Tonights video will redirect you to the extended version of the tech tip on Todd & Tony's new channel called Tech Tips with Todd & Tony! www.youtube.com/@TechTipTNT This channel is for those of you wanting more than 2 minutes and the opportunity to get your questions answered! Jump on over there and subscribe and let us know in the comment what you want us to cover!
You guys should do an episode on setting up an Internet connection for full time RVing! recommendations, etc! I'm still researching and waiting for news on any good Internet connections because I wanna live full time in an RV
You don't need to do this if you follow the advice he gave. There won't be any sparks, arcing, or damage to anything if there's no active load on the line. If all the appliances are switched off (like they should be before you leave) then it's just like plugging in an extension cord. You don't run down to the basement and turn of the breaker every time you plug on an extension cord, do you? 😉
@joelfarris I disagree with you. Always turn the breaker off before plugging in. I also plug in my Watchdog by itself first to test the pedestal before applying that power to my rig!
Breaker should always be turned off before plugging in. There is always some draw from something when you plug in. The extention cord idea is wrong 😮 You wouldn't plug in and turn on a power tool and then plug the cord into the wall 😅
We always do this. There are loads besides appliances that are in a stand by mode that won't appreciate voltage spikes. Think battery charger, microwave, entertainment or computer equipment. and the like.
Just playing devils advocate here - do you shut off the water, electric, and gas at your sticks and bricks when you leave? Problems can and will occur at anytime. Obviously I have been lucky in the 6 years of full time living. I only turn off my systems when we move Park to Park. Typical stay length for us averages 5-6 months in the winter and 2-3 months outside that period. I do however maintain my systems, change out my sewer and water hoses every 2-3 years ( consider it cheap insurance). I also pay particular attention to the power terminals. ANY, any indications of previous issues, I don’t plug in.
Before dumping the black tank, charge the hose momentarily from the gray tank to check for leaks. If no leaks, then go ahead and dump the black, then the gray.
Back before black tank flush I would fill the black tank with water before dumping to get a good flow. Then refill and dump again if we were on a sewer site. Then the gray water to clear out the hose. If you are concerned about the hose, better to replace it. Cheap insurance.
I always have an issue with people dumping their black first and then their gray. I have seen two many “poopsies” and have had to pull in right after one! My advise is to always open your gray for a couple seconds and then close it. Just to make sure your connections are all good. No one cares if you accidentally drop a little gray water but people get mad when they see poop and toilet paper all over! After you are confident there are no issues then dump your black and then go back and flush with the rest of your gray. This will save you from a lot of clean up in the end!
I took the intro class given by Todd. This man is a wealth of info. And he can explain even the most complex subject matter in a way that is easier to understand and enjoyable too.
You may want to add to #5. In my younger years, I worked for an amusement ride company. Some of the trailers were small, just like RV trailers. Working in areas with a lot of kids and glass bottles, kids would place glass bottles under the tires for fun. That inspection should contain a very careful look under the RV to look for ANYTHING that should not be there. Toys, animals and glass bottles.
On the awning section, me and 2 other couples were camping and I looked up and saw some very black clouds. It was about 10 at night, and all I said was, let's get the awnings in. Long story short, we came up with the E.A.T.T, Emergency Awning Take down Team. The camp ground lost 4 awnings that night, none of ours.
Todd Skiing, hunting and snowmobiling are 3 reasons to RV in the cold. Thanks for telling people it is illegal to drive in to a filling station with the LP on, so many do not care until disaster hits.
If you can RV cheaper than the cabin it is good. There are no cabins were I went hunting and snowmobiling, skiing I parked in the parking lot for free. But I enjoy a nice cabin. @@NationalRVTrainingAcademy
Always be sure the breaker on the pedestal is turned off before you connect or disconnect your shore power cable. We always do this. There are loads besides appliances that are in a stand by mode that won't appreciate voltage spikes. Think battery charger, microwave, entertainment or computer equipment. and the like.
Hello, one more tip on electricity. On top of having all of the appliances on the OFF position, put the main breaker on that 30/50 amps shore outlet to the OFF position, then plug the RV cord and finally put the main breaker of the shore outlet to the ON position, especially if your RV electrical system has a surge/voltage sensing/frequency sensing/polarity sensing protector.
Nice videos. Awning wise I had occasion to pick up a used RV that had been left with the awning rolled up with leaves, mold… figured replace, but tried a few household cleaners. Scrubbing one spot could kind of lighten it. Stumbled onto Camco full timer’s choice awning cleaner. Just wiping it with a dollar store mop was amazing. I’m not affiliated, but man that stuff worked like tarn-x in a tarn-x infomercial.
Didn't finish that thought, so how do you keep the fridge cold during travel? I do run it on shore power at home for hours before so everything is at a cold temp when I leave
I open my grey tank Valve for a few seconds just to make sure all my hose connections are tight and secure. Then I open my black tank Valve then finish with my grey.
Living in an RV full time, stationary, I leave my water on and propane on all day, all night. Hopefully 🤞 never have an issue. It’d be a pain to turn both off when I leave for work and then when I come home. But my trailer never moves.
Thank you for the great videos, I have 2 questions... • Regarding the propane being turned off, on average how long will the refrigerator remain cold to safely store the food inside? We've had 2 months of 100º to 110º weather, and I am very concerned about the food going bad or taking a day to cool back down to safe/normal food storage temperatures. • When it comes to transferring power with an onboard/hardwired generator, what's the best practices? I've had a generator on a boat before and I was the transfer switch, meaning our boat was set up that the shore power and generator switches were at my finger tips and I had control over whenever I switched them. Our new trailer has an automatic transfer switch hidden behind a panel, and the other day while connected to shore power I started the gen set and the power transferred automatically while there was still a load on shore power. Something tells me that wasn't a good thing, having power switch with a big air conditioner load on the electrical system. Thank you for your help and time.
