Anybody keep their fridge running with the RV parked in a storage lot? Do these places have electric that you can plug into, or do they have prohibitions on keeping a fridge running on propane while parked there?I realize each place will have their own rules but I have no experience at all with these types of businesses so am trying to get an idea of what is normal and/or possible.We are considering downsizing our home and there is a good chance that our next place won't have room to park an RV. Somewhat spoiled always having the RV at home and keeping the fridge plugged in, stocked with staples and ready to go at a moment's notice.Here is what I am considering:Option #1: Storage lot allows me to plug in, fridge runs on electric, no issues.Option #2: Install 140W solar panel to keep the batteries fresh and run the fridge on propane. Burner in the fridge is 1500 BTU, a gallon of propane is 91,500 BTU, and a 30 lb tank hold 6.5 gallons of propane. So even if the fridge runs 18 hrs/day I can get about a month on one tank (TT has 2). Issue here may be storage yard has rules about flames, etc. associated with propane appliances.Option #3: Install 400W solar panel kit. Heating element in the fridge is 325W, so I should be able to run the fridge on the inverter with the solar supplying the power. Not sure about running the inverter for long periods of time.Not sure if any of these are viable or practical right now....what does everyone else do?

Why run the fridge while it's in storage?We only stock ours when we're going to use it. Save yourself a lot of trouble.

BurbMan wrote:Anybody keep their fridge running with the RV parked in a storage lot? Do these places have electric that you can plug into, or do they have prohibitions on keeping a fridge running on propane while parked there?I realize each place will have their own rules but I have no experience at all with these types of businesses so am trying to get an idea of what is normal and/or possible.We are considering downsizing our home and there is a good chance that our next place won't have room to park an RV. Somewhat spoiled always having the RV at home and keeping the fridge plugged in, stocked with staples and ready to go at a moment's notice.Here is what I am considering:Option #1: Storage lot allows me to plug in, fridge runs on electric, no issues.Option #2: Install 140W solar panel to keep the batteries fresh and run the fridge on propane. Burner in the fridge is 1500 BTU, a gallon of propane is 91,500 BTU, and a 30 lb tank hold 6.5 gallons of propane. So even if the fridge runs 18 hrs/day I can get about a month on one tank (TT has 2). Issue here may be storage yard has rules about flames, etc. associated with propane appliances.Option #3: Install 400W solar panel kit. Heating element in the fridge is 325W, so I should be able to run the fridge on the inverter with the solar supplying the power. Not sure about running the inverter for long periods of time.Not sure if any of these are viable or practical right now....what does everyone else do?Our storage lot "requests" that we shut the propane off at the tank when storing, it's not mandatory though. I think it makes sense given the number of RV's in close proximity so I always shut it off and that means no fridge.

I would only run the fridge in storage if I had shore power available.

Just the way we have been doing it for 15 years....fridge gets turned on when we de-winterize and stays on until we put it away for the winter. Bag of ice in the freezer, staples like catsup, mustard, and salad dressing that keep from one trip to the next. If we have leftover meats from a trip we will put them in the freezer for the next trip. When I fired up the fridge this year it took about 24 hrs for it to cool down...if you don't keep it on do you stop by the storage yard a day ahead and turn the fridge on before your trip?

We are where you are looking to get to. We go up and fire up the refer the night before a trip, most of the time. We have decided to go out for a weekend on Friday morning! Brought perishable food from home in tote like normal fired the refer & loaded. Hit the road about two hous later when we got to the camp ground refer was cold. That trip was one hour and fifteen minutes from the time I walked out of work until we were leaving the storage lot.

Question for those who store their RV in a storage lot

the_bear_II
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014
We have stored our RVs in 3 different storage lots over the past 30 years. The current one does have electric available but I would have to run a 100 ft extension cord to get to it.

In the past we used to stop by the lot the day before we planned to leave to turn on the refrig or we would bring the RV home and cool down the refrig overnight. Now however since the city passed RV parking laws we can't leave it overnight on the street.

Here's what we begun doing...I light the refrig when I pick up the RV to leave on our trip. If there are cold items we want to bring from home we put them in an ice chest. Once we get to our first destination we go shopping for food or we stop along the way, by that time the refrig has cooled down.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 15, 2014
Hi Burb,

The fridge draws about 4.8 khw per day. To get that much from solar probably 1000 watts of panels and 8.4 khw of storage would be needed.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 15, 2014
We are where you are looking to get to. We go up and fire up the refer the night before a trip, most of the time. We have decided to go out for a weekend on Friday morning! Brought perishable food from home in tote like normal fired the refer & loaded. Hit the road about two hous later when we got to the camp ground refer was cold. That trip was one hour and fifteen minutes from the time I walked out of work until we were leaving the storage lot.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2014
Just the way we have been doing it for 15 years....fridge gets turned on when we de-winterize and stays on until we put it away for the winter. Bag of ice in the freezer, staples like catsup, mustard, and salad dressing that keep from one trip to the next. If we have leftover meats from a trip we will put them in the freezer for the next trip.

When I fired up the fridge this year it took about 24 hrs for it to cool down...if you don't keep it on do you stop by the storage yard a day ahead and turn the fridge on before your trip?
pugslyyy
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014
I would only run the fridge in storage if I had shore power available.
super_camper
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014
BurbMan wrote:
Anybody keep their fridge running with the RV parked in a storage lot? Do these places have electric that you can plug into, or do they have prohibitions on keeping a fridge running on propane while parked there?

I realize each place will have their own rules but I have no experience at all with these types of businesses so am trying to get an idea of what is normal and/or possible.

We are considering downsizing our home and there is a good chance that our next place won't have room to park an RV. Somewhat spoiled always having the RV at home and keeping the fridge plugged in, stocked with staples and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Here is what I am considering:

Option #1: Storage lot allows me to plug in, fridge runs on electric, no issues.

Option #2: Install 140W solar panel to keep the batteries fresh and run the fridge on propane. Burner in the fridge is 1500 BTU, a gallon of propane is 91,500 BTU, and a 30 lb tank hold 6.5 gallons of propane. So even if the fridge runs 18 hrs/day I can get about a month on one tank (TT has 2). Issue here may be storage yard has rules about flames, etc. associated with propane appliances.

Option #3: Install 400W solar panel kit. Heating element in the fridge is 325W, so I should be able to run the fridge on the inverter with the solar supplying the power. Not sure about running the inverter for long periods of time.

Not sure if any of these are viable or practical right now....what does everyone else do?

Our storage lot "requests" that we shut the propane off at the tank when storing, it's not mandatory though. I think it makes sense given the number of RV's in close proximity so I always shut it off and that means no fridge.
OldRadios
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014
Why run the fridge while it's in storage?
We only stock ours when we're going to use it. Save yourself a lot of trouble.

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