It is definitely subjective though. Speaking of solar: Ever since your earlier solar panel videos Ive been looking for the gifted do-it-yourself mechanic to come up with a powered tilt mechanism. Im hypothesizing that the modified sine and low batteries is affecting the performance of the fridge. You will have to keep getting up on the roof to clean your solar panels and once you put that solar panel on the roof youre no longer the boss the solar panel is. First weekend out (no solar and we live in Southern California) Day 1 batteries adequate. Check out these articles: Jennifer lives with her husband in a 29 trailer in Mexico. Also, consider adding a small portable wind turbine. And on and on. NO OUTDOOR THERMOMTER. Excellent video! how do you keep your doors from opening while traveling down the highway with a Residential Refrigerator. The chassis helps keep drivers safe with attention assist, lane-keeping assist, collision prevention assist, and load adaptive electronic stability (ESP). 5 Best Class C RVs In 2021 - RV LIFE They work well off of level up to 30 degrees and use little power. So now that ive debunked all of those big misconceptions, lets talk about fridges. My 600 Ah of AGMs would be boondocking minimum with gen running thru float stage 1-2 hr morning and 2 hrs at nite. When installing a residential refrigerator most RV manufacturers will come stock withfour 6-volt batteries with 400 amp hours and 200 usable amp hours (because you shouldonly drain standard lead acidbatteries to 50%). 10 YEARS! What Type Of Refrigerator Should You Use In Your RV? - DoItYourselfRV I have seen panel read about 25 amps and up to 30 someting. Newer models have french doors and up to even 18 cubic feet of storage space. Shop American Coach, Coachmen, Cruiser RV, DRV luxury fifth wheel, Dynamax, Entegra Coach, Fleetwood RV, Forest River, Foretravel Motor Coach, FreeSolo RVs, Gulf Stream, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Nexus RV, Olympia RVs, Hero Ranger RVs, Sportscoach and the only full line Thor Motor Coach class A & C lineup in the world! We all look forward to hearing from you soon. Swivel seats are awesome and in some cases, a relatively easy DIY project. How do you handle your day-to-day travel needs in yours? A 90% discharge ability means you actually get 90% of the rated amp hours from a lifepo4 battery instead of the only 50% you can safely get from lead acid. You probably have not practiced getting out the bedroom window. Youre still biondocking when using a generator, so is it the noise that motivates using solar? We ended up purchasing from an individual because no dealer made me feel good about our purchase! The Coachmen Freelander 21RS has a master bedroom that is mostly separate from the main living area. Payments based on 20.00% down, 7.99% interest, for 240 months OAC. RV Residential Refrigerator - How Much Power Does It Use Operating on propane or electric, these types of appliances have been ideal for off-the-grid camping. I guess I am thecweirdo here because not having a behemoth fridge was one of the things I most liked when we moved into our RV. Not convection Dunno why I mix those two terms up. An RV refrigerator, which is also known as an absorption refrigerator doesn't use compressed freon like a residential kitchen refrigerator. Save $489.02 27% Off. We love stopping meeting a few people on our journeys, but it is mostly to see this beautiful world we live in and to experience life before we move on to the next journey in this life. Overall, we are really happy with our setup. How to Install an RV refrigerator and replace it with a residential fridge. Only dislike is the micro/convection oven is too high and would rather have a regular oven. Interested in learning more about Class C RVs? Im going to be disappointed if I experience worse than 11%, which is what Magnum says to expect. Which in your opinion would be better a traditional 2 way, 3 way or an AC/DC. Less Expensive to Purchase 3.4) 4. Would it be possible to run the test again without the ice maker on? Only needed it with multiple days of bad weather or smoke from forest fires. Residential refrigerator - iRV2 Forums That was with numerous series set to record on those channels we were not getting. The Grape Solar fridge seems to average about 25 watts/hr of power usage through a 24 hr period (looks like your Samsung is using about 100w/hr: 1.097kw (corrected)/11hrs), so that would be about 1/4 of the power usage multiple your normal time w/o generator or shore power x 4, if there was no sun. If we have one day of bad weather, we know to be more conscious of our power usage and monitor it more closely. They were able to use reasonably size wiring at 120v ac through a plug in cable between the truck and trailer. The best advice I can provide is use the RV daily while it sits in your yard. Sorry to end this on a bad note but when I got home my wife loved it and said to me; you better get me a Washer and Dryer in here. Why dont RVs use chest freezers repurposed as refrigerators? These mid-sized RVs range in size, but most Class C RVs fall in between 20 ft. to 30 ft. in length. The Freelander is available with a Chevy 4500, Ford F-350, or 450 chassis. Why would I want to listen to a generator run 8 hours a day when I can invest in a good solar system & have glorious peace & quiet?, If you love socializing in RV parks & campgrounds, then by all means enjoy yourselves and keep having fun! We purchased a preowned 2008 Winnebago Journey 39Z with the factory elec/propane double door fridge. Turning off the ice maker significantly reduces its energy consumption. We created this easy-to-reference list of the 5 best Class C RV floor plans for full-time living. The sales manager personally came to the site we were in and delivered to us a check for $3,000. 