RT62 What you need to know about propane and driving your RV

Should you turn your RV's propane system off every time you drive? Or is it okay to keep it on as you travel down the road? In this episode, we answer the questions, brought about after an RVer got involved in an accident. Afterwards, he got to "what iffing," wondering about his propane issues. We tell the story of his accident and get some great expert help on the answer. Plus, Jennifer's Tip of the Week, a Reader question about restoring a vintage RV, apps to make traveling better, a bucket list destination of the week and a fun interview with a mystery writer whose hero travels the country in an RV. Ever thought about writing a book? You'll enjoy this interview. [spp-player] Shownotes for Episode 62 of the Roadtreking RV Podcast, released Nov. 18, 2015 JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - A retractable Clothes Line for the RV Jen's tip is a response to an email she received from a reader named Jean Boyle, who asks: "Jennifer, Did you ever get the pull out clothes line you mentioned in one of the videos? If so, what did you get and do you like it? Thank you!" [spp-timestamp time="6:01"] Well, Jean, and anyone else who may be interested…. Yes, she did get one It’s a very handy retractable 8-foot long clothesline we found on Amazon for around $16. (http://amzn.to/1WXei4z). We have it mounted in the bathroom of our Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL. It mounted inside the shower enclosure and we use it to dry towels and the like as we travel. Something else we added was a magnifying mirror we also found on Amazon for about $25 (http://amzn.to/1QswnmF) [spp-tweet tweet="Two accessories every RV bathroom should have"] Propane: On or Off while Driving? Don Bell from Texas got in a frightening accident in his RV a couple of weeks ago. We shared the story and video taken with his dash cam that caught the whole crash in a recent blog post. Lots of people wanted to know how it has gone fro Don since the accident. We can report that he is fine. His insurance is going to take care of it all and, thanks to his dash cam video, there is no doubt that he was not at fault and the ticket went to the driver of the pickup truck. This is the dash cam Don uses. But we also heard from Don after the accident. Don wanted to know what he should do about the propane on his RV while driving. [spp-timestamp time="9:12"] Asked Don: "The night before my Roadtrek was involved in a major roadway accident, I was using propane for the refrigerator, Alde water heating system and range. On the day of the accident my propane was turned off at the tank. If one or more of the propane lines had been breached amid sparks flying during the collision, how likely would it be that the residual propane would ignite? What additional pre-trip preparations should I undertake to minimize the risk, if one exists?" I reached out to some experts for their advice. First, Gary Bunzer, known as “The RV Doctor” (rvdoctor.com) and the technical expert for the Family Motorcoach Association (fmca.com) gave us a very helpful and detailed response. Gary Bunzer, the "RV Doctor" Gary says as a compressed fuel, propane is still relatively safe, even in the event of an RV collision. Obviously, if propane is leaking from a severed section of tubing and ignition sources are close by, that would present a problem. But on ASME tanks and DOT cylinders, multiple safeguards are present on every RV. With the ASME tank, more often found on motorhomes, inside the POL fitting that attaches directly to the tank service valve, is a square-looking device called an excess flow restrictor. This excess flow device protects the high pressure (tank pressure) from escaping to quickly should the regulator and/or the POL fitting be broken off. The POL fitting (courtesy RVIA) POL? I had to ask Gary about that one. And he notes that actually, the part has always been called “POL” and campfire wisdom says it stands for “Put On Left” since it’s always a left-hand threaded fitting. But it probably really stands for “Prest-O-Fit,” one of the first companies to produce gas fittings for RVs and mobile homes back when you and I were learning to tie our shoes. Prest-O-Fit used to stamp their initials into such specialty fittings and over time it became known simply as the POL fitting. Exciting stuff, this RV technical info, huh? Keep in mind, says Gary, it will not totally shut off the gas flow, but it will impede it greatly. Other safety devices include the backflow check valve (at the ASME fill valve) and a separate safety relief valve. Propane expands 24 to 1 in the atmosphere, meaning that as the gas escapes into the air, it will take 24 cubic feet of air to mix with 1 cubic foot of propane in order to support combustion. The fact that it expands so rapidly and literally combines with the air in an open atmosphere, that flammability is somewhat limited. It