I am surprised that you didn't mention using a surge guard. I use a Surge Guard 34951 because it protects agents' low power as well as to hi of power/voltage. Low voltage damages more campers than anything else. I won't plug in my little camper with out one. I cured the problem of leaving the propane on to power the refrigerator. I now have a residential type.
Many RV refrigerators use a heat source like a propane flame for the cooling cycle. Residential type refrigerators use a compressor to power the cooling cycle. What kind of refrigerator do you have in your RV? @@sulindajon9228
As part of converting our as-delivered TT power system to a lithium/ solar/ inverter system, Victron recommended installing a 50A circuit breaker between the shore power supply and the inverter. We make sure that this breaker is in the OFF position when we connect to the pedestal. Since the breaker and inverter are also prior to the trailer’s circuit breaker/ fuse panel, this also helps protect any appliance when shore power is activated.
Good video. What’s your thoughts on this? While driving, turn off the propane tank. Then plug in the AC 110 plug into a 12 volt to 110 volt inverter connected to the house battery ( that technically are being recharged by the engine alternator) thereby eliminating the chance of a propane fire. This would only be used while driving. Could run a generator but that burns extra gasoline. And if one have Solar, that too on a sunny drive will also keep the batteries charged/ topped off and the refrigerator running even at max if necessary.
This has happened! John was unloading fuel, someone came into the station, their pilot light was on. This caused an explosion he was covered with 3rd degree burns! He did live but I was horrible.
Really good video. Well presented. My 2¢ on Propane - I was a firefighter for 32 years. I have personally seen one incident with a propane on an RV. The Family decided to check into a hotel for the night, but left the propane heater on. A cold front came through (in the middle of the night) and the thermostat for the heat came on. Apparently the propane had been slightly leaking and the mixture of air and LPG was at the "explosive" range. Now I am not taking about a ball of fire and a mushroom cloud. The gas ignited and the mixture expanded to the point of blowing all the side panels off the frame and it blew out the windows. All the gas was consumed in an instant and the curtains were only barely singed. There was no real fire. The fact that the curtains were hanging outside the windows was what made me notice what had happened. People seem the think that their propane tank with explode if it is on and tou have an accident. This is NOT a real concern. Should you drive down the road with your propane and water heater on. Absolutely not. It could (and likely will) blow out your water heater flame. I have had this happen even last week with windy conditions camping on a beach. Turn off your propane, and all propane appliances while driving. This only makes sense.
Turn on your four way flashers, typically the same circuit as brake lights and signal lights. Do a quick walk around, done. Plug your trailer plug into your truck seven times to clean the contacts.
@@makeitcool FYI, you have a brake light switch on you're pedal, the flashers just means the bulbs are good, you can test this easily if you're by yourself at night, but it doesn't hurt to double check your "brake" lights come on when you're pushing your brake pedal...
@@camperbum true but your brake light switch should be good on your vehicle, when you add a trailer it is easy to check using flashers. You can tel if your truck brakes are working because they shine on the trailer. I’ve been checking lights this way for 35 years and never seen a failed brake light switch.
@@makeitcool I have, on my own truck and I seen trailers without brake lights, I'm a retired truck driver of 35 years plus, it doesn't hurt to check, cause they do go bad.
Yes, you said I would say it. We run the propane refrigerator while driving down the road. We've been doing it for 20 years. What else can anyone do? You must keep the food cold. And it takes hours for the refrigerator to cool when first turned on.
pre-cool the fridge at home with food in it. when cold, turn it off and put ice into the fridge to maintain the cold temperature. I use 1 litre pop bottles filled with drinking water and i leave in my freezer at home till i need them. just a suggestion.
Yep, me too, for decades. I love how so many (like this) talk about "flames that will be in the wrong place" and all the other excuses. They never seem to realize that RV 2-way refrigerators were designed to be used while traveling. But anyone with a RUclips channel is obviously smarter than the design engineers at Dometic or Norcold!
The only thing I would add to your video is, I always switch off the breakers on the shore power box, before I plug in, then there is no arcing at all at the plug. I bought an inline wall mount, southwire surge protector. The instructions say it must be installed by a "certified" installer. I am going to do it myself. I have remodeled enough houses and installed enough dryers, I know how to hook up the wires. What is your advice. I was a Heavy Duty truck mechanic for 20 years.
1. I'll not drive with the propane on when RV manufacturers go back to 3 way refrigerators. My refer gas system failed forcing me to drive with the generator running. 2. My built in surge protector that I installed, Progressive EMS-HW30C, has about a 2 or 3 minute delay after plugging in to give it time to decide if the power quality is okay.
Hello Todd and NRVTA friends. Many important subjects tonight. I would like to recommend paying close attention to this one, especially the walk-around inspection. Also I VERY highly recommend the Home Study Advanced Course with labs as it contains so much MORE information than the basic HOME Study Course. Kindest regards...
The shore power tip, not to argue but to educate myself. You said do not plug in or unplug with high voltage appliances on(A/C and fireplace). Here’s my question, I have a 12v fridge in my RV I plug in at my home the night before I leave to get it cooled down and packed. I never turn it off till I’m home and unpacked then. Is that wrong? Should I turn it off, unplug, turn it on again, drive to my campground, turn it off, plug in, turn it on again? It’s a big appliance in my eyes so I want to be sure I’m not doing it wrong and damaging my fridge. Thank you.
