Dry Camping with residential fridge

[vjstangelo]

Looking at a 329 with residential fridge. For those with a similar setup, what battery set do you use? I suspect that the unit can be configured with 2 12V batts in parallel. Does anyone use 4 6V batts? Does the battery bay even allow such a setup?

Thanks.

[Flybob]

Can be done, but.

See here: Residential Refrigerator Power Requirements

[bend302]

The successful rigs I have seen use 6 batteries and I don't think the Georgetown has that much room. Others need to run gen or plug in to keep residential refer with enough power.

Bill

[RoadTripper]

I have the residential fridge in a 351. I am not sure how long the batteries will run it but have seen 24 hours numerous times. It helps to turn off the ice maker.

We turn the fridge on the night before a trip (via inverter). The next evening we load it up to leave.

RT

[vinmaker]

Your best bet is run a genny.

[DarrenK]

I was also concerned about the residential fridge power requirements, but I've parked overnight in rest areas with no issues. That's about the extent of my "dry camping" though...

[Bubbamace]

I would not run a residential refrigerator and try dry camping unless you enjoy the sound of your generator running. I wanted the res. Refrigerator but didn't get one because I enjoy the quiet of camping

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Bubbamace

I would not run a residential refrigerator and try dry camping unless you enjoy the sound of your generator running. I wanted the res. Refrigerator but didn't get one because I enjoy the quiet of camping

Amen! Youroo!!

[backwoodsbob]

I use a Honda super quiet 1000 watt 1500 surge I run it 4 about 3 to 4 hours and recharges the 4 coach 12 volt batteries in my 335 Georgetown . don't use ice maker and don't leave doors open be quick Bob

[vinmaker]

Q to OP.

Are you wed to a residential Fridge? Would a propane powered fridge not suit the bill?

Vin.

[DickiedooFlagman]

Originally Posted by vjstangelo

Looking at a 329 with residential fridge. For those with a similar setup, what battery set do you use? I suspect that the unit can be configured with 2 12V batts in parallel. Does anyone use 4 6V batts? Does the battery bay even allow such a setup?

Thanks.

I think you will find (6) 6v golf cart batteries are used in most factory installed residential refer setups. Check what battery configurations come in the Tiffin motorhomes (and others). If you have the space, can afford the weight, and can manage the depth of discharge to no more that 50%, you will be successful. Install a monitor to manage the depth of discharge. A Trimetric 2020 from TriMetric Battery System | Bogart Engineering will help with the monitoring. If you drain the batteries more than 50% before recharge you will reduce the batteries' service life. You can use a small generator (quieter than a onboard diesel) to keep the batteries topped up until sleep time. If you have enough roof real estate, you can install 5-600 watts of solar panels.

[bruane]

Get your self roof mounted solar panels. They work a treat when you have two batteries in line to carry you through the non light periods. No noise no pollution from a generator to spoil the camping ambiance.

[backwoodsbob]

not wed to residential fridge but go 25/35 miles in bush on logging roads for hunting have to take all food etc for 3 weeks and do not want to drive out and then go another 75 miles for propane for fridge . take everything in and don't have to leave .. we have to have furnace & hot water ..Bob

[vjstangelo]

I don't expect we will dry camp more than 2 days in a row. We like national park campgrounds so if we could get by with say 2 12V batts and fire the Genny once a day or so to charge we would probably be OK.

We expect that 95% of our camping will be non-dry camping so the residential will be quite a leap from our current 2 door Norcold.

[jeffv003]

One tip is to freeze a case of water bottles. Put a dozen of the frozen water bottles in the top shelf of the fridge and that will extend the cool temp time. Run the gen to recharge the batteries and refreeze the water bottles. And, be disciplined about keeping the door closed.


2014 GT 378 XL

[BillMFl]

I looked at the new GT coaches at the Florida RV show recently. They had 4 6v batteries in the compartment and a very tight fit. Talked to the factory rep and he said the design is for relatively short (one night) boon docking. Generator will kick in automatically for recharge when voltage gets too low. Going down the road the alternator keeps the batteries charged as does shore power or generator when parked. This system would work fine for me as I almost never boon dock and almost always stay in full service parks, but long term boon dockers will need more capacity of some type. Big DPs have much larger battery banks but not easy to do with a GT gasser.

[360true]

How can you tell if you have a model with the auto Ginny kick start? We have a 2014 378TS XL. Never tried running the fridge only on the battery pack. We have four batteries (6volt or 12????)

[DickiedooFlagman]

Look at a single battery. If it has 3 removable caps on the top, it is a 6 volt battery. If it has 6 removable caps, it is a 12v battery. 6 volt batteries will be connected in series, plus to minus, to achieve 12 volt for the RV. 12 volt batteries will be connected in parallel, plus to plus and minus to minus, to also achieve 12 volt but with greater ampere capacity. With 4 or more 6 volt batteries you will have some combination of both parallel and series. Recommend reading your manual for the generator and your charging controls for its features.

[JoanneL]

We have this unit. We had a very successful 24 hour period with 4 batteries (you HAVE to get 2 more) and we ran the generator for only 3 hours, which isn't bad. We love the frig. Can't imagine a small one anymore but I have to say the first time dry camping with 2 batteries we were ready to trade our unit in!!

[BillMFl]

Originally Posted by JoanneL

We have this unit. We had a very successful 24 hour period with 4 batteries (you HAVE to get 2 more) and we ran the generator for only 3 hours, which isn't bad. We love the frig. Can't imagine a small one anymore but I have to say the first time dry camping with 2 batteries we were ready to trade our unit in!!

So are you saying that you initially had two 12v batteries and then changed to four 6v? Forest River did this recently because the 6v batteries have more capacity. There is no way of having four 12v batteries without a significant modification to the under steps battery storage area. Even with the four 6v batteries the capacity for boon docking is limited to about 24 hours and that's only if you limit other 12v appliance usage. Running a generator for 3 out of 24 hours is a lot of run time each day. That is why folks are interested in silent operation from options like photo cells or larger banks of batteries like Diesel Pushers have. A very quiet running and fuel efficient back up generator like the Honda 1000 is probably the easiest option for long term boon docking. The sun doesn't always shine and adding more six volt batteries is not easy for the do it your self guy. My 2012 360 has a large Dometic that is very similar in size to a residential frig and works fine for me on electric or LP. I think the residential frig primary advantage is mostly not having to use LP at all. But in three seasons of use I have only topped off the LP tank once. If or when I trade, I'm hoping FR has found a way to increase battery capacity to more than 24 hours. Otherwise you are just trading fuel costs of burning LP vs burning gasoline in a generator that is noisy. In my boat (a 43' Trawler), I have a residential frig and when not plugged to shore power I try not to open the frig door during a day cruise . We use an ice chest for snacks and drinks or run the generator only if we really need to. And unfortunately a large diesel generator is very noisy.