RoadTrek small reefer

[obgraham]

For those spending a long time in their RoadTrek with the small 3.6 foot refrigerator: how is that working out for you? Seems really small. Can you store a few days of frozen stuff along with all the necessary beer?
I'm considering the E-Trek and it looks like there is not an option for a bigger reefer.

[SwanInWA]

loggenrock wrote:
We can carry over a week's worth of food, both frozen, cold, and dry, in our RT. Just a matter of careful packing! ST

We can too, and I just proved it on our trip to Yellowstone a few months ago. The right combo and some careful packing and it can be done. I'm very picky about our food (all organic, no processed food) so I tend to want to bring as much as I can from home so I don't have to search for it on the road. We've had our Pleasure-Way for just over a year, after downsizing from a 24' FW. I've learned a lot about packing, that's for sure! We do take a small ice chest for soft drinks, but other than that, nothing extra.

[senf]

loving retirement - we second your advice!

[MarshaNichols]

I had a RT 170...way small...I always took a cooler along. I finally went to a Born Free 24' with a LARGE refrig./freezer!

[drsolo]

Fastpaddler wrote:
drsolo
I wonder what shelf life is on those products. al

I really dont know how long they "keep" I looked at a couple and dont find any "use by" dates on them. Here is a link that answers the question. One person said "indefinitely" another said "I assume you are talking about the kind that come in foil packets that you get at a restaurant. The answer is yes. They get shipped in a large box and the expiration date is marked on the box. For items like ketchup, mustard, mayo and relish the expiration date is 5-7 years. Jelly which comes in those little plastic tubs that you peel the top off is good for 3 years. Half and half creamers expire in 2 months and must be refrigerated. For sugar which comes in those paper packets the expiration is 3 years. They credit the long shelf life due to being vacuum packed. I hope this answers your question.
Sources: my waitress friend "

So I guess my half and half is bad already.... sheesh.

[Fastpaddler]

drsolo
Neat.I checked out the site. I wonder what shelf life is on those products. We keep recycling our pantry stuff in the RV and, we also use small plastic containers, but, some of the products on the site seem quite upscale and even of gourmand quality

al

[drsolo]

I got some single serve sized foods that dont need refrigeration. single portionhttp://www.minimus.biz/default.aspx

So the frig isnt taken up with large condiment bottles.

[loving_retireme]

stan909 wrote:
The poster of the question is buying a new class b so maybe they need to find out why do the companies put such small fridges in their product. I guess they don 't expect people to go anywhere longer than a couple of days.

While dry camping and with some careful planning I have been able to store one, even two weeks of food in the 3cu ft fridge in my Roadtrek 190 and I am not dining out either. With careful placement it is amazing the amount of frozen food you can pack in that very small freezer in my RT. Make yourself a cardboard box the size of your freezer and then start figuring out the best placement for your food items before loading the freezer. Hint: remove all original outside cardboard packaging from frozen foods to reduce wasted space.

[stan909]

The poster of the question is buying a new class b so maybe they need to find out why do the companies put such small fridges in their product. I guess they don 't expect people to go anywhere longer than a couple of days.

[mepboat]

We got this idea from a friend and it may not directly answer the question but it is a good idea for useing space wisely and simply. Before you travel freeze your water bottles. We added a cargo carrier on the hitch and then put the frozen water bottles in a large marine igloo cooler, (special marine coolers can keep items cooler longer than most). We then just add some ice and our other items and everything stays cold longer. Using larger coolers also remember to get one with a low drain valve so you don't have to remove it to drain off the excess water. We also add pre-frozen plastic ice blocks to our frig in our Pleasureway Excel. They keep things colder quicker than just running the frig. while underway and saves power until we can plug in again. For the long haul, dry dry ice in the cooler is great but follow directions fully. Nothing better than arriving at your destination, setting up your site and enjoying your favorite cold beverage. Class B RVing, B Safe, B Happy, Go RVing.

[Jim_Shoe]

I had a '98 RT190 on a Dodge chassis. It was so underpowered that the A/C fan would stop when climbing a long hill. The reefer was so small that it only had a 6 cube ice tray. The last straw was a recall on the drive shaft connection while under warranty. To get to it, the fresh water tank had to be dropped. RT wouldn't pay because there wasn't anything wrong with the tank. Dodge would pay for the repair but not to drop the tank since it was aftermarket. So I paid. Then I sold it. Good riddance.

[obgraham]

Fuel filter?

Out of propane?

[sanshansean]

Question, (Long) I purchased a 1988 RoadTrek (19') a couple of years ago, It was in pristine condition when I bought it. I have been storing it for the last couple of years. I sold my Beaver MH so I am now using the (B). OK, I took a trip the last few days. Ran fantastic until the last few miles of the trip. Now the question! had a hill to clime close to home, but then it started misssing, and a few back fires! It a Dodge V8, any idess? I did make it home (barely).
Also everything else worked fine, except for the furnace. I would turn on the thermastat, and hear the fan come on but no heat! Any ideas? Would appreciate any repair Ideas! Thanks, Russ

[BudJ]

obgraham wrote:
Thanks folks. I wasn't familiar with Sportsmobile. Brief look seems to show they do things a bit differently than RT -- some better some not so. Perhaps more customizable to my desires.

Ok, so you don't want your Cake and Eat it Too.

Bud

[obgraham]

Thanks folks. I wasn't familiar with Sportsmobile. Brief look seems to show they do things a bit differently than RT -- some better some not so. Perhaps more customizable to my desires.

[mlts22]

stan909 wrote:
I guess I didn't approach the question correctly. If you are buying an E trek new then you should get a hold of Sportsmobile and have them build you an E Trek with what you want in it.Sportsmobile has been building "E Treks " for years. There are 3 shops. Indiana, Austin Texas and Fresno Ca. There is a very informative video on You Tube about their competing model. It uses diesel cooking,heating and water heater.It has or can easily have solar.Austin and Indiana are a little more into custom than Fresno. They do a complete run down in this video.sprinter SMB.At 4:35 in the video it shows the 7 cubic foot fridge.

Seconded on this. This Sportsmobile offering does everything the E-Trek does, and one can get a diesel generator with it so one can heat and cool it from just one fuel source. To boot, the stove takes air in and out from the outside, so unlike a propane burner which adds water and carbon dioxide to the inside, the diesel stove does not affect the inside air.

Of course, it is pretty pricy, but so is the E-trek.