Residential fridge

Many companies that offer res fridges also include an inverter to convert DC to AC for the fridge. You should find out if you have one and how to use it.

Your new rig came with an inverter. Did you turn it on? Perhaps it is time to get out that big pack of information that came with the unit and read.

Fulltimer50 wrote:
Many companies that offer res fridges also include an inverter to convert DC to AC for the fridge. You should find out if you have one and how to use it.

I'm by no means a expert, but I would bet that if you do not have enough power input to the inverter you can't get enough to power the fridge.
I have a little inverter that plugs into lighter socket. Plugged in the outlet in sleeper, it would not start my coffee grinder. Move up to outlet on dash, warning squeal, but would grind the beans. When I put a outlet hooked up to the heavy wires of the tarp motor switch, could charge laptop, Dustbuster, and grind the beans.
A friend would freeze a couple blocks of ice before he traveled. Move 1 to fridge to help it stay cold, move the fridge stuff that really needed cold to freezer

That is the downer to residential fridges! If you stay put for long periods, and only move occasionally then they are great! Now, if your on the move a lot, your going to have to become an “expert” on batteries, and inverters. Starting with the alternators, yes plural. In your truck. Did your rig come with an inverter? What size is it, does it power more than the fridge? Perhaps, you need to upgrade it, or add one if not present? What is the amp rating on your house batteries? Typically, the factory ships their rigs without batteries, which are provided by the dealer at the time of sale. Again, they typically install the smallest, cheapest batteries they can get away with providing! Some people install a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries, to ensure they are providing enough amps to run things! That would then require, looking at your charging systems, both in the trailer, and in your truck, keeping the batteries charged! Yep a residential fridge can become an expensive option, if you outfit your truck and rig to support it! Good luck!

Adequate batteries and a strong solar system should be considered. Otherwise you’ll continue to be tethered to RV parks with electricity or running your generator often. RV retailers and manufacturers are doing “fridge newbies” no favors by not explaining the downsides of electric fridges.

I’ve got a resi fridge, with an inverter and 2 golf GC6 batteries and it does great, and would not have an RV fridge after this. But we are in the southeast, and there really aren’t places to boondock.

I’ve spent 12 hours on the road, and the fridge was still running, and the batteries still had a good charge. The charge from the truck doesn’t keep up, but definitely extends the range.

Find your inverter and turn it on before you leave and you’ll be in good shape.

I have a residential fridge with n 800 W inverter and I would never go back to the old RV type fridge. I have driven 13 hours with no issues. The truck alt will keep the batteries charged with no problem.

I do have two 6V golf cart batteries in the 5er and I do not boondock.

There you have it. Bigger battery bank and solar. Charge those batteries to 100% BEFORE you leave the house. Get thet fridge as cols as possible BEFORE you leave the house.

Don't let the nay sayers discourage. Residential fridge is the bomb, unless you camp off the grid a lot. You do need to turn the inverter on however, and is probably what you didn't do. I leave ours on all the time, it will switch to shore power automatically.

We have an inverter that keeps our 23 cubic foot frig perfect. The truck charges the fiver batteries which in turn keep the inverter working at max level. We have thousands of miles on this fiver and we have never had a problem. We will never go back to the standard rv frig.