Travato refrigerator

To be honest, I have no idea the cost differences between compressor and absorption refrigerators. One could get by with two AGM batteries with a compressor refrigerator which would essentially give you about one batteries' worth of use for everything else. It would probably require a little supplemental help with solar. Mind you it was erip that said, "...why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are." I didn't say it.

Yeah.We should be castigating Winnebago for not using compressor fridges because they are cheaper as well as more efficient than three way fridges, but that would require lots more batteries and thought. BTW. Doesn;t Leisure Travel Vans use this same fridge in their (evil) Class b+s ? Last time I checked ; they are not very cheap. P.S. I would rather be Bill Gates rich if given a choice.

erip wrote:
With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

I wish I were Romney rich. I've researched and selected the closest fit possible twice already and I thought at the time I did all right. All it gets you is a frustration and longing for the next RV, IMO. So, not factoring the practicality of the cost or ROI I decided at least one more time to see how close I could get to an optimum RV. I do only want a Class B. I'm not looking for anything bigger. I suppose I could have spent more and joined the ranks of the Class A owners. That will never happen. My design aesthetic sensibilities simply would not let me to ever consider a Class C.

You're changing the argument but I don't quite understand. Why are you not then castigating Winnebago for putting in a 3-way or not giving you an option for a compressor frig? Also, it doesn't change the fact the Travato is using a generation old technology most every other company has moved on from for 3-way refrigerators. You were the one that pointed out the drawback in not being able to restart the refrigerator while driving down the road when it went off.

Anyway, there is a very good reason for a 3-way. If you have propane on board your propane would be a very expensive proposition if you didn't take advantage of it. Other than a half hour to heat hot water our propane only goes to running the refrigerator on most days. The absorption DC side is a battery eater. That leaves you searching electrical hookups.

There are still plenty of people that want an absorption/lp powered fridge. Me being one of them.

This is the first one I've had with the "manual" start. I thought it was odd too, but I suspect that it's not that way due to cost cutting. This unit apparently is used in Europe, so I suppose it adheres to their standards.

Other than the start tech, this appears to be a very nice fridge, from a leading supplier (Dometic).

And yes, I'm a Travato and a Promaster fan. And I bought one, so I'm familiar with the truth about them. It just seems that someone is always trying to start something negative about them for some reason. It doesn't take to many posts for people to perceive there is a "problem", when none really exists. That is why I responded.

erip wrote:
With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

erip-Davydd's not the one making the original post. Having said that 3 way fridges are yesterdays technology even if they keep getting improved. modern compressor rv refrigerators have low amp draws are the better way to go-although they can be noisier.

Most Roadtreks and sportmobiles and Advance rv have gone to compressor fridge. mine will have a compressor fridge also.all roadtrek sprinter models have them and i've been informed today that the Roadtrek 190 will have compressor as special order option

With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

Sorry guys but you can design and size a refrigerator any way you want when you start from scratch with a new RV. That argument is just rationalizing not putting in an auto-ignition 3-way. Does anyone else still currently offer a Class B refrigerator you have to hold down a button to light it?

The fridge in the travato wasn't chosen for price it was chosen for size/dimensions. Some people who chose a travato, chose it for the floorplan, and the fact that its the first promaster rv already available. I myself am not interested in yet another couch across the back that folds down, tiny bathroom, unnecessary overpriced corian countertopped b van, so i didn't need to wait for pleasureway to recyle a lexor into a promaster. Seems as tho if people have issues or concerns about their RV's, its fair game for the armchair critics to come in and trash a product.

I think the fridge is chosen for it's dimensions and not it's price. All rv fridges are expensive for what you get.

I had thought manual ignition of three-way absorption refrigerators had gone away. That's what I had in my 2005 Pleasure-way Plateau and elated with auto-ignition on my 2011 Great West Van Legend. Erip reminded me of the frustration of discovering a refrigerator warming up because it went off running on propane as well as the alternative of many times forgetting to take it off the DC during daytime stops and coming back to hearing a low battery chirping sound. It seemed you couldn't win either way. You learn to manage. One way was to put a remote digital temperature sensor in the refrigerator if you run on propane while driving so you could monitor from the cab.

If you want to buy a new B at the lowest industry price you have to understand there are reasons for that price, the refrigerator being one of many. That's a decision you have to understand.