When you spoke about plugging in and your appliances such as air conditioner, does that include refrigerator? Pretty much everything should be turned off? Thank you.
I don't know much about RV's, but I do know that you can't be to safe with propane. Also have CO and LP detectors and when they go off, take the alarm seriously. My in-laws have RV's to I have taken some interest them. good video.
Propane off is nanny stuff. It takes 10 hours for the fridge to cool. Can't explore with fridge off unless you eat only dry goods. The rest of the tips are good for beginners.
Awe, I really want to take this course!!!!! So nice to see another 903 area code again haha!!!! I refuse to change my# . I miss my home but South East Louisiana is a little oasis and close to home
No, turn off the fridge while traveling. Fridge will stay cold for a few hours unless you are in extremely warm area. We have frozen water bottles at night and put them in the fridge while traveling to help keep the fridge cold.
Great info! 2 things. Just got home from a 300 mile trip. MotorHome sat for a year. I went through it head to toe. Everything works, checked out the tires, they were a few psi low but not abnormal, set them to spec. We got to our destination, had a great time. When we headed for home, we got about an hour out of town and I started getting a vibration in the back, then the tred peeled off a tire. Here’s part two. I am one of those that would run with the gas on because the fridge would get warm. Well when the tire came apart It ripped up some insulation in the wheel well and guess what was in there too. A GAS LINE. Bent it pretty bad, THANK GOD it didn’t break. I WILL NEVER RUN WITH GAS ON AGAIN. Ps. Tire failed because they are 12 years old. I bet they have less than 5000 miles on them.
When I was a newbie I was told no problem, run your refrig going down the road. I also had propane for my 5500 Onan generator which I ran going down the road for the AC in the motorhome. When I attend the NRVTA Inspectors classes I learned reality. NEVER keep your propane open going down the road. Ever see a RV up in flames on the side of the road? 98% sure it was the propane system being compromised. My motorhome had the rubber lines running right behind the plastic inner wheel fenders on the dual rear wheels. Road debris thrown up by the tires could easily sever the line and cause a serious issue. My propane is off full time unless I am present and needing it for some reason.
What about the generator switch I Side the RV. I always leave it on when connected to shore power and while driving on because my backup camera doesn't work when in reverse. Yay or Nay? Thanks.
Thank you for another great and informative video. I do have a question for you as this is something I never considered until now. I have been full timing now for 5 plus years. I never leave the heater on, stove or hot water heater while hauling my fifth wheel down the road but I do have my refrigerator set to automatic so once I disconnect from shore power, it switches over to propane. Are you suggesting not running that either on propane while traveling? That would be problematic in the hot months for sure with food spoiling inside. I appreciate any feedback.
Check out these videos: What is Propane Lockout in your RV: ruclips.net/video/wTNwQw3G4io/видео.html Can I travel with my propane on?: ruclips.net/video/VA5hoC-8FnU/видео.html
Great tips, Beard! Granted, "Do not fail at not looking at your RV" is grammatically wonky, but we get the message! ("Do not fail BY not looking at your RV" that makes sense.) :)
Three way refrigerators are a stupid drain on DC batteries and don’t cool well even if you have capacity or alternator capacity. If you are not going to run on propane when motoring, then buy lots and lots of batteries and/or transfer food to ice coolers when driving. Third restriction,.. is when being ferried.
Just wondering about gas appliances that use electronic ignition. Since they don’t have a pilot light there shouldn’t be a draft of air. Also the old Rv we had had a gas/electric refrigerator, is it not a good idea to use those on the road?
When using propane in the cooling cycle, the refrigerator uses a flame that CAN be effected. Both major brands of refrigerators or on their 4th recall trying to find ways to limit the movement of the flame or shut it off when it is effected.
Not driving with propane....and I don't have a 3 way fridge. So if I am driving 5-6 hours to my destination, I should let my food waste prior to reaching my destination?
We traveled for two months this summer. What suggestion do you have for keeping all your food cold in the refrigerator/freezer while traveling from location to location? The refrig and freezer start to warm. Condensation and water accumulate. Loss of food?
We freeze large juice bottles with water and use them to keep the freezer and fridge cold. We only drive 3 to 5 hours per trip. It’s worked great so far.
@@nancykeeneysmith604 our freezer is packed with protein and travel day is shopping and laundry day. Not sure where large frozen bottles would go. We try to keep the travel part to 3-5 hours but laundry is 1.5. We purchased the GasStop product which is on our propane tanks that detects leaks and will shut off propane if leak detected. These are certified for accuracy and provide a level of safety. I was hoping he would speak to this product.
@@krismongerson1317 I traveled 16 hrs a day 3-5 days in a row twice a yr for a number of yrs, always fridge on to keep food cold. It's always liable safe to recommend not doing it but not necessarily practical unless short hr trips! I now have enough solar & battery to run my fridge on 110 for a day travelling as long as sun permits, otherwise it's propane.
Great advice. What are your thoughts on painting the roof with that rubber coating. Everyone on RUclips says it’s great but the Rv dealership told me not to do it. Please let me know what you think about it.
In the heat of the summer on a long drive day I drive with the frig ON so the food does not go bad. I have tried disconnecting the AC power cord to my frig and routing it to my AC/DC portable power supply so I can run the frig on elec rather than gas while traveling down the road. However the frig does not power up. I know my portable power source has enough power, because it will run my air conditioning for ½ hour, but will not power up my frig. Any other work arounds or advice to running electric power while driving.
