Refrigerator...

[leni]

Hello, I am new to this board.  My family has just purchased a brand new Starcraft 2106.  I plug the camper in the night before to the 120  line, to cool off the fridge.  Right when I am ready to leave, I switch my convertor to 12V, and allow the battery to cool the fridge while traveling.  I was told that the car battery charges the trailer battery, so that it will not lose its charge.  I have done this a few times now, and have never had a problem.  Is what I am doing correct, or has my short distance trips been keeping my fridge cool?  Also what do you guys travel with as far as keeping food frozen???

[zamboni]

I was told that the car battery charges the trailer battery, so that it will not lose its charge.

The fridge, on battery, does pull a fair amount of power.  When your car is running, there should be sufficient power generated by your alternator.  The 12v only has enough to "maintain" the coolness in the fridge.  Please don' t put warm sodas, etc, in there and expect them to be cold by the time you get camping!

However, bear in mind a few things:
1)  Your vehicle may not have enough "extra" power to also charge your camper battery
2)  Your vehicle may not have enough to run the fridge 100%, so it may draw a touch or so of power from the battery (ie, slightly drain it).  This is not really an issue unless you are going to a dry campout
3)  Your fridge will continue to draw this power when your vehicle is stopped (like if you go shopping) - so don't let it sit too long.

I think I got about 2-3 hours of fridge life from a fully charged battery (when I forgot to switch it to 120V).

Other than that, with our old popups, I never worried about towing them with the fridge on 12v

[leni]

Thank-you very much for your insight.  By the way how is your 23B...we are considering a Jay-Flight Hybrid...19H.  Any thoughts?

[zamboni]

Thank-you very much for your insight.  By the way how is your 23B...we are considering a Jay-Flight Hybrid...19H.  Any thoughts?

The main reason we chose the Jayco was it had 78" ceilings.  We liked the Rockwood Roo, but 2005's had both 76" ceiling, and the AC unit stuck down 2 inches.  Then, in 2006, they went to ducted AC - but still 76" ceilings which felt too low & cave-like.

Apparently, the 2nd half of 2006, they moved to 78" ceilings.  At this point, I'd say the Rockwoods would be better -- because they have bigger bunks (80 "inches" instead of 76 "inches" of Jayco).  The Rockwoods also had real drawers in the kitchen, and the Jayco has a cabinet door with plastic pull-out bins.

Otherwise, we really like the 23B.  For us, this floorplan felt the biggest and most open.  We thought we'd never want to climb over a dinette again to get to our bunk (old Starcraft popup was like that), but that really isn't a big deal.  In fact, I like having the dinette next to our bed - we move the table (often just keep it outside), and the dog sleeps on the dinette seat - right next to me on the bunk.

[tlhdoc]

You should be fine towing with the refrigerator on DC power, as long as you have a hot line form the TV to the camper.  If you stop for more than a few minutes switch the refrigerator over to gas.

[tknick]

Whether or not the fridge will drain your TV battery when the TV isn't running depends on how the 12v was wired.  In Fords, the 12v charge line is only hot when the engine is running, so when the TV isn't running it won't drain your TV battery.  If your TV wasn't wired this way then it will definitely drain the TV battery even with your trailer battery.  Depending on how long you stop, you might not be able to start the TV again.  It also depends on the type of alternator you have in your TV.  Most vehicles equiped with a factory "tow package" that includes a 7 way bargman style plug have an alternator adequatelly sized to handle the normal load of the TV plus the additional load of a battery on a trailer.  If your TV's alternator isn't big enough, the trailer battery will have to make up the difference.  That would obvious lead to a trailer battery that wasn't fully charged when you reach your destination.  If you're camping with electricity, then that isn't even an issue.  If you are dry camping then it could be a problem.  Like Tracy said.....if you are going to be stopped for a while, use propane.  It will actually cool the fridge, not just maintain the temperature.

Travis