Keeping the fridge cold while driving

[Lubie]

Hello all, I am new to pu and I bought a clipper 107sport  new this spring.I have been camping in it 2 times so far but have not gone more than an hour away.and just used a cooler until we get the pu hooked up and get the fridge on.But I am going on a long trip it wil take 7 to 8 hr drive and would like to use the fridge on the way. My question is if I am hooked up will my tv 12v system run the fridge? and do I still have to have my battery for my pu hooked up I have a fuseable link that I diconnect to keep the battery from discharging.Or does the tv keep the batterey for my pu charged?I know I could run propane but I have only one tank and not sure how much propane it would use?I will be gone for 4 days and also need to cook. thanks for any input Lubie

[tknick]

Hello all, I am new to pu and I bought a clipper 107sport  new this spring.I have been camping in it 2 times so far but have not gone more than an hour away.and just used a cooler until we get the pu hooked up and get the fridge on.But I am going on a long trip it wil take 7 to 8 hr drive and would like to use the fridge on the way. My question is if I am hooked up will my tv 12v system run the fridge? and do I still have to have my battery for my pu hooked up I have a fuseable link that I diconnect to keep the battery from discharging.Or does the tv keep the batterey for my pu charged?I know I could run propane but I have only one tank and not sure how much propane it would use?I will be gone for 4 days and also need to cook. thanks for any input Lubie

I am assuming your TV has a hot charge line (i say this because not all TVs have the charge wire hot.  Some require the addition of a relay or a line from the battery to the trailer plug to make that terminal hot on the trailer plug).  If yours is hot, then yes, it will keep your battery charged and run your fridge.  We just completed a 7 plus hour trip about a week ago running on 12v the whole time.  never had a problem.  you will need to have your battery hooked up because that's the only way the 12v current can get from your TV to the fridge.

travis

[AustinBoston]

I know I could run propane but I have only one tank and not sure how much propane it would use?

Go with the propane.  The fridge will run at least a month on a single 20# bottle of propane.  Just use a little caution at the filling station.

The 12V setting is only a "holding" setting that will keep the fridge cool for a while, but won't keep up indefinitiely.  Many people experience partial battery discharge while using 12V because the charge line can't provide enough current without a voltage drop.

Austin

[GeneF]

"Go with the propane. The fridge will run at least a month on a single 20# bottle of propane. Just use a little caution at the filling station."


By using a little caution, I assume you are advising that he turn off his propane and fridge before pulling into a gas station to refuel if on propane.

[tlhdoc]

If you vehicle has a 12 volt hot line wired into the trailer plug, I would use the 12 volt setting on the refrigerator.    Turn your refrigerator off if you stop for more than 15 minutes, so that you don't drain your TV battery.  If you pack some frozen stuff in the refrigerator and you pre-cool it at home you should be fine.

[Lubie]

"Go with the propane. The fridge will run at least a month on a single 20# bottle of propane. Just use a little caution at the filling station."


By using a little caution, I assume you are advising that he turn off his propane and fridge before pulling into a gas station to refuel if on propane.

OK so I have to shut off the fridge and the propane tank   when I go refill the truck at the gas station.I assume this is because the fridge has an open flame and gas fumes don't mix well! Thanks all for the warning I might not have thought about that!Thanks Lubie

[oldmoose]

I always cool mine down the night before leaving either with propane or 120v.Moose

[wynot]

Another restriction with the propane, is that there is a GOOD chance it will get blown out driving down the road, so you have no cooling taking place.

I've used propane on a camper before having a charge line from the tow vehicle, and it wasn't worth the effort to me.  The 12 V setting will work just fine going down the road.
 
If you decide to use the propane, it basically is a pilot light, which will run for a month or more on 20# of propane.

[genre]

Hold on folks.....
From what I am reading here, the fridge can work on any of the 3. Propane, 12 volt or 110.
I was under the assumption that 12 volt or 110 was a choice, but the propane had to be on!
Enlighten me please....
I have camped with a 12volt and 110 supply. Always with the propane lit.
Fridge works very well. Have yet to travel with it lit. Usually bring a cooler for the overflow items. Pop, water etc.

[badabing67]

I have had a pu and a 30 ft tt and traveled all over va & nc running the fridge on propane, never had the pilot blow out and i roll when traveling (70-80mph) the pu had 12v but i didn't have a charge line hooked up at the time, I do now and we just got a 06 fleetwood niagra which we will be using in the next couple of weeks so i'll let you know how that one does on 12v or propane. I never thought of filling up the truck while running the fridge on propane i just do it and with the 30 ftr that was every 200 miles, no problems  maybe lucky?

[ptbrauch]

One trick I've used in regular coolers that keeps them cool for days is to use bottles of ice.  Depending on how much space I have, I'll use anything from frozen 1/2 L bottles up to frozen milk jugs of water.  Just fill up the refrig with what ever you're planning to take and put the ice bottles where ever you have room.  This way, as the ice melts, it won't run everywhere.  Any refrigerator/freezer/cooler works best when its filled.