Your version of best might be different than mine. It was an excellent system that used keel-cooled technology. . You will find approximately $165MM in RV's to choose from. Travel trailers, Class B, and Class C RVs are usually sold with smaller fridges. For full-timers with kids, there is also an overcab loft bed. View your California Privacy Rights. Older fridges (like 20 years old) may not need DC power, but newer ones are wired into DC power to operate the controls and without power it will shut off. Something you can operate with a switch and not have to climb on the roof. It will help get you comfortable with it and realize what you might be missing. This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy. There are so many great Class C RVs out there which is your favorite? Can your 500 watts run both? I cant wait to get rid of that RV fridge we have now. New RVs from $19,999 to $1,500,000 and Every Price-Point in-between! (I think she still loves me more). Full residential fridges have been standard on high-tiered coaches for many years and onall-electric builds (no propane onboard). We dry camp maybe 20 days a year during long travel trips. Ive found the food stays fresher longer also because I believe they maintain a more even temperature then binary on/off arrangement. My panels are all warrantied for 25yrs. Weights & measurements are estimates only. Would love to get feedback on that Super C. My understanding is that its similar to the Jayco, but with a bath and a half on the 4051 layout that many people like. Floor strips and molding trim can do the job and give that finished look. More Room for Food and Drinks 3.2) 2. trailer hitch thanks to the RVs back-up monitoring system. We were told by Lazydays that there is no fridge lock that will work on ours. Everyone talks about dry camping. The Samsung you have is rated as using 68 watts (https://www.wattdoesituse.com/) whereas we have a Whirlpool 11 cu ft WRT111 that almost cuts the power draw in 1/2 (39 watts). However if gen only, a much larger bulk charger could pump up lithiums faster and reduce gen run time. It was nice to be picked up at the airport and treated like a customer straight away. wide, top-freezer refrigerator fits where you want it to and makes storing fresh and frozen food simple. We dont have the national east or west coast feed for locals and it seemed when we set up outside the beamed area for our sevice address locals, it consumed a lot more power. Other options include sofa theater seating, a front entertainment center, and two 11,000 BTU A/Cs. We had already decided to switch to a residential when it happened and in fact it was set for delivery. No need for an inverter loss will run off of 120V shore line when available. Also be sure the hinged side of the door has adequate clearance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 5 Best Class C RVs In 2021 - RV LIFE From your on-site ( and free I might add) Restaurant for customers to the Service area and the delivery process you guys made it all feel right and never once did I feel like I was making a mistake or have second thoughts. We know it takes electricity to keep the mobile apartment useable. Using your math, we could get maybe 18 hours before spanking the batteries? The battery bank in this case is continually maintained by the prime movers alternator. If you do the math of converting kilowatts into 12v amp hours youll see our fridge only used about 130 amp hours of battery. As a retired Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps, I appreciate professionalism and MHS excels in every aspect. I removed the passenger seat of my RV and installed a smallish, highly energy efficient compressor fridge there instead. Watch my other video on why we decided to upgrade. Today, larger 5th wheels and motorhomes boast larger and larger capacity in their RV fridges. *#1 in the world or #1 in Texas references are per the official Stats Surveys Inc. for American-built Motorhomes sold at a single location. Since we got the residential, our electric bill went way, way down. 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? What advice would you give Ruby Rose in their shopping/ranking matrix for a new cat? We came across MHS on several search sites and found a great variety of coaches to suit our needs and the prices were amazing. One advantage of propane is thats dead silent, yes? So lets talk batteries. The lights were on and the AC was blowing cold and it was just remarkable! Water heater and space heater problems will be detected by gas leak detectors, and routine smoke detectors will detect smoke from those fires. Online info deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Happy boat shopping. Curious Minion. Residential fridge You guys say you love your residential fridge, but if you had something like a 12 cu/ft 4 door dometic 2way fridge with built in ice maker you would be loving that even more, you could even run the thing on AC during the day with your massive solar array and propane at nighttime. Day 2 and 3 generator ran about 6 hours each day. Can buy new machine on internet (with prescription from your healthcare provider) for under $400. If needed we will have power for 4 days. It has a 3 way fridge which