Forum Discussion

Diamond_c's avatar
Oct 17, 2021

Residential fridge

We just bought a new Montana 5th wheel with a residential fridge. We have only been on one trip with in but so far I’m not a fan. It works fine but I’m use to switching to gas while on the road and this one is electric only. It’s supposed to pull juice from my truck but I’m not sure that is. My son in law says my truck is doing what it’s supposed to ( I’m not sure if he knows what he’s doing or not ) but after 3 1/2 hrs on the road the stuff in the fridge was starting to warm up a little. What am I doing wrong?
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.