Using a 3 way gas fridge???

Pengoc

I have a Dometic 3way fridge in my campertrailer and what I do is the day before setting out on a trip is to hook up to 240v at home and leave the fridge running. When I'm about to leave I switch over to the 12v system while travelling and when camping for the night switch over to gas.
These fridges run efficiently on 240v and gas but on 12v will only maintain the temperature.
It's also illegal and a potential fire hazard to run the fridge on gas while travelling.
Hope this helps
Mike

Thanks Bentaxle.

We have no intentions of running the fridge on gas while driving. What we are worried about is carrying the gas cylinders in the car.

I'm starting to wonder if a solar panel, battery and electric fridge wouldn't have been better.

Pengoc

i have been carrying a spare 4kg and a 2 1/2 kg gas bottles when we are traveling in the back of my patrol and never had any problems yet. We are not smokers and always make sure gas is turned off properly. Not sure if its illegal though.
Richard

Agree with Bentaxle. We run ours at home as a beer fridge so it is always cold when we put it in the car, then on gas when we stop for the night.

We keep our gas bottles on the camper trailer where they are epxosed to very hot temperatures. I can't see any problem having the gas bottle in the car as long as you strap it down.

Gas is much easier to manage than mucking around with solar panels and extra wiring... more reliable and cheaper as well.

Cheers

Yes you CAN carry your gas bottle (containing gas) inside of your vehicle. Many people do, However, whilst the chances are slim, IF, there is a gas leak and IF that gas ignites (inside your vehicle - with you in it) you had better be fully prepared to explain to St Peter why you acted with such stupidity. Sorry but there are no second chances.

Hi Pengoc,

We did Oz many yerars ago as a family, I was only 4 but am now planning to do the trip again. Dad told me the 3 way fridge was great but make sure you turn it off the 12V every time you stop the car, even an hour for lunch can flatten a battery, especially if it's just a cranker.

Like other posts, I have always carried a 9Kg cylander in the car, just make sure it is well secured. I keep mine behind the passenger seat and have the seat right back so there's no room for it to move. Otherwise you can get some tie down straps from bunnings.

I chose to get an Engel and run a dual battery, that suits my plans better but my old man still swears by the 3 way. They are good when run on gas and you can set up camp for a few days without fear of runnning the car battery flat.

Have a great trip & might see you out there.

Cheers
Nik

Whilst I don't think it illegal, I would not advise storing or carrying gas cylinders inside a vehicle. If it happens to leak because of fault or something bumps the main wheel valve open you will have no second chances as someone has said above.

Perhaps you could attach an open container (milk crate or open lidded box) to roof racks and store up there? At least if something does happen the compressed gas will escape to atmosphere rather than gathering inside the vehicle.

LPG is heavier than air and thus will 'pool' in low spots if it escapes. If inside the car it may pool in the foot wells, boot etc for some time even if car doors are open.

Please carry the cylinder outside the car in a vented or open container, securely held down.

Thanks for all your replies, it makes us feel much better about carting the gas around in the car.

We returned our 4.5kg gas bottle and replaced it with two 2kg bottles as we felt this would be safer and easier to handle.

We'll probably buy a Waeco RAPS36 and charge that in the car while running the fridge from it while driving. At night we can use it in the tent to power other devices while the fridge is running on gas.

Thanks for all your replies, it makes us feel much better about carting the gas around in the car.

We returned our 4.5kg gas bottle and replaced it with two 2kg bottles as we felt this would be safer and easier to handle.

We'll probably buy a Waeco RAPS36 and charge that in the car while running the fridge from it while driving. At night we can use it in the tent to power other devices while the fridge is running on gas.

A roof rack sounds like a good idea. Does anyone know where to get one for a Magna 2002 model from? How exactly do you carry it up there?

Sorry I accidentally posted twice. The second reply has more at the bottom.

Pengoc,
As you will be driving a magna (petrol) just be very very careful if you choose to can any fuel in cans as the pilot light in the fridge will cause an explosion when you re-fuel too close to the fridge. (it has happened before)
Cheers
Trevor

After reading a thread on another forum it is apparently not illegal to travel with a fridge running on gas.

It is however incredibly stupid.

If its in the vehicle you are travelling in would be as deadly as running the exhaust into the car.

That as a warning I see you intend not running it when travelling.

Where are you carying it. Run it on 12v when travelling.


When carrying gas bottles, they must always be carried UPRIGHT, as carrying them on their side prevents the safety valve from venting in the case of pressuring.
The also will not provide gas in this attitude.

In the boot would be best as when I got the last lot filled at a shop I biffed them in the back of the Cruiser to be told You shouldnt carry gas in a passenger compartment.

I said how else its a Wagon I know he said but thats what should happen.

Your car your life.

There is no way I would run the fridge on gas while driving. That would be suicide.

People I've asked around here seem to feel fine about carrying the bottles in the boot. They're only two little bottles of 2kg each. I've been thinking of getting a brass cap to screw over the outlet on each bottle while travelling. That way if it was bumped or left slightly on for some ungodly reason it should prevent it getting out anyway.

Thanks for the continuing responses everyone.

Decades ago I had an LPG cylinder leak in a car. Very lucky there was no explosion. Leaks or venting do happen. As I remember it had just been filled, overfilled? and it might not have been re tightened properly. Smelt it and acted quickly and was very, very lucky. Just pray you are somewhere else when something like this happens. The chances of surviving to tell the story are not good.

I would not carry LPG cylinders in anything that was not vented to the outside air. This can be done on a trayback, ute, caravan, campervan or on a trailer. Not practical in a car unless you want to cut a hole in the bodywork of the vehicle. Possibly on a roof rack. That might work.

If you are absolutely determined to take it with you, carry it behind you in a trailer or on a roof rack.

In my TE Magna I found the ideal fridge was a Waeco 25. Fits behind the passenger seat on the floor or in the boot depending on need. Sockets were put in for both spots. A battery pack can be fitted as well to allow trouble free overnight use. There have been heaps of posts on this forum about suitable products.


Flynnie

If we were to put a roof rack on the car, and the bottle were to leak while the vehicle is stationary, would the gas just run down and settle into the engine or the boot anyway?

The reason we've bought the gas fridge is because of the limited run times of electric ones. We have no means to charge batteries either.