webslave
Clearville, PA
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Chuck&Gail wrote:Can't think of ANYTHING that doesn't produce SOME fear of fire. Heck your gasoline is VERY flammable.
Our fridge gets turned on the day before we leave, and turned off day after we return home. Only exception is specially posted tunnels. No troubles yet in over 100,000 miles.
X2
Never worried me when towing with a gasser...the reefer was 20' from the pump and 2' off the ground. If the fumes from fueling (gas fumes are heavier than air and settle at ground level) were dense enough for combustion at that point, the reefer wouldn't be the cause of ignition. The odds of the reefer even being lit (only the smallest and oldest refrigerators are "constant on") while fueling are very low...the reefer only fires up when needed and tooling down the road with no one opening the refrigerator's door it probably rarely even fires up. Never actually tried to figure out if it does or not...since those that say they never travel with it on and their stuff stays plenty cold, I would have to hazard a guess that the odds of it firing up when you stop to get gas (not before or after, but, right at that moment), and that the fumes have reached a combustable level 20+' away and several feet in the air despite the breeze of cars pulling in and out and natural air currents would be very, very small...
Now I've got an even longer trailer and I'm diesel to boot. I've always turned it on a day before and leave it on until we get back and unload it. Too many other major concerns when towing to worry about the refrigerator...but, that's just me. You'll have to form your own opinion on the "risk", however miniscule it may be.
My 2 cents, your mileage may vary...
Don
Bronwyn
3 Cats - Coco, J-Lo and Ragamuffin 
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB
2011 Ram 2500 Longhorn CTD HO
Built in brake controller and exhaust brake
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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We keep Ours on whenever It is being used. Not doing so is like not flushing the TP down with the Poop! Makes No Sense to Me!
Rob & Jean
98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..92 Tracker 4X2
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NorthernLimits
Michigan
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Did you read any of the links you posted? One of them is an official response that says there is no danger.
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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I think there are alot of people here that have missed all the fridge fires recently!
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 11yrs
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A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
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PackerBacker
Montreal (Qc) Adirondacks (NY) Myrtle Beach (SC)
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Our fridge stays on all the time while driving unless there are posted propane running restrictions.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS (34' 3")
2008 Jeep Liberty - North Edition (4x4 auto)
FQCC/Camping Quebec, KOA, Good Sam, Coach-Net
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SteveRuff
Bacliff, Texas, USA
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This kind of thread always gets people posting to turn it off when fueling. Sounds reasonable for sure, but in over 8 years of extensive travel and almost daily forum watching I have never actually read or heard about one causing a fire while fueling. A little fear is healthy. Letting it dictate your life is not.
Both retired. Travel with Nicky the Schnoodle. Son graduated and is teaching high school math. We still love our 2006 34' Allegro Bay XB and have 40,000+ miles on her.
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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dodge guy wrote:I think there are alot of people here that have missed all the fridge fires recently!
And most of those fridge fires occurred while the RV was parked. The Norcold 1200 series related fires typically occurred while on shorepower, not LP. The Federal DOT reports that over 75% of all vehicle fires, including RV's, are engine/drivetrain related.
Dutch
1995 Coachmen Catalina 322QBXL
F53 chassis, 460 V8, TST TPMS
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donkeydew
OR
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when in doubt read the owners manual.
mine is on two days before we leave till we return.
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motorcycle jack
FT all over
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As a full timer, we move about once a week when were are not in winter or summer spot. During those times of traveling I have both the refrigerator and hot water heater running, I never turn them off. Have never given it a second thought as to whether it would cause a fire - at a gas station, in an accident nor in a tunnel. I more worrisome things to think about while driving - all those idiots on the road!
John
"Motorcycle Jack"
Life time Good Sam Member
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Full timing isn't "always camping". It's a different life style living in an RV.
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Desert Captain
Tucson
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Obviously opinions run very hot (pun intended), on this often repeated issue. I do have one question: For those of you, and there seem to be a lot, that say you run the LP all the time "except" in tunnels where it is prohibited, why do you feel it necessary to comply with the law in a tunnel and not at a gas station? It is just as illegal to run it at the gas station as it is in the tunnel.
My understanding of the tunnel prohibition is they do not want ANY propane flowing while you are in the tunnel in case of an accident. If your LP valve is open and any of your lines break (look under your rig, those LP lines are just hanging there in extremely vulnerable positions), all it takes is one spark (very likely), and a serious fire is almost guaranteed. I know the world is full of folks who think rules are for other people, but do you comply in the tunnels only because you think you might actually get caught (very expensive), or do you actually see it as more dangerous than refueling?
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