How to use our refrigerator???

[Rauch0812]

We took our new to us pup out for our first trip, but couldn't quite get the fridge right until we put it on propane.  I would like to cool the fridge before we leave and use the campsites electric when we have it available - save my propane.  So... we plugged the camper in the house outlet about 8 hours before we left and put the switch on 110.  Then we hooked it the truck (7 pin plug) and switched the camper to 12v.  We drove for about 2 hours, unhooked the camper, plugged it into power and switched the camper back to 110.  When we got the camper set up and I went to load the stuff into the fridge, it was barely cold.  I left it on 110 for a few more hours and really couldn't feel it getting colder, so we ended up switching it to propane, going to bed, and in the morning it was really cold.  What are we doing wrong so that it won't work on electric?

Any help would be great!!!

Rauch Family

03 Expedition
00 Coachman 1280

[wavery]

We took our new to us pup out for our first trip, but couldn't quite get the fridge right until we put it on propane.  I would like to cool the fridge before we leave and use the campsites electric when we have it available - save my propane.  So... we plugged the camper in the house outlet about 8 hours before we left and put the switch on 110.  Then we hooked it the truck (7 pin plug) and switched the camper to 12v.  We drove for about 2 hours, unhooked the camper, plugged it into power and switched the camper back to 110.  When we got the camper set up and I went to load the stuff into the fridge, it was barely cold.  I left it on 110 for a few more hours and really couldn't feel it getting colder, so we ended up switching it to propane, going to bed, and in the morning it was really cold.  What are we doing wrong so that it won't work on electric?

Any help would be great!!!

Rauch Family

03 Expedition
00 Coachman 1280

Check your 12V on the TV cable hook-up. It may not be working. Even when it is working, the 12V is not all that efficient and once the fridge gets warm, it takes about 12hr on 110 to cool down again.

I personally tow with the propane on. The propane is the most efficient power source for your fridge. Then, when I get to the CG, I plug into 110 and everything is, "COOL"......

[ForestCreature]

You aren't doing anything wrong. It takes a good 24 hours for the fridge to cool down on ele. We turn the fridge on ele a good day before we intend on loading it. Load it with cold or frozen foods.
We travel with it on 12v and usually have it on propane while camping regardless of an ele site or not. The fridge keeps coldest on propane.

[Rauch0812]

I don't think I'll tow with the propane on... I'm new at this and I just don't know enough about propane to step outside the guidelines.  To be honest it scares me and I don't think I'll push it.  

How long does it take to cool the fridge if you turn on the propane at the campground?  If I understand you right, once it's cold, I could then switch it to 110 for the remainder of the trip?

[Rauch0812]

Thanks forest creature, we sure were scratching our heads.  I had no idea it took that long to get cold on elec.

I also read something in another post about having an Expedition as a tv... even though we have the 7 pin plug it may not be maintaining the coolness of the fridge on 12v?  Something to do with the wiring?  I'm not sure, it's over my head.. if it's even correct.

So, here are my questions... assuming my fridge isn't getting any power while I'm driving... If plug it in for 24 hours at home on 110, can I drive 2-3 hours without it warming right back up again?  Then put it on propane at the campsite?

Or - anyone know how long it takes to get cold on propane if we start at the campground?  

Should I turn on the propane at home a few hours, shut it off, drive 2-3
 hours and turn it back on at the campground (or is that just a waste of propane)?

Sorry so confused!  The food thing is turning out to be more hassle then I thought it would be!

Thank you for the responses, I'll take all the advice I can get!!

Rauch Family

[Daddie_Tom]

Your fridge uses the LEAST amount of propane out of all the other appliances. Its basically just a pilot light burning. So don't be to concerned about conserving propane.  Also if it is cooler outside the fridge works better on electric because it cycles on/off to keep it from freezing,not the case when on propane. Mine will actually freeze everything if I leave it on propane in cool weather..  One more thing you can try is to get a couple small battery operated fans {Camping World} and place one in the fridge and another in back of the fridge. This helps circulate the hot air up and out of the flue. And the one inside the fridge helps keep everything the same temp.  12 volt will also drain your battery real fast,so don't forget to change over as soon as possible when parked..

