Date:         Wed, 25 May 2005 11:28:08 -0700
Reply-To:     Dusty Edwards <dusty.edwards@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dusty Edwards <dusty.edwards@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fridge....should it stay on...
In-Reply-To:  <4294BF0D.8080309@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

 that's my opinion on the matter.........and, of course, it's your choice.  ...just be aware.

like i said before, for more info go to www.westfalia.org (not www.westfalia.com)

capt. mike is a vanagon guru - i put a bunch of faith in what he says............sometimes overly cautious, but...

here's one if his postings on the matter, copied from the site:

Knowing the time frame for an LP fire in an RV, I consider it an unacceptable risk. The vehicle in the pic-post was melted to a raw steel frame in 20 minutes! An LP fire is pretty much like a blow-torch. The cabinets, plastics & cloth interior mean once started, it's over before you can get stopped and out to the exterior LP shut off valve.

I guess to answer your "Why not?", I'll counter with "Why?" You have a quite adequate DC mode that operates, for all practical purposes, free while underway. Stretching that little LP tank capacity. It uses a separate set of heating elements so the LP heat exchanger gets a breather. Assuming you are using DC for its intended purpose of maintaining an existing pre-cooled unit, it keeps the DC unit tested & working for the times you will need it.

Although VW does not say 'Do not use it,' you'll also find that nowhere do they suggest you 'Do use LP' while underway. Add in RVMobile's recent note that a van RV fridge has "Too many compromises, especially in the venting." This is not a big RV unit specifically designed for underway LP operations. Else why have DC at all?

The flue on the Westy is marginal at best. Much of the LP Syndrome is due to venting problems. And because of marginal venting -- with numerous complaints and tech bulletins about leaks and blown out flames -- you run the risk of the flame &/or pilot being blown out.

It also means you have the LP tank -- pretty solid, external and with a steel guard -- now open in case of accident. You could probably drop that tank off a cliff without too much risk, but it wouldn't take much of crunch to break the LP line or regulator.

Either way, that leaves only the safety shut-off standing between you and an LP nite-light in the cabin. To my way of thinking, it's like taking off your seat belt because you have an air-bag -- all your eggs in one basket.

I don't have a problem with a 2-mile run to the laundromat, showers or swim-hole but I draw the line at driving down the road. However, all manuals specifically warn against operating on LP "out of level". Except for crossing Kansas, that eliminates any driving I do. It's your van, your family, your choice.

PS: The RV in that picture didn't crash; it just caught fire while driving on a paved road. By the time they pulled off the road and bailed out, it was gone. They got out with the clothes on their backs and, I heard, Momma's purse.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at 11:12AM, Art McGinn <ajmcginn@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:

>   have never heard nor read of that problem (danger of operating fridge
>on propane while driving the van). have taken several long trips,
>including a three-month tour of europe, with no problem or hint of one
>in that regard. a fire is more likely to be caused, it seems to me, by a
>hairline split in a rubber fuel hose leaking gas on a hot engine. of
>course, you can never say never about anything -- if leaking propane
>hits a flame somewhere, it's gonna go... cheers, art '82 westy, san fran
>('87 westy, amsterdam)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Dusty Edwards wrote:
>
>>  this is the second time that i've read a posting about somebody running their fridge on propane while driving.  any kind of airflow (ie - a window rolled down) is most likely blowing out the pilot while you're driving, causing the fridge to start, stop, then start again.
>>
>> i, and many others, believe it to be a HUGE (and unnecessary) risk to drive with the propane working.  flip it over to battery and crank it up to high - i've never had any issues with it not being cold enough.
>>
>> i've seen the pictures of vans burned completely to the ground due to driving while using LP - it's enough proof for me.
>>
>> for more info on this topic, i recommend visiting the message boards on www.westfalia.org, capt. mike might be more convincing than me.
>>
>> dusty.
>>
>> On Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at 09:10AM, Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hey guys, should that fridge stay on on propane wile driving... in windy
>>>condition.... i was never able to drive with my fridge ON on propane...
>>>
>>>I have a customer who said that it should be!!! possible... i have super
>>>cleaned that fridge and it goes off?
>>>
>>>Ben
>>>http://www.benplace.com/
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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