Getting Rid of a Residential Refrigerator

To the contrary. See 4/20/2015 7:41 a.m.

Even after several requests you still haven't posted WHY/WHAT problems/issues you read/heard about residential fridges.

I've heard/read all about absorption fridge issues/concerns and about how glorious it is going to residential but nothing about problems/issues with residential fridges EXCEPT your one post.

SO again..........WHAT have you heard/read that makes residential fridge such a wrong concept? Or is it just because?

Ask us some technical questions. The converstions seem to go better that way.
Most of us believe that each owner has to decide which is the best choice for them. Me, I don't want to go to the trouble and expense of getting rid of my Norcold 1200. But, if I had the money to buy a new 45 ft luxury coach I would probably go "all electric" with residential-type refrigerator/freezer.

Well, OP phrasing did succeed in stimulating a lot of conversation, you'll have to give me that. ;-)

The most economical solution is to just keep my Jayco Melbourne 29D. But one of my motivations has been to go to something that has a much larger propane tank. (Not to mention all 4 of the other tanks). Oh, the irony of THAT!

Chas,

I think what you are finding is what you did not expect. Many folks do not agree that an absorbtion fridge is better than a RR. Many think the RR is better with the correct setup. Yes. Depending on how you use it and setup to use it, an absorbtion is better than an RR. Now you say that solar is too complex. I do not get that you would rather pay out the nose for an absorbtion and gas retrofit, vs a solar install. Yes there is a fee up front but so is your gas retrofit. It is no more complicated and there are a number of folks here that will be glad to help you understand solar. Solar, just like gas is a set and forget, but without the gas line may be less dangerous.

Your mind is as made up as everyone else. Maybe it is because you see it from your perspective. I know, "Ya think."

Try over at the link below. There are several that bought with RR installed, a few that are happy that they changed to an RR (including battery upgrade) and some that intend to make the change, still.
http://www.tiffinrvnetwork.com/forum/

Now, I am not saying that an absorbtion is not the right choice for you. I am saying that your OP stated an issue that is not wholely accepted by the community and there are some really smart cookies posting their knowledge on this thread.

Good luck.

Certainly seems that way. I was in RV dealership this morning and saw a rather large 5th wheel in the showroom. Climbed inside and - amazing! - it had a 12cuft LG residential fridge. I should have asked eager salesman if it had a generator installed in it. . . Seems like it would have to, but . . .

We heat with propane, we cook with electric
There are plenty of shops around
Too me it seems nobody else has done what you want to do
Buy a brand new RV of a specific model, and then retro grade to a propane fridge
Your in New territory where no man has gone before
There has to be a first for everything, and for this idea, it looks like it is you..
You have a choice be adventurous
Or purchase a different RV
We can't give you info we don't have
Anything can be attempted if you spend enough time money and energy, in many cases it can be accomplished
The point is ...is it worth it, and are you willing to live with results, if it doesn't turn out the way you want it to.
You seem to have picked a project idea, that nobody else has attempted, you are the first we know of, that's wants to do this
Many have bought a.specific RV to get a residential fridge, or bought a. RV to have an lp fridge, but it seems nobody has bought residential and changed to l.p.

Hi,

I heat nearly 100% electrically.
I cook nearly 100% electrically.
Water heating nearly 100% electrically.

Why? Because cost to do so is nearly zero when in a campground. For boondocking solar and the alternator provide most of my needs.

Propane for the items is a back up source only.

What I had been hoping for was to elicit info on a shop somewhere in Central U.S. that is skilled in making these conversions, has developed something of a reputation for doing upgrades of various kinds.

What remains unclear to me is what exactly makes the RR's so appealing. Why, especially if given a choice, someone would want one. I mean, if you are going to be hauling around 30 gallons of propane anyway . . . Propane is an excellent store of energy. Or do you guys put in electric furnaces, water heaters, and cook tops too?

Coach manufactures are building rigs based on market demand. Remember when air conditioning in a car was not available, then optional and now you can't get a car without one. Same with the RV industry. Not that many years back a residential fridge first became an optional but increasingly new buyers were excising the option until a point came that production count topped more than 50% and the builders shifted the specs from optional, to standard configuration. I suspect they dropped the option for an absorption fridge to reduce production line costs and logistics. If think even with additional battery capacity, inverter and other support hardware the costs difference at a whole sale level are not much different maybe even a bit of savings with a residential.

For the OP, running thru my mind the conversion, regardless of the reasons why, I really don't think it would be very difficult for a confident DIY owner to undertake. Cut holes to install the vents, which are prefabricated and available. The gas line is nothing more that black pipe and a bit of flex at the fridge. 12 gauge romax wire for AC from the breaker panel and 16 gauge from the DC fuse panel. A bit of new trim and done. Hardest part is designing an efficient flue to vent heat and getting the new trim to match what is already there.

Can't help but wonder what the first forum posting by an owner looking to swap the absorption fridge to a residential model looked like. Probably a reverse of these postings. Lots of "Are you nuts", "The sky is falling", "It will never work, we're all going to die".