ernestfortier
Palmdale, Calif.
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cruiserjs wrote:This from the Atwood water heater operator manual, p.3 Titled SAFETY WARNING;
"Turn gas OFF at the LP tank when vehicle is in motion. This disables
all gas appliances. Gas appliances must never be operated while
vehicle is in motion. Unpredictable wind currents may be created
which could cause flame reversal in the burner tube, which could
result in fire damage."
and they should know, you think?
I think that Atwood would probably know the best thing for running their products down the road, if the propane should be on or off, but I don't think that Atwood would necessarily know if other manufacturers products should have the propane turned off. I haven't seen anything in my MH manuals saying that I need to have my propane turned off while driving. I see lots of other small tags around the MH such as Seat Belts Must Be Worn, and that the emergency windows should be closed while traveling, but I haven't seen any tags telling me to turn the propane off while traveling. They used to put three way refrigerators in RV's so we could use the 12volts to power the frig. Now finding a three way frig is difficult due to the newer refrigerators being safer to use on propane while driving.
Ernie Fortier
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fordsooperdooty
Southern California
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Bottom line is that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the National Propane Gas Association both certify the propane appliances and gas systems to be safe while traveling. The little brass seals on your oven, water heater, refrigerator, furnace and gas valve systems.
As far a blowing out when traveling-"All LP Appliances in an RV...with the possible exception of some stove top burners which are lit by a ignitor, have some sort of flame detection safety device, which senses whether a flame is burning, and immediatly shuts off the flow of gas if the pilot or flame extinguishes."
Lawyers write the disclaimers and warnings in the best interest of the manufacturers!
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and consciencious stupidity."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
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revump
Las Vegas
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I leave mine on all the time
Bob
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Quote:
However, I don't think it's safe to assume that UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT OUTLAWS some behavior that it's then OK to behave that way.
Whatever happened to common sense?
----------------------------------------------------------
You're questioning my behavior because I run w/ propane on ?
And you're talking common sense, or the lack there of in your case ?
Common sense tells 75% of us here that its perfectly safe to drive w/ propane on. If I get in a wreck, I have 75 gallons of gasoline that I'd worry about a lot more.
Why would I bet you badmouth Olycat heaters too, and have never had one ?
Why don't you guit tryin to be a propane cop, and leave it to us ?
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Two Oly Cat heaters, and towing a '05 Jeep Liberty, or sometimes towing a New Lowe fishing boat.
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surveyorjp
Missouri
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Neither this thread, nor the rantings of anyone else will change my mind. I run with propane on, and will continue to do so without fear or worry. The threat of spoiled food is much more of a concern than the threat of fire, and is much more likely if adequate refrigeration is not maintained. Just because you "think" the refer stayed cool, doesn't mean it was sufficiently cool enough to prevent spoilage and potential harmful bacteria growth. And, I'm not a big fan of spending the first night of my camping trip in the bathroom with a bad case of the "runs"  . The warnings of one company are not in any way relevant to the operation of a refrigerator made by a different company.
2005 Surveyor SV-291
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8 (87,000 miles)
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Tom Andrews
Homebase: Albuq., NM; currently in Albuquerque
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For the first four years of full-timing we left our propane on to run the frig. For the last year, I turn off the frig while traveling so it can defrost (two birds with one stone? multi-tasking? whatever). It saves me time not having to do it while parked.
Tom
OUR SECRET TO LIFE:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
Bonnie & Tom
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smkettner
Southern California
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Suburban page 6: "Be sure the power is off to the water heater ignition system during any type of refueling and while the vehicle is in motion or being towed."
No mention to turn off the propane 
Suburban furnace has exact same warning.
Dometic fridge only says to turn off all LP appliances during refueling.
* This post was
edited 03/09/10 10:29pm by smkettner *
2001 F150 SuperCrew
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RVMusician
Upstate NY
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Just returned from a trip where we had 75% of our propane lines replaced under our travel trailer. Turns out one of the 1/2" iron pipes under the camper developed a crack due to a strap breaking and putting undue stress on the pipe as it entered a "T" fitting.
We normally run with propane on. We were alerted to the problem as we were driving around the campground looking for a site. A couple out for a walk said they smelled propane as we passed. Could it have ignited? Probably, if proper conditions occurred. Don't know either if concentrations were high enough. Propane detector never went off. On the other hand, it may have taken us longer to discover the problem if we weren't running with propane on so that friendly and helpful couple could have helped us.
Will we stop running with propane on? We may consider it on certain trips. The only reason we have it on is for the refrigerator. Don't need propane for anything else while traveling, and as said before the refrigerator will hold temps for a period of time. On the other hand, we don't want to risk food spoilage and possible food poisoning of the family. We do use the refrigerator on longer trips to get drinks and food while traveling. That will raise the temp in there. There's got to be a balance point somewhere here. At any rate, we certainly will do more frequent checks of propane lines and strapping under the camper.
2006 Dodge Durango
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PackerBacker
Montreal Qc Adirondacks,NY
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I turn our's on at the beginning of our season in May and shut it off at the end of our season in October.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS (34' 3")
2008 Jeep Liberty - North Edition (4x4 auto)
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H & E
North Texas
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I have turned it off for some tunnels where you have to stop at a checkpoint before entering. Other than that it is on all the time. To each his own, do what you are comfortable with.
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