Do you ever turn on your gas and refrigerator while your camper is in storage. In the past, I would usually pickup my camper on Thursday for a weekend camping trip. The prime reason I did this was to turn on the refrigerator to let it cool down. Thinking about just turning it on in storage and picking up on Friday.Thoughts? Any reason I shouldn't do this?

There are several (kind of depends) the condition of battery, do you need to fill propane prior to travel, do you have access to shore power, etc. We have found that it only takes about 4 hrs on elect. to cool our frig. This saves on propane for our trip, so if this is not an option then the use of gas will probably only take about the same time but then you are also using the battery, so it all depends but the pre cool is (in my opinion) always needed.

We plan to do exactly that. I figure, why not? We turn it on while sitting in our driveway, so why not in storage?

Do it all the time, battery does very well holding charge as when not in use we have a full disconnect switch. Will swing by storage yard the night before a trip and turn on the disconnect switch and start the refer.I see no issue, as for propane, mine is on all the time. I feel coming from a gas home that it is better for all the valves to be pressurized all the time.I don't see the extra propane use as a big issue, run on electricity in the campground, but the amount of propane necessary to cool down the refer is not that great.We also leave it running while towing to keep food cold.We have the habit, of refilling the propane tanks right after we return from a trip.

a question I have for the guys who say their battery stays charged while in storage. How can that be, if the propane and co2 detectors are working. they will run down a battery inside of a week.

For years I go down to the storage lot the night before leaving on a trip and turn the fridge on. When we arrive the next morning the fridge is ready to accept food that needs refrigeration. It does take some voltage but not a problem for one night.Don

Turning the gas and fridge on in storage | Good Sam Community

austinjenna
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
old guy wrote:

a question I have for the guys who say their battery stays charged while in storage. How can that be, if the propane and co2 detectors are working. they will run down a battery inside of a week.

As stated in my post and other post, full battery disconnect switch! My battery will stay fully charged for an easy two months.

Same here, battery disconnect switch and solar panel
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
old guy wrote:
a question I have for the guys who say their battery stays charged while in storage. How can that be, if the propane and co2 detectors are working. they will run down a battery inside of a week.

As stated in my post and other post, full battery disconnect switch! My battery will stay fully charged for an easy two months.
X 2

B.O.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2014
Jim-Linda wrote:
If you disconnect your battery, you may find the fridge doesn't work without 12vdc to the control board.

Well yes you need to turn it back on when starting the refer, but the disconect prevents parasitic draw during storage.
Jim-Linda
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
If you disconnect your battery, you may find the fridge doesn't work without 12vdc to the control board.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2014
old guy wrote:
a question I have for the guys who say their battery stays charged while in storage. How can that be, if the propane and co2 detectors are working. they will run down a battery inside of a week.

As stated in my post and other post, full battery disconnect switch! My battery will stay fully charged for an easy two months.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
No problem as long as it is not enclosed storage. Also, check your rental agreement. Some prohibit running furnace and frig in storage due to fire concerns.
CaLBaR
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
I do this all of the time. Day before and start up the fridge. Battery works just fine but have it disconnected when the trailer sits.
austinjenna
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
Thats how I start mine. I also go down to the storage lot the day before with a frozen 1 gallon water bottle, throw it in the fridge and start it up.

I have a whole house battery disconnect switch and a 120W solar panel to keep the batteries topped off, Like others have said 1 night is nothing and wont drain your battery
Duck
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
For years I go down to the storage lot the night before leaving on a trip and turn the fridge on. When we arrive the next morning the fridge is ready to accept food that needs refrigeration. It does take some voltage but not a problem for one night.
Don
old_guy
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
a question I have for the guys who say their battery stays charged while in storage. How can that be, if the propane and co2 detectors are working. they will run down a battery inside of a week.

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Turning the gas and fridge on in storage

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