takes between 2.15% and 9.6% of gas in the air to even burn. That’s why a propane leak on the exterior of the RV is not as dangerous as a propane leak inside the coach. But that said, if a spark or ignition source were to be present, danger exists. Hence the importance of checking for propane leaks often (1-2 times per years), and especially if a user smells the presence of the odorant in the propane at any point. At the propane regulator, the propane pressure in the system is reduced to .4 of one PSI (as required by the RV appliances). With low pressure, the chances of flammability (outside the coach) is minimal. To properly set and test the propane pressure regulator, service technicians routinely allow propane to escape into the air since the regulator must be adjusted while gas is actually flowing. It is possible to have “pressure” without “flow.” And the regulator has to be in operation to properly adjust the pressure to 4/10 of one PSI (11.0 water column inches). Though the risk is slight, it is still possible, given the right circumstances, for a propane accident to occur. But with the service valve shut off completely while traveling, there is minimal risk at best, even with propane in the lines. Upon an accidental breach in any propane system, with the tank turned off, the rapid rate of expansion will dissipate the gas to stay outside the limits of flammability in most cases. However, it is encouraged for all RVers to turn the propane container(s) off while driving down the road. Mark Polk of RVEducation101 I also posed Don’s question to Marl Polk, who runs the website and do it yourself site known as RVEducation101. Here’s what Mark said: There has always been controversy about leaving the propane on while traveling. Lots of folks insist it needs to be on so the refrigerator can run to keep the food cold. The other side of the coin is if there is an accident where sparks or flames are present an open propane system could be disastrous. If the refrigerator is cold prior to leaving on a trip it will generally stay cold during the hours you are traveling, unless people are constantly opening the refrigerator door allowing it to lose some of the cooling. From a safety and (liability) standpoint I always recommend traveling with the propane system turned off at the cylinders or tank. You are not only safer in the event on an accident, but when refueling too if the refrigerator has an open flame in proximity to fuel vapors. Mark also recommends folks use a pre-trip checklist so nothing important is forgotten. [spp-tweet tweet="Propane: On or off while driving your RV?"] [spp-player] Restoring a Vintage RV We also had a question this week from a reader who wants to restore an old travel trailer. [spp-timestamp time="22:07"] I refer him to a blog devoted to Winnebago Restoration - https://thecolliersix.wordpress.com/category/winnebago-restoration/ Also the site Clasic Winebagos and Vintage RVs is a great resource, devoted to all makes and models of vintage motorhomes and RVs http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. All three have a great fly and drive program. They'll pick you up from the airport and will reimburse you $500 toward your airfare. Then, your RV will be fully prepared for travel, complete with full tanks of fuel and propane. [spp-tweet tweet="Resources to restore a vintage RV"] RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: Three stories for you this week, from the Yukon, Maryland and Utah- [spp-timestamp time="26:00"] RV Park owner takes aim at Walmart’s Overnight Parking - http://www.yukon-news.com/news/rv-park-owner-takes-aim-at-walmarts-overnight-parking/ Campers kill and grill a rattlesnake, then hit with fine - http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/11/12/campers-kill-grill-snake-but-get-an-unexpected-side/ Utah Man in critical condition after RV falls off Jack onto him - http://www.ksl.com/?sid=37367573&nid=148&title=man-in-serious-condition-after-rv-falls-off-jack-onto-him&s_cid=queue-3 This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde… the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV The Alde hydronic system brings many features and benefits not found with any other product. Silent Radiant Heat - providing a warm even natural heated interior. Great for pets. (And Humans) Increased Interior Space by combining two systems in one. Efficiency. The whole system draws less than 1 amp on 12V DC and will extend the life of your propane roughly 40 percent over forced air. Heating on Electric or Gas. Multiple Options and Amenities: Towel Warmers, Floor Heat, Tank Heating, 4 Season Camping, Engine Heat, Driver Comfort, Modern Programable Color Touch Screen Thermostat and Interface Minimal Side-Wall Penetration. Small combined intake and exhaust eliminate big cut outs and sidewall congestion. TRAVELING TECH TIP: Apps to stay informed on news while traveling We learned of the dreadful Nov.