Pride of Bilbao

[vansmudge]

With our first trip to Spain planned on 'Pride of Bilbao,' my wife has asked a question addressed to seasoned travellers:-

Our normal plan is to take a 'fully loaded' fridge, but on the long sea route we are unsure.

Is it permissible to keep the caravan fridge on 'gas' setting or should all appliances be turned off?

Thanks and best season wishes to all.

Barry

 

[marlot]

You're not allowed to run it on gas.

Apart from the explosion risk of all those gas bottles turned on (and one of them maybe leaking a bit in a largely unventilated area), there's also nowhere for the exhaust fumes to dissipate to.

You could run a coolbox from your leisure battery. A typical coolbox draws about 40-120Watts; if you look for one at the 40w end, that's just over 3Ah per hour. So a ten hour trip will draw about 30Ah - so will almost half flatten a 75Ah battery

 

[Guest]

For long ferry crossings get the fridge cold before you fill it and freeze as much of the contentents as possible before you put them in gthe fridge. Milk can be frozen in plastic bottle containers, bacon, cheese, sausages in their wrappings or even bread.

Freeze everything you can before you put it in the fridge and freeezer and by the time you've driven to the ferry port and switched off everything should stay cold for about 24 hours at least.

The more you can put in the fridge frozen the better it will stay, you may even get to you destiantion and find some contents still frozen.

Your gas bottles should always be turned off at the bottles on ferries!

 

[RayS]

Don't be tempted to chance having the gas on - the deck crew often check fridge vents for heat when walking round and you could be in bother.

 

[James_374477846]

Hi Barry, we have done this journey a few times with a full fridge and everything is fine if contents are frozen when you set off. We also freeze a few 1.5 litre bottles of water which helps to keep the fridge cold and when you get to Spain you have bottled water already.

 

[Nidge1]

Hi Barry

Did the same crossing last year.As the others have said you are not allowed to run the fridge on gas while aboard the ferry. Did not bother with stocking the fridge.You are soon within striking distance of the shops/super-markets in Spain.

Why have the worry if the fridge has defrosted or not?

Enjoy your trip

Regards

Nidge

 

[vansmudge]

We are gratful for the comments and advise.

Some good ideas - many thanks.

Barry

 

[vectisrambler]

Barry,

Agree with all of the above. Last year, at our butcher's suggestion we took fresh meat, vacuum packed with a recommendation to consume within about 3 weeks. Common sense dictated that we kept it cool but there is no requirement to freeze or chill. Steaks, chops and sausages were a great success. We did not like the smell of the chicken after a few days, so gave it a miss but overall it was something we will do again

Phil

 

[Fenester]

I am concerned about the posts that have a theme of "not getting away with it".

The issue is a fridge on gas is that it has a naked flame in the burner area and with all that fuel on the car deck coupled with a petrol leak with it's subsequent vapours meeting a naked flame is receipe for the script of a disaster movie.

 

[angela_5125767]

Hi,

You are in spain for goodness sake not a third world country, spain has great supermarkets where you can buy almost anything especially meat and it is usually cheaper.

 

[Nidge1]

I am concerned about the posts that have a theme of "not getting away with it".

The issue is a fridge on gas is that it has a naked flame in the burner area and with all that fuel on the car deck coupled with a petrol leak with it's subsequent vapours meeting a naked flame is receipe for the script of a disaster movie.

Hi,

Reading the advice given in the other posts. They all imply that having your fridge turned on is a definite no-no. Nobody is suggesting that you risk having the fridge on or "getting away with it"

Regards

Nidge

 

[Guest]

This is not to difficult to understand surely!

GAS SHOULD BE TURNED OFF AT THE BOTTLES WHEN ON FERRIES!

That being the case, you obviously cant run anything off gas!

As for filling the fridge with frozen goods.

What exactly has prices in other countries got to do with it?

Not everyone wants to go shopping on route from ferry to site and not everyone feels up to going shopping after a long ferry crossing!

When we did long crossings to Spain, we were always glad to get on the road do a good few miles and then whip out the the tasty bacon, sausages etc and have a good feed.

Do what suits you sir, if you want to travel with food just freeze what you can for your crossing and everything stays fresh.

 

[Fenester]

I am concerned about the posts that have a theme of "not getting away with it".

The issue is a fridge on gas is that it has a naked flame in the burner area and with all that fuel on the car deck coupled with a petrol leak with it's subsequent vapours meeting a naked flame is receipe for the script of a disaster movie.

One of the posts does not read as you say. It suggests that as they check the vents for warmth you could be in bother...