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11-12-2019, 12:24 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Traveling
Posts: 26
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Never use my refrigerator
I've been fulltiming in my Wolf Pup TT since April of this year. During that time, I have never turned on the refrigerator, preferring instead to use it to store dry goods. I have read many things about refrigerators that make using mine just not worth it... having to keep it level, draining batteries and propane while boondocking, and even random fires.
That having been said, is there any reason why I should ever turn it on? A friend of mine suggested it might be a good idea, but he didn't really have a reason why. Another friend suggested it's not good for the refrigerator. I don't see anything wrong with using it as a cupboard, and welcome your comments.
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11-12-2019, 12:32 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 700
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It's a sealed system with no moving parts. And a good way to keep food sealed from air and critters. Should you ever plan to use it, you may want to test run on propane first.
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11-12-2019, 01:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 9,097
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Talegi
That having been said, is there any reason why I should ever turn it on? .
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Not really. Makes a great cupboard to store any food that might attract 'critters.' Keeps the odor from open packages from attracting flies.
There might be an argument for testing it occasionally, but since you're never going to use it... why bother.
__________________
2015 Dynamax REV 24TB class C
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11-12-2019, 01:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
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If you plan on keeping your RV indefinitely, and don't want to use your fridge due to fears of improbable worst case scenarios, then use it as a storage.
You paid for it, use it as you see fit!
But realize if you sell it and the fridge doesn't work due to damage or non-usage from using it as storage, then it's going to cost you. Or it might work fine and you have no worries.
Just like life, you make decisions and deal with the outcome.
As far as the 'problems' you mentioned, 2way fridges use very little propane and battery, are very dependable, and rarely catch fire. If you can walk in your RV without falling over, then it's level enough for the fridge. They are successfully used in thousands of RVs.
But again, it's your RV, use or don't use it as you want. I have no idea why it matters what the rest of us think.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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11-12-2019, 06:33 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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B.I.L. has a 2006 Jayco that the Stove, Oven, Shower, Microwave...have never been used. His wife is under the belief that using them will lower the resale value. 13 year old TT...
If using it for a pantry and not a frig works for you....then just keep on doing what you're doing. Enjoy Life.
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11-12-2019, 06:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,566
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Any electric/mechanical items like, gas flow valves, motors etc. will likely fail if not used for a few years. A/C likely a year would do it in.
Then again maybe not.
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11-12-2019, 10:44 AM
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#7
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Kasual Kamper
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fairfield County CT
Posts: 1,297
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Just curious... Do you not have a need for refrigeration? How do you keep items that need to be kept cold, cold?
__________________
Current: 2013 Flagstaff MicroLite 21DS
Past: 2000 Fleetwood Mallard 19N
TV: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SL 4x4
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11-12-2019, 01:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 1,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb
Any electric/mechanical items like, gas flow valves, motors etc. will likely fail if not used for a few years. A/C likely a year would do it in.
Then again maybe not.
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Where on earth did you come across that mis-information.
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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11-12-2019, 01:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 128
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Was thinking the very same thing about what do you do with items that need to be kept cold?
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11-12-2019, 01:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,594
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boondocking
Where on earth did you come across that mis-information.
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Believe it or not, it's the simple truth. Take one of you vehicles and leave it sit for a year without use and see what you get. Lifters collapse, valves rust, seals dry out, windings in starter/alternator corrode, rotors/drums rust, calipers freeze, tires dry rot. The list goes on.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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11-12-2019, 01:30 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
Believe it or not, it's the simple truth. Take one of you vehicles and leave it sit for a year without use and see what you get. Lifters collapse, valves rust, seals dry out, windings in starter/alternator corrode, rotors/drums rust, calipers freeze, tires dry rot. The list goes on.
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Son and I just took his 1987 BMW out for drive in September. Been sitting in his garage since 2014. Tossed in a battery, few gallons of gas, and drove around for 45 minutes. If OP doesn't want to use his frig....he doesn't have to use his frig.
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11-12-2019, 01:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 1,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
Believe it or not, it's the simple truth. Take one of you vehicles and leave it sit for a year without use and see what you get. Lifters collapse, valves rust, seals dry out, windings in starter/alternator corrode, rotors/drums rust, calipers freeze, tires dry rot. The list goes on.
