Lpg on the move for new fridge

Hey Jim · Guru

Lpg on the move for new fridge

iana · Guru

Hello Jim, I was told this was a no no in our camper trailer, but that could have been because of the fact the camper was folded down and there may have been a possibility of fire. However they have gas powered cars, maybe the vehicles that run on gas have sophisticated safety controls that shut off the gas in case of an accident etc.
Maybe when under way, there is the possibility of the flame in the fridge being blown out. I really can't answer, but replies to your question will be very interesting.

Stl · Senior Member

Hi Jim, everyone told me no, no, and no, but remember on 12 volt the fridge only keeps things cool won't cool stuff down. I have towed with gas and never had it blow out and everything cold. I'm told even if it does blow out the gas stops anyway and the worst case is your food won't cool down.In my opinion if you want to keep stuff cool run on 12 volt, and save your gas, if you want to cool stuff down run on gas. Like iana said interesting replies will come. I look forward to them as well.
Cheers. Len

brickies · Guru

I believe it ok to tow with fridge on LPG while towing if the fridge is vented but should be turn off before going into a service station

dragonfly1 · Senior Member

Jim

towing a caravan with the fridge on gas is extremely dangerous and has caused many fires and has also caused an explosion at a service station please don't do it and what these other people are telling you is completely wrong

Dragonfly 1

cruisaderhilton · Senior Member

Go the 12v via the Anderson plug if you have one ,much safer power the batteries as you go

brickies · Guru

36 years in the fire service never went to a fire in a caravan caused by lpg fridge , Most problems with LPG is cylinders not secured and valve not turned off properly , Modern gas fridge have a shut off valve that shut off the gas has soon has the flame goes out . If you are buying a new caravan ask advice from the supplier

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Not being a mechanic I am not 100% sure but think a car on gas runs a different system to a van fridge.

I have only just recently changed the thin 12v cable on the fridge and running to the front of the van to heavy cable and new cable and Anderson Plug fitted to the back of the car straight form the battery with fuse in line, so I can run the fridge on 12v while mobile. Seems to be working fine. After 6 hours travel each day for two days the temp in the freezer and fridge were the same as when I started.

I have always been told for safety reasons never to run the fridge on gas while travelling. If you do as has already been said, TURN IT OFF before entering a servo or refuelling.

Hey Jim · Guru

Hi Brickies and everyone, Thanks for the imput. Will check with Jayco in December on shake down day. By the time I'm finished with their two hour introduction, Think we we will have got our monies worth. smile smile smile

Bill B · Guru

If they were meant to run on gas whilst travelling they wouldn't bother putting in a 12v element.

deverall11 · Guru

Lots of RVs in the US of A drive with gas on as it is legal over there. Don't think it id here.
Larry

gemmybob · Veteran Member

No way, its dangerous and always has been. Switch to 12 volt, if you have an emergency at least your huge investment is covered by insurance, on gas you wont have cover. Apart from that, who wants an unattended naked flame in their van, not me.
Gemmybob

Stl · Senior Member

Taking into the amount of vans , motor homes, campers in Australia in excess of 700,000. And if a small percentage of them are on the road at any one time ( it's about 45,000) and let's say 1 percent of them forget every now and then to switch from gas to 12 volt before travelling. If it was unsafe or fires occurred in 1 percent of 1 percent that would amount to a lot of fires every week started by fridges. As for saying it's extremely dangerous and has started many fires I agree with Brickies, in 42 years since my first van I've never heard of a van catching fire while being towed AND the cause put down to the fridge. As for thinking its too dangerous to tow a van with the gas on how would or could you sleep at night then? Checked my insurance no mention of being voided if towed with gas on.
But personally even though I have towed with gas ( had major 12 volt issues) and had no problems I tow with 12 volt, use 240 when I can and gas when I have to based on economics not a safety issue .
Len :)

Santa · Guru

Even though we don't have a gas fridge we always travel with the gas bottles turned off.

