accident or fuel up with it on. If you can predict a no accident future and always remember to turn the refer off gas prior to stopping for fuel, go ahead. Unfortunately, I know of a family that lost that bet. They are no longer with us.
Please read my question again!!! I was NOT asking about leaving the frig on propane while driving down the road. Our frig is NOT ON propane while in motion driving down the road. Again, my question is....do you leave the propane VALVE in the OPEN position, the valve you turn to on, to allow the propane to flow thru the lines to reach the frig, water heater and stove BEFORE you light the frig, water heater and stove. This would mean the lines are filled with propane, but NO appliances are running and therefore NO flames. I am well aware of the safety issues of having a LIVE flame while filling at a gas station, but if there is NO flame, is there a safety issue? If you have an accident from the rear, the propane tank is still a risk, as well as, your fuel tank regardless, so we are all at risk if that happens.
Jim & Darlene
Ewok our Llasa...Pickles our Shorkie Tzu
2004 Roadtrek Chevy 190 Popular (aka..Roada)
Wisconsin Dells...Water park capital of the world
I have wanted to respond, since I thought your question was not being addressed well. Since you reposted, now I will.
I consider myself pretty risk-averse. I choose NOT to drive with the refrigerator running on propane. I am not interested in participating in an argument about whether it is safe or not. For me, the correct decision is to run the fridge on 12 volt only while moving. In the interest of full disclosure, I will keep the propane on occasionally for short distances, say if we are leaving a campsite and driving to a trailhead. Even then, sometimes yes, sometimes no.
In terms of leaving the propane valve open while traveling, I definitely do that. For me, the risks of an adverse outcome driving with the valve open (no appliances on) seem small enough that I am not willing to deal with valve off and on numerous times a day. It stays open when refueling with gasoline. When refueling with propane, of course, it MUST be closed.
Those are my choices, not because I am smarter than everyone else. It's just what seems safe and reasonable to me. Just like driving my Roadtrek 65 MPH, but not 75.
Ours is on/open all the time, even when plugged in at home. We run the fridge on propane when driving. Not a problem YET. If our power were to go out at home, the fridge would still stay cold, besides, that's where we store our Coronas.
KK&R wrote: In terms of leaving the propane valve open while traveling, I definitely do that. For me, the risks of an adverse outcome driving with the valve open (no appliances on) seem small enough that I am not willing to deal with valve off and on numerous times a day. It stays open when refueling with gasoline. When refueling with propane, of course, it MUST be closed.
This is exactly what we do, and to reiterate, when refueling with gasoline, NO appliances are operating on propane EVEN THOUGH the propane valve is on.
Jerry & Susie
1996 Roadtrek 190 Versatile (Dodge 5.2 L)
FMCA F390585 Trees are being destroyed through the transportation of invasive insects and diseases in firewood. For more information, please visit www.dontmovefirewood.org
REK1 wrote: We used to keep it off but the on latest cross country trip we left it on with no problems. We to drive with frig on batteries but switch to propane when we stop. New question: Is it hard on the batteries driving with them powering the frig because it uses so much juice??
The vehicle alternator supplies enough current to simultaneously charge the house battery/batteries and vehicle battery, as well as supplying sufficient current to the fridge while driving.
We used to keep it off but the on latest cross country trip we left it on with no problems. We to drive with frig on batteries but switch to propane when we stop. New question: Is it hard on the batteries driving with them powering the frig because it uses so much juice??
It is recommended to close the shutoff when the vehicle is in travel.
The refrigerator should be operated on 12 Volt when the vehicle is in travel.
Refueling Procedures:
Pg 2:
Warning: The tank valve must be closed and ALL PILOT LIGHT, APPLIANCES, AND THEIR IGNITITERS SHALL BE TURNED OFF during refueling of Motor Vehicle Fuel Tank.
Ron
Ron & Rose Cabral
Snoopy-Peanut-Daisy
New Bedford, MA
2010 Chevy/RoadTrek190 Popular
FMCA: 303873-02 ~K1RRC~ E-mail: RRCRT@aol.com
Offline
