No Generator

Technobody wrote:
I don't think a regular refrigerator would be wise in a fifth wheel.

I think you're swimming against the stream on this one unless you're a boondocker. The market seems to be moving to residential fridges, especially in the mid and upper line 5th wheels, because of customer demand. Personally, I've had enough of failed cooling units (Dometic AND Norcold), fridge fires (although we haven't lost an RV, 2 friends have), poor cooling, etc. We love the residential fridge in our new 5th wheel, and a lot of them are being sold that way. The residential fridge is standard equipment in many mid and upper range 5th wheels.

Aside from the coach batteries and inverter, bear in mind that the batteries are being augmented by the tow vehicle's batteries and alternator via the +12VDC feed to the trailer during travel. We've never had a battery or fridge problem with our residential fridge/PSW inverter setup. We do have 2 Yamaha EF2000is generators running in parallel available in the truck bed if supplemental charging or running 1 A/C for pre-cooling of the RV is desired.

Rusty

I have an Energizer 2.8 Kw inverter generator which can run our refrigerator and A/C at the same time. I don't think a regular refrigerator would be wise in a fifth wheel. Okay in a class A which has an on-board generator which can run all the time. It would take a pretty good sized battery bank and inverter to support a residential refrigerator full time. I would think that weight and space would be a considerable consideration.
IMHO

gronskis wrote:
If, by 'residential', you mean a refrigerator which runs on AC only, you are headed for trouble. I doubt that any 'residential' refrigerator would have a battery option, but, in any event, forget about running any refrigerator off the batteries (whether the unit is being towed, or is stationary). You won't be happy. The refrigerator MUST have a propane option, and it will run off the propane automatically whenever the RV is not plugged into AC. I expect your Class A option would operate In the same manner.

Residential fridges in RVs run off an inverter. Not a very good option if you are into dry camping a lot. So yes, a generator might be a necessary tool to have.

A good feature of these fridges is they do keep cool longer if you don't open the door.

We have 2 6v batts. They will last less than a day (to 50%) with our residential fridge on. Not a problem if you plug in each night, or one night without electric when traveling.

We also have about 200W solar so we can limp along a little longer if necessary. Res fridges do a good job holding temp also if the inverter isn't on but the fridge isn't opened.

If, by 'residential', you mean a refrigerator which runs on AC only, you are headed for trouble. I doubt that any 'residential' refrigerator would have a battery option, but, in any event, forget about running any refrigerator off the batteries (whether the unit is being towed, or is stationary). You won't be happy. The refrigerator MUST have a propane option, and it will run off the propane automatically whenever the RV is not plugged into AC. I expect your Class A option would operate In the same manner.

Pretty easy, you carry a generator with you. There are many different styles out there. Some heavy some lighter and you need to decide how large you need to go watt wise. I have been using a Polaris 2800 for over 10 years and it has done us VERY well but now with a bigger 5er it is going to be too small. My solution is going to either be 2 Honda EU2000's wired in parallel or 2 champions wired the same. Both are small enough to carry and have enough together to power everything except the second AC all at once.

Chris