|
|
03-09-2015, 11:01 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: PA
Posts: 51
|
Residential refrigerator-No hookups?
It seems gas/electric refrigerators are difficult or impossible to get in new upscale fifth wheels. This is a problem since we store our fiver in a storage lot without electric. We start the refrigerator on LP the night prior to trips. Having a Electric Refrigerator only creates a new set of problems.
What are people doing to overcome this? I'm sure there are many people in the same situation.
Having to buy and install a battery pack and/or a generator can be quite expensive and adds alot of weight.
I'm open to suggestions and/or solutions.
Thanks in advance.
__________________
Russ & Dottie
2000 Ford F350 V10 1999 Kountry Star 30RKCL
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
03-10-2015, 07:29 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Full-timers - Home is where we park it.
Posts: 4,722
|
Unlike an RV refrigerator that will take up to 24 hours to cool down, a residential refrigerator will cool in about 2 hours so there's no need to start it the night before if you're going to bring the RV home to pack it for the trip anyway.
If you buy a new RV with a residential refrigerator, there will probably be either a standard or optional inverter and extra battery(ies), so you shouldn't have to install them yourself unless you want something different from what's offered by the RV manufacturer. The inverter and an extra battery will add some weight as you have noted, but IMO it's well worth it for the extra performance, room and efficiency you get from a residential refrigerator.
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 07:48 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
|
If you are buying NEW...Instruct the dealer that you want an Absorption Cooling Unit that can run on Propane or Electric,NOT a Residential Fridge that only wants 120vac...Tell him it is a deal breaker.
I am willing to bet he can order it that way.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 07:51 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,597
|
I find no negatives about a residential fridge. I find plenty of negatives about an absorption type fridge (rv fridge). Had both. Never go back.
__________________
2003 Teton Grand Freedom. 2006 Freightliner Century 120 with Detroit 14L and Ultrashift.2016 Smartcar carry on deck. Full time going from job to job. Building and maintaining plants across the USA. Sold 2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 08:11 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oswego IL
Posts: 2,393
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wa8yxm
If you are buying NEW...Instruct the dealer that you want an Absorption Cooling Unit that can run on Propane or Electric,NOT a Residential Fridge that only wants 120vac...Tell him it is a deal breaker.
I am willing to bet he can order it that way.
|
They are an option on some models such as the Cedar Creek 5er; the only issue is the cost of the smaller dual source RV refrigerator. The cost for the side by side raise wood 13 CU FT was $2,023 over the stainless steel 18 CU FT residential refrigerator as standard with inverter.
Jim W.
__________________
Jim & Jill
Sold: 2010 318SAB Cougar:New: 2016 Cedar Creek 34RL. 2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 09:29 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,636
|
If you start the Residential fridge as soon as you arrive at the storage lot, but the time you hook up, drive home, load the RV, loading the fridge last, you'll be fine. Loading the fridge freezer with already frozen foods, will help speed up the cooling of the fridge, along with all the already cooled food in the fridge section.
__________________
2012 Journey 40U (Our Incredible Journey)
2008 Dodge Dakota(TOAD) 2005 Honda Shadow in TOAD
AF-1 braking system
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 11:57 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,529
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wa8yxm
If you are buying NEW...Instruct the dealer that you want an Absorption Cooling Unit that can run on Propane or Electric,NOT a Residential Fridge that only wants 120vac...Tell him it is a deal breaker.
I am willing to bet he can order it that way.
|
Good advice. BTW, my fridge cools to 33 degrees in less than 4 hours with a small fan pointed directly at the fins. Stay with a true rv fridge.
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 12:09 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 1,076
|
I'm pretty sure you can get whatever you want in a true up-scale 5er (eye of the beholder). All it takes is money.
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 12:10 PM
|
#9
|
Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by glennwest
I find no negatives about a residential fridge. I find plenty of negatives about an absorption type fridge (rv fridge). Had both. Never go back.
|
This by far is the truest declaration on this thread.
I can list all of the negatives of an absorption fridge if you are really interested plus I can list all of the positives for our Samsung residential fridge.
I've done it so many times on previous threads that if you do a search you can read all about them.
You would have to step over my dead body if you had any intentions on removing my Samsung fridge.
I will NEVER own another RV with an absorption fridge.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 12:26 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Surprise Arizona
Posts: 1,994
|
We have been using a residential for over 11 years now and have no regrets. We are avid boondockers and spend 90% of our time doing so.
__________________
Harold & Linda
2009 CT coachworks siena 35V
W22 Workhorse 8.1L. Explorer Sport toad,
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 12:30 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
|
Maybe overkill for your needs but solar can pump a lot of amps into your battery bank. It is my understanding the residential fridge in many 5vers is hooked to an inverter an can run on the battery bank for a good amount of time. I haven't done the calculations for a fridge but you can so that easily.
I currentky gave a norcold and use the gas mode often. I know they are problem prone but so far I've had luck. Now that I've cursed myself..
__________________
2014 Jayco Eagle 298RLDS
2014 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi 4x4
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 12:49 PM
|
#12
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: PA
Posts: 51
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimcumminsw
They are an option on some models such as the Cedar Creek 5er; the only issue is the cost of the smaller dual source RV refrigerator. The cost for the side by side raise wood 13 CU FT was $2,023 over the stainless steel 18 CU FT residential refrigerator as standard with inverter.
Jim W.
|
Jim, Thanks for your reply. i am currently looking to buy a 34RL. Yes gas/electric fridge is a $2023 option. Jayco Pinnacle has no option on fridge. I might bite the bullet as I'm concerned about what happens when there are power failures in campgrounds. We have been through several. Not interested in carrying generator either.
I'd like to discuss the 34RL with you. Contact me at 34olds@aol.com
__________________
Russ & Dottie
2000 Ford F350 V10 1999 Kountry Star 30RKCL
|
|
|
03-10-2015, 10:02 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Florida Cooters Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,023
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
This by far is the truest declaration on this thread.
I can list all of the negatives of an absorption fridge if you are really interested plus I can list all of the positives for our Samsung residential fridge.
I've done it so many times on previous threads that if you do a search you can read all about them.
You would have to step over my dead body if you had any intentions on removing my Samsung fridge.
I will NEVER own another RV with an absorption fridge.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
|
DITTO!!!!!!!!!
__________________
2021 Ventana 3426
|
|
|
03-11-2015, 05:51 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Central Vermont
Posts: 1,485
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by az bound
We have been using a residential for over 11 years now and have no regrets. We are avid boondockers and spend 90% of our time doing so.
|
How about some details on how you accomplish this without hookups. Generator, solar, large battery bank?
Since I am not a big fan of generator noise, for me this sounds like a minimum of four GC2 batteries and 600-800 watts of solar.
__________________
2015 F350 XLT PSD CCSB SRW, Andersen Ultimate hitch
'12 Cougar High Country 299RKS, Mor/Ryde Pinbox
1/77 Armor Bn, 5th Mech, I Corps
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|