Electric Fridges? Really?

woozy · 10-09-2013, 01:42 PM

I'm shying away from buying a 6000lb TT and looking at lighter FR trailers. The smaller ones I've seen so far have crappy ELECTRIC refrigerators!!

The salesperson I talked to was clueless. Is there a gas hookup behind the fridges on FR Lites and X Lites?

Twisty · 10-09-2013, 02:15 PM

Must be specific models - which ones?
or misunderstandings?
I see gas/electric fridges on quick search.

woozy · 10-09-2013, 02:31 PM

I'm looking at FR Wildwood Lites and X Lites...FS195BH, FS185RB.

I thought they looked like Danby "dorm fridges", so I called the dealer. He said, yes, they are all electric.

Boy, I hope I am wrong.

Bryan2503S · 10-09-2013, 02:45 PM

The way i read the brochure, an electric fridge like in your picture is standard but they have an option called "RV Refer IPO Electric Refer" Not sure if the "RV Refer" is gas but would assume so.

**ependydad** · 10-09-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan2503S

The way i read the brochure, an electric fridge like in your picture is standard but they have an option called "RV Refer IPO Electric Refer" Not sure if the "RV Refer" is gas but would assume so.

Sounds like they're trying to save money where possible. Truth be told, I have lots of friends who only camp with hookups. Heck, it's all I do. The RV fridge on my camper is nice so that I can get the fridge cold before we leave when the camper is sitting out front on the road. But that's the only real reason that I need one.

woozy · 10-09-2013, 02:55 PM

I'm not ordering, I'm buying from stock.

I was hoping someone would know if a gas line is installed back there.

woozy · 10-09-2013, 02:57 PM

I definitely want to dry camp.

KMP44 · 10-09-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woozy

I'm looking at FR Wildwood Lites and X Lites...FS195BH, FS185RB.

I thought they looked like Danby "dorm fridges", so I called the dealer. He said, yes, they are all electric.

Boy, I hope I am wrong.

I have never seen that in a camper before - at least not from the factory that way. But, the way they list it in the brochure sure sounds like that's what it is. If it was 2-way or 3-way, it should say that like all the other FR brands. If that is in fact ithe case - it only runs on AC, that sure seems like a boneheaded move on their part.

Any dealers near you have one that you can look at to find out for sure?

woozy · 10-09-2013, 03:37 PM

The fridge in the photo is definitely electric, and all of the Lites and XLites I looked at on multiple dealer sites have that fridge.

The salespeople are telling people "to just get another battery". Liar, liar, pants on fire.

This is truly boneheaded, and stuff like this is why people camp twice and sell the trailer on Craigslist.

Twisty · 10-09-2013, 04:17 PM

"This is truly boneheaded"
It sure is.

woozy · 10-09-2013, 04:27 PM

I sooo glad I noticed, if I'd driven one of those off the lot I would have freaked when I noticed. I have solar at home, and some experience with alternate fuels, so I noticed that the pic looked wrong. I feel bad for the suckers who buy these. I think it's really mean to do this to folks, and VERY shortsighted of Forest River.

Back to square one of trailer shopping.

**ependydad** · 10-09-2013, 08:18 PM

I guess I'm missing it with the angst and anger and short-sightedness comments. Motorhomes and some larger campers are coming with full sized residential fridges that are 120v only. With the proper battery and inverter setup, they're fairing just fine.

In this case, it's a smaller fridge and again- depending on your usage of the camper, a 120v only fridge may be sufficient. If you can plug it in at home to get it cold, it'll stay cold for the duration of most drives to campgrounds.

As for back to square one of trailer shopping- why not look for campers that have upgraded to the option of a 2-way fridge if that's important to you? It sounds like this brand has them, just the ones that you've seen weren't ordered that way.

jlgail4309 · 10-09-2013, 08:26 PM

My first RV and got a Electric fridge and it a pain in the !!!! I was worried about it before I bought the trailer. It runs the battery down so fast. I'm planning a 2 battery and a bigger converter to try and help. Maybe a bigger HIGH OUTPUT ALTERNATOR to help with the power drain.

BarryD0706 · 10-09-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgail4309

My first RV and got a Electric fridge and it a pain in the !!!! I was worried about it before I bought the trailer. It runs the battery down so fast. I'm planning a 2 battery and a bigger converter to try and help. Maybe a bigger HIGH OUTPUT ALTERNATOR to help with the power drain.

If you bought this expecting to boondock much, you made a mistake. It will be great if you plan to be at campgrounds with power outlets most of the time.

woozy · 10-10-2013, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

I guess I'm missing it with the angst and anger and short-sightedness comments. Motorhomes and some larger campers are coming with full sized residential fridges that are 120v only. With the proper battery and inverter setup, they're fairing just fine.

In this case, it's a smaller fridge and again- depending on your usage of the camper, a 120v only fridge may be sufficient. If you can plug it in at home to get it cold, it'll stay cold for the duration of most drives to campgrounds.