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I'm glad I don't have to park my vehicles where you park yours.
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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11-12-2019, 01:36 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,670
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I can't imagine not using the fridge but I don't see any problem with not using it.
Since it is sealed there could be possible mold issues depending on what is stored and how long. If you use a fridge part of the time you don't want to leave the door closed when not using it.
__________________
Almost not an SOB
Artic Fox 3018 5th Wheel - on order
Grand Design 2800BH TT 2021
Prior TT 2017 Flagstaff 831CLBSS Classic Ultra lite - SOLD 5/21
TV 2024 F350 DRW - on order
TV 2017 F150 6.5' bed 3.5 Eco-boost Max tow 1800lbs payload
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11-12-2019, 01:45 PM
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#14
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boondocking
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Me too.
I have equipment that sits for a year (and more) without use.
When I do fire it up and use it, it works just fine.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=64
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11-12-2019, 02:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,566
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I was the maintenance guy who had to answer these types of questions.
Always will remember the young man from the building that shut down production for 18 months.
He had refused to allow the maintenance guys to come in and exercise stuff. Did not want the cost. Just sat in his office on the hill.
Well, he called security because someone stole $10,000 worth of Freon from his big chiller.
I had to explain it to him that Freon is really bad about finding a way to leak out of seals.
No, no one came in and stole his Freon. Engineering 1011, God has a sense of humor.
Letting stuff that is supposed to move sit can be hard on it.
Yep. Sometimes you get lucky. 1 year maybe. 5, not so much.
I assume you know why car defrosters now use the ac for that.
Local used car guy has a 2000 Porsche 911 for sale with 7,000 miles on it. “Original tires” even! That is the definition of a money pit.
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11-12-2019, 02:19 PM
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#16
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,888
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayArras
Just curious... Do you not have a need for refrigeration? How do you keep items that need to be kept cold, cold?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clicker1944
Was thinking the very same thing about what do you do with items that need to be kept cold?
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X3, I also want to know! Especially with fulltiming.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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11-12-2019, 02:24 PM
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#17
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb
I was the maintenance guy who had to answer these types of questions.
Always will remember the young man from the building that shut down production for 18 months.
He had refused to allow the maintenance guys to come in and exercise stuff. Did not want the cost. Just sat in his office on the hill.
Well, he called security because someone stole $10,000 worth of Freon from his big chiller.
I had to explain it to him that Freon is really bad about finding a way to leak out of seals.
No, no one came in and stole his Freon. Engineering 1011, God has a sense of humor.
Letting stuff that is supposed to move sit can be hard on it.
Yep. Sometimes you get lucky. 1 year maybe. 5, not so much.
I assume you know why car defrosters now use the ac for that.
Local used car guy has a 2000 Porsche 911 for sale with 7,000 miles on it. “Original tires” even! That is the definition of a money pit.
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I do.
It's to utilize the A/C system to get rid of moisture.
If you believe it is used for any other reason, you are wrong.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=64
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11-12-2019, 02:29 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb
.....snip.....
Well, he called security because someone stole $10,000 worth of Freon from his big chiller.
I had to explain it to him that Freon is really bad about finding a way to leak out of seals.
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The air-conditioner in an automobile or even an industrial chiller has seals on the compressor because the compressor has external motivation- gas/diesel engine or electric motor.
These seals may do a better job of sealing if they get exercise once in a while to keep them oiled. There is oil in the freon in the system.
The compressor in a roof AC in an RV is a sealed system. The motor and compressor are sealed in a steel case with no seal to need lubrication.
Not even close to the same thing..
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Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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11-12-2019, 03:25 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 158
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Refri
I am sorry but that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in all the years I have had an RV have never had a refrigerator do any of that
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11-12-2019, 05:53 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,371
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Frig
Uses almost no propane. I ran my frig. for 45 days on 1 tank. I would suggest using it occasionally, just to keep the ammonia moving to prevent crystals forming. This is the same reason you want to keep it w/in 5% level. The frigs are much better about this than they were 20 years ago. Your choice.
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