Rockwood Hi Wall a frame a122s solar

[Toga69]

Hi there. I was just wondering if anyone else is having problems with the solar for the electric only refrigerator. I can't seem to charge my battery for the refrigerator to run all night. I'm concerned about it because what if I don't have any sun to charge it enough to run it.
I feel that this is a flaw in the recent models and I was wondering if anyone else has this problem solved without having to hook up to 30 amp shore power or get a new generator. I know that generators can be used but I'm not sure if I want to buy one and run it all the time. This is frustrating and I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to go dry camping and still have my refrigerator work.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Toga69

Hi there. I was just wondering if anyone else is having problems with the solar for the electric only refrigerator. I can't seem to charge my battery for the refrigerator to run all night. I'm concerned about it because what if I don't have any sun to charge it enough to run it.
I feel that this is a flaw in the recent models and I was wondering if anyone else has this problem solved without having to hook up to 30 amp shore power or get a new generator. I know that generators can be used but I'm not sure if I want to buy one and run it all the time. This is frustrating and I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to go dry camping and still have my refrigerator work.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Yes, it is a flaw, or maybe the manufacturers misunderstand the marketplace and assume all their customers camp at powered sites.

If you want to boondock, there are three things you can do:
Solar power: Since you have an A-frame, you will probably want to get portable panels which can be placed in sunlight, even if you are under trees, and moved during the day to keep them optimally oriented to receive the sun's rays. Not a perfect solution for cloudy days, and you will never have enough to run an air conditioner.
More battery storage: The hierarchy goes something like: one marine battery-->two marine batteries-->two golf cart batteries-->one LiFePO4 battery-->two LiFePO4 batteries, in order of increasing dollars. You can calculate how much battery capacity you need for the number of sunny days or cloudy days you want to camp.
Generator: Immune to cloudy days

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Toga69

Hi there. I was just wondering if anyone else is having problems with the solar for the electric only refrigerator. I can't seem to charge my battery for the refrigerator to run all night. I'm concerned about it because what if I don't have any sun to charge it enough to run it.
I feel that this is a flaw in the recent models and I was wondering if anyone else has this problem solved without having to hook up to 30 amp shore power or get a new generator. I know that generators can be used but I'm not sure if I want to buy one and run it all the time. This is frustrating and I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to go dry camping and still have my refrigerator work.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Since you didn't provide any make and model number of the fridge, I can only assume that it's a 12v ONLY fridge. Saying "electric" doesn't clarify if it's a 12v only fridge or a 110v AC fridge or a 3-way fridge.
Also you didn't provide what year your A-frame is. This is important since 12v only fridges only showed up in RVs, over the past 2 or 3 years.
Older A-frames had 3-way fridges. So they could run on propane, 12v DC and 110v AC power.

[Brandoni]

Welcome to the forum . . . Hoping this isn't a challenge that stops you from enjoying your RV.

Getting more batteries into your RV is one solution . . . You'll have more saved power while camping.

The new 'Portable Power Stations' have a large electrical capacity. Looking at an advertisement here that has 300 Wh. Other sizes are available as well.

The upside to a portable unit like this will be there are also useful elsewhere.
You'll need to figure the best solution for how you camp and use your equipment.

Cheers and Happy trails!!

[MGD1961]

We found the solar braking point for our 12 only fridge was about 250watts and parking in the sun. Tongue pointed south if possible . Combined with 250 aH of agm battery. We have about 350wats of solar but for the fridge only figure about 250. We have enough left over for other 12 volt loads. If just the fridge is on we have gone for 3 cloudy days before state of charge got below 50%. Then we started the gen for a couple hours. I highly recommend a good battery monitor so you don’t rely on voltage to know your state of charge.

With this setup we are largely autonomous from any other power source indefinitely. We use no A/c loads at all and set the fridge on its next to lowest setting. I have also vented the enclosure of the fridge to make it more efficient. We found that the pantry next to the fridge was about 110 degrees on a 75 degree day. The heat from the fridge had nowhere to go. By venting the enclosure lowered fridge run time by 25%.

I’m sure someone with a pocket protector and a slide rule will tell us how this just isn’t possible or the best information but I will stand by my experience. For what it’s worth.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Brandoni

Welcome to the forum . . . Hoping this isn't a challenge that stops you from enjoying your RV.

Getting more batteries into your RV is one solution . . . You'll have more saved power while camping.

The new 'Portable Power Stations' have a large electrical capacity. Looking at an advertisement here that has 300 Wh. Other sizes are available as well.

The upside to a portable unit like this will be there are also useful elsewhere.
You'll need to figure the best solution for how you camp and use your equipment.

Cheers and Happy trails!!

The portable power stations are over-priced and redundant. If you already have a camper with a battery, why not just add another. If you have two, then get batteries of higher capacity and/or different technology. Buying one of those "toy" power stations means an extra charger you don't need and a battery taking up space instead of being permanently mounted out of the way.

[jimmoore13]

Someone else in today's digest is experiencing a similar problem in a Mini-Lite.
I wrote a short book that you might benefit from. The issues are similar, and the concepts overlap.