I start out by pulling the gray for about minuet and then closing it, then i pull the black. That one minuet of gray tells me that my drain hose is not leaking, DRS
Years ago, I came upon an accident with an RV, where the towing unit was too light for the weight of the trailer it was towing. The tail wagging the dog caused it to jackknife and lie the trailer again a rock wall with the pickup crosswise on the highway, it’s rear and up in the air. The propane tanks were connected and lying on the roadway.
This is usually caused by improper loading. Too much weight in the rear of the trailer. I'll speculate they had a pile of stuff clinging to the outside of the rear. Must have 10 to 15% of the total trailer weight on the hitch.
Out of curiosity I’ve not seen this or heard about doing this. I’ve heard if you drive your RV around is the best way to stir the crap😂. Would there actually be an issue if you used a paint stir. The kind of go on the end of a drill motor because mine is stationary. I live in mind full-time. I always think outside the box.
Great job as usual ! I have a weird issue. When I plug into shore power, sometimes my fridge will stay on propane. It doesn't happen all the time though!! Drives us nuts ! Sometimes I will turn the fridge off than on, and it will work for a while. Have you ever heard of that? Its a 2008 Holiday Rambler Augusta Sport. Love your channel(s) and subscribed to the new one !!
OK, I respect your opinion because you have a lot more knowledge than myself with regards to campers, but how do I keep my fridge cold on an 800 mile trip? Currently, turning that propane on, works. I also cannot find anything on the NHTSA that says this is an issue. I don't want to sound like a "keyboard warrior", I am genuinely curious on your logic.
Are you driving 800 miles without stopping to rest? I doubt it. That would be a very long day. Think of wind blowing past your fridge access vent at 65mph. Very difficult to keep a flame lit. Then you fill the inside of your rv with gas vapors and when you try to relight it or have any other open flame.....BOOM. not worth the risk. Use a cooler if you are seriously going to drive 800 miles.without stopping.
I would recommend only buying what you're going to eat for your trip until your next destination. I typically travel 8 to 9 hours at a time and my refrigerator acts like my cooler if I should have anything left over.
You realize those fridges are designed to be used on the highway, in the wind. I have travelled a thousand miles in a day and a cooler does not cut it. Also run the furnace in the winter so its warm when I stop without a problem. These appliances are actually rated for this. Even at a gas station the furnace is usually 15 feet away from a gas pump. Far to much dramatization of non issues.
Tonights video will redirect you to the extended version of the tech tip on Todd & Tony's new channel called Tech Tips with Todd & Tony! www.youtube.com/@TechTipTNT This channel is for those of you wanting more than 2 minutes and the opportunity to get your questions answered! Jump on over there and subscribe and let us know in the comment what you want us to cover!
You guys should do an episode on setting up an Internet connection for full time RVing! recommendations, etc! I'm still researching and waiting for news on any good Internet connections because I wanna live full time in an RV
Always makes sure the breaker on the power post is off before you plug in. Always turn the breaker off before you unplug your RV.
You don't need to do this if you follow the advice he gave. There won't be any sparks, arcing, or damage to anything if there's no active load on the line.
If all the appliances are switched off (like they should be before you leave) then it's just like plugging in an extension cord. You don't run down to the basement and turn of the breaker every time you plug on an extension cord, do you? 😉
@joelfarris I disagree with you. Always turn the breaker off before plugging in. I also plug in my Watchdog by itself first to test the pedestal before applying that power to my rig!
Breaker should always be turned off before plugging in. There is always some draw from something when you plug in.
The extention cord idea is wrong 😮 You wouldn't plug in and turn on a power tool and then plug the cord into the wall 😅
@@GatorsRock0219 that's the same way I do it.
We always do this. There are loads besides appliances that are in a stand by mode that won't appreciate voltage spikes. Think battery charger, microwave, entertainment or computer equipment. and the like.
Number 6: Turn off the water if you are going to be away from the RV.
YES! Your #6
We learned that the hard way. Not a big flood, just enough to remember never let it in when we leave🤷♀️
@@Martys-4x4thinking there is more to it than that
@@Martys-4x4 Yep, go to the park office and let them deal with it as they see fit. Thats the society we live in now.
Turn off the water in your home when you are going camping.
Just playing devils advocate here - do you shut off the water, electric, and gas at your sticks and bricks when you leave? Problems can and will occur at anytime. Obviously I have been lucky in the 6 years of full time living. I only turn off my systems when we move Park to Park. Typical stay length for us averages 5-6 months in the winter and 2-3 months outside that period. I do however maintain my systems, change out my sewer and water hoses every 2-3 years ( consider it cheap insurance). I also pay particular attention to the power terminals. ANY, any indications of previous issues, I don’t plug in.
Before dumping the black tank, charge the hose momentarily from the gray tank to check for leaks. If no leaks, then go ahead and dump the black, then the gray.
Not only for leaks but to wet the inside of the hose so the black tank yuck doesn’t stick to the inside of the hose. 🤮🤮🤮
Back before black tank flush I would fill the black tank with water before dumping to get a good flow. Then refill and dump again if we were on a sewer site. Then the gray water to clear out the hose. If you are concerned about the hose, better to replace it. Cheap insurance.
Ooooh, that's a great tip!
I always have an issue with people dumping their black first and then their gray. I have seen two many “poopsies” and have had to pull in right after one! My advise is to always open your gray for a couple seconds and then close it. Just to make sure your connections are all good. No one cares if you accidentally drop a little gray water but people get mad when they see poop and toilet paper all over! After you are confident there are no issues then dump your black and then go back and flush with the rest of your gray. This will save you from a lot of clean up in the end!
