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Old 03-17-2017, 10:38 AM   #1
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Residential refrigerator

We are looking to buy a new 5th wheel and would like to get a gas/electric refrigerator as we like to boondock occasionally. But it seems they are phasing out gas/electric refrigerators. Can you boondock with an residential refrigerator without running your generator for long periods of time?
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Old 03-17-2017, 10:49 AM   #2
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Unless you have "Several Big Batteries" or a Huge Solar system the answer is No! Youroo!!
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Old 03-17-2017, 10:51 AM   #3
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Thanks!
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Old 03-17-2017, 10:54 AM   #4
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Unless you have "Several Big Batteries" or a Huge Solar system the answer is No! Youroo!!
I'll second that!
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Old 03-17-2017, 11:58 AM   #5
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But when you are not Boondocking they are soooooo great.
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Old 03-17-2017, 12:46 PM   #6
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Biggest advantage is they stay so much cooler than a gas/electric. Moved to residential and never looked back.
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Old 03-17-2017, 12:52 PM   #7
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Biggest advantage is they stay so much cooler than a gas/electric. Moved to residential and never looked back.
Next best thing is it is one less fire hazard in the coach!
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Old 03-17-2017, 01:13 PM   #8
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I would love to replace our Dometic with a residential fridge!! We never boondock . Our coach is pretty new though so hubby won't let me .
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Old 03-17-2017, 01:23 PM   #9
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Residential refrigerators rock!
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Old 03-17-2017, 01:49 PM   #10
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Residential refrigerators rock!
I agree, as long as you have electric.

No sun, no generator, no hook-ups.... no refrigerator.

They may be few... but there are times when nothing but a propane refrigerator will keep your stuff cold.
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Old 03-17-2017, 03:08 PM   #11
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I agree, as long as you have electric.

No sun, no generator, no hook-ups.... no refrigerator.

They may be few... but there are times when nothing but a propane refrigerator will keep your stuff cold.
My DW won't boondock, she needs her hair dryer and A/C.
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Old 03-17-2017, 06:01 PM   #12
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My DW won't boondock, she needs her hair dryer and A/C.
Roger that!
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Old 03-17-2017, 06:05 PM   #13
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No one has mentioned Solar or running a generator to recharge the batteries. Would not be impossible, but would prob require a generator.

Must people boon docking would have one of those anyways.
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Old 03-17-2017, 07:04 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Janice48 View Post
We are looking to buy a new 5th wheel and would like to get a gas/electric refrigerator as we like to boondock occasionally. But it seems they are phasing out gas/electric refrigerators. Can you boondock with an residential refrigerator without running your generator for long periods of time?


I have a residential refrigerator and I have four six volt Trojans T-105. I tried them out last year and they would run the refrigerator for four days. Now that's with all that was running was the refrigerator. I have all led lights. I dry camped last year and it wasn't all that bad. I run the hot water heater on gas, cook on gas or outside. My refrigerator gets ice cream colder that the one does at my home plus with a residential refrigerator I have a ice maker. You don't have to worry about camper being level. I have two Honda's but I only use both if I need a/c, just running one a few hours a day will keep my batteries charged up enough. How many batteries came with your camper?
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Old 03-18-2017, 03:37 AM   #15
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No one has mentioned Solar or running a generator to recharge the batteries. Would not be impossible, but would prob require a generator.

Must people boon docking would have one of those anyways.
Read Post # 2! Youroo!!
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Old 03-19-2017, 09:44 PM   #16
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I would go with Residential for sure. I figure you can always keep your batteries conditioned with a small portable solar set-up and a small inverter generator like a Honda 2000 watt inverter generator.
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Old 03-19-2017, 09:57 PM   #17
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I'll be the dissenter in this thread. I boondock all the time, usually in the woods or off road and I'll take a 3 way fridge over a compressor unit anytime.

If it's set up properly (level in 2 axis) and the evaporator has adequate air flow across it (I run 2 computer fans sucking air across mine and exhausting) it, an evaporator fridge is perfectly acceptable. Mine does rock hard ice cream in the middle of the summer, keeps ice, ice and the fridge compartment will stay wherever I set it plus it's a heck of a lot less energy dependent.

Far as a fire hazard, I believe that was related to older model Norcold's, not Dometic.
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Old 03-19-2017, 10:05 PM   #18
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I'll be the dissenter in this thread. I boondock all the time, usually in the woods or off road and I'll take a 3 way fridge over a compressor unit anytime.



If it's set up properly (level in 2 axis) and the evaporator has adequate air flow across it (I run 2 computer fans sucking air across mine and exhausting) it, an evaporator fridge is perfectly acceptable. Mine does rock hard ice cream in the middle of the summer, keeps ice, ice and the fridge compartment will stay wherever I set it plus it's a heck of a lot less energy dependent.



Far as a fire hazard, I believe that was related to older model Norcold's, not Dometic.


I really need to investigate your fan upgrade. My fridge is less than exciting and I think it is because of stagnant air (across evaporator, not inside fridge). My fridge in in a slide-out and the exhaust is on the side and not the top (as is the intake).

I have been wanting to install fans, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
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Old 03-19-2017, 10:27 PM   #19
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I really need to investigate your fan upgrade. My fridge is less than exciting and I think it is because of stagnant air (across evaporator, not inside fridge). My fridge in in a slide-out and the exhaust is on the side and not the top (as is the intake).

I have been wanting to install fans, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
That is exactly your issue. No chimney effect. Back in the day, evaporator fridges were installed with the air intake at the bottom and the exhaust vent on the roof, creating a natural draft to pull heat out.

When the manufacturers started sticking them in slide outs, in popup tent campers and the like, the roof vent wasn't doable, so they added a vertical vent up high. Thats no good because the heat from the boiler (the tiny propane flame that is heating your amonia and the heat from the high mounted evaporator is collecting at the top of the fridge cavity with no place to go so your fridge cannot operate efficiently because the evaporator requires a constant flow of air across it to produce the refrigeration cycle.

The answer is one or two computer 12 volt muffin fans mounted where they will suck the air across the evaporator and exhaust it out the upper vent.

Works like a charm. You'd think the RV manufacturers would have the smarts enough to do that from the factory but I guess I'm giving the too much credit.

Anyway it's a cheap and easy fix. The fans are available on Flea Bay for less than 15 bucks each (Amazon too). some scrap sheet metal for a fan mount and pick up a 12 volt hot wire and a switch and you are in business.

My Dometic 3 way fridge works as well as the one here at home and uses a lot less power.
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Old 03-19-2017, 10:47 PM   #20
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I have a residential refrigerator and I have four six volt Trojans T-105. I tried them out last year and they would run the refrigerator for four days. Now that's with all that was running was the refrigerator. I have all led lights. I dry camped last year and it wasn't all that bad. I run the hot water heater on gas, cook on gas or outside. My refrigerator gets ice cream colder that the one does at my home plus with a residential refrigerator I have a ice maker. You don't have to worry about camper being level. I have two Honda's but I only use both if I need a/c, just running one a few hours a day will keep my batteries charged up enough. How many batteries came with your camper?
Thanks! We haven't bought our new trailer yet. Looking at the 38flx. Thanks for your help!
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