A 12 volt compressor fridge is a poor choice for boondocking, but you can make it work.

If you can wade through my response....and that entire thread...you may find it helpful.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ml#post2925307

[Toga69]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Since you didn't provide any make and model number of the fridge, I can only assume that it's a 12v ONLY fridge. Saying "electric" doesn't clarify if it's a 12v only fridge or a 110v AC fridge or a 3-way fridge.
Also you didn't provide what year your A-frame is. This is important since 12v only fridges only showed up in RVs, over the past 2 or 3 years.
Older A-frames had 3-way fridges. So they could run on propane, 12v DC and 110v AC power.

It's a 12v only fridge and I don't think I should have to be forced into buying a bunch of equipment and other stuff for it to work.
Shouldn't it be ready to go right out of the factory?
They should have let people know that they would have to invest in other solar panels and larger capacity batteries.
I think this is false representation of these new models that run on solar and a 12v fridge without telling their customers that they will need to upgrade everything that has to do with the solar system.
This is not right for Forest River Rockwood to do this to people who depend on the trailer to work right out of the factory.
If you can explain it then I'm ready to listen.

[PapaGlenn]

Let me start by saying I’m not a fan of the 12V only refrigerators. That being said, there are too many camping styles for any RV to come off the assembly line ready to work well in all of them. And the industry is more interested in making sales than providing info so the buyer has to figure it out on their own.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by Toga69

It's a 12v only fridge and I don't think I should have to be forced into buying a bunch of equipment and other stuff for it to work.
Shouldn't it be ready to go right out of the factory?
They should have let people know that they would have to invest in other solar panels and larger capacity batteries.
I think this is false representation of these new models that run on solar and a 12v fridge without telling their customers that they will need to upgrade everything that has to do with the solar system.
This is not right for Forest River Rockwood to do this to people who depend on the trailer to work right out of the factory.
If you can explain it then I'm ready to listen.

There are a lot of things that just aren’t fair but, that’s what we have.

You can now order many models of trailers in lots of floor plans that are set up with lithium batteries and lots of solar. But, be aware you’re going to pay dearly for it and if the quality of these options are anything like everything else the builders do it’s bound to be crap.

You could contact someone like ABC Upfiters and tell them your expectations. They will design and install a system for you or sell you the equipment and give full support to help you get it installed.

Compressor refrigerators are here to stay and in my opinion showed up way too late. They perform better. Are lighter for a given capacity. Are more environmentally friendly to manufacture. Use less energy per BTU. Cost less and are what the marine industry has used for 40 years with complete success . I ripped out the old absorption fridge in our last rig. A 1990 Fleetwood Terry. Put in a marine dual voltage compressor fridge and never looked back.

Of course this is what I have done for a living for 40 years so it’s a piece of cake to me.

Aside from the manufacturer being cheap. Most people tow to a campground and plug in. No issues right? Boondockers are the outlier not the norm. There are plenty of more expensive rigs designed for that use but, it’s not the overwhelming share of the market so if that’s what you want to do be prepared to pay up for the options.

Consider it explained.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Toga69

It's a 12v only fridge and I don't think I should have to be forced into buying a bunch of equipment and other stuff for it to work.
Shouldn't it be ready to go right out of the factory?
They should have let people know that they would have to invest in other solar panels and larger capacity batteries.
I think this is false representation of these new models that run on solar and a 12v fridge without telling their customers that they will need to upgrade everything that has to do with the solar system.
This is not right for Forest River Rockwood to do this to people who depend on the trailer to work right out of the factory.
If you can explain it then I'm ready to listen.

No problem! Here's how you contact Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Forest River, so you can explain it to him.
https://rv.campingworld.com/marcusvip

tel:866-232-8990

https://rv.campingworld.com/marcusvip#msend

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

No problem! Here's how you contact Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Forest River, so you can explain it to him.
https://rv.campingworld.com/marcusvip

tel:866-232-8990

https://rv.campingworld.com/marcusvip#msend

Marcus Lemonis is NOT the CEO of FR.
He's the CEO of Camping World.
Peter Liegel is the CEO of FR.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Toga69

I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to go dry camping and still have my refrigerator work.

Unfortunately, without spending a lot of money, I don't see a way to have the refrigerator work for more than overnight.

If your saleman sold you the trailer as 'boondock ready', he was wrong.
Forest River sells them as 'lightweight' and able to be towed by many vehicle, the ability to fold up and fit in your garage, and have tons of storage.

Your alternative would be to add store bought ice to the refrigerator (it lasts longer) or buy a 7 day cooler. Not ideal solutions.

^^^MGD1961 seems to have the best practical experience, but it does require the use of a generator.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Marcus Lemonis is NOT the CEO of FR.
He's the CEO of Camping World.
Peter Liegel is the CEO of FR.

Boy, that was absent-minded, wasn't it?

It's Liegl--only one 'e'.

Postal address listed here: https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...tml#post471526

FAX: 1-574-522-2025

I seem to have found his home and business addresses and phone numbers, too.