Your #4... always use an RV surge suppressor when hooking to shore power. Not all miss-wired or faulty pedastals show heat damage.
You don’t even need a fancy expensive one either for a little piece of mind!
Yes. I've been told to always use a surge protection
I took the intro class given by Todd. This man is a wealth of info. And he can explain even the most complex subject matter in a way that is easier to understand and enjoyable too.
You may want to add to #5. In my younger years, I worked for an amusement ride company. Some of the trailers were small, just like RV trailers. Working in areas with a lot of kids and glass bottles, kids would place glass bottles under the tires for fun. That inspection should contain a very careful look under the RV to look for ANYTHING that should not be there. Toys, animals and glass bottles.
On the awning section, me and 2 other couples were camping and I looked up and saw some very black clouds. It was about 10 at night, and all I said was, let's get the awnings in. Long story short, we came up with the E.A.T.T, Emergency Awning Take down Team. The camp ground lost 4 awnings that night, none of ours.
And ALWAYS shut off the breaker at the pedestal before plugging in or unplugging! And ALWAYS use a surge protector.
It's also illegal (against coast guard regulations) to drive onto a ferry with the propane tank valve open.
You are a natural teacher and explain things in layman's terms. Thank you so much.
Jeez, you have the best voice! And thank you for the really informative and helpful presentation of this information!!
Todd Skiing, hunting and snowmobiling are 3 reasons to RV in the cold. Thanks for telling people it is illegal to drive in to a filling station with the LP on, so many do not care until disaster hits.
That sounds like cabin weather
If you can RV cheaper than the cabin it is good. There are no cabins were I went hunting and snowmobiling, skiing I parked in the parking lot for free. But I enjoy a nice cabin. @@NationalRVTrainingAcademy
Always be sure the breaker on the pedestal is turned off before you connect or disconnect your shore power cable. We always do this. There are loads besides appliances that are in a stand by mode that won't appreciate voltage spikes. Think battery charger, microwave, entertainment or computer equipment. and the like.
Excellent advice! I’m heading out in April 2025! I did buy a 31’ Winnebago in 2000 & lived in in for 2 yrs with 2 Goldens. I’m ready again!
Hello, one more tip on electricity. On top of having all of the appliances on the OFF position, put the main breaker on that 30/50 amps shore outlet to the OFF position, then plug the RV cord and finally put the main breaker of the shore outlet to the ON position, especially if your RV electrical system has a surge/voltage sensing/frequency sensing/polarity sensing protector.
I never plug into the pedestal with the breaker on.
Awesome stuff, as usual, as a new RV owner every little bit of knowledge I can learn helps, thanks for what you do.
I'm new to maintenance at a resort. This channel is a lifeline.
FREE TARPS.. everytime theresbig wind in Tombstone the next day i just go by rv parks and get some really cool tarps for my stuff
Nice videos. Awning wise I had occasion to pick up a used RV that had been left with the awning rolled up with leaves, mold… figured replace, but tried a few household cleaners. Scrubbing one spot could kind of lighten it.
Stumbled onto Camco full timer’s choice awning cleaner. Just wiping it with a dollar store mop was amazing. I’m not affiliated, but man that stuff worked like tarn-x in a tarn-x infomercial.
Great list! I think the explanation of each item is what really made this video stand above others who try and say don't do this or that.
It's really hard to snow ski without snow. That's why we camp in the snow...we like to ski.
So first timer here, I was told by the dealer that driving to the site with the fridge running is ok, the only thing was to shut it off if gassing up.
Didn't finish that thought, so how do you keep the fridge cold during travel? I do run it on shore power at home for hours before so everything is at a cold temp when I leave
I bring mine home first and plug in and check to make sure everything works before every trip and also to get the refrigerator nice and cold
Do you not leave fridge on two and from?
I open my grey tank Valve for a few seconds just to make sure all my hose connections are tight and secure. Then I open my black tank Valve then finish with my grey.
Love the suggestions. I'll be LivIng in an rv full time soon, and your channel has been GREAT.
Has your full time adventure started? Ours begins in April!
My fridge is either 120 or propane. If I want to keep my food cold while traveling, I need to leave the propane on.
Living in an RV full time, stationary, I leave my water on and propane on all day, all night. Hopefully 🤞 never have an issue. It’d be a pain to turn both off when I leave for work and then when I come home. But my trailer never moves.
Thank you for the great videos, I have 2 questions...
• Regarding the propane being turned off, on average how long will the refrigerator remain cold to safely store the food inside? We've had 2 months of 100º to 110º weather, and I am very concerned about the food going bad or taking a day to cool back down to safe/normal food storage temperatures.
• When it comes to transferring power with an onboard/hardwired generator, what's the best practices? I've had a generator on a boat before and I was the transfer switch, meaning our boat was set up that the shore power and generator switches were at my finger tips and I had control over whenever I switched them. Our new trailer has an automatic transfer switch hidden behind a panel, and the other day while connected to shore power I started the gen set and the power transferred automatically while there was still a load on shore power. Something tells me that wasn't a good thing, having power switch with a big air conditioner load on the electrical system.
Thank you for your help and time.
I have the same questions.
I am surprised that you didn't mention using a surge guard. I use a Surge Guard 34951 because it protects agents' low power as well as to hi of power/voltage. Low voltage damages more campers than anything else. I won't plug in my little camper with out one.
I cured the problem of leaving the propane on to power the refrigerator. I now have a residential type.
