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07-12-2016, 07:23 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 115
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Leave fridge on or not when storing between trips?
Another in a series of newbie questions ... what do you leave plugged in and power on when storing the coach between trips? My partner and I are having on ongoing debate as to whether to leave an empty fridge running while our new Forester MBS 2401W sits in covered storage facility between trips. Does the fact that we live in hot, humid Houston TX make a difference in the answer compared if we were in a less mildew-prone environment?
Appreciate any advice!
Kelly
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Kelly and MB
2017 Forester MBS 2401W Class C motorhome
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07-12-2016, 07:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eastlake, Ohio
Posts: 463
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If your emptying the fridge then you can keep it off. just prop open the door and put in some backing soda boxes to keep odors down. if you leave the fridge closed with nothing in it then there is possibility of mold starting. best to crack the door open to let air cycle thru it. We always have something in our fridge and leave it running as we are stationary at a campground with the electric plugged in.
To run a fridge with nothing in it doesn't make much sense to me...
Hope this helps.
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2014 Wildwood 300BH
2014 Ford Explorer XLT
2011 Ford F350 FX4
Eastlake, OH
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07-12-2016, 08:02 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo
If your emptying the fridge then you can keep it off. just prop open the door and put in some backing soda boxes to keep odors down. if you leave the fridge closed with nothing in it then there is possibility of mold starting. best to crack the door open to let air cycle thru it. We always have something in our fridge and leave it running as we are stationary at a campground with the electric plugged in.
To run a fridge with nothing in it doesn't make much sense to me...
Hope this helps.
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Agree!
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former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0
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07-12-2016, 08:06 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 108
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I agree, leave it off and prop it open, my fridge and probably yours as well has tabs that will keep it from fully closing while we are not using it. This allows it to dry out completely and reduce the probability of odors and mold.
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Shawn
Chief, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
2019 Sport Trek ST270VBH
2018 Chevy Silverado Z71
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07-12-2016, 08:09 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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And, be aware that on some models, when door is open the interior light stays on. You may want to remove the bulb if leaving the door open.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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07-12-2016, 08:18 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcheatwood
And, be aware that on some models, when door is open the interior light stays on. You may want to remove the bulb if leaving the door open.
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good point, but If you use those slide out tabs the doors should close enough to keep the light off (at least in my case it does) and still allow some airflow to keep things dry.
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Shawn
Chief, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
2019 Sport Trek ST270VBH
2018 Chevy Silverado Z71
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07-12-2016, 08:22 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcheatwood
And, be aware that on some models, when door is open the interior light stays on. You may want to remove the bulb if leaving the door open.
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I agree. I remove those bulbs anyway, because I boondock quit a bit and they just use up energy, esp. if "someone" leaves the door open 
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former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0
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07-12-2016, 09:49 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,559
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When stored we empty fridge and use those tabs to prop open. We also leave a few gallons of water and chemicals in the grey/black tanks. Have a battery disconnect on the negative side that shuts off all power to everything.
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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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07-12-2016, 11:36 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Sarasota
Posts: 590
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Definitely turn off. Let freezer defrost and wipe out water condesate. Then prop doors open with the blue clips to allow to fully dry. Otherwise you will get mold.
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07-12-2016, 11:43 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 115
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You guys are The Bomb! Thanks a bunch!
Kelly & Mary Beth
2017 Forester MBS 2401W
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Kelly and MB
2017 Forester MBS 2401W Class C motorhome
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07-12-2016, 01:03 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 236
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Not to confuse the issue, but 😁
We leave ours plugged in with the settings at the highest temps with baking soda and non-perishables in it.
Why, you ask? We did the same with our park model fridge and it is still running strong after 12 years. Virtually everyone else that turned them off when they left died after 7-10 years.
Personally, I'll deal with a little energy charge versus chancing replacing a fridge in an RV.
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07-12-2016, 01:45 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Napa Valley, CA
Posts: 513
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Important to make sure that your trailer is level if leaving on full time. Out of level can degrade the fridge's performance over time.
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2015 Rockwood A128S
2010 Rockwood 2604
2014 Ford F-250 CC SB 2WD
2008 Toyota Sequoia 2WD
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07-12-2016, 01:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
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My TT is plugged in, water on, refrig on and in use, making extra ice all the time, while it's in my driveway.
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"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard
FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
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07-12-2016, 02:20 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 64
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After having a refrigerator system rebuilt, the person at the facility cautioned us on frequent shutdowns. He said that the tubs collect condensation even though they are "potted" in Styrofoam. This gives them a perfect environment to corrode and then leak as mine had. So, if we are not going to be going out again in the next several week or are not sure, we leave the refrigerator on. Otherwise if it's going to be, say, three weeks, we shut it off. The cost of having the unit rebuilt or a new replacement unit, will cost more than the electricity your refrigerator will use in the camper's lifetime!
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07-12-2016, 03:43 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Lufkin, Texas
Posts: 114
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We leave our RV at the lake for use as a getaway when not on the road. Haven't turned off the frig in 6yrs. While leaving drinks and food items in the freezer and frig w/o a problem and no waiting for it to cool before putting more food in it for a trip. As to energy cost, couldn't be that much and well worth it because it makes the wife happy, very important.
cruisin
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07-12-2016, 03:57 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,452
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Our Lexi is parked next to our home, and when not on the road, is plugged in 24/7, 30 amp. Fridge stays on 27/7, except when stored for winter, Nov thru Feb.
Was told the same as previous member stated...constant on off on off is worse than leaving it on 24/7.
I also look at the full timers who are living in their rigs, and who have to run it 27/7 for looooong periods of time.
Grumpy
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Steve & Cheryl + Zoey, and Ziggy, our furry kids.
2012 Forrest River Lexington 283ts
Toad, 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
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07-12-2016, 04:02 PM
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#17
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,460
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With my newer Dometic frig the light only comes on when the frig is turned on. You can leave door open other wise. Later RJD
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2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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07-12-2016, 06:40 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 115
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Continuing to learn ... Thanks, all.
Kelly & Mary Beth
2017 Forester MBS 2401W
__________________
Kelly and MB
2017 Forester MBS 2401W Class C motorhome
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07-13-2016, 11:01 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Bowling Green Ohio
Posts: 84
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That's where I keep my extra beer cold. 
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2014 Rockwood 8289
2013 Toyota Tundra 
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07-13-2016, 11:43 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 2,371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo
If your emptying the fridge then you can keep it off. just prop open the door and put in some backing soda boxes to keep odors down. if you leave the fridge closed with nothing in it then there is possibility of mold starting. best to crack the door open to let air cycle thru it. We always have something in our fridge and leave it running as we are stationary at a campground with the electric plugged in.
To run a fridge with nothing in it doesn't make much sense to me...
Hope this helps.
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Yep! 
__________________
2016 Flagstaff 27VRL Emerald
14K Equalizer
2020 Silverado 2500HD CC 4X4 6.6L gas 3.73
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