New fifth wheel refrigerators

Halmfamily wrote:
We looked at the option of having a residential fridge in our new fiver but couldn't justify the $2000 upgrade. The units would come with a 1200 watt inverter and two batteries per Forest River.

As for staying cold for three days with no power to it there's no way. If you pack it full of ice I could see that. This is another reason I don't shop with a sales person I can't believe half of what they're saying.

Go luck and happy shopping.

A $2000 up charge for a residential fridge is astounding seeing as they cost less then a Dometic equivalent ,in fact a replacement Nevercold is around $3500 and a Samsug is around a $1000.
So they save not installing a Norcold ($3500) and then ding you another $2000 ,and then install a Samsung - for what $1500 including a bank of batteries and a inverter?
Good deal for them I say.

It looks to me like more and more design decisions are requiring shore power or the increased use of generators. A trend that I am not happy with.

I have one and doubt it can run for that long period without recharging the batteries. However, i love the space and not having to defrost it.

Arizcowboy wrote:

Halmfamily wrote:
We looked at the option of having a residential fridge in our new fiver but couldn't justify the $2000 upgrade. The units would come with a 1200 watt inverter and two batteries per Forest River.

As for staying cold for three days with no power to it there's no way. If you pack it full of ice I could see that. This is another reason I don't shop with a sales person I can't believe half of what they're saying.

Go luck and happy shopping.

. Halmfamily do you have the forest river 360 that is the model that I'm looking at . With the residential frig the 2015 came with only one battery . And if I wanted more I had to install . Thanks for everyone's input

When I spoke with a FR rep he said two batteries came with unit and the dealer also said this. I wasn't even going to consider it with two batteries. I ended finding a 360 on a lot in Georgia without the residential fridge. The new Domestic is now 9cf and with the.second fridge in the outdoor kitchen they would provide sufficient room.

I was also told the only way to get the residential fridge was by ordering the package that had point leveling and some other items. In total it was over $4000. Too much for me.to justify the cost.

You'll love the 360/its a great unit.

Sure do not believe everything Dealers tell you. Nobody here has yet answered the Op's Question.
He was asking People who have had Experience with this Setup what they have found to be the case.
He was not asking for Opinions from People who have not. If you have not had Experience with this Setup all you can offer is an Opinion that may or may not be accurate.
I have had the same Thing happen to me on this Forum. I hear from everyone with an Opinion as to why something may not work according to their Opinion, but my Question fails to get answered, or if it does, I have to wade through a Ton of Garbage to find it.
Then when I point out that I only want Feedback from People with actual Experience instead of Opinions, someone gets offended.
It has gotten so bad that sometimes I am reluctant to even ask a Question in the first Place.

Hi,

Residential fridges are FAR more efficient than their absorption cousins.

Residential do have a start up surge, but after that is past, they use less energy than a light bulb.

In perfect solar conditions, it would take about 700 watts of solar to power an absorption fridge on the electric setting. A residential could be run on about 300 watts.

Hi sail,

I have one of these devices to be installed in the spring. It should take care of the leveling problem.

http://www.arprv.com/

sail2liv wrote:
is level all the time.....just curious if anyone has met above criteria...I know ones that are not level...have short lifespan.......temp in trailer runs 45-80 95% or more of the time.....

Brockinfla wrote:
The dealers aren't saying the residential fridges will run on batt for three days.

They are saying that once fridge is brought down to set cool temp can maintain some level of cool while not being powered for three days. Which is just a load of garbage. To be true the ambient outside temp would need to be about 50 degrees and you couldn't open the doors for the three days.

It's a simple residential 110 volt fridge. Not a magical cold box. Unplug your home fridge and watch and record how long it stays cold inside.

The drawbacks to a residential fridges in RV's is for all that beautiful cubic feet of space it uses significantly more power. If you dry camp / boondock much get ready for significant capital investment in additional battery and solar charging , generator solutions.

If youre camping from full hookup site to full hookup site then the residential fridge may be an attractive upgrade.

Exactly.

If you want a reason to switch to a residential fridge, Google the lawsuits against Dometic and Norcold because of fires. Granted they are far and few between, but the possibility does exsist. Just some interesting reading.

For just 2 people I don't see why a reg 12cuft RV fridge wouldn't work.
Also would putting a decent size solar panel on the roof would help the dedicated fridge batteries if boondocking? Seems to me that would be the way to go if someone wants the res fridge.