Can fridge run for 24+ hours while popped down?

[Hackker]

A lot of times we pack up the camper on Thursday night and head out on Friday after work (like we will do this week).  Usually we leave everything popped up and pop it down right before leaving.  But it would be nice to have everything packed up and ready to go the night before so we can head out immediately.

Any problem with the fridge running for 24+ hours while popped down?  Didn't know if it would cause any problems like overheating or who knows.  thx

Speaking of fridges, I have another Q.  We took our first long trip a few weeks back (200 miles) and on the way back I noticed the battery was almost dead.  I take it for long trips like that its better to switch it to propane?  Guess I always figured that as long as it was plugged into my truck, it would have enough juice to go as long as the truck was running.  Apparently not.

[sacrawf]

I do pack the refrigerator ahead of time, but after precooling the fridge. A $3.99 freezer/refrigerator themometer (I got a larger one with a colored "safe" zone on the dial so it is quick to read) lets you know you have precooled enough and makes for quick checks during the trip.  Have your food items, especially things like unopened ketsup, mustard, relish, mayo, etc., prechilled so your camper fridge doesn't have to work to chill them down.

You shouldn't have any problems with having it on while awaiting your trip, runnning of 120 until switching to 12v at the last minute before leaving. I do have problems occasionally with things toward the back of the refrigerator freezing.  Place more sensitive foods like eggs in the front away from the cooling element so they don't freeze and burst.  

Make sure that your camper is near level when popped down awaiting your trip with the fridge on

Check your TV to trailer connection and make sure it is clean and tight, and that you are getting a good power feed back to the trailer.  A strong vehicle alternator should keep up with the feed to the camper battery and refrigerator during a long drive.  I haven't had any problems with runnning the fridge on battery for 8 hour drives.

A lot of times we pack up the camper on Thursday night and head out on Friday after work (like we will do this week).  Usually we leave everything popped up and pop it down right before leaving.  But it would be nice to have everything packed up and ready to go the night before so we can head out immediately.

Any problem with the fridge running for 24+ hours while popped down?  Didn't know if it would cause any problems like overheating or who knows.  thx

Speaking of fridges, I have another Q.  We took our first long trip a few weeks back (200 miles) and on the way back I noticed the battery was almost dead.  I take it for long trips like that its better to switch it to propane?  Guess I always figured that as long as it was plugged into my truck, it would have enough juice to go as long as the truck was running.  Apparently not.

[austinado16]

^^Agreed^^

You can't run the fridge off 12v unless you're either towing and your TV has a 12v supply wire for the camper's battery.....or, if you're stopped for a short period of time, like getting fuel, or something to eat.  I think the concensus is that a 12v fridge's heater element will drain a battery in 3-4hrs. if the fridge is just running on the battery directly and the TV isn't charging it.

But during driving, you should be producing enough amperage from the TV alternator to keep up with the load of the fridge.  I've had no problems during the 11-12hr drive to the Grand Canyon.

Someone else here turned me on to buying one of those digital weather stations that they sell at Walmart for $30.  It comes with one remote temp sensor.  While towing, we throw the remote in the fridge, and put the weather station in the TV so we can monitor the fridge temp.  Works slick.  Then at the campsite, take the remote out of the fridge and put it somewhere outside and you've got outside temp readings.

[Hackker]

Cool - thx for the feedback.  I'm going to have to make sure the TV is really feeding power to the PU.  The place I bought the camper from installed the hitch for me and as far as I know, it should be powering the PU.  But who knows, maybe they hosed something up or I'm not getting a good connection.  

Nice idea about the temp sensor!

[beacher]

You can't run the fridge off 12v unless you're either towing and your TV has a 12v supply wire for the camper's battery.....or, if you're stopped for a short period of time, like getting fuel, or something to eat. .....

Actually, my refrigerator will run on 12v indefinitely when the popup is connected to an outlet.  Or, when camping, it will definitely run directly from the 12v battery on the tongue of the PopUp until just about 2:35 a.m. when the low-battery screech of the propane indicator wakes everyone up!!  I need to remember to manually turn off the DC switch then switch over to propane when camping.

The Fleetwood owners manual recommends pre-cooling the fridge with the top down, so it's not an issue.  I have also done the opposite, and left food in the fridge, (running on AC),  for a few days after returning from a trip until I have the time to unload it.

[Hackker]

The Fleetwood owners manual recommends pre-cooling the fridge with the top down, so it's not an issue.  I have also done the opposite, and left food in the fridge, (running on AC),  for a few days after returning from a trip until I have the time to unload it.

Really?  I need to actually read the entire manual sometime.  

[bonscott]

Do this every trip.  Usually pop down on Wednesday or Thursday and fire up the fridge while plugged into shore power and put the fridge on 120v.  No problem with heat, you'll notice it vents out the camper.

Then when we hook up on Friday to tow I switch it to 12v for the trip.  Then when we get there I put the fridge back to 120v if we have power or on propane if we're dry camping with no power.