MSHappyCampers wrote: Another thought here...it seems that many RV fires have been caused by refrigerator problems and some have gone to a residential refrigerator in motorhomes. For those that have motorhomes with generators, why not just turn off the propane to the fridge and run it entirely on AC, eliminating the fire hazard? I would think that the food would stay cold while traveling if the door is not opened too much. Is there something I'm not thinking about that would make this a bad idea?
Simply put, the failure mode for both the Dometic and Norcold refrigerator models involved in the recalls is a tubing weld that can fracture from fatigue, releasing the ammonia refrigerant mixture. As the ammonia mixture is depleted, the heat source that operates the cooling system, be it LP or electric, can then over heat and ignite the fluid, as well as the surrounding structural materials in the RV walls. Running on AC rather than LP makes little difference in the outcome.
MSHappyCampers wrote: Thinking back, it seems that most RV fires reported on the news are motorhomes. Obviously motorhomes have engines that 5ers and TT's don't have (but they have the tow vehicles). Is there something about MH's that make them more likely to catch fire? We are thinking about going to a MH and this bothers me.
Thinking back -
of 30 years spent in the Fire Service for a city with City and State Beach (campgounds) as well as the busiest freeway (volume) in the USA . . .
RV fires of *any kind* are/were VERY few and far between - as compared to car and or truck fires.
During that time, I (personally) responded to all sorts of car and truck fires (on city streets and the freeway) - including a couple of gasoline tanker fires and a van chock full of marijuana (it wasn't on fire - radiator hose broke - just steam, driver bailed).
But - *NEVER* an RV fire!.
Mobile Homes (in "trailer parks") - yes, several. RV's = No
No doubt the "other guys" probably responded on some I didn't know about - but usually "events" are exchanged between shifts going off duty with their counterparts - both for "gee-whiz" value and equipment utilized, etc.
Fire investigator for about a year also (next level above the Company Commander) - no RVs.
For MH / 5th wheel comparison - consider that a MH has more potential sources than a 5th wheel - unless, of course you include the 5th wheel tow vehicle, LOL.
And for ExRocketScientist - you should be able to get stats for all types of fires - from your state (mandated) Fire Incident Reporting System.
Lots of required info - as to fire origin, damage, etc.
One issue about this is that some of the articles that I have read stated that their motorhomes caught fire while the propane was off and the fridge was on AC. I do not think the fridge has to be on propane for it to catch on fire.
New 2 us
07 Allegro Bus 40QSP
08 Honda CRV EXL with Blue OX and US Gear Braking System
FMCA #381833
Our Camping Adventures
hubby and i empty nesters n4gnnn4hon I Never Look Back, I'm Not Going That Way!
Offline
empty nesters