[serenelyretiered]

Your fridge uses the LEAST amount of propane out of all the other appliances. Its basically just a pilot light burning. So don't be to concerned about conserving propane.  Also if it is cooler outside the fridge works better on electric because it cycles on/off to keep it from freezing,not the case when on propane. Mine will actually freeze eveything if I leave it on propane in cool weather..  One more thing you can try is to get a couple small battery operated fans {Camping World} and place one in the fridge and another in back of the fridge. This helps circulate the hot air up and out of the flue. And the one inside the fridge helps keep everything the same temp.  12 volt will also drain your battery real fast,so don't forget to change over as soon as possible when parked..

I always start with propane until cool then switch to Electric. Depending on the Outdoor Temperature it takes 6 to 24 hours.

[austinado16]

Hey Rauch family!

The local RV parts & repair place (that also sells propane) told me that a fridge will run for about 1 month on a 5 gallon tank of propane.  They had a guy living in his camper while building a home or something, and he'd come in about once a month to refill the 5gal tank of propane that his fridge ran on.

So, as has been mentioned, don't worry using the propane up, you won't.

My fridge doesn't have 110v option, so I start on propane here at home.  I'll fire the fridge up the evening before we leave, and by morning, it's down in the 30's inside.  I leave it like that until we've pulled out into the street and are ready to roll.  Then I switch to 12v for the drive.  I switch back to propane if we stop for anything on the road, other than a quick bathroom/snack/fuel stop.

A neat trick that I learned here for monitoring fridge temp is to buy one of those digital weather stations that come with a remote temp sensor.  I bought one at walmart.  When we're on the road, I keep the remote inside the fridge, and the station up in the Suburban.  So I know what my fridge is doing while towing.  I also bought a digital fridge thermometer that mounts on the outside of the fridge door and has a little flat wire sensor that goes inside. That allows me to know what the fridge is doing inside, without opening the door and checking (while camping I place my weatherstation's remote out under the front bunk on the propane tank cover so I can have an outside temp reading).

If you guys aren't too handy with mechanical and electrical type stuff....so that you can test the voltage coming out of the trailer connection on your Expidition with a volt meter.....you might want to ask your mechanic to check.  Ideally, you want the truck to be sending 12 volts back to the camper's battery, and the fridge wired to the battery. So you are charging the battery and powering the fridge on 12v while towing.  It would be money well spent to make sure that's all functioning properly because it'll help you guys arrive at the campground with a charged battery (fully charge it before you leave to camp) and cold food in the fridge.

[thebecks]

The one thing not mentioned that I think helps is "frozen water bottles".
Just put a bottled water (we use 2 one liter bottles) in the freezer at home.  While packing the trailer, put the bottles in the fridge.  The inside of gets cold right away.

As others have said, 12VDC only maintains temperature, it does little to make it colder.

Propane keeps the fridges coldest, 110 VAC next, and 12VDC least.

I used to plug the trailer into 110VAC 12 hours before a trip to get the battery charged and the refrigerator cold.  Eventually got a dead battery from not being kept charged and the refrigerator never got cold.

Now, have $25 battery minder connected to the battery and frozen water bottles for the refrigerator.  Much better.  We can be ready to go in an hour.

"Talk is cheep, because supply exceeds demand"
God bless you.

[bonscott]

Welcome to PUP camping!  It is a great thing.

First off, have you done "camp driveway" to actually figure out if your frig works on 12v at all?  First thing I'd do is test this at home.  Just turn the fridge on 12v for a day or so and see if it will cool down some.  If not then it's not working.  Could be a bad wire, blown fuse, etc.  Basically try to eliminate the problem as being only when towing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these fridges are not all that efficient.  They typically will only be about 40-45 degrees colder then the air temp.  So you mention it was 90, that means it might only get down to 50 or so.  Propane will allow it to get colder, but all depends on your model.  So if you expect it to be hot like that you need longer to cool it down.