100 OBanion Way Alvarado, TX. No Games. The receivers actually get very warm to the touch even when off. Prepare for a comfy ride! RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Class C Motorhomes: Residential Refrigerator Issue $1,071.97 $1,469.99. So follow this checklist to make sure youre not breaking the bank. Most Class C RVs are in the range of $60,000 and are anywhere from 21-40 feet in length. I was even given a golf cart to ride around on without a salesman to tag along! Each particular model has several floor plans to choose from. Plus, there is an overcab bunk that could be used for extra storage if you arent traveling with kids or guests. No flow = no cooling (this is also true of RV propane fridges if you park on a hillside for instance). If you have any further questions about sale prices, promotions, finance, etc. We learned the hard way. This type of RV is usually on a truck chassis and has a gas or diesel engine. 500AH LI Batteries, 790W of solar, 3000W Hybrid Magnum inverter, Samsung RF18 refer. Run the generator 24/7 just to run it or spend thousands of dollars on solar panels and lithum batteries just to run it (if you have the space and weather for it). Looking at doing the same Samsung to replace our dying Dometic. Norcold Polar Series 8 cu.ft. If Jason and Nikki designed a boat, it would have, Nikki and Jason will see your suggestions for a post & update, but I can answer the question about propane or absorption fridges. Since then, had 3 panel Go-Power system installed (480 watts). Simple question, If anyone can afford a $50,000 rig, why is $30 a night such a concern? Staying on BLM lands or US Forestry lands is a big thing among campers. Amp draw for 24 hours was around 60 amps. Your article was the most helpful in our research decision to purchase new unit with residential frig, thank you: 2016 Thor, Outlaw, class a, toy hauler, 4 6 volt batteries, 1800 watt inverter, auto gen start. All rights are reserved. The system works great and I love having a reliable fridge. The after sales process was great too and helped us settle in and allowed us to get to know our RV before leaving the yard. Thanks for your articles.. Hey Bill, thanks for your comment. If you dont believe me, ask any reputable appliance repair person. RV Refrigerators | Camping World The Winnebago 31N is a great Class C RV floor plan for full-time living even if you have kids! That also means I dont have actual Ah battery drain. Lived for 10 years in a 45 Newell where I loved the MH but hated the household refrigerator. Expensive lithium bartteries have short shelf life and they need to be protected from extreme temperatures to work. Stateside, we enjoyed the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Chattanooga, TN and the lakes of Tennessee. . oops- I forgot to include our test numbers. If fridge, Im afraid youre out of luck. However, the popular Samsung RF18 residential refrigerator does not require a pure sine inverter. It will help get you comfortable with it and realize what you might be missing. The electric heating rod draws just 30 to 40 amps from my batteries just long enough to heat the water to temp(6 gallons takes about an hour, hour and a half). Most people dont dry camp, and those who do generally dont seek out a residential fridge. I guess it really depends on the full-timer. If you do the math of converting kilowatts into 12v amp hours youll see our fridge only used about 130 amp hours of battery. Baloney! I have tried tying dish towels & bungee cords. Second, this type of refrigerator must be relatively level while in operation. Its a big investment for the perks of running a residential fridge. Two of your five selections are on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis.the Tiffin Wayfarer and the Thor Tiburon. I assume your position on a residential refrigerator on a catamaran is a no-go because of the massive solar involved or requirement for a frequent generator session. Why put yourself in that position? Jennifer Jennings has been RVing for 2+ years and writing about the RV and Van Life for 2+ years. The RV's galley kitchen includes a residential refrigerator and an optional combination washer and dryer. I installed 12 volt outlet near bed. Curious Minion. Replacing an RV Refrigerator With Residential | Good Sam That way you could pretty easily install another panel without having to change your solar controller or upgrade the wiring. In the strictest definition, Class C RVs are built with a cabin chassis and generally have an overcab sleeping area, which allows for more room in the living