Whether to tow with the propane on or off has long been discussed on this and other forums.
Just thought this recent article in my local paper might be of interest.
A motorhome caught fire, fire started under the hood. This is an excerpt from the article:
"Stanly explained that this type of vehicle has a propane tank in the front end of the vehicle, where the fire started rather than the traditional gas tank in the rear.
"...said when crews arrived on the scene the vehicle was releasing propane"
"It's a wonder this thing didn't blow"
The motorhome was a total loss. Interesting thing is the guy had picked it up for a friend from a mechanic. The mechnanic had done $2600 worth of work under the hood.
I thought the tanks are suppose to vent when they grt hot like from a fire instead of exploding . I think this is a safty thing built in ti it
Quote from: GeneF"...said when crews arrived on the scene the vehicle was releasing propane"
"It's a wonder this thing didn't blow"
If there was a fire near the tank, it is usually better that it is releasing propane, rather than not releasing propane. If it was releasing propane through its relief valve, then that is a good thing. If it didn't, a BLEVE (pronounced BLEVeee) could happen. That is a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, and they are not pretty to be around.
The other side of the coin of this, is if it is releasing propane, and a cloud of propane gathers, and it finally reaches its LLF (lower limit of flammability), and it explodes then.
Not a good situation either way.
I was on the nozzle at a car fire that had hit a natural gas line. The natural gas line was on fire as well. We were very careful NOT to put the gas line fire out, as we WANTED to have the natural gas burning, and not gather a cloud.
Here are a couple of pictures from that event:
I always thought not to have the propane on while towing, but my hybrid frig is either electric or propane. it doesn't have the battery option like my PU
What is the controversy on having the propane tank on or off?
If you're not camping, turn the tank off. What's the upside to keeping the valve open when the downside is leaking propane through a leaky hose, open stove valve, or a leaky connector?
Scott
Quote from: gsm x2What is the controversy on having the propane tank on or off?
If you're not camping, turn the tank off. What's the upside to keeping the valve open when the downside is leaking propane through a leaky hose, open stove valve, or a leaky connector?
Scott
I think the upside is that some folks say their fridge works better on propane, and run it that way while driving.
My fear would be when pulling into a gas station to fill'er up. I hope they extinguish that pilot light before going to a gas station.
Larry
I was just having this conversation with my in-laws. I don't tow with my propane on for the refer, the 12V battery handles that. But like you Dee, my in-laws have a Bus type motorhome that has no 12V to the refer. It either works on propane or electric. That would be a little tense pulling into a gas station that says "No Smoking" wioth a lit pilot light just inside that little vented door.
Was this a motorhome or a propane powered vehicle? The article says "this type of vehicle has a propane tank in the front end of the vehicle, where the fire started rather than the traditional gas tank in the rear"
That would seem to imply it was a propane powered vehicle and had no gas tank in the rear.
I travel with my propane on unless I go through a tunnel that requires it to be off. My hybrid refrigerator/freezer does not have a 12VDC option to operate the refrigerator/freezer. We make stops during our travels and get things from the refrigerator or freezer for lunch or snacks. I do not have a pilot light, it has DSI (direct spark ignition) instead. Before I pull up to the pumps, I flip the switch off and after I have pulled away from the pumps, I flip the switch back on.
There are many propane powered vehicles in existance and of course they have the propane on at all times.
Man, that would be nice to be able to pull over and get a sandwich out of the fridge. We used to do that, but the DW got tired of having to crank up the roof, go inside and then crank the roof down again. I told her it was good exercise !!
Quote from: TheVikingMan, that would be nice to be able to pull over and get a sandwich out of the fridge. We used to do that, but the DW got tired of having to crank up the roof, go inside and then crank the roof down again. I told her it was good exercise !!
That's the reason we got an Igloo electric cooler. It's plugged into the 12v system in the car. Or fridge in the p/u rarely has much in it.
Scott
Quote from: brainpauseI think the upside is that some folks say their fridge works better on propane, and run it that way while driving.
My fear would be when pulling into a gas station to fill'er up. I hope they extinguish that pilot light before going to a gas station.
Larry
I never thought about that either, I haven't had to get gas yet while hooked up. hmmm I wonder if mine starts all by itself and I don't have to light it like the water heater does this mean I have a DSI??
I recieved an informative e-mail from a fellow PUer with a hybrid and he has towed several hours (even in hot weather) w/o the fridge on. I think I will try this in April. my long trip I will be stopping overnight after about 4 hours, I think when I make the big lunch break I can turn it on, and then turn it off when we hit the road. after what happened to my friends Dad, I'm even MORE nervous
Quote from: Dee4jI never thought about that either, I haven't had to get gas yet while hooked up. hmmm I wonder if mine starts all by itself and I don't have to light it like the water heater does this mean I have a DSI??
I recieved an informative e-mail from a fellow PUer with a hybrid and he has towed several hours (even in hot weather) w/o the fridge on. I think I will try this in April. my long trip I will be stopping overnight after about 4 hours, I think when I make the big lunch break I can turn it on, and then turn it off when we hit the road. after what happened to my friends Dad, I'm even MORE nervous
Genef did a whirlwind tour last year for about 60 days and he said he never left his fridge on while traveling and the food was OK.
Quote from: chasd60Was this a motorhome or a propane powered vehicle? The article says "this type of vehicle has a propane tank in the front end of the vehicle, where the fire started rather than the traditional gas tank in the rear"
That would seem to imply it was a propane powered vehicle and had no gas tank in the rear.
