Forum Discussion

nykolas's avatar
nykolas
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020

Fridge basics - for weekend use

hi

mostly I use my 5th wheel for spending weekends away from the city and most times I am alone. And boondocking not connections just propane

I've mostly been using coolers but I was curious to know if it is an idea to start up and run my fridge for the weekend.

I'm not sure if it is worth starting up just for 2 days and shutting it down etc.

Also I was curious to have a basic idea of how much propane it would use for the weekend.

Thanks to all of you for your answers this is an awesome forum !

Nicholas
  • Tiger4x4RV's avatar
    Tiger4x4RV
    Nomad
    Aug 17, 2020
    My usual solution is to just use my small 3-way fridge like a cooler: put a lot of frozen bottles of water in it. It stays cold for several days, with the added plus of not having to totally level the truck at every campsite.
  • camperdave's avatar
    camperdave
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2020
    I use mine on all trips. I cannot precool due to parking on a hill at my house, but I start the trip with a bag of ice in the freezer (along with all the cold food in the fridge) and the fridge is cool by the time I arrive at my destination. Propane use is quite small.

    Coolers work fine, I'm sure we all used them for years before RVing. But fridges are better. Use it if you got it.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Aug 17, 2020
    Are you able to keep rig plugged in? If so, leave the refer on. You do not need to worry about propane as it uses very little.
    If not able to keep plugged in, you will need to keep an eye on your battery level, Majority of RV refers require 12 volts DC for control.
    If you have a residential refer, you will need to keep rig plugged in to shore power or have a good battery bank.
  • Bert_the_Welder's avatar
    Bert_the_Welder
    Explorer II
    Aug 17, 2020
    Not sure what you have to do to start it up or shut down? Maybe yours is more complicated them ours.
    I just plug in day before, at the house to get it cold and fill it. Run it on propane when camping. Empty when home and leave it off. Wipe it out the next day and prop the door open. Ready for the next outing.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Aug 17, 2020
    You might use a few ounces for a week to run your refrigerator. It's nothing like an oven or heater.

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