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01-07-2020, 07:24 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 93
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Keep ref.cool while driving?
We are newbies. We freeze a quart bottle of water and use it to help keep ref.cool while driving. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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01-12-2020, 02:00 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 131
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Can you clarify the model or your RV and fridge? Do you have propane? Does the fridge allow for both electrical and propane power?
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Mr. Brian
2020 Forest River Forester 3011 DSF
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01-12-2020, 08:50 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,859
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2 qts? 1 gallon?
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2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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01-12-2020, 09:00 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SW PA
Posts: 906
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Unless something in your coach is different the 2019 Sunseekers/Foresters have a gas absorption refer. When you are traveling, as long as your battery disconnect is on, you have LP in your tank and the vapor valve on the tank is on, the refer will switch over to LP and stay cold on it’s own.
When you connect to shore power, the refer (in auto mode) will switch to shore power to run the heating element. It will still use 12VDC power to run the control electronics.
Let us know which coach and refer you have as the controls are different on each one.
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2021 Newmar Baystar 3401
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk toad
2017.5 Forester 3051S Traded 7/2020
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01-12-2020, 09:03 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,566
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We have a 12 cubic for rv fridge.
We always load the fridge up with cold food, beverages, and two gallons of frozen water from home. One in the freezer and one in the fridge with a circulation fan.
Rv fridges historically are slow to cool.
Then the next day the DW has drinking water from home and the fridge is at temperature. Easy.
I thought everyone used this trick.
Not as effective when the temp outside is above 90. Pre cooling the fridge is a good plan.
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01-12-2020, 12:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,120
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chill'en
We chill it down three day prior on shore power set on auto, load it the day before, turn on the gas at launch. IWe use an external temp guage (aucrite 00986), nice for monitering not to freeze the eggs.
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Hoglou the DH & BK the DW (retired and happy)
WestGA KM4HQQ 146.640mhz
L'IL Foot" 2014 Sunseeker 2300
"Harry" the JK toad in the mirror
Check out the "mods" in the albums
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01-12-2020, 12:50 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 4,510
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All "RV" refrigerators are designed to run on the road. Trailers, motor homes, slide-ins. Use that feature.
On my current trailer it's as easy as leaving the refrig in the Auto setting. On a popup years ago I had to run it on 12vDC on the road because the propane would not stay lit.
-- Chuck
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2006 Roo 23SS behind a 2017 Ford Expedition
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01-12-2020, 01:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Family room couch
Posts: 4,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoglou
We chill it down three day prior on shore power set on auto, load it the day before, turn on the gas at launch. IWe use an external temp guage (aucrite 00986), nice for monitering not to freeze the eggs.
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I use the same temp gauge in a Norcold 1210. I swapped the sensors so the freezer display is the top one, like the fridge.
Be forewarned that you probably will see temperature swings like you've never seen in a residential fridge, though, and it's just how these things work. You'll learn to live with it.
I see the freezer go from 5 to 23 and the fridge will often go into the mid-40's and sometimes upper 40's. When the automatic defrost cycle kicks in, the fridge has to go to 42 before it starts cooling again. Since the freezer has to cool back down before the fridge starts to re-cool, the fridge stays warm for a while after the defrost cycle ends.
Mine is in a slide and I see the fridge temp go to the 40's while driving. It cools down at rest stops.
FWIW,
Ray
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2020 Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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01-13-2020, 02:25 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Posts: 244
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Our 2019 3010DS fridge runs fine on propane while underway, and never have a problem staying cold. The frozen ice water bottles would be a good idea if you have anything perishable that you were worried about, and put the bottle next to it.
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2019 Sunseeker 3010DS
160w/9A roof top SOLAR
Playmaker DISH w/ Wally
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01-13-2020, 02:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 878
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Freezing water in in a jug will help the fridge but as others have pointed out, the fridge will stay cool while on the road if you have a propane/electric or even most RV's with residential fridges have an inverter that will use your batteries to keep it cold for 24 hours or more depending on the size of your battery bank.