Not sure I understand your comment about the fridge..."residential type". What does that mean?
Many RV refrigerators use a heat source like a propane flame for the cooling cycle. Residential type refrigerators use a compressor to power the cooling cycle. What kind of refrigerator do you have in your RV? @@sulindajon9228
As part of converting our as-delivered TT power system to a lithium/ solar/ inverter system, Victron recommended installing a 50A circuit breaker between the shore power supply and the inverter. We make sure that this breaker is in the OFF position when we connect to the pedestal. Since the breaker and inverter are also prior to the trailer’s circuit breaker/ fuse panel, this also helps protect any appliance when shore power is activated.
Good video. What’s your thoughts on this? While driving, turn off the propane tank. Then plug in the AC 110 plug into a 12 volt to 110 volt inverter connected to the house battery ( that technically are being recharged by the engine alternator) thereby eliminating the chance of a propane fire. This would only be used while driving. Could run a generator but that burns extra gasoline. And if one have Solar, that too on a sunny drive will also keep the batteries charged/ topped off and the refrigerator running even at max if necessary.
This has happened! John was unloading fuel, someone came into the station, their pilot light was on. This caused an explosion he was covered with 3rd degree burns! He did live but I was horrible.
Really good video. Well presented.
My 2¢ on Propane - I was a firefighter for 32 years. I have personally seen one incident with a propane on an RV. The Family decided to check into a hotel for the night, but left the propane heater on. A cold front came through (in the middle of the night) and the thermostat for the heat came on. Apparently the propane had been slightly leaking and the mixture of air and LPG was at the "explosive" range.
Now I am not taking about a ball of fire and a mushroom cloud. The gas ignited and the mixture expanded to the point of blowing all the side panels off the frame and it blew out the windows. All the gas was consumed in an instant and the curtains were only barely singed. There was no real fire. The fact that the curtains were hanging outside the windows was what made me notice what had happened.
People seem the think that their propane tank with explode if it is on and tou have an accident. This is NOT a real concern.
Should you drive down the road with your propane and water heater on. Absolutely not. It could (and likely will) blow out your water heater flame. I have had this happen even last week with windy conditions camping on a beach.
Turn off your propane, and all propane appliances while driving. This only makes sense.
What about the gas for the refrigerator being on when you travel..Mine only works on electricity or gas. Thanks. Keep the good information coming.
Good question! Check out this video:
Can I travel with my propane on? ruclips.net/video/VA5hoC-8FnU/видео.html
And check your tail lights, if you can have someone push the brake pedal and you make sure you're brake lights are working.
Turn on your four way flashers, typically the same circuit as brake lights and signal lights. Do a quick walk around, done.
Plug your trailer plug into your truck seven times to clean the contacts.
@@makeitcool FYI, you have a brake light switch on you're pedal, the flashers just means the bulbs are good, you can test this easily if you're by yourself at night, but it doesn't hurt to double check your "brake" lights come on when you're pushing your brake pedal...
@@camperbum true but your brake light switch should be good on your vehicle, when you add a trailer it is easy to check using flashers. You can tel if your truck brakes are working because they shine on the trailer.
I’ve been checking lights this way for 35 years and never seen a failed brake light switch.
@@makeitcool I have, on my own truck and I seen trailers without brake lights, I'm a retired truck driver of 35 years plus, it doesn't hurt to check, cause they do go bad.
I RV in the winter because I paid for a 4 season rig.
Yes, you said I would say it. We run the propane refrigerator while driving down the road. We've been doing it for 20 years. What else can anyone do? You must keep the food cold. And it takes hours for the refrigerator to cool when first turned on.
pre-cool the fridge at home with food in it. when cold, turn it off and put ice into the fridge to maintain the cold temperature. I use 1 litre pop bottles filled with drinking water and i leave in my freezer at home till i need them. just a suggestion.
Yep, me too, for decades. I love how so many (like this) talk about "flames that will be in the wrong place" and all the other excuses. They never seem to realize that RV 2-way refrigerators were designed to be used while traveling. But anyone with a RUclips channel is obviously smarter than the design engineers at Dometic or Norcold!
The only thing I would add to your video is, I always switch off the breakers on the shore power box, before I plug in, then there is no arcing at all at the plug. I bought an inline wall mount, southwire surge protector. The instructions say it must be installed by a "certified" installer. I am going to do it myself. I have remodeled enough houses and installed enough dryers, I know how to hook up the wires. What is your advice. I was a Heavy Duty truck mechanic for 20 years.
Expanding on #4 - Do not plug in your RV if the breaker is on. Turn the breaker off before plugging in, then turn on breaker.
The awning cleaning tip was most helpful. Thank you!
1. I'll not drive with the propane on when RV manufacturers go back to 3 way refrigerators.
My refer gas system failed forcing me to drive with the generator running.
2. My built in surge protector that I installed, Progressive EMS-HW30C, has about a 2 or 3 minute delay after plugging in to give it time to decide if the power quality is okay.
What about refrigerators? Should those be turned off as well?
Hello Todd and NRVTA friends. Many important subjects tonight. I would like to recommend paying close attention to this one, especially the walk-around inspection. Also I VERY highly recommend the Home Study Advanced Course with labs as it contains so much MORE information than the basic HOME Study Course. Kindest regards...
Thanks for sharing!
