Strange as it may seem, the refrig operates from a heat source. When you change the front panel switch, you just change which heat source you are using. The three heaters in the refrig - 12 VDC, 120 VAC, and propane - all generate about the same amount of heat. If you feel comfortable running the refrig on one of the electric heaters when the TM is closed, you should feel just as comfortable running it on propane.
Incidentally, I would turn on the fan regardless of which heat source you are using. By removing the waste heat from the compartment behind the refrig, you make it run more efficiently - which in turn will minimize the amount of time that the heat source is actually turned on. The fan draws very little current.
Mike's suggestions about keeping the refrig door closed and freezing bottles of water or blue ice packs are good ones.
Bill
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