As for back to square one of trailer shopping- why not look for campers that have upgraded to the option of a 2-way fridge if that's important to you? It sounds like this brand has them, just the ones that you've seen weren't ordered that way.

The assumption that a "camper" fridge only has to stay cold until you find another plug is actually kind of funny.

As for your first paragraph: All a battery does is store the power that comes from somewhere else. An inverter turns the power upside down so you don't have line loss. Even the most sophisticated inverter creates no power of its own. The power has to come from someplace, it has to be generated. The notion that you can run a residential fridge (or air conditioning) by improving your inverter or batteries is inaccurate.

All of the small, lightweight, trailers that I shopped on the net within 200 miles of me had electric-only fridges.

youroo · 10-10-2013, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

I guess I'm missing it with the angst and anger and short-sightedness comments. Motorhomes and some larger campers are coming with full sized residential fridges that are 120v only. With the proper battery and inverter setup, they're fairing just fine.

In this case, it's a smaller fridge and again- depending on your usage of the camper, a 120v only fridge may be sufficient. If you can plug it in at home to get it cold, it'll stay cold for the duration of most drives to campgrounds.

As for back to square one of trailer shopping- why not look for campers that have upgraded to the option of a 2-way fridge if that's important to you? It sounds like this brand has them, just the ones that you've seen weren't ordered that way.

I talked to a (Top of the line,5er owner) who had a RES/120 only Refer. He had (2) BIG batt. and the Inverter. He said if it were not for his Big gen option he would (NOT) be Happy with the (120)only Refer. He also said he could only run (1) A/C at a time,even with the (Big) optional Gen. He said he needed a (Bigger) optional Gen.

Youroo!!

**KyDan** · 10-10-2013, 07:06 AM

Telling a prospective customer that a 120v fridge is fine if you get an
extra battery is SO BAD!!

Why they are selling these is simple--
RV fridge with 2 way power cost $750 to $1000 plus expense of added vents
and gas line. This is small 4 or 5 cu ft for small trailer...
Small dorm type compressor fridge cost ~ $160 or less plus much simpler
installation.

They just lowered the sticker price of the trailer by nearly $1000 by putting
in a cheap AC fridge.

Some folks always have AC when camping. We like camping off the grid
or at least having that option.
In fact we're camping off the grid 2 days in a couple weeks. I'll watch
a little TV using my cigarette socket inverter and "dazzle" them with my
new 12v LED light strip and drink a cold one

out of my LP gas
powered fridge.

BarryD0706 · 10-10-2013, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woozy

...
As for your first paragraph: All a battery does is store the power that comes from somewhere else. An inverter turns the power upside down so you don't have line loss. Even the most sophisticated inverter creates no power of its own. The power has to come from someplace, it has to be generated. The notion that you can run a residential fridge (or air conditioning) by improving your inverter or batteries is inaccurate.

Uh, excuse me sir, but your conclusion is incorrect.

Yes, a battery stores energy (how much is determined by the size). Multiple batteries store more energy.

An inverter does not "turn the power upside down". I agree that there can be less line loss at 120v than at 12v, but that's not the goal. The goal is to power a device that was designed for 120v.

I absolutely guarantee that you can run your AC by improving your batteries and inverter to the necessary level. A residential fridge takes a lot lower "necessary level" and that upgrade is commonly done.

**ependydad** · 10-10-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woozy

The assumption that a "camper" fridge only has to stay cold until you find another plug is actually kind of funny.

You're missing my point. My point is, for some campers- the assumption is perfectly fine. I don't know your camping style and it may very well not be a good option for you. But, to call it all hogwash and stupid is a gross generalization that is just silly and inaccurate. As I said before, for my style of camping, I likely could get by with a residential fridge setup if I had better parking accommodations at home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by woozy

All of the small, lightweight, trailers that I shopped on the net within 200 miles of me had electric-only fridges.

Then plan on ordering a trailer customized to how you want it. It'll be an extra grand for the options (based off of Dan's math), but you'll still get the floorplan and layout of this camper with the fridge that you demand.

Again, I don't get the "back to square one" comment.

**ependydad** · 10-10-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Uh, excuse me sir, but your conclusion is incorrect.

Yes, a battery stores energy (how much is determined by the size). Multiple batteries store more energy.

An inverter does not "turn the power upside down". I agree that there can be less line loss at 120v than at 12v, but that's not the goal. The goal is to power a device that was designed for 120v.

I absolutely guarantee that you can run your AC by improving your batteries and inverter to the necessary level. A residential fridge takes a lot lower "necessary level" and that upgrade is commonly done.

Thanks, Barry. I know very little about electricity, but I do know that to plug in a 120v device, you need an inverter. An inverter gets its power from battery/ies. 2 batteries give you more stored power than 1.

I don't see where my general statement was incorrect.

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