I would like to know ow about stabilizer bars for motorhomes. What is the best thing to have on a motorhome when a semi passes you
The shore power tip, not to argue but to educate myself. You said do not plug in or unplug with high voltage appliances on(A/C and fireplace). Here’s my question, I have a 12v fridge in my RV I plug in at my home the night before I leave to get it cooled down and packed. I never turn it off till I’m home and unpacked then. Is that wrong? Should I turn it off, unplug, turn it on again, drive to my campground, turn it off, plug in, turn it on again? It’s a big appliance in my eyes so I want to be sure I’m not doing it wrong and damaging my fridge. Thank you.
Not to worry. Your 12v fridge runs off the battery. Plugging in and unplugging from shore power will not effect it.
When you spoke about plugging in and your appliances such as air conditioner, does that include refrigerator?
Pretty much everything should be turned off?
Thank you.
I don't know much about RV's, but I do know that you can't be to safe with propane. Also have CO and LP detectors and when they go off, take the alarm seriously. My in-laws have RV's to I have taken some interest them. good video.
My wife says you could be a stand-in for John Goodman (I actually listened to your RV tips). Thanks.
We never drive with our propane on. Thanks for all the good tips. 😊
Propane off is nanny stuff. It takes 10 hours for the fridge to cool. Can't explore with fridge off unless you eat only dry goods. The rest of the tips are good for beginners.
Thank you for these VERY helpful reminders.
I keep my generator on while driving helps with my cooler air on
If there is a big enough power source, what about a secured down ceramic heater for heat source when traveling?
Awe, I really want to take this course!!!!! So nice to see another 903 area code again haha!!!! I refuse to change my# . I miss my home but South East Louisiana is a little oasis and close to home
Great content, what is the best way to maintain you trailer suspension , greasing etc
Really enjoy listening to your information. Thanks
What about your Propane Fridge to keep everything cold inside the Fridge while driving? I mean that is what they are made for, right?
No, turn off the fridge while traveling. Fridge will stay cold for a few hours unless you are in extremely warm area. We have frozen water bottles at night and put them in the fridge while traveling to help keep the fridge cold.
Great info!
2 things. Just got home from a 300 mile trip. MotorHome sat for a year. I went through it head to toe. Everything works, checked out the tires, they were a few psi low but not abnormal, set them to spec. We got to our destination, had a great time. When we headed for home, we got about an hour out of town and I started getting a vibration in the back, then the tred peeled off a tire. Here’s part two. I am one of those that would run with the gas on because the fridge would get warm. Well when the tire came apart It ripped up some insulation in the wheel well and guess what was in there too. A GAS LINE. Bent it pretty bad, THANK GOD it didn’t break. I WILL NEVER RUN WITH GAS ON AGAIN.
Ps. Tire failed because they are 12 years old. I bet they have less than 5000 miles on them.
When I was a newbie I was told no problem, run your refrig going down the road. I also had propane for my 5500 Onan generator which I ran going down the road for the AC in the motorhome. When I attend the NRVTA Inspectors classes I learned reality. NEVER keep your propane open going down the road. Ever see a RV up in flames on the side of the road? 98% sure it was the propane system being compromised. My motorhome had the rubber lines running right behind the plastic inner wheel fenders on the dual rear wheels. Road debris thrown up by the tires could easily sever the line and cause a serious issue. My propane is off full time unless I am present and needing it for some reason.
What about the generator switch I Side the RV. I always leave it on when connected to shore power and while driving on because my backup camera doesn't work when in reverse. Yay or Nay? Thanks.
I don't have an rv yet. I'm just wondering how to keep your refrigerator cold while traveling?
I have an awing sensor that if it gets windy it's retracts automatically. Should I trust that? It's on a 2007 Fleetwood Bounder
Great e[isode. Awesome tips. Back to basics and keep it simple. Excited about your new channel. Great job! Thank you for sharing
Awesome! Thank you!
First time RVer. I need a checklist
Turn off the breaker in the electrical panel store before you unplug your power cord.
Thank you for your up date .
I have two grey tanks with a gate valve at my outside connection with the valve closed giving me 106 gallons of grey waste. Your thoughts on this
I don't have an RV yet. I'm wondering how to keep your refrigerator cold while traveling?
I agree, we never drive with our propane on, and the keyword is yet lol.
Thank you for another great and informative video. I do have a question for you as this is something I never considered until now. I have been full timing now for 5 plus years. I never leave the heater on, stove or hot water heater while hauling my fifth wheel down the road but I do have my refrigerator set to automatic so once I disconnect from shore power, it switches over to propane. Are you suggesting not running that either on propane while traveling? That would be problematic in the hot months for sure with food spoiling inside. I appreciate any feedback.
Check out these videos:
What is Propane Lockout in your RV: ruclips.net/video/wTNwQw3G4io/видео.html
Can I travel with my propane on?: ruclips.net/video/VA5hoC-8FnU/видео.html
#3) Isn't there awning anchor lines that can me used to stabilize the awning?
Great tips, Beard! Granted, "Do not fail at not looking at your RV" is grammatically wonky, but we get the message! ("Do not fail BY not looking at your RV" that makes sense.) :)
I’m a tech not a linguist. ;)
Three way refrigerators are a stupid drain on DC batteries and don’t cool well even if you have capacity or alternator capacity. If you are not going to run on propane when motoring, then buy lots and lots of batteries and/or transfer food to ice coolers when driving. Third restriction,.. is when being ferried.
what about turning on or off the breaker before plugging or unplugging (which is what i do )
Absolutely!!!! I neglected to point that out.
Excellent video! New to RV ownership and new subscriber. Thank you!
dude you are fantastic...thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Todd should I shut off my Figuration unit while plugged into Shore power?
We love winter rving last cool temperatures was -12’ degrees. Lots of snow.
Great info Todd, i (Lee) will be attending your course hopefully within the next year!!
