Fridge use while driving. Yes or no?

[livinthelife]

Thanks for the post of the study. Very helpful. With temps in the 40ºC range as per the study, it seems obvious if the ambient temps are in the 25ºC to 30ºC range, six to eight hours of no energy to the fridge is just fine.

The study shows the temperatures in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

[Skiddy]

The study shows the temperatures in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

Sorry, bad habit on my part - like most of the world I’ve become use to ºC.

[Skiddy]

You can do what you feel is right, but per the study and my personal experience I will run my fridge while driving to avoid unsafe food. As per the findings of the study:

• This model of refrigerator will not maintain a
safe food storage temperature on a hot day
with the power turned off.

• The usage of Blue Ice will slow temperature
increases, but will not maintain a safe food
storage temperature on a hot day with the
power turned off.

In complete agreement with you. The issue comes down to what is a hot day? Certainly a midsummer day in GA will be much warmer than a typical midsummer day in BC or the PNW. The heating effect on an RV fridge when the ambient temps are 40ºC/104ºF is much greater than when ambient peaks reach 20ºC/70ºF. There are many other considerations, such as if towing during the day is the fridge on the “sunny” side of the trailer. Your fridge will lose its cool faster with direct sun on it. Funny, but years ago had a Bonair tent trailer with a little two cubic foot three way fridge. Most if not all units sold today come with two way fridges, assume due to cost and dealers advising clients tha it is OK to run with propane on. Do I have an issue with towing with the propane on? No, I have done it, usually because I forgot to turn it off when hitting the road. Do what you think appropriate, however is it safe or legal? Probably not.