is small and easy to run but we hope to upgrade to an American RV in the near future so thanks for all the useful info! Youre still biondocking when using a generator, so is it the noise that motivates using solar? Therefore, I expect about the same readings when I start living off the inverter. Upgrade your batteries! I do use a genturi so the exhaust fumes dont bother us. We bought our first motor home in 1978. We have the same fridge in our bounder. So what would be your suggestion for keeping the fridge happy for say 8 10 hours of travel time, assuming I could run a generator for a few hours when we stop for the night to top everything back off. Im also off grid and rely on solar for 90% of my electrical needs. Check out RV Basic Training and watch the RV Geeks training series. We spend over a year looking at different coaches and went to dozens of dealerships in several states. Hi I have in my home here in Costa Rica a Panasonic Inverter residential refrigerator. Perhaps with the exception of extreme off-grid campers, my experience in interacting with fellow campers supports this all-electric appliance choice. Fresh Apples Add Zing to this Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe, Go Long! and rotate items as needed (i.e., as ice melts), trying to consume items from the cooler first, when possible. The cost of the unit, plus extra batteries wouldnt be worth it to me. According to their website, the Dynamax Europa will be debuted in Spring 2021. Since we just picked it up we decided to use a local (close to home) camp KOA (if you are in the Washington DC area let me just say these people are SO NICE and helpful for us new users). The residential refrigerators offer some great advantages over the absorption type. Just the two of us, two fold up TV trays. If you permit your batts to do the work theyre designed to do, youll find much less need to run your gensets (the bane of RV living IMHO). Wiring- This can be a challenge. Expensive lithium bartteries have short shelf life and they need to be protected from extreme temperatures to work. No doubt that will change when we add our 3,000 watt inverter in a few days but we currently have a single 420 watt panel, 100 volt/40 amp MPPT controller, four RV/Marine batts, and a 300 watt pure sine wave inverter. So we knew that by making Texas our destination we could come and look at a large variety of coaches at the one place. Many times this can require the removal of the entrance door or a large window. What is a Class C Motorhome (With Pictures! Pete, you may want to consider charging the fifth wheel using the alternator of the truck. Save $489.02 27% Off. RV Fridge vs. Residential? (What You Need to Know About RV Refrigerators) 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. Our sales account for approximately 40% of all the new motor homes sold in the state of Texas. :-/. John S- you can get a 12v actuator that would work perfect for lifting panels, very common, or be creative and use a power seat motor, pretty much anything that moves back and forth could be made to work. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Refrigerator Size: Determine the overall dimensions of the new unit as to its adaptation into the existing space. http://www.panasonic.com/ph/consumer/household-appliances/refrigerators/inverter/nr-bw465vn.html I would like to share mine as well :). High towing capacity. 01. I personally think the conditions were perfect for our off the grid RV Fridge Test as it wasnt too hot and we were in shade (or it was night) for half of the testing hours. The manufacturer and their shills will say they LP is dangerous and that you cant use an LP fridge on uneven ground and that they take longer to initially cool down. Norcold 3.7 CU FT N3150AGR 2. The wind does not blow consistently. We arent interested in boondocking so we are fine with a residential refrigerator. You probably do not have an extra large fire extinguisher in the bedroom and another up by the drivers seat. While living full time in an RV you will burn through power more quickly than you ever expect. I am in the process of purchasing an RV and struggling with the fridge decision. When travelling with propane on to keep the fridge cool, does the DC power need to stay on and how about when you stop for the night boondogging. When its running, my post battery/pre-inverter amp meter registers about a 10amp draw from the batteries. Failure to maintain this level positioning can cause crystallization in the cooling coil, resulting in possibly shortening the units life. The results were 111 Ah average for 24 hrs. The fire will turn the ceiling into a broiler. Like set a goal for the budget of the boat 250K? Like your article I have a Fleetwood 44b bunk house. 