ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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Doug_H wrote:My Norcold went up in flames last May and it was less than a year old. Only quick thinking by my wife saved the rig from completely going up.
Just got it back from the dealer last week.
Doug
Dio you mind me asking what she did to save the rig? This is something I've thought about...the "what would I do if" scenario.
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
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Doug_H
Gold Bar, Wa
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Joined: 12/08/2007
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ladymc53 wrote:Doug_H wrote:My Norcold went up in flames last May and it was less than a year old. Only quick thinking by my wife saved the rig from completely going up.
Just got it back from the dealer last week.
Doug
Dio you mind me asking what she did to save the rig? This is something I've thought about...the "what would I do if" scenario.
Kind of a long story but will attempt to make it short.
We live in a private RV park and keep our MH parked in our second lot and sometimes use it for a guest room. DW had gone over to fire up the fridge to put in some treats, turned on the fridge and heard a small explosion and saw smoke coming out around the sides of the fridge, rushed outside and while calling 911 turned off the gas at the tank and rushed around back where the fire was in the slideout. We just happened to have a hose hooked up to the water supply and she was able to put water on the fire immeadiately until the fire dept arrived. If we had been in a RV park I honestly think the whole rig would have gone up in flames. All damage was contained to the living room slide and no smoke damage internally. We were definitely lucky in that respect.
Doug
'07 Jayco Greyhawk 33DS
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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Joined: 08/15/2004
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Here we go again... 
Well, if it's not safe to travel with your fridge on, they it's CERTAINLY not safe of it to be on when you are actually IN the RV! Especially when you are SLEEPING! 
There should be a LAW against RV fridges. They should all be torn out and replaced with coolers. That's the only way to protect ourselves from this scourge!
Someone just posted a topic called "Another RV accident!"
Someone responded "Yup, another RV accident ".
Yup, RVs have accidents. So do cars, trucks, planes, trains, buses, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.
Yup, RVs have fires. So do cars, trucks, planes, trains, buses, um not bicycles, motocycles, homes, businesses, factories, etc.
It's pretty darned dangerous out there. We'd better sell our RVs and not leave our homes (where statistically, the MOST accidents happen).
The thinking of "I saw an RV with the fridge area burned out, therefor regrigerator fire are probably very common" is ludicris. I have always traveled with my fridge on and will continue to do so. I would rather run the very slight risk of a fire than the very real risk of food poisoning. Then again, I have a MUCH bigger risk of having my entire rig wiped out by some Bozo cutting me off. Yup, maybe I'd better just stay home.
Paul (Mouse)
2007 Flagstaff Shamrock 17 Hybrid (heavily modified for boondocking and winter camping).
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4, 4.7L HO, factory tow, 3.92 gears.
Equil-i-zer Hitch, Prodigy.
Yamaha EF2400 Generator (quiet, cause I care!)
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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Mousefart wrote:The thinking of "I saw an RV with the fridge area burned out, therefor regrigerator fire are probably very common" is ludicris.
I thought the same thing. As my motor home is 18 years old I am definitely on borrowed time. As dangerous as a rv is I don't know why people even buy them.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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You have a very good point Mouse...
And I should add most house fires (Fixed, not mobile) are like most Motor Home/trailer fires.. Caused by poor maintenance and/or stupidity (Smoking in bed for example.. One way to get "Smoked")
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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Doug_H
Gold Bar, Wa
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Hey guys, I don't know who's post ya'll are referring to but I was just posting what happened and then answering the lady's question.
I have no plans on getting rid of this MH or quitting the RV lifestyle.
Stuff happens!!!!!
Doug
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mr. ed
Madison, SD (currently traveling the US)
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Here's my thoughts: If you're plugged in to shore power (which most of us probably are) and running the fridge on AC I would think the heating element is a lot safer around a leaking cooling unit than an open flame. I'm not saying it's impossible to ignite from the heating element but I'm sure the odds are a lot less. I feel safe with mine and yes, I did have the recall done (Dometic).
Another thought: one of the posters recommended running the fridge off an inverter while underway. In the past I thought this was a great idea and ran the fridge in my previous motorhome for a couple of years that way while traveling around the country. Well, the motorhome's alternator finally gave out. This could have been coincidental but I believe the extra electrical load imposed on it shortened its life. Figuring that a refrigerator heating element draws about 3 amps AC that would necessitate at least a 30 amp DC load on the batteries/alternator while the fridge was running. Of course, if the alternator was a heavy duty one this possible problem would probably be eliminated.
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
2007 Hitchhiker II LS Model 29.5 LKTG
2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7 CTD/QC/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed man/Big Horn edition
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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wa8yxm wrote:You have a very good point Mouse...
And I should add most house fires (Fixed, not mobile) are like most Motor Home/trailer fires.. Caused by poor maintenance and/or stupidity (Smoking in bed for example.. One way to get "Smoked")
Poor maintenance is a good point. The only way I can see that tiny flame jumping from inside that metal chimney to the RV structure is through flammable debris like a mouse nest accumulating near the area.
Even the Dometic recall for the cracked tubing carries only a SLIGHT risk of causing a fire. Propane valves are usually designed to fail in the closed position so that risk is very slight. Even with a leaking fitting, the wind from traveling is most likely to take most of the gas away and is also pretty rare.
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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Mousefart wrote:wa8yxm wrote:You have a very good point Mouse...
And I should add most house fires (Fixed, not mobile) are like most Motor Home/trailer fires.. Caused by poor maintenance and/or stupidity (Smoking in bed for example.. One way to get "Smoked")
Poor maintenance is a good point. The only way I can see that tiny flame jumping from inside that metal chimney to the RV structure is through flammable debris like a mouse nest accumulating near the area.
Even the Dometic recall for the cracked tubing carries only a SLIGHT risk of causing a fire. Propane valves are usually designed to fail in the closed position so that risk is very slight. Even with a leaking fitting, the wind from traveling is most likely to take most of the gas away and is also pretty rare.
We just had ours repaired at the RV dealer in Hot Springs. He said the risk of fire is very great. Said he has been doing recalls for over a year. Had ours repaired in under 20 mins. and free, he just asked for our signature. I don't know why anyone would risk their lives because they "think" it will be ok. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
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dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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Larry Cohen wrote:I saw a 30 something footer gasser being towed up I 65 today with the wall and roof burned away,exposing the fridge....obviously the cause for that one...pretty scarey to think about...and I had heard alot about them causing fires, now saw it for myself....
That is my #1 reason for not running the fridge on propane while driving!!! and it should be reason enough for all the "I`ve been doing it for years without an issue" crowd!
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
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