Community Forums

Stever53 · 01-24-2021, 09:05 PM

Hi guys, if you ordered a fifth wheel did you or would you get the RV or Residential Refrigerator? We have a residential now and the new one has a RV refrigerator. We are in the process of ordering a Montana 3230ck with Legacy package and full body paint, refrigerator is a Norcold 18 cubic foot Gas & Electric but we can still change to the residential. We have no experience with the RV refrigerator, we have friends with them with some problems but nothing major. Just not sure about it. We’re Kinda spoiled with the residential and we don’t boondock and have a generator know and only have 22 hours on it in 5 years, we’re not getting a generator on the new one. Would like to hear from you about this dilemma.
Thanks Steve

Safe travels

Just For Fun · 01-24-2021, 09:32 PM

RESIDENTIAL!!! Definitely residential!!!

bertschb · 01-24-2021, 09:35 PM

If you like soft ice cream, no ice maker, uneven temps, leaking seals and defrosting your freezer- get the RV fridge!

Residential only for me. I'd rather add a huge solar/battery system for boondocking with a residential fridge than dealing with the hassles of an RV fridge.

D Gardiner · 01-24-2021, 09:43 PM

Considering you do not boondock, I'd go with the residential refrigerator.

With that said, we boondock a lot and have had virtually no trouble with our 24 year old RV absorption refridgerator.

Newmar2856 · 01-24-2021, 10:41 PM

Residential for sure. I had a 18 CF Norcold in my last 5’er and it was a problem from the get go. I’ll never have another RV refrigerator again. During our search for a motorhome we wouldn’t even consider the rig if it didn’t have a residential refrigerator installed.

C.B. · 01-25-2021, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just For Fun

RESIDENTIAL!!! Definitely residential!!!

C.B.

ArtJoyce · 01-25-2021, 10:55 AM

You can get an ice maker with an rv fridge. It only work when pluged into AC.

The big diffrence is:
Rv fridge runs on either propane or AC. So when dry camping you dont need to run a generator.

Residental only runs on AC. But cools down quicker and does much better in high temps. But boondocking does not work well with out AC.

We like the RV fridge because we dont need to run the generator to keep the ice crhocking, or food cold for an over night or long stay boon bocking.

Rumline · 01-25-2021, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertschb

If you like soft ice cream, no ice maker, uneven temps, leaking seals and defrosting your freezer- get the RV fridge!

Residential only for me. I'd rather add a huge solar/battery system for boondocking with a residential fridge than dealing with the hassles of an RV fridge.

+1 on all of this. We've had both. Vastly prefer the residential even with the power draw(backs), and we do boondock extensively.

dons2346 · 01-25-2021, 11:10 AM

Residential all the way. We boondock quite regularly and have no problem. A misconception is that you need power 24/7 for a residential which you don't. I have gone over 24 hours without power because of a bad transfer switch and everything was stil frozen and the refer side was still within food safety limits

Old Scout · 01-25-2021, 11:11 AM

...modern solar panel and battery systems handle resid-fridges quite well....you may need a genset for cloudy days but that's not much of a hardship--all things considered.

Freqz · 01-25-2021, 11:15 AM

Residential. Even if boondocked frequently I’d get a residential.

Power usage is well within modest solar system range. A DC compressor fridge would be even better but I don’t think anyone offers that from the factory.

Billett Bee · 01-25-2021, 12:53 PM

We don't boon dock either, only time gas runs on the fridge is during travel. Next rig will have the 21 cft residential. Just make sure you have a descent inverter. I'm going with a magnum 2000w pure sine

paul65k · 01-25-2021, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtJoyce

Residental only runs on AC. But cools down quicker and does much better in high temps. But boondocking does not work well without AC.

We like the RV fridge because we don't need to run the generator to keep the ice crhocking, or food cold for an overnight or long stay boon bocking.

So we boondock almost 100% of the time and our residential refer is not an issue running from the inverter and batteries. Either an hour or 2 a day on the generator or add a couple of solar panels and never worry about it!

xc-mark · 01-25-2021, 05:52 PM

Residential , 1000watt Inverter and auto transfer switch, two big Trojan 105 battery and 12 volt charge from the truck. no problem going on 12hr drives. A small 1000+ watt generator for overnights without power. Nothing beats frozen ice-cream! even temps in the frig.