RV refrigerator vs residential refrigerator

we have had both. first TT had a whirlpool residential. current TT that we have had for about 2 months has dometic rv fridge.

residential advantage SPACE

rv fridge as everyone knows advantage runs on propane.

we don't boondock so loved the space of the residential. i had 2 wally world rv/marine hybrid deep cycle 12 volt batteries and 1200 watt pure sine wave inverter. we towed about 7k miles never had a problem and some days were 9 to 10 hour drives. even in middle of summer with no shore power or connected to tow vehichle i tested how much battery was used over 24 hours with no other loads than fridge and parasitic on the TT and it never dropped batteries below 80 percent. very energy efficient.


the smaller storage in the rv fridge isn't a problem because we plan our meals in advance and only pack what we need. only the wife and i so we don't have to pack for a family. before with the residential we practically moved half the food from our home fridge into the TT fridge. took alot longer to unpack when we got home so thats a bonus also.

it may be my imagination but the rv fridge does seem to be easier to adjust and fine tune temps than the residential. it usually runs 0 degree in freezer and 36 in fridge with minor temp adjustment. the residential fridge was adjustable but it seemed to have larger temp swings when you adjusted.

I dont think the residential is a good fit for me as I keep mine in he storage yard and go the night before and fire up the fridge. I dont think the residential will last that long on a battery.

pnichols wrote:

ependydad wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Upon arrival our full sized KitchenAid freezer was at "0" and the frig was at "38" just like normal.

Hell, I can't keep my Norcold that cold sitting still! I rarely see the fridge under 40 and the freezer is always about 18-20.

I can't wait to switch to a residential fridge!

You most have a huge Norcold RV frig - such that it's cooling unit can't keep up cooling a large interior volume (... or see my last sentence below)!

Our 6.3 cubic foot Norcold RV frig runs about "10 deg" and "36 deg" on only it's middle control setting of "3". Using it's highest control setting of "5", we get "0 deg" or less in the freezer (ice cream is too hard to scoop so we must cut it instead - which is unacceptable) and around "33-34 deg" in the frig section (too cold).

We keep our Norcold running 24/7 (on propane or 120V) whenever the RV is away from home, including of course on propane when going down the road ... EXCEPT for one situation: The Norcold's vent is near the motorhome's gas filling inlet - so we shut off the Norcold for a few minutes when refueling so as to not have an open flame nearby.

What's with these RV manufacturers these days on newer models ... don't those dumbbells know how to install an RV frig properly anymore? :h

I was starting to think I got the only two good Norcolds. One in my last camper that worked excellently at 18 years old, and our new one, a 10 cu ft that works as good as our home fridge.

I was curious as I only turn water pump on when we actually NEED water while traveling.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Campinghoss@51 wrote:
We have an inverter that keeps ours running while on the road. All I do is cut the ice maker off while in transit. Nothing beats a residential fridge to us.

Curious why you cut off the ice maker during travel???

We carry VERY LITTLE water in our tank and we do not turn on the water pump unless we need to flush the toilet. Therefore, we cut our ice maker off, also. It's just the flip of a button and as soon as we get where we are going, I flip it back on. If we are traveling for a few days to our destination, I don't turn it back on until we are there. We have a whole bucket of ice in there to use between stops.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Campinghoss@51 wrote:
We have an inverter that keeps ours running while on the road. All I do is cut the ice maker off while in transit. Nothing beats a residential fridge to us.

Curious why you cut off the ice maker during travel???

I don't leave my on board water pump on. I could but you never know when something might either spring a leak or the pump might just not cut off which I have had happen before. If the ice maker does not call for water due to the bin being full it wouldn't matter. I guess it is just a personal preference on my part. Nothing set in stone.

ependydad wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Upon arrival our full sized KitchenAid freezer was at "0" and the frig was at "38" just like normal.

Hell, I can't keep my Norcold that cold sitting still! I rarely see the fridge under 40 and the freezer is always about 18-20.

I can't wait to switch to a residential fridge!

You most have a huge Norcold RV frig - such that it's cooling unit can't keep up cooling a large interior volume (... or see my last sentence below)!

Our 6.3 cubic foot Norcold RV frig runs about "10 deg" and "36 deg" on only it's middle control setting of "3". Using it's highest control setting of "5", we get "0 deg" or less in the freezer (ice cream is too hard to scoop so we must cut it instead - which is unacceptable) and around "33-34 deg" in the frig section (too cold).

We keep our Norcold running 24/7 (on propane or 120V) whenever the RV is away from home, including of course on propane when going down the road ... EXCEPT for one situation: The Norcold's vent is near the motorhome's gas filling inlet - so we shut off the Norcold for a few minutes when refueling so as to not have an open flame nearby.

What's with these RV manufacturers these days on newer models ... don't those dumbbells know how to install an RV frig properly anymore? :h

X2, Renee.

Merrykalia wrote:
WE do not boondock and we LOVE our residential. Nothing beats a good frozen ice cream at the campsite on a 90 degree day.

Flash: RV fridges on propane as in boondocking or dry camping are very, very, cold and freeze even ice cream. :W

Campinghoss@51 wrote:
We have an inverter that keeps ours running while on the road. All I do is cut the ice maker off while in transit. Nothing beats a residential fridge to us.

Curious why you cut off the ice maker during travel???