area. The 2008 Tiffin Phaeton in this article originally came with a Norcold 1200-Series four-door refrigerator that could be operated on propane or 110-volt AC power. I think that is a great option for some. I also have a one side fridge and freezer on top. It took over 6 months before I would write this email. A piece of wood at the top and the bottom on the back wall may be needed as a stop for the rear of the reefer to maintain a good air space. Each model includes hardwood cabinet doors and drawer fronts, a composite kitchen and bath sink, LED ceiling lights throughout, plus a TV in the living area. Baloney! of capacity. But one size doesnt fit all. 4 days into our staying in the RV it stopped cooling. Far more inside space with the same-size exterior. Thanks for doing the test! Have you checked out: https://rvlife.com/big-rig-rv-route/ ? Thanks for the info though. Read many rv fire stories onlins. Upgrade To a Residential Fridge in Your RV - RV.com We also have a 5500 watt Onan generator on board which we use daily during travel for coffee in the morning and usually during dinner and watching tv. I have been following your adventures and I enjoy the videos. I meant absorption fridges. please call 800-335-6054 or local 817-790-7771. AND I can heat my water totally via solar power for free. The difference is some residential refrigerators will require a pure sine wave inverter and only a small percentage will come with this. Of note to CPAP (or BiPAP) users: if you do not have a unit that can be powered by 12 volt adapter, in addition to 110ac, contact your healthcare provider for a new machine, if insurance balks, file an appeal. Ive also not seen propane-option refrigerators on boats very often, I assume the frequent motion inhibits operation and may be a safety issue? No Gimmicks. Dimension: 55.75 x 21.75 x 23.5 inches. New Super C RVs can range anywhere from $100,000-$150,000. Even though were accustomed to balancing our power use, sometimes we get caught off guard when a storm rolls in, or the smog cuts the amount of solar power were bringing in. So there you are trapped in the back of the RV with the fridge chemicals or fire between you and the exit door. We came across MHS on several search sites and found a great variety of coaches to suit our needs and the prices were amazing. I am not sure about you, but I am okay with working used equipment, which can save me a lot of money. What?! Even an engine fire is only likely to occur while traveling and, then, you are awake and have a great chance of escaping. Do you have any recommendations as to who might be able to install something like this on my RV? Motorhomes With or Without LP-gas - Good Sam Camping Blog This, in most cases, will result in the need to add some additional batteries, usually two more. Thats crazy!! Are you full time in yours? But that was all erased when I drove on to the MHSRV lot. With slightly smaller holding capacities, more frequent stops will be required. Temps were in the high 60s-low 70s. If youre referring to the solar setup thats much easier to tackle. By my calculations of our use, the solar should pay for itself in under five years on gas and genset wear and tear. I guess part of that question is how long can you safely leave fridge with no power, I am assuming 8-10 would be to long to be safe and I will need to power it for the day. The fire will turn the ceiling into a broiler. A two-burner cooktop with an electric start and a glass cover, along with a convection microwave oven will get your meals prepared quickly and efficiently, leaving plenty of time for fun. Still no propane/flames/need to level RV and find propane fills (just ice, which is everywhere there are consumable supplies). View the California Consumer Privacy Act Notice for California Consumers. With the increase of the house banks total amperage, verification is needed to determine the capability of the existing battery charger in terms of being able to adequately service the bank. I could see us being on the road 2 or 3 days between locations, and possibly doing the walmart campground at night on the trip. Coachmen Freelander 21RS Great for couples, 3. Then we would set the thermostat back to normal cool for the rest of the day. We did open the fridge a few times to get stuff for lunch and the occasional beverage, but thats real-life use. I hope us tracking the numbers (and sharing our experiences) is helpful with your decision on whether or not to outfit your rig with a residential fridge or a propane powered RV fridge. Did my own bus conversion in the 90s. Todays home-type refrigerators, however, are far more efficient and require less power to operate than years ago. I have a 10kw Balqon LiFeYPo battery (48v), 1200w flexible panels and a large Magnum inverter. It doesnt use much propane.my 13 gallon tank gets filled up about three times maybe four for the season so it is not too expensive to run. The lights were on and the AC was blowing cold and it was just remarkable! Dinner is a breeze with pressed laminate kitchen countertops with sink covers. However we would also like to have the option of going off grid. Upgrade with the Customer Value Package to add on a 24 LED TV in the