9 Best Class C RVs With Outdoor Kitchens - Jeffsetter Travel 8 Best Class C RV Motorhome in 2023 (With Pictures) - CamperAdvise 7 Benefits of an RV Residential Refrigerator - TheRVgeeks.com Hello! on coming soon and on order units must be estimated and based on the manufacturers information provided to MHS at the time of order. None of the reviews stated how many people, in addition to the two individuals in the cab, could be passengers occupying seats having legal seatbelts. But as I said, no offense intendedwith any luck conversations like this might bring more attention to the preventable problem. I suspect one of the reasons your Ah are higher is my extra insulation. Something which isnt trendy or a show off and something you can depend on and was designed especially for RVS? In the real world, there is absolutely ZERO economic advantage to only discharging your batts to 50%. A replacement domestic costs nearly 3k. We have Forest River Forester 2501TS. Replacing RV Fridge with Residential Fridge - YouTube Ive been running solar for nearly 4yrs now and the only time my panels have ever needed cleaning off is during the winter, in cold climates, after a snow storm. As you can see I am not a newbee. We were unable to start our generator and had to jump start the generator in order to charge the batteries.In reading this article, it appears our rv is under powered to dry camp. I also bought four nearly new 100 ah batteries, 40 amp MTTP solar charge controller, two used residential (300 watt each) panels, and a 1500 watt inverter. Store fruits and vegetables in the spacious humidity controlled crisper. The rule of thumb I read for 100w solar panel is they would provide 30ah/day so with 960w you could provide 288ah/day. These units required extra batteries and inverters to meet the additional off-grid electric load. Other than the hot full sun in no shade, its performed well. You should have mentioned the View and Navion from Winnebago if you really want to talk about TOP 5!! We boondock once a month with a camping club. Huge Discounts on All New RVs Every Day! Plus, the Quantum has a floor plan with an outdoor kitchen. CPAP runs on 24 volts and is powered through 12 volt adapter with built in 24 volt inverter supplied with the unit. I will keep that in mind for the next review! First: you could use a smaller residential refrigerator. If not, many RV dealers may have a generic product that can fill the bill. Use the energy guides to determine whats best. We have a 2016 Sore Palazzo with a whirlpool residential fridge. Baloney! No part of any material on this website may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Motor Home Specialist. I have taken the precaution of installing an ARP 2.0 Refrigerator Failure prevention device and a fire extinguisher at the rear of the unit. it would be interesting to see just how much it uses just when the refrigerator is plugged in. We switched over to a GE 15.5 cubic foot, energy saver. Most of my travelling is done alone, with the exception of my dog, Sam. A no frills 60amp charge controller costs about $100 to $150 which leaves one with batteries and wiring as his final expenses. I also have a one side fridge and freezer on top. Famous for my "how-not-to" videos, and typically the man behind the camera, sometimes Im forced to be here in the spotlight. If your current rig has an RV-type absorption unit, you may wish to consider joining the many who have opted for upgrading to a residential model. We began to second guess if a residential fridge was really a good option for an RV or not. Another great article! We spent many hours looking on the Internet searching for the right RV for our 12 month trip around America and Canada. This unit has a super functional kitchen as well as a dinette and sofa seating area. I searched the USA for the best price and the best sales staff! But the whirlpool wouldnt be as durable or nice so that factors in, I wouldnt want an Rv fridge because they seem to be way more of a fire hazard than needed. Baloney! 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. Fred in Florida You also have the option of a dinette or a freestanding table with four chairs. You must add a detector that sniffs ammonia, ion changes, etc., if you insist on keeping an absorption fridge in your RV. When driving, the inverter will be supplying the needed AC power via the inverter. So now that ive debunked all of those big misconceptions, lets talk about fridges. Purchased a 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun class C 31foot long with a residential refrigerator. Hey Karen! We had a Norcold 1200 that was only 4 years old when it died. Payments based on 20.00% down, 7.99% interest, for 240 months OAC. My propane one is silent. New 2019 Holiday Rambler Augusta 30F Class C RV W/Ext TV, Residential Refrigerator M.S.R.P: $133,686 MHSRV Sale Price: $78,999 41% Discount $54,687 Savings Payments as low as: $551.00 (w.a.c)* Sold Window Sticker Floorplan Print Calculate Payment More of This Model Trade In Finance Contact PS: Conversely, I converted my propane hot water heater to an electric/propane hybrid-also to save on propane usage. 