RV Refrigerators cost, OUCH !!!!!

Converting Cargo Trailers into TTTs

Postby mskobier » Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:29 am

All,
I like the RV type fridges since they do not take any electricity to work. That makes the batteries last a lot longer between charges. However, I like most on this list do not like the price or trying to figure out how to get it vented. In my case, that is just not an option. Since I already have a dorm size refrigerator, that is what I will use. I had looked at the models with the seperate freezer, but decided to stay with the one with the freezer in the same compartment. The reason is that I will be filling the freezer with blue ice packs. That way when the refrigerator is plugged into 120v ac, it will freeze the ice packs so that when the power is off it will act like a cooler without the melting ice (water) mess. If you shop around, you can find the ice packs pretty reasonable. Once the refrigerator is plugged back in, then it cools the inside and re-freezes the ice packs. It should be good for a couple of days without power this way. You could also use containers ( bottles of water, lock-n-lock containers etc) instead of the ice packs. We also rarely take anything camping that we need to keep frozen. We also rarely need plain ice. If the need arises, then we will just take one of the small 5 day coolers and put ice in it. Anyway, thats what I plan on doing.

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Postby CAJUN LADY » Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:18 pm

Nitroxjunkie71 wrote:
Gadget Man wrote:Well, I went refrigerator shopping today. I went to Lowe's and Best Buy.
I found the 3.1 cubic foot model with the separate top freezer, both stores had them right up front of the store for the back to school dorm room shoppers.
They were right around $219.00


I bought one of these about a month ago and shopped around. Wally Wrl'd had them on sale. Low & Behold, they are still on sale as of today.

GE 3.1 cu ft 2 Door Compact Refrigerator, Black $124.00

It worked great the first time I used it and the weather was HOT, HOT, HOT!

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I bought this exact fridge about a year ago from Target on sale for $99. Only difference is mine has a brushed silver finish. I love the separate freezer compartment! It also locks which is a nice feature when traveling.
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Postby bdosborn » Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:55 pm

mskobier wrote:
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Well that's a slick idea. I bet it would work better in transit with a battery operated fan to circulate the air over the blue ice. I added a 12V fan to our RV fridge and it helped a lot.

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Postby eamarquardt » Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:18 pm

I am on my "shakedown cruise" in a Little Guy I purchased (to use while I finish my build) and bought a Norcold 60 quart (the same as an Engle) chest reefer. It is WONDERFUL. Given it's a chest you can really pack it in. I have a Norcold three way I was planning on installing in my build but after seeing how much you can pack into a chest I'm having second thoughts due to the upright configuration I doubt you can pack as much in as the chest. I found it the chest on Craigslist in Phoenix for $750 and BigGuy picked it up for me and delivered it to So. Cal. I also found one in Temecula, Ca. for $500 and the fellow delivered it to a friend in Vista where it awaits me. One for me, one for my boys!

The coolers will freeze things solid and use a minimum amount of juice. Once I get home I'll determine exactly how much juice they use but so far by charging from the tow vehicle and with a/c occasionally it is working out well. I suspect one could use solar panels to run it indefinitely.

Cheers,

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Postby bdosborn » Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:23 pm

eamarquardt wrote:The coolers will freeze things solid and use a minimum amount of juice. Once I get home I'll determine exactly how much juice they use but so far by charging from the tow vehicle and with a/c occasionally it is working out well. I suspect one could use solar panels to run it indefinitely.


I think you're gonna love your new fridge, mine doesn't use much juice at all.

Trailer interior at 80F, fridge set at 39F.
Usage=10.7 amp-hrs total for 24 hours.

Waeco 40 Review (long)

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Postby Nitroxjunkie71 » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:35 pm

CAJUN LADY wrote:I bought this exact fridge about a year ago from Target on sale for $99. Only difference is mine has a brushed silver finish. I love the separate freezer compartment! It also locks which is a nice feature when traveling.


Mine did not have any lock but it works great and I am very happy with it.
:D
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Postby Gadget Man » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:02 pm

The blue ice packs in the freezer is a great idea.
But how do you put them in your cocktail at the end of the day?
hahahahahaha
:lol:

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Postby mskobier » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:25 pm

Gadget Man,
Simple answer to a simple problem. Just have a much larger cocktail! 8)

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Postby LShrew » Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:41 am

Anyone looking for a 110v frig and a microwave, Walmart has a combo deal right now. A GE 4.5 cu. ft. frig and a GE 1.1 cu. ft microwave for $169.
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Postby jubate » Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:15 pm

Anyone... How have you secured your fridge? I'm looking for some help in anchoring mine.
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Postby Gadget Man » Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:29 pm

Check the pictures of my refrigerator lock bars in the Gadget
Mans Adventure Trailer page. My refrigerator is in a
Cabinet and I used 1/4 inch threaded rod to hold
Everything in place while going down the road.

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Postby Shadow Catcher » Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:23 pm

Bruce inspired me to find a Waceo. Nancy was honked off no end when I bought it, until she used it. I have a line going to the TV battery so that it can be plugged in while traveling. Nancy likes that it can be loaded the day before and run on 120AC then loaded into the Subaru.
The BIGGEST problem with the refrigerators is that when you open the door all the cold falls out, it does not with a chest refrigerator.
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Postby jubate » Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:37 pm

Thanks GMan. Looks like a really cool design.

Here's why I'm concerned. We've owned a couple of TTs. Trying to save $ on the first I put my own TV (tube...it was 6 years ago) in instead of paying $100 more to have it mounted. I went through 3 tv's in 5 years.

While this is not a tv I'm afraid that the micro will get the snot beat out of it.
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