raydf_1 wrote: I wonder, given all the trouble with residential fridges and the very large RV fridges now available, why would manufacturers of high-end coaches still use them? What is their intrinsic advantage over an RV fridge that justifies these worries?
Thanks!
Many folks rarely boondock so the lack of electricity is seldom an issue. While RV (ammonia) refrigerators are getting larger, most RV's with residential refrigerators use 21+ cubic foot models and that is larger than available in ammonia operated refrigerators. Some folks prefer to not carry propane on board for safety reasons. Many high end coaches have large battery banks and generators that will provide more amperage than a standard 50 amp campground circuit. In conjunction with inverter/chargers with higher amperage chargers, the battery bank can be fully recharged running the generator for a couple of hours twice a day. Additionally, compressor type refrigerators cool better than ammonia type refrigerators in hot weather.
The major issue arises when a manufacturer tries to skimp on the size of batteries/chargers/generators when installing a residential refrigerator.
Why do high-end coaches use residential refrigerators: more like home (true residential refrigerator and cooktop), one less system to maintain (no propane), larger capacity refrigerator that will cool better in very hot weather, capability to boondock for extended periods by running generator twice a day, and the additional cost of larger batteries, inverters, chargers and generators is not typically an issue.
Michael Day
Newell Coach
PT Cruiser Turbo
Native Texans
raydf_1 wrote: I wonder, given all the trouble with residential fridges and the very large RV fridges now available, why would manufacturers of high-end coaches still use them? What is their intrinsic advantage over an RV fridge that justifies these worries?
Thanks!
It's not common to hear about trouble or complaints with residential fridges. The owners love them. The alarmism in the thread is mainly from people who don't have them.
The key advantage is they have much more volume than propane fridges, but they are also 1/4 the price, so that's why they are gaining popularity on less expensive DPs. They are better and cheaper.
I understand the advantages well because I have one in my house lol(as far as space).But the cost savings does not appear to be an advantage after you see that some posters have 8 agm batteries and the cost to set up a system that runs on solar and 6 o 12 volts.Not knocking anyone just an observation.If your gonna run the genny that much what is the real advantage?The propane is silent and does work well imo.But I know the op asked if he will be ok for the weekend..so sorry to ramble a bit off topic.
Quiet Hours and Generators
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may be used
from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. From October 15
through April 14 generator hours may be extended from 7 p.m. to 9
p.m. for the purpose of generating heat. Generator use is prohibited
in sites designated as “generator-free” and in group sites.
So plan on running your generator from 8 to 10 in the morning and again from 4 to 7 in the evening.
You just need to have enough battery bank to handle the load. Others have spoken to that topic.
Wayne in San Jose
2013 Forest River Solera 24R
2008 Yamaha WR250R,2009 Honda CRF150F
2008 Polaris Sportsman X2,2008 Polaris Scrambler 500
jim87vette wrote: I understand the advantages well because I have one in my house lol(as far as space).But the cost savings does not appear to be an advantage after you see that some posters have 8 agm batteries and the cost to set up a system that runs on solar and 6 o 12 volts.Not knocking anyone just an observation.If your gonna run the genny that much what is the real advantage?The propane is silent and does work well imo.But I know the op asked if he will be ok for the weekend..so sorry to ramble a bit off topic.
Right, that's the counterpoint, and the propane/residential fridge choice is subjective.
For most people, this isn't very complicated because their rigs with electric fridges come with 6 batteries, and they rarely boondock for more than a day at a time.
For those of us who do boondock for days at a time, whether of not we have residential fridges, we tend to either get a small Honda or Chinese generator, or solar. If you go solar on a large class A like I did, you need about four batteries and four panels to supply normal power for electronics, etc, and another four of each for the fridge. The cost of solar is about $5k to run the fridge, and you save about $3k from the price of a large propane fridge. The advantage, of course, is that you don't have to run a generator, and a lot of us hate to run generators when we boondock.
We do it all the time ( boondock) from the Keys and state parks to charge the inverter battery bank it taks apprx 1 hour to charge with the gen and we use the TV
2007 Gulfstream TourMaster T40B MBE 926
2007 Honda CR-V
MC Honda VTX 1300R grey is faster
MC Shadow Aero 750 wife's
DON'T WORRY ABOUT NOTTIN - NOTTIN IS ALRIGHT
I wonder, given all the trouble with residential fridges and the very large RV fridges now available, why would manufacturers of high-end coaches still use them? What is their intrinsic advantage over an RV fridge that justifies these worries?
Thanks!
Some of the justifications such as space and conveniecne have been mentioned already, and I will gladly acknowledge that propane is better for boondocking.
The two huge advantages that I didn't see mentioned are: a propane fridge will not cool more than about 45 degrees below ambient. If you are in Arizona or Texas in the summer, better like your stuff not too cold. Second, it takes a long time for a propane fridge to cool down. My residential will be at 35 in one hour, about as long as it takes to load the kids and stuff in the coach.
I have had both. I loved the propane for dry camping. My wife loves the residential for the other reasons. I am happy when she is happy.
Richard, Rhonda, Ty, and Alex
1995 Newell with 470HP Detroit Diesel
2005 Gulfstream MB G26
Subaru Outback toad
The blog wersquared.wordpress.com
If you have two inverters don't forget to turn the non frig inverter off. And if you will be letting the frig go all night without power don't forget to turn off ALL inverters(the inverter will draw as much/more power as the frig).
We have been running our residential freezer(full of fish) for two weeks with only Generator and/or inveter power for about 1-2 hours in the morning and 1-2 hours in the evening-no probem.
No matter what system you have (solar, many batteries, inverter(s), Gennys, etc.) when dry camping the system requires YOU to know what your power usage/availability IS and how to manage it!!!
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,Grizzly 550s-in Garage,Rubicon w/4" lift,MotorMetal whls,MickeyT Baja tires-Cherokee w/4"lift in tow, Hog Valley FL(a diamond in the rough) 2010 Part2
During the summer we boondock a few times for 2-4 nights each trip and I don’t worry too much about our batteries (4 8D AGMs). Always try to get a couple hours of gen time in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. Everything in the coach, other than the 2 burner propane stove, is either 12v or 120 through the inverter and we don’t skimp on using anything other than the washer and dryer.
jim87vette wrote: I understand the advantages well because I have one in my house lol(as far as space).But the cost savings does not appear to be an advantage after you see that some posters have 8 agm batteries and the cost to set up a system that runs on solar and 6 o 12 volts.Not knocking anyone just an observation.If your gonna run the genny that much what is the real advantage?The propane is silent and does work well imo.But I know the op asked if he will be ok for the weekend..so sorry to ramble a bit off topic.
Right, that's the counterpoint, and the propane/residential fridge choice is subjective.
For most people, this isn't very complicated because their rigs with electric fridges come with 6 batteries, and they rarely boondock for more than a day at a time.
For those of us who do boondock for days at a time, whether of not we have residential fridges, we tend to either get a small Honda or Chinese generator, or solar. If you go solar on a large class A like I did, you need about four batteries and four panels to supply normal power for electronics, etc, and another four of each for the fridge. The cost of solar is about $5k to run the fridge, and you save about $3k from the price of a large propane fridge. The advantage, of course, is that you don't have to run a generator, and a lot of us hate to run generators when we boondock.
I am very curious about your use of solar for running a lot of electric.
I never park in the sun. If I were to add solar panels to the roof of my TT how effective are they when they are always in full shade (dense forest at the bottom of a valley)? Would I just need to add an extra panel to compensate for no direct sunlight?
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