bedroom, an electric awning with LED lights, and other enhanced features. You will be pleasantly surprised at how large the inside is compared to the original, even though the exterior size has not changed. Then it will kick to 110 when plugged in. Sometimes it is nice to do without the essentials to truly appriecate what you have. Residential fridge all the way with one big ol caveat! We really need to upgrade our batteries and solar so that we can have a love-love relationship with our Samsung, vs the unrequited love situation weve got from a basically stock battery bank. 2 Reviews. modified sine inverters are also bad for most microwaves and computers too. 30.1, our salesman worked with us to get us the best offer for our trade-in. wide, top-freezer refrigerator fits where you want it to and makes storing fresh and frozen food simple. The 2021 Wayfarer from Tiffin is touted to offer everything one would want in a Class C. It features a spacious interior and industry-standard safety features. Jerry and Becky aboard Traveling Shoes II. COSTWAY Compact RV Refrigerator. Youll find your own pros and cons but from our experience with both the two-way RV fridge and the residential fridge heres our personal opinions: Again, this is just my opinion based on our experience. The Wynns are sailing on a catamaran these days and dont have a residential fridge. XMRADIO, [] statistics can be believed, more and more RVers are choosing smaller Class C motorhomes and towable travel trailers than ever before. Upon receipt of deposit seller (MHSRV) agrees to hold the selected unit and prepare it for delivery and orientation to the buyer. My answer to this discrepancy: Power is always lost when using an inverter and there are parasitic draws from our battery we cannot control (such as vent fans, LED lights, radio, etc). Many class A motorhomes will have a double outlet behind the RV propane . Class C RVs have many benefits and can range in price from $50,000-$100,000. Thanks for the suggestion. . When you see my face youre probably reading something more technical than adventurous, but either way I do my best to tell it like it is and infuse my opinions into the commentaryafter all this is a blog and not MSN. Enjoy your stay in Florida. Replacing RV Fridge with Residential Fridge - YouTube Approximately $165 Million Dollars to Choose From. RV Refrigerator Installation | How to Replace RV Refrigerator with Remove the hinge if it sticks out, as it's going to be a tight squeeze getting the frame out the door. I like having the thee way fridge but they stop making the 12 volt powered option i hear. My husband and I love to travel across the US and Canada and it cost enough for gas, we are retired and every bit of money saved on spending the night somewhere is money we can spend on other things. Thanks for the great information. We will be camping mostly at state parks etc. Checking it out now it looks awesome!! I keep reading about recalls, explosions. The temperature was a mild 80 degrees and there was a slight breeze to keep the air moving inside the motorhome. 3-way models can run on AC power, LP gas, or just battery power from the RV. It would be fun to see a blog on your dream-boat. Nice! Its the Why would I want to be squeezed into an RV park looking at other peoples rigs when I could be out in the middle of the desert with hummingbirds, coyotes, kit foxes & unobstructed sunsets? At 31 feet, the coach boasts a 16-cubic-foot residential fridge, a large 36 by 36 shower, and a walk-around king bed. We spent many hours looking on the Internet searching for the right RV for our 12 month trip around America and Canada. Life is good! Although there is a lot of room in the refrigerator section, we try not to over stuff it and always removed and excess packaging since both of these things make it work harder. Keep in mind I said we looked for over a year! In fact we will be splitting our time between a 5th wheel and a 36 Power Yacht. If possible, we avoided shopping on cloudy/stormy days. Whirlpool 11 Cubic Feet Stainless Steel RV Refrigerator. Unfortunately the RV major brands dont carry something the would fit my current 4 door 2 way unit cabinet hole. Take care Bob and Anchor from Surrey, BC Canada. Most of my travelling is done alone, with the exception of my dog, Sam. They are currently wintering in Arizona with plans to continue their travels next summer. Whether its a Class A, B, or C, fifth wheel or travel trailer, there is a size and type to fit all needs and budgets. For a full-size refrigerator at 90 d temperatures, it uses less than 100 amps per 24 hours. Weight is an issue for us, so we probably should swap the freezer for an auto start generator. Please try refreshing or going back to the previous page. We had already decided to switch to a residential when it happened and in fact it was set for delivery. From the bottom of our hearts, Thanks Coach and all of you at MHSRV!!! Does the DC power still need to stay on to? With this model, youll find plenty of storage space in the rear compartments. For the past two years weve known the Residential Fridge in our RV uses a lot of power, but weve never really monitored the numbers. Any info is appreciated