RV Refrigerators cost, OUCH !!!!!

[Gadget Man]

I'm starting to gather parts for Gadget Mans Adventure Trailer and got a little sticker shock when I started to look for an RV refrigerator. WOW, $1200 bucks will get you an average one. I'm talking about the refrigerators that will run on 120 volts or on propane gas while driving down the road. And trying to find good used one is almost impossible.

So I guess my budget says I just install a small apartment sized 120 volt refrigerator.
What have you guys been using?
If you used a regular home refrigerator and start it up the day before and then fill it with cold food, how long will it last while you drive down the road? Has anyone done this and checked the inside temp?

If I build it into a cabinet in the CT and insulate the cabinet sides before I slide the refrigerator in I could gain some more travel time.

What do you think?

Gadget Man

[bdosborn]

Here's the cheapest one I could find when I was looking:

Dometic RM2193 - $447.60

Clicky

Bruce

[madjack]

http://www.compactappliance.com/12-Volt ... lt,sc.html

I think the 43-80qt models, listing from 500 to 650bux are the way to go...if you can come up with the bucks, they can last a weekend on a single deep cell of adequate capacity...if you have access to 120vac, they can last ...forrrrreverrrrrrrrr...................
madjack

[bdosborn]

For about the same price you can get a Waeco here:

Waeco Linky

Bruce

[Wolfscout]

...
So I guess my budget says I just install a small apartment sized 120 volt refrigerator.
What have you guys been using?
If you used a regular home refrigerator and start it up the day before and then fill it with cold food, how long will it last while you drive down the road? Has anyone done this and checked the inside temp?

If I build it into a cabinet in the CT and insulate the cabinet sides before I slide the refrigerator in I could gain some more travel time.

What do you think?

Gadget Man

This is what I am planning to do. I can't see the bucks for a RV frig. and I plan to do double batteries and try an inverter for my drives so the frig can run. I dunno if it will work or not.. but I'm gonna give it a go. Most of my driving is 2 - 4 hours tops usually.

[Gadget Man]

Thanks guys for the information.
I think Wolfscout might be on to something when he talks about running two batteries and an inverter.
I'm sure someone who knows electricity way better than I, could figure out how long you could run a 120 volt refrigerator on two 12 volt batteries.

3-4 hours on the road gets me to most of my favorite camping spots.

A refrigerator is still just a big cooler, so if you had cold food and a few big ice packs inside, it should stay cold for quite awhile if kept closed till you got to where you could plug in again.

I'm excited to get going on my conversion. Ordered a Porta Potti, Fantastic fan, 18,000 Btu furnace and a 45 amp converter tonight.
I don't want to be waiting for parts once the trailer gets here.

Gadget Man.

[8ball_99]

I put a model RM4223 dometic 3 way in my trailer a few months ago. It was on sale for 492 and only cost 25 bucks to ship. Now it seems www.pplmotorhomes.com has it for 536. So over 40 bucks more. Its just a 2.5cu ft fridge, but its holds more then you think it would. Wasn't cheap even more so when you consider a gas fridge needs to be vented. I love it though. I can run it on 110 at the house, switch it to 12v for the drive and then either back to 110 if we have shore power or to gas if we are dry camping.. Love it.. Some times I wish It had a freezer. I had limited space though besides the price jumps a lot to go to the larger 3 ways with freezers. If you always stay at campsites with power then a dorm fridge would probably work fine.. For me I really wanted the flexibility of a 3 way.

[pete42]

I use to have a couple of travel trailers and pop-up's in all four I used a small 120 volt refrigerator.
we traveled coast to coast and border to border the fridge would stay cool during the day of course we did not open it on the road.
I have a 12 volt coleman cooler in the back seat of the truck that keeps the food milk water cool during the day.
if your drive is only 4-5 hours you should be fine but when you stop you should have a 120 hook-up or maybe a generator.
good luck on your build
pete

[8ball_99]

I use to have a couple of travel trailers and pop-up's in all four I used a small 120 volt refrigerator.
we traveled coast to coast and border to border the fridge would stay cool during the day of course we did not open it on the road.
I have a 12 volt coleman cooler in the back seat of the truck that keeps the food milk water cool during the day.
if your drive is only 4-5 hours you should be fine but when you stop you should have a 120 hook-up or maybe a generator.
good luck on your build
pete

See thats sorta how we use our rv fridge. For longer trips we still carry a cooler for most of the drinks, But the milk, eggs, mayonnaise, and any thing else that really needs to stay cool or dry goes in the fridge. I park my trailer beside my garage at home so we never unload the fridge now.. I take the milk and eggs inside but everything else stays in the trailer.. Makes it much easier when its time go. From what I've been told by some Fridge techs is its better just to leave them running. Works great when Im working in the garage and need a drink to

[goramsey]

Dometic RC 4000. $ 375.00 plus $ 25.00 shipping. It is a 3 way. Works great.

[starleen2]

To solve the refrigerator delima for us - we use a Frigidaire 120 volt refrigerator with SEPARATE freezer. The separate freezer is important, Those small compact models that have a freezer chamber didn't seem to work well for us. When we get ready to go - we plug in the refrigerator in overnight to get it cooling down - then load it with what we intend on taking. This gets cooled down overnight. The next day we bungee the doors shut and head out. The contents stay cool for the entire day. Like mentioned above - the refrigerator acts like a cooler when unplugged. When we get to where we are going for night - we plug in and let it cool again - sort of a recharge. Worked real well when we towed across country in 100+ degree heat.

[rebapuck]

I'm glad you mentioned the difference of a separate freezer. I plan to buy a 2.5cf fridge from Lowes for my VW. Wasn't sure of the separate freezer.

I guess with the separate freezer (being bigger) I can refreeze ice blocks for the next leg of the journey.

[Pyrofish]

At those prices , I'll buy a Yeti cooler and use it for everything! Those things are designed for long trips on hot boats, and they're good as a bench seat too

[starleen2]

I'm glad you mentioned the difference of a separate freezer. I plan to buy a 2.5cf fridge from Lowes for my VW. Wasn't sure of the separate freezer.

I guess with the separate freezer (being bigger) I can refreeze ice blocks for the next leg of the journey.

you sure can - I learned that lesson with Ice Cream!

[Wishbone]

I've checked with Colaws RV Salvage in Carthage,Mo They dont have any either. They told Me they get sold faster than can take one out of a Totaled RV> Wishbone-Ks