2019 Holiday Rambler Augusta 30F Class C RV W/Ext TV, Residential Winnebago Outlook Have you ever thought of testing one the Danfoss BD50F 12v compressor units? You (especially) could probably find a way to let the melted ice drain straight through to the outside. We had a good size battery bank but no solar. Therefore, we are now seeing a growing popularity of these electric-only refrigerators, not only in new coaches but as upgrades to existing units. Residential Fridges Full residential fridges have been standard on high-tiered coaches for many years and on"all-electric" builds (no propane onboard). Boondock for days on end. So batteries are now the only major expense in a solar power set up but lithiums last a decade or more, require virtually no maintenence, are exceedingly safe(lifepo4), can be charge cycled between 2000 & 10000 times(lead acid a max of 500), and can be discharged up to 90% without harming them. I put canned goods in its freezer area. Also, do not rule out cruising throughout the inland waterways of America. I am certain that after experiencing their hospitality and professionalism you will complete your purchase with them too. Everybody knows grey tanks fill up twice as fast as black tanks. Remove the hinge if it sticks out, as it's going to be a tight squeeze getting the frame out the door. This is further endorsed by the growing number of new motorhome purchasers that elect to go with this option in their vehicles. I have a 160 watt solar and now two six volt AGM batteries, it meets my needs for dry camping without a problem. Thx. For a full-size refrigerator at 90 d temperatures, it uses less than 100 amps per 24 hours. Thanks again to you both and good luck with your boat shopping! Thanks again and hope the boat is treating you well . We were able to dry camp all summer with very minimal generator use. I am currently debating on a second fridge for my camper cargo build since all i have is a tiny one in my suburban. This type of RV is usually on a truck chassis and has a gas or diesel engine. No part of any material on this web site may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Motor Home Specialist. Thanks for the motorhome data, There doesnt seem to be any new motorhome 25 or under in the 69,000 range . Then, there was the 15 amps, defrost cycle!!!. That way you could pretty easily install another panel without having to change your solar controller or upgrade the wiring. Sometimes it is nice to do without the essentials to truly appriecate what you have. modified sine inverters are also bad for most microwaves and computers too. Have you heard of any motorized tilting system yet? Instant gas-flame cooking Less dependent on the power grid or generator to recharge batteries Better form of energy for extended dry camping Non-lp-gas, All-Electric Motorhome Advantages: More space in the basement with no need for an LP-gas tank bay Safer non-explosive or flammable cooking fuel Ability to have an induction cook top stove I have wondered what you guys do with all that power from the lithium system you have. Deciding between aResidential Refrigeratoror anRV 2-Way or 3-Way Fridgein a motorhome is a no brainerat first glance. And the two exterior doors allows you to access the freezer or the refrigeration compartment. I have seen panel read about 25 amps and up to 30 someting. 4 days into our staying in the RV it stopped cooling. They were able to use reasonably size wiring at 120v ac through a plug in cable between the truck and trailer. Hello we are getting ready to buy a nitro 36T15 5th wheel with the decision to make on the refrigerator. I wish there was a simple answer to give you, but its all based on too many variables. We have the same fridge as you in our Renegade Verona, and Thanks to your recommendations we are now up to 800ah of deep cycle AGM batteries. Pick residential. In summary, I highly recommend MHS as the place to start your RV purchase. The chassis helps keep drivers safe with attention assist, lane-keeping assist, collision prevention assist, and load adaptive electronic stability (ESP). You can see the process and there are links to the components in this post: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/rv-solar-install-guide. The bathroom has a separate shower, which is a useful feature that would be good for a family. We dry camp about 3-4 days at a time, this set-up should be fine for us. All materials are copyrighted by Motor Home Specialist (MHSRV.com). This Whirlpool 10.7 cu. It was simply an awesome way for me to feel good about buying new when I normally would not. Its true that if you permit your batts to do twice the work, theyll only last half as long no different from anything else. Norcold Polar Series 8 cu.ft. $1,310.97 $1,799.99. All meals were planned and we packed it with the next meal ingredients on top. Which in your opinion would be better a traditional 2 way, 3 way or an AC/DC. This model has three floor plans so you can find one that fits you and your family. ft. freezer capacity give you room to store frozen foods. A hydraulic leveling system provides easy set-up while the interior maximizes space and includes handcrafted cabinets with extra deep drawers, high-grade linoleum flooring and premium furnishings. Then we would set the thermostat back to normal cool for the rest of the day. One thing that surprised me, was how much power our DTV receivers and dvr draw. Since I wanted to conserve my propane for heating in the winter and propane is expensive here(I live in Maine), I used my RV fridge at 120v. Jennifer specializes in topics such as Lifestyle, van life, campgrounds features, destination features, and product lists. RVs that have minimal kitchen counter space are not useful to people who are full timing. 