Advantage of residential refrig?

[B92F]

We currently have a gas/electric refrig in our 5th wheel. We are in the process of trading to a newer unit and the one we are looking at has a residential refrig running thru an inverter. What are the advantages, disadvantages of the residential over the gas/electric types?

[pcm1959]

If you aren't gong to boon dock, go residential. Best RV upgrade I have ever done! I would never want a 2 way RV fridge ever again.

[valhalla360]

B92F wrote:
Most of our camping has been to parks where electric is available. One of the requirements that DW wants is solar capability so the residential doesn't sound like it will be much of a problem. She also wants enough generator power to run the AC if we happened to be where power is not available. There is one campground on the Smokey Mountain Parkway that we have gone to in the past that does not have hookups which in the past has not been a problem. We'll see how it goes, if/when we get the new trailer.

Keep in mind, solar doesn't work so well in a wooded shady camp site...as is common in the Smokey Mountains.

Also, you will need to increase the size of your solar system if you include a fridge. Depends on the efficiency of the fridge but the fridge is likely the biggest draw on your solar system.

[B92F]

Most of our camping has been to parks where electric is available. One of the requirements that DW wants is solar capability so the residential doesn't sound like it will be much of a problem. She also wants enough generator power to run the AC if we happened to be where power is not available. There is one campground on the Smokey Mountain Parkway that we have gone to in the past that does not have hookups which in the past has not been a problem. We'll see how it goes, if/when we get the new trailer.

[stickdog]

we had a gas electric fridge in our last 5er spent a couple grand replacing just about everything on it eventually a whole new fridge. Looking for a new 5er DW round the one of her dreams came with a residential fridge. If your a weekend warrior and stay in state parks and go for the cheap sites, then a G/E fridge would work better for you. We did 10 weeks on generator in Alaska with a residential fridge and the ice cream stayed frozen. There's no right or wrong answer it all depends on the camping you do. We are going on our Eleventh year full timing and didn't use a gen till we went to Alaska the first time in 2015 but that was with the RV fridge. The only time we used the gen was to charge the batteries or use the microwave. With our new 5er other than those 10 weeks in 2018 Alaska and three nights in Dinosaur National Monument the generator lie silent, we're on shore power.

[Cummins12V98]

Good idea an the frozen bottles!!!

[Halmfamily]

We removed our Dometic and installed a residential fridge. We do not run it on an inverter and have traveled ten hours to Florida with just a couple of frozen one gallon water bottles to keep it cold. We also pack out the freezer with frozen goods everything is solid after ten hours. We will never go back to a gas/electric fridge.

[time2roll]

Residential just works better. However residential needs access to a near continuous power source so off-grid camping may take a bit more effort. Plugged in or in transit is a slam dunk.

[theoldwizard1]

Residential refrigerators work better in very hot weather. An ice cube maker is a viable option if you have full hook ups.

[work2much]

Residential fridges are a little more delicate. They were not designed to be vibrated, banged etc. On the other hand they are cheaper to replace, more efficient, tend to hold more and cool faster.

We went with a std. rv fridge after some debate. It is run through our inverter and battery reducing propane use but also can be cooled with propane on occasion if our battery bank state of charge dictates.

[valhalla360]

If you always are on shore power or you add a solar array and battery bank to feed it, residential fridges work fine. As others have said, they will cool more quickly.

Neither style are likely to cause a fire unless you do something silly. I've seen 3 RV fridge fires and they were all on the electrical side.

[Lwiddis]

“Residential not likely to start a fire.”

Never witnessed an RV fire due fridge.

[Edd505]

Nothing wrong as long as you stationary most of the time, seasonal or full time in one or two ares. My RV stays power up all the time & refer stays cold. It will auto change to gas when it looses power. I do not have to depend on a bank of batteries to keep it powered up. It's also used for added refer space at home when having guests.

[wildtoad]

As mentioned, res cools down quicker, get things colder, but they are a battery power eating machine. You will want/need additional battery capacity and a way to charge them if you plan to stay where there is no power.

[Cummins12V98]

Boondocking you need solar or gen with RES. Other than that get the RES.