Check out the links on this site.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=RV+fire+gas+refrigerator&biw=1344&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=thlEVfCgGsOyuQSC-ICwBQ&ved=0CE4QsAQ#imgrc=_

Most of the RV fires depicted mention propane as being a contributing factor.

To the head in the sand brigade, hopefully it will never happen to you, however if it does, trust me, you will never forget it.

Turn the gas off when traveling, its common sense.

oldtrack123 · Guru

Santa wrote:
Even though we don't have a gas fridge we always travel with the gas bottles turned off.
Check out the links on this site.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=RV+fire+gas+refrigerator&biw=1344&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=thlEVfCgGsOyuQSC-ICwBQ&ved=0CE4QsAQ#imgrc=_
Most of the RV fires depicted mention propane as being a contributing factor.
To the head in the sand brigade, hopefully it will never happen to you, however if it does, trust me, you will never forget it.
Turn the gas off when traveling, its common sense.

Hi

and DITTO to that

Any comparision of a gas fueled vehicle to the RV gas set up is rediculous

It is NOT just the fact that the fridge is turned

It is the fact that the GAS bottle is turned on

Any leak can lead to a fire or explosion & noone may know there is a leak until furious

PeterQ

oldtrack123 · Guru

brickies wrote:
36 years in the fire service never went to a fire in a caravan caused by lpg fridge , Most problems with LPG is cylinders not secured and valve not turned off properly , Modern gas fridge have a shut off valve that shut off the gas has soon has the flame goes out . If you are buying a new caravan ask advice from the supplier

Hi

Do you realy believe that the supplier is the font of ALL knowledge

The best people to ask is your local Energy Safety Office!!

I do note your comment about the bottle not being fully turned OFF [ Which is the safety recommendation ]

That of course DOES MEAN the fridge cannot run on gas smile

PeterQ

ken thomas · Guru

My Thetford fridge freezer actually gets colder when travelling on 12 V
Ken

TheHeaths · Veteran Member

I worked for Mobil for 29 years, and the main issue with having the fridge working on gas is not so much that the bottle is turned on, but that the fridge has a naked flame, whether full or just the pilot flame, when it is on gas.

I would suggest that while truly on the road, this is not an issue, but it is an issue when you go in to get fuel, and have a naked flame in an area that has fuel vapour around. And I know that people know to turn off the gas before going into the service stations, but people do forget, and accidents do happen! You only need to forget once to create a major hazard for yourself and those around you.

So in the interests of safety, it is better not to use gas while travelling.

And I have seen a camper trailer that burned to the chassis under the canopy of a service station in Coober Pedy, due to the gas being left on, the driver forgetting, and filling jerry cans in the van. As it was the first week of his trip around Australia, it did bugger their plans up in a major way, but luckily did not harm anyone, or cause the service station to burn.

Yabbietol · Veteran Member

I would like to add if the a fire occurs in the van while travelling and if the gas is turned on the fire in the caravan is is likely to be a lot worse. The safest thing to is turn the gas bottles off when travelling. Also if unfortunately an accident occurs the turned on gas bottles in a caravan provide an additional hazard to fire fighters ( I am a fire fighter) and other emergency personnel.

The 12 pin plugs on most newer vans (Jayco) has a 12 V connection that will enable the fridge to run on 12V while travelling. Much safer to run the fridge on 12V.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

You would think they would have gas valves close when key is on or in gear on motorhome ?
The new 3 way fridges switch automatically.
We have gas fuse on our tank , gas detector .. But for safety we always turn gas off..
In some ( most) cases on 12v the thermostat doesn't work on 3 way...

sandsmere · Guru

Gas turned off while travelling is a no-brainer I'd say.

We have a 3 way Dometic. 12 volt keeps it cold while travelling even on 40 degree days.

Reckon insurance companies would have fit if they thought people were travelling with gas turned on.

-- Edited by sandsmere on Monday 4th of May 2015 07:18:15 AM