That's the reason I thought there is probably a relief valve (see my previous post).
Larry
My 2001 Coleman / Fleetwood owner's manual states, and I quote.....
WARNING:
"Do not attempt to operate any liquid propane appliance while the trailer is in tow" (Page # 29)
Fleetwood thought that it was important enough to include in the manual.
That's good enough for me.
I guess since the Mesa has the 12 VDC setting on the fridge and can be powered by the TV using the 7- pin connector, this would be the safest recommended way to operate the fridge.
Likewise, my Starcraft owner's manual says not to do it - says (per se), not only is it being unsafe, it is also illegal in some states to do so. They give the example of the possible danger of a fire or explosion should there be an accident and the gas line under pressure becoming ruptured. Also, my L/P suppier says the same thing, only real adamantly! I go so far as to not only turn the tank gas valve off, but also burn all the remaining fuel in the line off - when I turn off the tank valve, I have a stove burner on and wait until the burner goes out for lack of fuel. Important here to remember to shut the stove burner off after it goes out so it will be off when you turn the main valve back on!
Fly
Quote from: flyfishermanI go so far as to not only turn the tank gas valve off, but also burn all the remaining fuel in the line off - when I turn off the tank valve, I have a stove burner on and wait until the burner goes out for lack of fuel. Important here to remember to shut the stove burner off after it goes out so it will be off when you turn the main valve back on!
Fly
I do this as well. I usually think to myself that it would probably just dissipate on its own, but I'd rather spend the 30 seconds it takes to burn of the fuel in the lines than have any risk of danger--regardless of how insignificant or improbable--to my family.
Chas
A couple of points.
I don't know much about the type of vehicle other than the article said that it was a motorhome. Why the propane was in the front, I have no idea. Pictures shown are hard to tell what it was. It was completely destroyed. One part said it looked more like the back of a flat bed truck that the motor home it once was.
Hear is a quote: ". . . explained that this type of vehicle has a propane tank in the front of the vehicle, where the fire started, rather than the traditional gas tank in the rear."
The guy had stopped by the road to read a map when he noticed some smoke, he opened the hood and the fire erupted. Luckily, he was not hurt.
However, it was not his motorhome, he had picked it up for a friend and was driving up to Canada with it.
On the point of turning off the gas while towing, Chas is correct. I did a 62 day trip and always turned the fridge off and the propane tank off when towing.
We traveled in some hot weather in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and never lost any food.
The ice cubes in the fridge helped to keep the other food frozen. Even the ice cream stayed hard after some 8 to 10 hours of driving time.
Food in the fridge was fine. No spoilage. Main thing we did was to watch it when we opened the fridge to get something out if we stopped for lunch. Open and close quickly.
We turned the fridge on once we had set up for the night. If we were in hot weather, I would start it up on propane as the fridge seems to cool quicker on gas than electric. Once it was cooled, I just switched over to electricity.
If you stop and think a minute, how long does your food in your fridge and freezer keep at home if you have a power outage?
I would believe that the fridge is a lot better equipped to keep things cool than many of the coolers that are used. One reason might be that the seals on a fridge are tighter than most coolers.
My manual also warns against towing with the gas on. As you mature, your memory is not quite the same. I could easily forget to turn off the fridge before pulling into a gas station.
I guess my simple thought is that I would rather lose the groceries in the fridge than have a member of my family seriously hurt in an accident that involved propane.
These are just my thoughts and they are not intended to renew this old argument. Each person does what he feels comfortable with.
As for burning off the propane in the stove, as someone else mentioned, I also do that. Old habit I had with the popups. Only takes a few seconds once the propane tank is turned off.
"If you were on TV explaining how the propane blew up...You're probably a redneck" LOL
I find it hard to cook a pot roast in the oven, while I am driving, if I turn the LP gas off.:yikes:
Chas
I thought at least you would cooking a rib eye roast.
Quote from: gsm x2That's the reason we got an Igloo electric cooler. It's plugged into the 12v system in the car. Or fridge in the p/u rarely has much in it.
Scott
Our Viking PU has a 3 way fridge. When traveling the 12 volt takes care of it. When in the campground propane is the preferred medium. On extended trips (usually 2 weeks or more) electric coolers (2) run off the 12v system in the tow vehicle in addition to the fridge. Those coolers are ideal for supplementing the PU fridge or for those who do not have one (a fridge).
we don't run with the propane on. what we do is to cool down the fridge before we leave, then we put a bag of ice up in the freezer in a dish bucket, we put the frozen foods in too. In the bottom the veg draw, i put a several bottles of frozen water, and the butter, milk etc. and thats good for several hours. we also have the battery operate fridge fan in there too. it keeps the fridge cool.
Our friends that camp with us use propane to keep the fridge cool as they travel with their PopUp. I, however, do not and turn the gas off while traveling. I guess better safe than sorry. Plus, our dealer did not recommend using that practice, either. :)
Quote from: brainpauseI think the upside is that some folks say their fridge works better on propane, and run it that way while driving.
My fear would be when pulling into a gas station to fill'er up. I hope they extinguish that pilot light before going to a gas station.
Larry
People will do what they want to do. They will mention that it's the way it has always been done, never caused a problem before! However, they are endangering everyone around them, especially if they enter a gas station.
The fridge on my PU is a three-way. On the road it's set to operate on 12V and it works really well. Once, I had to postpone leaving on a trip for a day and left the fridge of 12V the whole time, (Voltage converter plugged into shore power). Some water bottles left inside it were frozen solid when I arrived at camp!