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Old 01-07-2020, 07:24 AM   #1
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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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Old 01-12-2020, 02:00 AM   #2
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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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Old 01-12-2020, 08:50 AM   #3
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2 qts? 1 gallon?
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Old 01-12-2020, 09:00 AM   #4
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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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Old 01-12-2020, 09:03 AM   #5
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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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Old 01-12-2020, 12:17 PM   #6
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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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Old 01-12-2020, 12:50 PM   #7
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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.

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Old 01-12-2020, 01:05 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoglou View Post
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.
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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Old 01-13-2020, 02:25 PM   #9
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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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Old 01-13-2020, 02:57 PM   #10
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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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Old 01-13-2020, 05:47 PM   #11
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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.

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Old 01-13-2020, 07:12 PM   #12
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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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Old 01-13-2020, 07:22 PM   #13
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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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Old 01-14-2020, 10:22 AM   #14
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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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Old 01-22-2020, 02:45 PM   #15
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lol...a "fly by" poster....
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Old 01-22-2020, 02:53 PM   #16
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lol...a "fly by" poster....
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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Old 03-17-2020, 02:59 PM   #17
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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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Old 03-17-2020, 03:37 PM   #18
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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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Old 03-17-2020, 03:48 PM   #19
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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.

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Old 03-25-2020, 09:27 PM   #20
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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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