That said, some tips that will help are precool the fridge prior to the trip. most importantly, if possible, load the fridge a day or two in advance so all the food gets cold or frozen PRIOR to disconnecting from shore power. Buying food on the road on the way to the campsite adds warm food that needs to be cooled to an already cold fridge will make the temps rise significantly until it cools that food.
If you don't store your RV where you can pre-cool it and pre-load it, put your food in a cooler until you get where your going and get the fridge down to temp, then introduce it to the fridge. Did this for years with a popup camper as I didn't want to crack it open and then closed again at home.
Good luck and happy camping!
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2020 Chevrolet 2500 LTZ, 2019 Forest River Wolfpack 23Pack15, 2014 EZGO Golf Cart.
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01-13-2020, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 4,510
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My priority list when looking for a popup trailer put "top down refrigerator access" very near the top. Created an extremely short list. I wasn't about to spend several thousand dollars on a camper and be stuck using coolers. Kids love to crawl in and put stuff away or get cold drinks out at stops.
RV refrigerators will typically maintain cold well if you put cold stuff in them. Takes forever if hot food is put inside. An internal fan is vital as is running on LP for maximum cold.
-- Chuck
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2006 Roo 23SS behind a 2017 Ford Expedition
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01-13-2020, 07:12 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 45
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Put mine on "auto" and when there is no electricity, it switches itself to propane to keep fridge cool while traveling. I have done this for last 12 years with previous models too. Always kept cool when traveling.
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01-13-2020, 07:22 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: North Port Florida
Posts: 2,050
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our frig stays in auto and stays cold ... looks like some units are different?? was clearly explained at our PDI .... Our 4 cubic outside kitchen frig is not gas/electric but only drinks inside and cold when we leave for trip and still cool when we arrive ...
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Frank & Cindy--- (SOB) 5th Wheel ---2019 Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7 SRW 4x4 8' bed--- Payload 4394------Remi & Sage camping pups---TST 507 TPMS ... B&W Patriot 18K---3.73 axle ... Predator 3500---2019 48 days ---2020 28 days Camping
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01-14-2020, 10:22 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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The last time this OP logged in was 01-08-2020 04:17 PM. I'm not sure I'd spend more time giving suggestions until the OP returns and answers your questions.
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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01-22-2020, 02:45 PM
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#15
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,878
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lol...a "fly by" poster....
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01-22-2020, 02:53 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens
lol...a "fly by" poster....
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The site team plucked post #1 in this thread from an unrelated thread (some call that post 'high hacking') and used it to initiate this thread. A PM to that effect was sent to the poster. And then ......................
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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03-17-2020, 02:59 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 93
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Yes, the ref. works either propane or elect. but we choose to not to use propane when traveling.
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03-17-2020, 03:37 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 9,097
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If you keep the refrigerator closed, it should keep the food cold for around 8 hours.
A tip that I picked up from someone here is to freeze that bottle of water on its side and turn it frozen side up when you use it. Then if the water unfreezes, you'll see no ice on the top when you open the fridge.
A quart bottle should do. The more cold food you have in the fridge will help keep everything colder.
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2015 Dynamax REV 24TB class C
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03-17-2020, 03:48 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 4,510
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You can "choose" to not run the air conditioner in the truck on 100°F days too. It's your choice: If you want a warm refrigerator -- think warm beer! -- (or hot tow vehicle) stick with those choices.
-- Chuck
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2006 Roo 23SS behind a 2017 Ford Expedition
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03-25-2020, 09:27 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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Turn fridge on a day or two before you need it.
The more you pack in it, the less efficient it will cool. It must have room for air to circulate.
Set to AUTO. When you unplug it, it will switch to propane and continue to cool while you drive. (make sure propane bottle is opened and has lp.)
When you plug in again it will automatically go back to 120 volt power.
It's not like a home fridge. Every time you open it, it can take more than an hour to cool back down to idea temp. A thermometer with remote transmitter can help you monitor inside temps.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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