2023 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. It really adds up. I think as much as you guys do for all of us readers and followers you should make a donations gauge for your boat. None of the above issues. temperature adjustment ranges: 29.8-52.4. We live in our RV now. If there is sun is it running off the sun does it convert ? Less Maintenance But that was all erased when I drove on to the MHSRV lot. AND I can heat my water totally via solar power for free. Some variation of this would probably also work on your future catamaran. DISCLAIMER: Do your research first though so you have some input on your power needs, etc. Several of the reviews mentioned that the coach could sleep more than two people, in one case as many as six. 30.1, our salesman worked with us to get us the best offer for our trade-in. Ive also not seen propane-option refrigerators on boats very often, I assume the frequent motion inhibits operation and may be a safety issue? You can add more solar or add more batteriesor both. ALL weights, measurements, sizes, etc. Check out a few of these 2021 Class C RV models. Approximately $165 Million Dollars to Choose From. Dont know where to go for info. 5 Best Class C RV Floor Plans For Full-Timers | Camper Report Then goes thru the 24 hour restart cycle. We can only imagine the amount of time and effort it takes. There are programs that teach you how to use and drive your RV, theyre surprisingly affordable. 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). Residential Refrigerator in RV, is it worth installing? ( I mean RV ). I have been running solely on 120Vac because my new 3000 Magnum Hybrid is. This is so much obviously better than the energy use of my RVs built in fridge that I never even bothered to measure the built in fridges energy use. Not bad. The OBanion family is the best. Jayco owners love the Greyhawk model for its ample storage and homey comfortability. If youre working with an RV service center to make this change or if this is a DIY project there are several expenses to consider. How to Use Your RV Residential Refrigerator and Inverter | La Mesa RV AM Solar did the install and did a wonderful job. 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? I love that the View 24Ds but I am curious how practical they are for full time living since carrying capacity and towing capacities are not the highest. Keep up the good work. We are seriously committed offgridders and run our original RV reefer on propane. We find the build quality of the little View to be every bit as good as the much pricier and much larger luxury Class A Entegra. I love the residential fridge. Those results were 100 Ah average for 24 hrs. The Samsung came with the coach/installed by Fleetwood. As its name says, Winnebago Minnie Winnie is a compact and small RV with a small layout of 23 in length. 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. How to Use Your RV Residential Refrigerator and Inverter | La Mesa RV La Mesa RV 11.2K subscribers Subscribe 153 61K views 8 years ago Visit our website at http://lamesarv.com/ This. Hey Steve, that is a great point! However, the popular Samsung RF18 residential refrigerator does not require a pure sine inverter. Driveability is certainly one positive. Tiffin Wayfarer 25 TW Great for road-tripping with friends, 5. Even an engine fire is only likely to occur while traveling and, then, you are awake and have a great chance of escaping. Two comments Id like to make. Very newbies and very nervous. Thanks for the suggestion. . Swivel seats are awesome and in some cases, a relatively easy DIY project. 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. I am not sure about you, but I am okay with working used equipment, which can save me a lot of money. Thanks for your articles.. Hey Bill, thanks for your comment. Class C RVs have varying towing capacities but most can tow a separate car so you can leave the motorhome when parked. We are rolling in a 2014 Excursion with the residential fridge. Nope! I cant decide if it is worth the money to pay extra to get this fridge or to just stay with the standard one . When the time came to build our custom designed Bounder we had the choice again. The Norcold has worked flawlessly, in the two years that Ive owned the coach. They have the cab-over profile that usually boasts a bed or additional storage. 26' For Sale - Class C Motorhomes - Class C RVs Near Me - RV Trader My husband and I have been researching RV living full-time and I had no idea how many little details there are to consider. 1. You know they make portable ice makers now for around a hundred dollars. You can get awesome, used panels for half that price as well. The receivers actually get very warm to the touch even when off. However, our minds changed a bit when we hit that first wild camping spot and we decided to park under a canopy of trees. Most RVs feature one of two types of refrigerators two-way or three-way: A 2-way RV refrigerator gives the user the option of running the fridge using either AC power (shore power or generator) or LP gas. Overall, we are really happy with our setup. Unfortunately the RV major brands dont carry something the would fit my current 4 door 2 way unit cabinet hole. 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