We just purchased our first TT. When we were doing our walk through, the dealer informed us that we should not have the refridgerator on while towing because this could result in the pilot blowing out. Has anyone had this problem?
We always turn off our refrigerator before we leave...for the few hours that it's off, it will not lose much in the way of temperature. Besides, it's not a good idea to be traveling with the propane on; you particularly don't want it on when you are refueling or going thru tunnels and could cause real problems if you're in an accident.
Everything that elb is correct. I have just one question - how old is your coach - I haven't seen a pilot light on a refrigerator in 15 years. Everything I have seen lately is electronic ignition.
Not being an expert in this subjext, all I can say is I have towed travel trailers thousands of miles and never had a ref go out while on gas. I use electric current when I can. Yet, I pull my Holiday Rambler with the fridge running on gas. The one time I have had a problem keeping the unit lit was due to the flue needing cleaning. Once I cleaned the flue, the unit remained lit.
As to whether it has a pilot light or electronic ingition, I cannot say. I know I press a button to light the gas.
We have pulled a trailer or run a motorhome for 18 years now and always run with the refig on. We do always turn off the refig when we are at a gasoline island.
I'd worry more about that 20 to 55 gallons of gasoline is a sheetmetal tank hanging right below you rear end.
I have yet to see a verified story of an RV blowing up due to the propane being on.
ken W
Amateur Radio Operator.
Vintage 1989 Avion Silver, 34V, toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with one miniature Schnauzers, one standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
I can't speak to your exact unit, but, most RV appliances today have a thermocuple sensor that will shut off the gas valve if the flame goes out. As stated by others, most of todays refrigerators are electronic ignition and will just relight as they need too.
If it is a problem, a trick a RV appliance repairman once showed me is to get an appropriate size residential furnace filter and place it just inside the access door to the fridge, this will stop sever side winds from "blowing" out your fridge.
As to turning the unit off, I have heard of people doing this but as I tend to travel up to 8 hours in a day durring summer I just can't imagine that your ice-cream won't melt on you! The poor fridge had a hard time keeping up with the 100 degree temps in AZ this year set on the full setting!
Ed/N7UMS
2009 Forest River Georgetown 378TS
1998 Jeep Wrangler Toad
1998 Skeeter ZX202C Bass boat
www.nwjeepn.com
The Trail Starts Here!
"I can fix it, and if I can't fix it, I can fix it so nobody can fix it!"
I got my first TT around 1980 and have always traveled with the refrigerator on, through 3 TT and 2 MH, and never had the pilot light go out. Two of those TT were the ones you had to go outside to light the pilot, the other one had a push button. Both MH had electronic ignition. I have read where some units have that problem and all people did was install some kind of shield to block the wind.
I did travel approximately 8 hours one day with the refrigerator off, old age and I forgot to turn in on, with current MH and, yes, the ice cream did melt and created quite a mess. I now check each time before sitting in the drivers seat. I do shut the it off each time I fill up with gas.
My suggestion; give it a try and see what happens before worrying about it.
John
I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here.
I have had 6 RV's over the last 20 years and have always run with the frige on using propane... I have never had any mishaps or problems during that time...
Like Ken said, I would worry more about the 20-30 gallons of gasoline under the chassis than I would about running the frige on propane...
Extinguish all flames before fueling up and start it up again afterwards...
Best Regards,
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
Sold Trailer - not RV'ing at this point in time
Is there no end to asking this question? Do a search and you'll find more then enough information on this subject. As far as I can see over the last year or so, there is no majority of RV'ers who can agree on leaving gas on or off and no proof that leaving it on is dangerous.
Jim (KC2JJQ) & Sally
Meandering to a different drummer
2002 KSDP 3669
98 Ford Escort Toad
Good Sam Life Member, FMCA F289973 SKIP 76907
As a lot of people have said before me - I never turn the refer off. It switches from propane to 120 volt when electric is available and back when I disconnect. I have never had the flame blow out, nor have I ever encountered a problem. Most of the time I even forget to turn it off when refueling, but I have been reminded by the strong odor of gasoline at some fuel islands. I've been motorhoming since 1985.
1997 Southwind Storm 32'
454 Vortec
Toad: 1991 Ford Taurus
Retired and loving it~!
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