Running Fridge on long drives ?

[crazybus]

We have owned a 25ft travel trailor for 4 years now but have traveled no more than 4 hours away. (We live in Maine - this is outdoor heaven !). We are considering a trip to FW. Our refrigerator is gas or electric (cannot run on battery). Are there any laws about running the gas fridge while we travel???

Thanks

 

[Disney Campers]

this is a hot topic for some, I always have the fridge on whenever we use the trailer, might be some laws about using the propane in tunnels.

 

[Mcert01]

We have made the trip from Michigan to FW twice - with the fridge running on gas both times. I don't know about local laws, but we have never had any problems on long distance trips to FW or anywhere else. Hope this helps

 

[tim5055]

I don't know of any laws regarding running the refer on LP while driving, but some stated do have tunnel restrictions.

Baltimore prohibits ANY vehicle with LP gas from entering any of the tunnels, so if you are going down 95 take the bridge.

I have heard people say it is dangerous to enter a gas station with the open flame (refrigerator) but can't seem to remember any "horror stories".

 

[TmnsnMD]

When we travel, we always run the Fridge on gas. We live on the eastern shore of Maryland so to go south we can either go out of our way or do the tunnel. We do have to stop at tunnels (some have check points, others just ask if the gas is turned off at the toll plaza) and turn the gas off. When we get to the next area that is easy (rest stop, gas station) we just fire everything back up. We have never had a problem. I really don't think there is a major safety issue with having the gas on while you travel. I do understand that there is an open flame and LP gas, but I think if you just be careful everything will be ok.

Hope you have a great trip

TmnsnMD

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Your refrigerator will stay cold for several hours without power. I generally cool it down the night before I leave, turn it off for the drive, fire it up again at lunch time to cool it down again, and then turn it off for the drive again. I have never had a problem with spoilage. Personally, if I were going to leave it on while I drove, I would turn it off when I gassed up. Just because I haven't heard any horror stories doesn't mean something can't happen. An open flame and gasoline aren't a good combination and not worth the risk to me.

 

[JCJRSmith]

We usually power up the fridge a day or two before we leave so it can get good and cold. We fill it with the food as we pack up the camper. Depending on how far we are driving will determine whether we run the fridge or not. If we are doing an all-day drive, then I run the fridge on gas. If we are just heading to a nearby campground, we just keep it closed up tight.

 

[We4mickey]

just remember when you stop to fill up you have a open flame

 

[crazybus]

Thanks everyone for the great responses!! You have been a great help.

 

[Camping Cat]

Originally posted by ftwildernessguy
Your refrigerator will stay cold for several hours without power. I generally cool it down the night before I leave, turn it off for the drive, fire it up again at lunch time to cool it down again, and then turn it off for the drive again. I have never had a problem with spoilage. Personally, if I were going to leave it on while I drove, I would turn it off when I gassed up. Just because I haven't heard any horror stories doesn't mean something can't happen. An open flame and gasoline aren't a good combination and not worth the risk to me.

I am really glad to hear this! It's my job to hop out each time we enter a service station to turn off the propane, and turn it on again after pulling away from the pumps. I'm wondering if four hours is too long to keep the refrigerator turned off at a time? Our routine is to leave the New Orleans area around 8:00 in the morning and stop for a nice long lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Pensacola. Would turning the propane on for the hour we stop in Pensacola be enough to see us through the next leg of our trip to Tallahassee where we spend the night (another 4 hours)? I think I'm going to test this out. I'll cool the refrigerator all night, then turn it off for 4 hours with a ziplock bag of ice cubes in there and see how they do. Wish me luck.

 

[ScarlettO]

Hey Jan....where do you stop to camp in Tallahasssee?
I live about 1 1/2 hours west of you and for our first drive to WDW with a camper , I'm trying to figure where to stop . How long does the drive take you all together?

Thanks.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by Camping Cat
I am really glad to hear this! It's my job to hop out each time we enter a service station to turn off the propane, and turn it on again after pulling away from the pumps. I'm wondering if four hours is too long to keep the refrigerator turned off at a time? Our routine is to leave the New Orleans area around 8:00 in the morning and stop for a nice long lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Pensacola. Would turning the propane on for the hour we stop in Pensacola be enough to see us through the next leg of our trip to Tallahassee where we spend the night (another 4 hours)? I think I'm going to test this out. I'll cool the refrigerator all night, then turn it off for 4 hours with a ziplock bag of ice cubes in there and see how they do. Wish me luck.

If you don't want to run the fridge on gas while you drive, here is what you do:
1. Power it up at home a few days before you leave.
2. The day before you leave, pack it full and close it up. The food will get good and cold over the next 24 hours.
3. Just before you leave, turn off the fridge, but don't open it until you get to your destination.

It is the same priciple as using a cooler - the food will stay cold.

If you do have to take something out, make sure you do it quickly and you will be fine.

Hope this helps,

 

[leprechaun]

If your really concerned you could always put a block of ice in the fridge to hold you over. You put the water in a rinsed soda bottle,freeze it, stuff one or two in the fridge and if melts you'll have some ice water to cold water to cool you down

 

[Camping Cat]

I want to thank everyone for the excellent advice on how to keep everything cold on our trip without using propane on the road. I know it sounds silly to say that now I won't dread pulling into service stations, but I love finding new ways to simplify my life.

 

[Camping Cat]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
Hey Jan....where do you stop to camp in Tallahasssee?
I live about 1 1/2 hours west of you and for our first drive to WDW with a camper , I'm trying to figure where to stop . How long does the drive take you all together?

Thanks.

We spend the night at Tallahassee RV Park. It's the last Tallahassee exit, exit 209 A. We've been staying there for years. It's so convenient for an overnight stay on the way to WDW, less than a mile off the interstate and lots of pull through sites. Their number is 850-878-7641 if you are interested.

As to your question about how long our drive time is, you'll have to keep in mind that we aren't in a hurry and don't push ourselves. I'm only saying that so you'll know that most people don't take as long as we do. Driving time for us from the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain to Pensacola is approx. 4 hours, then another 4 hours to Tallahassee. The next morning, it takes us about 5 hours to pull into Fort Wilderness. Gosh, just talking about it makes me long to be heading there! December seems such a long time away. :-(

 

[dtum]

We turn ours off before fueling. It's supposed to be done long enough before to let any fumes disappear, then turn back on after fueling. Also, off before the tunnels and back on when we get to a rest area. It's not just the open flame, it's the fumes that can be released. Just want to be safe.