Here is what we do:
I'll plug the camper in and fire up the fridge on 110 usually 2 days before our trip, only 1 day if it's cooler.
12 v while towing
At the campsite will hook back up to 110 if we have electric otherwise propane when dry camping.  If it's really hot we probably will do just propane even if electric is available.
We also have one of those fans in the fridge to circulate the air.  You'd be amazed at how much this $10 item really helps.  Also, we tend to load it up with frozen meat which helps keep it cold at first.  One frozen water bottle also does wonders.

Having said all that, we have a Coleman Powerchill that we use more often then the built in fridge.  Now it's only good when we have electric but it keeps things nice and chilled.  We will use the fridge only for keeping nighttime drinks and overflow.  Of course we have a regular 6 day ice cooler for drinks.

Good luck!

[Dray]

I'm gonna try this on my next trip.  I bet this will work.  It may save you some time and disappointment.

'tired Teacher posted the following in another fridge post.  

Here's what I discovered. Folks will chime in about running the fridge on AC power for 2 days prior to departure and then on 12V while going down the road. I found this to be a waste of time UNLESS you pop up, load the fridge, pop down and go. Without anything in the fridge to hold the cold (esp. liquids or pre-frozen meals), you will arrive after a 3-hour drive with a fridge only slightly cooler than the ambient temp. inside the pup.

Now I don't do squat until I arrive, pop up, cut on the fridge on propane, then puit a 8# bag of ice in there. Within 15 minutes the fridge is down to 40 degrees. Out goes the ice, wipe up a few water drops, load pre-chilled food from the cooler where the ice bag was. Voila!

[austinado16]

Here's that fridge fan everyone is talking about:
http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=31057&ProductDescription=refrigerator&RP=FindaProduct

Also, one thing that's really important.  The fridge, ie. the camper, must be level.  If you operate the fridge out-of-level, the amonia inside the refrigeration unit, won't flow properly.  When this happens the amonia creates crystals that wind up blocking the small orifaces inside the refrigeration tubing and the refrigeration unit is permanently ruined.  This isn't an issue while towing because the camper is bouncing and rocking, which keeps the amonia from sitting in on place and becoming crystalin.

[Haroki]

Here's that fridge fan everyone is talking about:
http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=31057&ProductDescription=refrigerator&RP=FindaProduct

Also, one thing that's really important.  The fridge, ie. the camper, must be level.  If you operate the fridge out-of-level, the amonia inside the refrigeration unit, won't flow properly.  When this happens the amonia creates crystals that wind up blocking the small orifaces inside the refrigeration tubing and the refrigeration unit is permanently ruined.  This isn't an issue while towing because the camper is bouncing and rocking, which keeps the amonia from sitting in on place and becoming crystalin.

Exactly.

[sorohanbrowns]

You guys are so full of the most useful knowledge. My hats off to you all. I just wanted to say thanks on the info with propane being the coldest of the three and on the bag of ice tricks. I always 110 for a day or so, then battery for the ride down to the campgrounds. I ran on propane one time during a campground wide power outage, but not for very long. I did not notice any real temp difference in that short of time. My wife is going to be happy knowing that the fridge can get even colder. Thanks again.


2007 Fleetwood Niagara
2004 Honda Pilot

[wavery]

Here's that fridge fan everyone is talking about:
http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=31057&ProductDescription=refrigerator&RP=FindaProduct

Also, one thing that's really important.  The fridge, ie. the camper, must be level.  If you operate the fridge out-of-level, the amonia inside the refrigeration unit, won't flow properly.  When this happens the amonia creates crystals that wind up blocking the small orifaces inside the refrigeration tubing and the refrigeration unit is permanently ruined.  This isn't an issue while towing because the camper is bouncing and rocking, which keeps the amonia from sitting in on place and becoming crystalin.

This is technically correct. However, you have to be quite a bit off level to have a problem. I just mention that so that some people don't get all paranoid :eyecrazy:  about getting the camper perfectly level.

On the newer models, it's even less critical. Being a full bubble off level isn't a big deal. You wouldn't want your camper any further off level than that anyway. It would be uncomfortable.

I always try to have the camper about a half bubble low in the back for AC drainage.