Residential Fridge Yay or Nay?

Glad I found this discussion. We have an older 37ft 5th wheel with a newer Norcold side by side fridge/freezer that was recently added for about $3000. The circuit board failed so $500 later it works but not the ice machine or water dispenser. Now it's acting up again so my next move will be a residential fridge. We don't boondock so power hook up is a given. Glad so many are happy with the res. fridge. I'm next.

full_mosey wrote:

tomthyme wrote:
Hello Folks,
Many of the new larger 5th wheels these days are equipped with electric only residential fridges. While a nice feature on shore power, it poses some limitations to boon docking or non-powered overnights due to battery drain.

What do you guys think of this feature? We don't really boon dock so it may never be an issue for us, but I am curious what you folks think.

Thanks
Tom

toedtoes;

The OP above may be looking at getting a new FW. Maybe I misunderstood the post. OP is AWOL since posting. Could be trolling. Could be in hospital.

Are you suggesting that tomthyme should be looking for a 42yo RV because your 42yo fridge still works?

What do you think that may be related to the OP?

HTH;
John

No, what I am saying is to go with the type of fridge that you prefer and not what someone else says fits their own personal style.

As I mentioned above, a residential fridge would increase my electrical usage by 50-100 times what I use now. I don't have a generator or solar or multiple batteries. If my fridge broke, I would replace it with another propane fridge because it fits MY needs not because folks on an internet forum say it is better because it is new technology.

If a residential fridge fits the OP's usage better, then a residential fridge is better for him. But that doesn't make a residential fridge better by default for everyone.

These types of discussions remind me of pixel peepers on camera forums - all this attention on minute things (one pixel is bad; it uses 23 watts not 24 watts; etc.) - when what really matters is whether you are happy with the end product.

tomthyme wrote:
Hello Folks,
Many of the new larger 5th wheels these days are equipped with electric only residential fridges. While a nice feature on shore power, it poses some limitations to boon docking or non-powered overnights due to battery drain.

What do you guys think of this feature? We don't really boon dock so it may never be an issue for us, but I am curious what you folks think.

Thanks
Tom

toedtoes;

The OP above may be looking at getting a new FW. Maybe I misunderstood the post. OP is AWOL since posting. Could be trolling. Could be in hospital.

Are you suggesting that tomthyme should be looking for a 42yo RV because your 42yo fridge still works?

What do you think that may be related to the OP?

HTH;
John

Lantley wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
A campfire is even older than the "system that was new circa 1976 (42 years), prior to most modern innovation", but that doesn't mean an induction cooker will work as well to sit around outside in the evening.

Some things do exactly what they need to do regardless of all the newer stuff that was designed to replace them. If you wish to stay somewhere with no electricity, and don't want to mess with generators, and/or solar power, a gas fridge will work much, much better than a brandy new residential fridge. Newer is not necessarily better, sometimes it's just newer.

Well said.

This is kinda what I am thinking. I just ordered another 338RETS Jayco (which is our current trailer but is 4 years old. I thought about the loss of the pantry and the need for a rolling island that would be required. I thought about the extra room in the 12 cu footer and the the residential one. I thought and thought then my Wife said .... We've never needed more then what we have and we go everywhere for months at a time why change. She was right. I question those that are not weekenders or not using their trailer as a park model just how much do you really need this fridge that is like the one in your house??? We are fridge smart and don't need room for beer , just a little ice please.

Planning wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
Well, considering that my propane fridge is still running after 42 years, I'm not going to worry about it.

Two different paradigms are in play here. You are happy using a system that was new circa 1976 (42 years), prior to most modern innovation. The premise of flat screen satellite TV, the internet, mobile hand-held connectivity, unlimited hot water, etc had not yet been introduced to the RV customer.

Indeed, no one will find fault if you are happy using that anachronistic model, but it is not current technology.

I try to maintain the context of current/extant technology and the fluid dynamic of RV usage. If someone were asking about telephones, I would not refer that person to a non-portable, rotary-dialed party line device. Even though they worked well in their day, it is no longer "their day".

It's amazing how many things we use that are far older than 42 years and regardless of it being "old technology", it is still efficient and trustworthy. I don't need to replace something that works great just because its technology is old.

Again, get the type fridge you prefer. It's a personal choice not a one is inherently better than the other decision.

It seems to be the newer bigger units that seem to fail more often. The 8 and 6 cubic foot Norcolds and Dometics seem to stand up better. That is also why some switch to the residential when the 12 and 14 foot Norcolds failed. They can go to a 18 to 22 foot residential and stick it in the same space. Although having said that, we always seemed to not have enough space with our Norcold 12 cubic foot. Now that we have a 22 cubic foot Whirlpool...we still don't seem to have enough space. :)

Our Norcold caught on fire in year 8. That was 7 years ago. We hope to get 10 years with our whirlpool. If it lasts longer great. If not we'll spend another 1000 bucks and hopefully go another 10 years. That would put our coach at 28 years old. :) Actually we are trading down in about 5 to 6 when we retire and stop snowbirding in the US. Maybe it will last that long. :)

fj12ryder wrote:
A campfire is even older than the "system that was new circa 1976 (42 years), prior to most modern innovation", but that doesn't mean an induction cooker will work as well to sit around outside in the evening.

Some things do exactly what they need to do regardless of all the newer stuff that was designed to replace them. If you wish to stay somewhere with no electricity, and don't want to mess with generators, and/or solar power, a gas fridge will work much, much better than a brandy new residential fridge. Newer is not necessarily better, sometimes it's just newer.

Well said.

A campfire is even older than the "system that was new circa 1976 (42 years), prior to most modern innovation", but that doesn't mean an induction cooker will work as well to sit around outside in the evening.

Some things do exactly what they need to do regardless of all the newer stuff that was designed to replace them. If you wish to stay somewhere with no electricity, and don't want to mess with generators, and/or solar power, a gas fridge will work much, much better than a brandy new residential fridge. Newer is not necessarily better, sometimes it's just newer.

toedtoes wrote:
Well, considering that my propane fridge is still running after 42 years, I'm not going to worry about it.

Two different paradigms are in play here. You are happy using a system that was new circa 1976 (42 years), prior to most modern innovation. The premise of flat screen satellite TV, the internet, mobile hand-held connectivity, unlimited hot water, etc had not yet been introduced to the RV customer.

Indeed, no one will find fault if you are happy using that anachronistic model, but it is not current technology.

I try to maintain the context of current/extant technology and the fluid dynamic of RV usage. If someone were asking about telephones, I would not refer that person to a non-portable, rotary-dialed party line device. Even though they worked well in their day, it is no longer "their day".

toedtoes wrote:


Well, considering that my propane fridge is still running after 42 years, I'm not going to worry about it.

Not one of the newer ones. I hope it runs forever. Put it in your will.

HTH;
John