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06-18-2015, 06:07 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 Escape 15A
Posts: 33
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How to keep refrigerator cold while driving many hours?
We are quite new to the RV/trailer world, having just picked up our fine little 15A trailer in March, and taken just 3 local 2-3 day trips around State of WA. All has worked well so far, and if we are only going an hour or two away from home, leaving refrigerator "OFF" still keeps things adequately cold until we get to campsite and turn it on with Elec. or propane (we do plug in a day ahead to get it cold/ready). However, we do anticipate taking longer 5-7 hour driving trips in future and wonder what folks do to keep the refrig. cold? Do folks keep in on "Auto" or what? We've heard that some folks turn on the propane and drive that way, but we've also heard that wind can blow out the pilot while driving and then the system will switch to battery power and run down even car batteries? Any thoughts on best-practices for safety and cooling while driving many hours/day?
In advance, thanks much, as usual, for helpful thoughts on this.
King and Kathy Cushman
__________________
Kathy & King
2015 Escape 15A
"If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads." Anatole France
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06-18-2015, 06:26 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2KC Seattle
We are quite new to the RV/trailer world, having just picked up our fine little 15A trailer in March, and taken just 3 local 2-3 day trips around State of WA. All has worked well so far, and if we are only going an hour or two away from home, leaving refrigerator "OFF" still keeps things adequately cold until we get to campsite and turn it on with Elec. or propane (we do plug in a day ahead to get it cold/ready). However, we do anticipate taking longer 5-7 hour driving trips in future and wonder what folks do to keep the refrig. cold? Do folks keep in on "Auto" or what? We've heard that some folks turn on the propane and drive that way, but we've also heard that wind can blow out the pilot while driving and then the system will switch to battery power and run down even car batteries? Any thoughts on best-practices for safety and cooling while driving many hours/day?
In advance, thanks much, as usual, for helpful thoughts on this.
King and Kathy Cushman
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You can just run the fridge on battery power while towing. It won't deplete your tow vehicle battery. We run ours on propane while towing and haven't had an issue with the pilot, but some have.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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06-18-2015, 06:30 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Trailer: 2014 19' Escape - 2023 JGC-L Summit
Posts: 193
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We've been on several long trips and have always towed with the refrigerator on propane. No problems with maintaining temperature and have not had the pilot blow out.
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06-18-2015, 06:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
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We always run on propane, no problems.
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Cheers
Doug
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06-18-2015, 06:56 PM
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#5
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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Dometic fridge 12V power must be manually selected at the front panel. In auto mode it will select AC power first, if none available it will run on propane. Mine runs a bit colder on propane when traveling, no issues with flame blowing out.
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Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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06-18-2015, 06:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Mine lives on Auto.
Question: If the wind blows out the flame, the fridge will relight itself. Would the user know this was happening?
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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06-18-2015, 07:30 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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There is a reason folks put wireless thermometers inside the frig and freezer with the display in the tug. So you know when the temperature starts to climb and perhaps the flame has gone out while towing on propane. A <$30 part that can save money vs. spoiled food.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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06-18-2015, 07:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I keep mine on manual and propane while towing and manual and electric if at campsite.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-18-2015, 08:43 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 Escape 15A
Posts: 33
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Many thanks for good advice..!
Hi again to this wonderful forum family,
Thanks for all your good thoughts and advice, as it gives me more confidence to allow running the trailer on propane OR on the batteries (we have dual 6V setup), and I have heard before that running on propane tends to keep things just a little bit cooler.
Once again, thanks to y'all, and a most happy summer and happy "Escaping" to you!
__________________
Kathy & King
2015 Escape 15A
"If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads." Anatole France
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06-19-2015, 08:57 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19', 1974 Boler
Posts: 470
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I also run on propane while traveling but don't forget to turn off the fridge and/or propane before refueling.
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06-19-2015, 09:43 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I avoid doing that by refueling at the first pump closest to the road and tow vehicle, leaving the trailer and refer at least one car length or 20 feet away if not further. I then swing wide to my right and the trailer does to get anywhere near the pump.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-19-2015, 10:34 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Alcoa, Tennessee
Trailer: 2015 5.0 TA
Posts: 419
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
I avoid doing that by refueling at the first pump closest to the road and tow vehicle, leaving the trailer and refer at least one car length or 20 feet away if not further. I then swing wide to my right and the trailer does to get anywhere near the pump.
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Me too
__________________
2015 Escape 5 TA
2016 Ford F-150
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06-19-2015, 08:13 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Ltd Edition 15B (1 of 47)
Posts: 48
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Howdy, fellow model 15-owning Seattleite!
We err on the side of caution and keep the propane turned off while on the road.
We have the dual battery setup as well, and running on battery power works great if the fridge has been pre-chilled *and* both batteries have a full charge. If we're leaving a boondock area or a standard (no electricity) campsite after a few days, we either chuck the food into a still-chilled Yeti cooler or turn the fridge off for a couple of hours (until the batteries are recharged).
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06-19-2015, 08:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: Escape 21' 2016
Posts: 228
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We have traveled to the SW for the winter from Port Townsend for the last four years, accumulating around 20,000 miles on our Casita, and we have always kept our Dometic refer on automatic. When on the road, it automatically switches to battery which is being charged. When we park and turn the car off, it automatically goes to propane, unless we have plugged in. We never touch the auto switch, and we have never had any problems. I assume that all Dometics work the same.
__________________
Carla Jean Pugh (and my guy, Ned)
"Pepé Le Pugh"
2016 Escape 21'
2005 Toyota 4Runner
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06-19-2015, 08:48 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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The larger refrigerator in the 21' will probably draw a lot more than your Casita Dometic and can be too much of a draw for your set up, unless you get dual batteries and solar. You may not be able to tow on "Auto" nor 12v but have to use propane.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-19-2015, 08:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: Escape 21' 2016
Posts: 228
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We will have dual batteries and solar. Thank you for the info! Hadn't thought of the size differential. We try to keep the freezer and refer full as we think it makes it run more efficiently.
__________________
Carla Jean Pugh (and my guy, Ned)
"Pepé Le Pugh"
2016 Escape 21'
2005 Toyota 4Runner
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06-19-2015, 09:25 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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The Dometic RM series of fridges can be connected to automatically select 12V from solar, 12V from tow vehicle alternator, 120V, or LP gas. ETI does NOT connect the 12V alternator NOR the 12V solar sense lines. So, as installed by ETI the RM fridges:
A - automatic will use 120V if present, LP if not - NEVER 12V
M - manual will use 12V, 120v or LP as selected
I prefer this behavior. I do not want the fridge to ever switch to 12V when set to "A". If ETI did wire up the sense wires, if the fridge were set to "A" it would use 12V rather than LP when the tow vehicle was running. (I am of the religious sect which runs the fridge on propane when towing.)
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06-19-2015, 09:35 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman
I am of the religious sect which runs the fridge on propane when towing.
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Amen, preach it brother...
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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06-19-2015, 11:01 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I wonder if those who replace their units with the newer RMD model if the rv repair shops follow ETI or they hook them up differently?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-20-2015, 02:50 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
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I haven't towed with my propane on yet nice to know its ok I usually put food in my Yeti when traveling or in the fridge for short periods when it's already cold.
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