Compressor Refrigerator opt 12v?

What I also experienced with absorption fridge - it doesn't have to be level when it is running.
I camp on the beach one time with one side deep in the sand and fridge worked fine for 2 days, than colder night come, fridge cycled off and would not restart.
Campers have jacks, so even without unloading you can level them up.

All ingenious technical solutions aside... when my camper is far enough out of the horizontal to affect the fridge, I won't be able to sleep...

It would work so long as you could 'lock the gimbal mounts' when travelling because when travelling, the movement and angles of the unit are changing constantly. Gimbal mounts for when the unit is stationary is doable but the propane feed would be an issue I suspect and manufacturers aren't going to be attuned to doing it.

pnichols wrote:
I have a Class C, not a TC, but am interested in how TC owners solve the same problems that owners of other RV types face.

In all of the RV forums the topic of compressor versus absorption refrigerators gets talked about a lot. A big negative to propane absorption units is the necessity of parking with them kept fairly level - that also is a concern for us when camping with our small Class C in the boondocks or for parking anywhere for a few hours when sight-seeing.

There is a simple way for manufacturers or owners to install a power sipping propane absorption refrigerator in a TC such that the TC does not have to be level at all. The method would be especially easy considering the small size refrigerators that TCs use - as opposed to the larger units in other types of RVs.

The trick is to install the small absorption refrigerator in a larger opening than would normally be required so as to be able to mount the absorption refrigerator using a steel or aluminum gimbal mount frame for it - so it is always level no matter how or where the TC is parked. A flex propane line would of course have to be used to feed gas to the refrigerator.

This might raise the purchase price of a TC a bit, but how great it would be to have a refrigerator that used very little electrical power while at the same time not needing the RV to be parked level. Probably the gimbal mechanism would have to be too massive for larger RV propane refrigerators, but it should not be rocket science to work it out for use in a TC rig.

Back in the day when I use to have a propane fridge I thought about the same thing. I don't think it would be all that simple considering the weight and the fact that the unit needs to be able to survive lots of bouncing, stopping and starting. Also a the propane connection. JMHO

I have a Class C, not a TC, but am interested in how TC owners solve the same problems that owners of other RV types face.

In all of the RV forums the topic of compressor versus absorption refrigerators gets talked about a lot. A big negative to propane absorption units is the necessity of parking with them kept fairly level - that also is a concern for us when camping with our small Class C in the boondocks or for parking anywhere for a few hours when sight-seeing.

There is a simple way for manufacturers or owners to install a power sipping propane absorption refrigerator in a TC such that the TC does not have to be level at all. The method would be especially easy considering the small size refrigerators that TCs use - as opposed to the larger units in other types of RVs.

The trick is to install the small absorption refrigerator in a larger opening than would normally be required so as to be able to mount the absorption refrigerator using a steel or aluminum gimbal mount frame for it - so it is always level no matter how or where the TC is parked. A flex propane line would of course have to be used to feed gas to the refrigerator.

This might raise the purchase price of a TC a bit, but how great it would be to have a refrigerator that used very little electrical power while at the same time not needing the RV to be parked level. Probably the gimbal mechanism would have to be too massive for larger RV propane refrigerators, but it should not be rocket science to work it out for use in a TC rig.

Cant't shake the vision of Flip running naked at 3 AM at Walmart parking lot

I knew you'd appreciate the visual......

A 68 year old fart. slightly overweight, running around at 3am in his birthday suit is a good visual.....lol

JimK-NY wrote:
I won't even ask about the $80 generator or the need for 50 amp shore power.

Since you ask for it here is $80 generator (you need sale and coupon to get the price).
I bought it few years back, even I had Honda 3000, but the light-weight for the price I just could not refuse.
That thing- even it might not be the easiest to start - will power everything in my camper but the AC what for Sierra camping was just perfect.
Additional explanation - it seems to be California clima, when after 100F day you have 58F night. I was just moving the camper from CA to NV with only 1 night sleep, so put only single battery for the trip.
That proved inadequate for the temperature drop.
Cant't shake the vision of Flip running naked at 3 AM at Walmart parking lot.

I cannot imagine being in that position. At 3 am I am asleep. I make any decisions concerning the batteries hours in advance. That often means running a generator. If I am staying in a campground with generator restrictions that might mean driving to a different location, charging often for hours and then returning. Three a.m. is way too late to realize your batteries are dying. I spent $800 or so for mine and replacements are now in the $900-1000 range. I don't want to kill the batteries and greatly shorten their lifespans by drawing them down too low. I won't even ask about the $80 generator or the need for 50 amp shore power.

Wouldn't be me. I sleep naked all the time and I don't want to be running around the camper naked at 3am scaring someone.....:o

Right, the 2 big batteries under the hood sure look tempting for TC use, but you don't want to risk them discharged, unless you have back-up plan.
I already order 50 amp plugs to use for the camper, but then I will always take the $80 generator with me and good charger as well as the camper converters suck.
What really p****es me off is that new truck has remote starting, so when TC battery went down at 3 AM, I started the engine with remote.
BUT !!!!! the remote start did not activate trailer charging circuit, so in my pajamas I had to go outside and stick darn key into darn ignition.