Sorry if this is an old topic. I didn't find too much on a search. With the big push (it seems) for residential refrigerators in new Class A's, I wonder what some are experiencing when camping without electric hook-ups.It was such an issue for us, we opted to special order a dual power traditional (gas/electric) unit. I say "issue", but really a potential issue I wasn't willing to take a gamble on. Our dealer said Winnebago was one of the few manufacturer's remaining who would offer the dual power fridge as an option. Not sure if I was being fed a line.

So few MH owners actually dry camp I guess the Mfgs feel its a non issue. It should be up to the buyer to make the decision just like you did. As for a residental refer, it does take power when running, but how often does it need to cool on a typical day?

Try these posts. If you want more, search 'residential.'Surprised you haven't seen discussions on this in 15 years.

Thanks 2oldman, I just realized I limited my search to class a only. Oh, and although I have been on the forum for 15 years, to be honest, I haven't visited it much in the last 5 or 10.

Just fire up the genny and recharge the batteries periodically

steved28 wrote:Sorry if this is an old topic. I didn't find too much on a search. With the big push (it seems) for residential refrigerators in new Class A's, I wonder what some are experiencing when camping without electric hook-ups.It was such an issue for us, we opted to special order a dual power traditional (gas/electric) unit. I say "issue", but really a potential issue I wasn't willing to take a gamble on. Our dealer said Winnebago was one of the few manufacturer's remaining who would offer the dual power fridge as an option. Not sure if I was being fed a line.RV fridges are still found in lower end units and especially in cheap TT's. I imagine with a new special order, you can have most anything you want, except that many Coaches are without propane these days, as well.Longevity of use on an inverter, depends on battery bank size, so depends, but there's always the genset for charging them up on a daily basis and even two batteries should last all night. Not with an RV fridge though and even though we run ours on the inverter, when traveling without the gen running, we use propane for extended periods.

Residential fridge and dry camping | Good Sam Community

48 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 22, 2018
Adequate to large solar and adequate to large battery bank. No more leveling worries.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2018
Residential fridges can be done when dry camping with adequate batteries and solar panels. Class As and 5ers are about the only ones that have the roof space and weight carrying capacity. For the inexperienced residential fridges sound great but when the camper grows he/she seeks new adventures outside of private RV parks IMO. Anything to make a sale.
jorbill2or
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2018
The New Models actually sip power (Equivalent to a 100 watt bulb on 24/7) and the addition of 2 or 300 watts of solar offset the use,assuming a adequate battery for nights according to most that I talked to in Quartsite last year
tropical36
Explorer
Sep 22, 2018
steved28 wrote:
Sorry if this is an old topic. I didn't find too much on a search.
With the big push (it seems) for residential refrigerators in new Class A's, I wonder what some are experiencing when camping without electric hook-ups.

It was such an issue for us, we opted to special order a dual power traditional (gas/electric) unit. I say "issue", but really a potential issue I wasn't willing to take a gamble on.

Our dealer said Winnebago was one of the few manufacturer's remaining who would offer the dual power fridge as an option. Not sure if I was being fed a line.

RV fridges are still found in lower end units and especially in cheap TT's. I imagine with a new special order, you can have most anything you want, except that many Coaches are without propane these days, as well.
Longevity of use on an inverter, depends on battery bank size, so depends, but there's always the genset for charging them up on a daily basis and even two batteries should last all night. Not with an RV fridge though and even though we run ours on the inverter, when traveling without the gen running, we use propane for extended periods.
azdryheat
Explorer
Sep 22, 2018
Just fire up the genny and recharge the batteries periodically
steved28
Explorer
Sep 22, 2018
Thanks 2oldman, I just realized I limited my search to class a only. Oh, and although I have been on the forum for 15 years, to be honest, I haven't visited it much in the last 5 or 10.
2oldman
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2018
Try these posts. If you want more, search 'residential.'

Surprised you haven't seen discussions on this in 15 years.
donn0128
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2018
So few MH owners actually dry camp I guess the Mfgs feel its a non issue. It should be up to the buyer to make the decision just like you did. As for a residental refer, it does take power when running, but how often does it need to cool on a typical day?

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Residential fridge and dry camping

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