I was thinking something more extreme like home ballistics firearm tests.
Can't have propane on when on a ferry.
Just wondering about gas appliances that use electronic ignition. Since they don’t have a pilot light there shouldn’t be a draft of air. Also the old Rv we had had a gas/electric refrigerator, is it not a good idea to use those on the road?
When using propane in the cooling cycle, the refrigerator uses a flame that CAN be effected. Both major brands of refrigerators or on their 4th recall trying to find ways to limit the movement of the flame or shut it off when it is effected.
Another tip is to turn off the water water at the spigot if you leave your campsite.
Again great advice, but another tip don’t put hay bale around your RV
Not driving with propane....and I don't have a 3 way fridge. So if I am driving 5-6 hours to my destination, I should let my food waste prior to reaching my destination?
We traveled for two months this summer. What suggestion do you have for keeping all your food cold in the refrigerator/freezer while traveling from location to location? The refrig and freezer start to warm. Condensation and water accumulate. Loss of food?
We freeze large juice bottles with water and use them to keep the freezer and fridge cold. We only drive 3 to 5 hours per trip. It’s worked great so far.
@@nancykeeneysmith604 our freezer is packed with protein and travel day is shopping and laundry day. Not sure where large frozen bottles would go. We try to keep the travel part to 3-5 hours but laundry is 1.5. We purchased the GasStop product which is on our propane tanks that detects leaks and will shut off propane if leak detected. These are certified for accuracy and provide a level of safety. I was hoping he would speak to this product.
Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/VA5hoC-8FnU/видео.html
@@krismongerson1317 I traveled 16 hrs a day 3-5 days in a row twice a yr for a number of yrs, always fridge on to keep food cold. It's always liable safe to recommend not doing it but not necessarily practical unless short hr trips! I now have enough solar & battery to run my fridge on 110 for a day travelling as long as sun permits, otherwise it's propane.
@@randyphillips559I agree, been travelling with propane/fridge on for YEARS. Silly nanny stuff to turn fridge off. Absolutely ridiculous.
Some New trailers have fireplaces that can be ran while traveling which uses power from your vehicle
Great advice. What are your thoughts on painting the roof with that rubber coating. Everyone on RUclips says it’s great but the Rv dealership told me not to do it. Please let me know what you think about it.
In the heat of the summer on a long drive day I drive with the frig ON so the food does not go bad. I have tried disconnecting the AC power cord to my frig and routing it to my AC/DC portable power supply so I can run the frig on elec rather than gas while traveling down the road. However the frig does not power up. I know my portable power source has enough power, because it will run my air conditioning for ½ hour, but will not power up my frig. Any other work arounds or advice to running electric power while driving.
I start out by pulling the gray for about minuet and then closing it, then i pull the black. That one minuet of gray tells me that my drain hose is not leaking, DRS
great info
Good pitchman for a bearded Giant.... prime cut video perciate it Hombre.
Words of wisdom.
Great video Todd! More people need to be watching your videos. #EveryRVer
Years ago, I came upon an accident with an RV, where the towing unit was too light for the weight of the trailer it was towing. The tail wagging the dog caused it to jackknife and lie the trailer again a rock wall with the pickup crosswise on the highway, it’s rear and up in the air. The propane tanks were connected and lying on the roadway.
This is usually caused by improper loading. Too much weight in the rear of the trailer. I'll speculate they had a pile of stuff clinging to the outside of the rear.
Must have 10 to 15% of the total trailer weight on the hitch.
Super helpful - thanks!
Out of curiosity I’ve not seen this or heard about doing this. I’ve heard if you drive your RV around is the best way to stir the crap😂. Would there actually be an issue if you used a paint stir. The kind of go on the end of a drill motor because mine is stationary. I live in mind full-time. I always think outside the box.
It would be nice if they added something like a blender blade in there
Great job as usual ! I have a weird issue. When I plug into shore power, sometimes my fridge will stay on propane. It doesn't happen all the time though!! Drives us nuts ! Sometimes I will turn the fridge off than on, and it will work for a while. Have you ever heard of that? Its a 2008 Holiday Rambler Augusta Sport. Love your channel(s) and subscribed to the new one !!
OK, I respect your opinion because you have a lot more knowledge than myself with regards to campers, but how do I keep my fridge cold on an 800 mile trip? Currently, turning that propane on, works. I also cannot find anything on the NHTSA that says this is an issue. I don't want to sound like a "keyboard warrior", I am genuinely curious on your logic.
Are you driving 800 miles without stopping to rest? I doubt it. That would be a very long day. Think of wind blowing past your fridge access vent at 65mph. Very difficult to keep a flame lit. Then you fill the inside of your rv with gas vapors and when you try to relight it or have any other open flame.....BOOM. not worth the risk. Use a cooler if you are seriously going to drive 800 miles.without stopping.
I agree, been travelling with propane/fridge on for YEARS. Silly nanny stuff to turn fridge off. Absolutely ridiculous.
I would recommend only buying what you're going to eat for your trip until your next destination. I typically travel 8 to 9 hours at a time and my refrigerator acts like my cooler if I should have anything left over.
Agreed.
You realize those fridges are designed to be used on the highway, in the wind. I have travelled a thousand miles in a day and a cooler does not cut it. Also run the furnace in the winter so its warm when I stop without a problem. These appliances are actually rated for this.
Even at a gas station the furnace is usually 15 feet away from a gas pump. Far to much dramatization of non issues.
I turn my propane off after every use and since I rarely stay anywhere that I need heat I don’t need it in except for cooking