thank you so much I have read through a lot of this but I am still confused. Other than the hot full sun in no shade, its performed well. Out most of day and do not use much other power. Residential refrigerators today work at about one-third of the power consumption they did in 1990. Have you ever thought of testing one the Danfoss BD50F 12v compressor units? No need for an inverter loss will run off of 120V shore line when available. What a great environment and experience we had purchasing our new RV. Cook in it, watch movies, work on the computer, etc. Thank you ! My wife loves the refrigerator, 11 c.f. Add To Cart. If there is sun is it running off the sun does it convert ? Currently building a 40 feet Trawler in Margarita Island (Venezuela). Dont condemn the absorption technology itself for something thats so simply fixedif I as a consumer (and I didnt know about it until last year myself, but I sure implemented those controls as a preventative myself once I found out and theyve been flawless) and/or manufacturer or even a regulatory entity know of the fix and refuse to implement it or even demand it, whos really at fault? Keep up the good work. Again great video, and thank you for sharing your findings. After choosing the Thor A.C.E. So we knew that by making Texas our destination we could come and look at a large variety of coaches at the one place. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as just changing out the old for the new. Several of the models have slide-outs in the bedroom and living areas for even more living space. Many state and federal parks have no hookups. All rights are reserved. Also, research some of the negative aspects of a Class C RV. I also sealed the outside vent and roof vent air tight. I have the same refrig and was counting on the yellow energy label of 1.62 kWh per day (594 per year) being correct. I hope to do some testing and measure actual draw under different circumstances. We boondock once a month with a camping club. We are rolling in a 2014 Excursion with the residential fridge. How much better is the Samsung? Hunter I dont know how old the post is, but the problem with residential fridge is the defrost cycle. When our LP fridge died as a result or being on at a slope, I checked a few options and decided to give a try to the household fridge. But if you plan on doing any off the grid boondocking, battery power will be a concern. I dont think its nearly as big as a residential one, but it functions as one. My situation is a little different. You (especially) could probably find a way to let the melted ice drain straight through to the outside. That number was a design variable for early solar system design which somehow got stuck in our collective craw and we now seem to require cosmic assistance to UNlearn it. (I think she still loves me more). I am going to check these out right now. Some videos and photos may not represent the actual vehicle for sale. When dry camping, the it will be powered by the inverter, which is supported by the batteries of the house bank. Then, there was the 15 amps, defrost cycle!!!. The large freezer is wonderful. Check out RV Basic Training and watch the RV Geeks training series. 800-335-6054. The sale price is fractionally higher or lower than the percentage shown. 30F Class C RV W/Ext TV, Residential Refrigerator, 2019 Holiday Rambler Augusta 30F Class C RV W/Ext TV, Residential Refrigerator, https://mhsrv.s3.amazonaws.com/images/homeimage/logo--mhs-bc.png, https://mhsrv.com/2019-holiday-rambler-augusta-30f-class-c-rv-w-ext-tv-residential-refrigerator-new-class-c-tx-i2372369, California Consumer Privacy Act Notice for California Consumers. ALL weights, measurements, sizes, etc. The Ultimate RV Refrigerator Guide | RVshare Install New Residential Fridge. We were able to dry camp all summer with very minimal generator use. I put canned goods in its freezer area. Any suggestions on how we can make this work ? Call MHSRV's finance department for complete details. *MINIMUM 25% OFF MSRP ON MOST RVs DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL NEW RVs including, but not restricted to, CLASS B, CLASS C & B+, CLASS A, TRAVEL TRAILER RVs, AND MERCEDES. Many residential side-by-side models have substantial handles that can be secured with a bungee or a strap made of hook-and-loop fastening material. While a jury-rigged bungee cord can be used to secure the handles, it visually isnt that appealing. I never liked our fridges in our houses because things get lost. This should provide enough power to make it through 3 days of normal living (6 days if we are conservative) during cloudy weather without being forced to run the generator. We are not living in the RV, just camping up to six weeks a year, so I was okay with getting a used working fridge 10cubic ft. We built a chest-type fridge/freezer combo. He applied no pressure at all and let us come to our decision at our own pace. However, our minds changed a bit when we hit that first wild camping spot and we decided to park under a canopy of trees. Have exactly the same Samsung RF18 refer. Today we decided it was time to run the test and educate ourselves so we couldbetter understand our personal power needs.
