Prepping Fridge For Trip

yes, you need the battery power. Just running refer you should be able to go several days.
Running off 120 volts from the house would savepropane. Propane would cool it faster.
Two days prior to trip should get it down whether propane or 120 volt power.
Recommend putting some items in refer. Bottles of water would suffice.

Above^^^^^^
Turn fridge temp setting to MAX
12 hours and you should be able to start loading fridge up with PRE-FROZEN Items and PRE-CHILLED Items


PLUS.....level the trailer when running fridge while stationary
Off level WILL cause damage that is accumulative and PERMANENT

Yes you can do all that. Takes 12 to 24 hours to get cold. But honesly I don't bother anymore with the precooling. Just turn it on, load with cold food and beer and go. By the time it matters all will be chilled just fine. I primarily just use the propane.

Provided you have a fully charged battery in good shape, It should last a few day's without issue. But then you are starting your trip with a less than fully charged battery. Your best action would be to plug it in if you can.

I know you didn't ask but seeing you are brand spanking new, don't run your AC using an extension cord unless the cord is properly sized for the job. Just an FYI

Mrtommy03 wrote:
Hello,
I am brand spanking new to rv'ing. I am taking our brand new travel trailer out this weekend. I would like to get the fridge going before we take off. My original thought was to turn it on (using the propane option) for several hours, while it sits in front of my house. I still need the battery running for it to work, correct? Any ballpark figure for how long I can do this before the battery dies? Instead of running the rig's battery, should I hook up to my house electricity?

Any insight here is much Appreciated.

TIA!

Hello neighbor,I bet you are excited about geting to try out your new trailer.
I would plug the trailer in. You top up the charge in your battery and start cooling your fridge. You should try to not overload it with warm food and drinks.
I would give it at least 12-24 hours to get it good and cold. the absorption refrigerator doesn't cool as fast as your residential unit. If you do use propane don't worry they don't us much propane.
You will catch on to how long it takes in your unit.It may cool faster and you can adjust your time after you have some experience with it.
Bill

What we do is get it started a day or two electric or propane and stuff it full of water beer or sodas. That keeps cold during hot weather. Then if you go shopping for groceries take out some water and the full fridge will keep every thing cold.

Leaving tomorrow, I turn my fridge (gas/electric) on tonite. a good 12 hours. Leveling the RV perfectly used to be almost mandatory. Now...with the newer ones, not so much. If you're comfortable when loading the RV for a trip, so is the fridge.
G'luck !

time2roll wrote:
Takes 12 to 24 hours to get cold.

I've read this on the forums repeatedly over the years but any 6 cu ft fridge I've owned has easily cooled from ambient temperature to totally usable interior temps in just 5 hrs. Usually for convenience I'd load the fridge the night before but if for some reason it's not convenient I'll just leave it til the morning of the day we're leaving and turn the fridge on then and it works just fine. The only fridge that has taken longer to properly cool are the smaller 2 cu ft fridges we've owned that have been in popups. Assuming the OP's fridge is a DSI gas/electric model just plug the trailer into 120 vac shore power and with the fridge in AUTO mode turn it on ... just make sure the trailer (and therefore the fridge) is reasonably level. ;)

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Above^^^^^^
Turn fridge temp setting to MAX
12 hours and you should be able to start loading fridge up with PRE-FROZEN Items and PRE-CHILLED Items


PLUS.....level the trailer when running fridge while stationary
Off level WILL cause damage that is accumulative and PERMANENT

What Soda Biscuit said.....:p

Propane or 110 volt makes no difference really. I'd use 110 over propane if shore powered but that is my personal preference and may not be yours.

jerseyjim wrote:
Leaving tomorrow, I turn my fridge (gas/electric) on tonite. a good 12 hours. Leveling the RV perfectly used to be almost mandatory. Now...with the newer ones, not so much. If you're comfortable when loading the RV for a trip, so is the fridge.
G'luck !

I disagree. No difference between older and newer when it comes to an ammonia thermo-siphon fridge. Must be level within 3 degrees.

Now if you have a compressor fridge (residential or Secop/Danfoss), level is not that critical. within 25-30 degrees of level will suffice.