Travato refrigerator

[CT51]

Read in one of the posts on the Travato that they were having trouble lighting the refrigerator on propane. Does the fridge not have auto ignition? Is it a two way, or three way fridge?

Thanks,

CT51

[stan909]

Yes Davydd. Everything you say is true about absorption fridges but in the event of one part not working, you have two other options to get by. If the compressor goes you're dead in the water. For a little back ground: I have a little Dometic compressor fridge that has been running constantly for a year and a half on solar and battery power. It is awesome. But in the same van is a Dometic gas fridge that is only a fridge. It is also awesome but has not run for a year and a half straight. It is a three way and must be run on dc while driving but the rest of the time it runs on gas because as you say the 12 volt will kill the batteries.

[CT51]

Thanks for all the replies. I make the post because I was interested in the Travato. Have been looking to downsize from a large class C.
After looking at the Travato again today, and the Trend, I'm definitely leaning towards the Trend. If it was just me, I'd go with the Travato, but there's no way my wife would go with it. Going to look at some other Trend's tomorrow. Probably going to be the L, but
I have not seen a B yet, and that is what I'm going to look at. Have driven the Trend, and was very impressed with how quiet it was, and easy to drive. It is quieter at 70 mph that my C is at 55.

CT51

[Davydd]

Using 12V DC on the 3-way refrigerator is a losing proposition other than when driving. They go through more than 15 ah which means 120 ah in just an 8 hour overnight sleep before moving on that you might do at a Walmart. That much would deplete two AGM or lead-acid batteries. So, if you add more battery or solar then your logical choice is to go to a compressor refrigerator that would go through about 90 ah in a 24 hour period. A 3-way needs the propane option no if, ands or buts, IMO. In effect, you are in trouble if your propane is not working.

[stan909]

There is something to say for redundant systems. If it won't work on gas then use 12volt or 110 but it does cost more.Might equal out with the cost of more batteries and solar.

[Handbasket]

I only had my '99/'00 RT D190V & '01/'02 C190P with manual-light reefers for a few years total, but can't recall any real issue with the flame going out when driving on LP. It took me a little while on the first one to figure out that it worked best if I'd keep the gas button pushed 'in' until the red needle stabilized, and then 20-30 seconds beyond. Releasing it too soon led to disappointment and another try.

Once, the Tiger's auto-ignition 3-way wouldn't light on LP when I got to a CG at dark... dirty ignitor, or gapped wrong. I was able to remove the flame cover, and use a barbecue lighter to light it. It required moving darn briskly to push the 'On' button inside, then get outside & use the lighter while the LP was still flowing during the ignition cycle, tho'.

Jim, "Why do they lock gas station restrooms? Are they afraid someone will sneak in and clean them?"

[jpittman]

The new Pleasure-Way Plateau TS has a 3-way reefer. Guess they like generation old technology too. I myself like the 3-way in my Travato. I'm never dependent on just 12v or 110v, I have propane too! I also agree with wincrasher65.

[Davydd]

To be honest, I have no idea the cost differences between compressor and absorption refrigerators. One could get by with two AGM batteries with a compressor refrigerator which would essentially give you about one batteries' worth of use for everything else. It would probably require a little supplemental help with solar. Mind you it was erip that said, "...why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are." I didn't say it.

[stan909]

Yeah.We should be castigating Winnebago for not using compressor fridges because they are cheaper as well as more efficient than three way fridges, but that would require lots more batteries and thought. BTW. Doesn;t Leisure Travel Vans use this same fridge in their (evil) Class b+s ? Last time I checked ; they are not very cheap. P.S. I would rather be Bill Gates rich if given a choice.

[Davydd]

erip wrote:
With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

I wish I were Romney rich. I've researched and selected the closest fit possible twice already and I thought at the time I did all right. All it gets you is a frustration and longing for the next RV, IMO. So, not factoring the practicality of the cost or ROI I decided at least one more time to see how close I could get to an optimum RV. I do only want a Class B. I'm not looking for anything bigger. I suppose I could have spent more and joined the ranks of the Class A owners. That will never happen. My design aesthetic sensibilities simply would not let me to ever consider a Class C.

You're changing the argument but I don't quite understand. Why are you not then castigating Winnebago for putting in a 3-way or not giving you an option for a compressor frig? Also, it doesn't change the fact the Travato is using a generation old technology most every other company has moved on from for 3-way refrigerators. You were the one that pointed out the drawback in not being able to restart the refrigerator while driving down the road when it went off.

Anyway, there is a very good reason for a 3-way. If you have propane on board your propane would be a very expensive proposition if you didn't take advantage of it. Other than a half hour to heat hot water our propane only goes to running the refrigerator on most days. The absorption DC side is a battery eater. That leaves you searching electrical hookups.

[wincrasher65]

There are still plenty of people that want an absorption/lp powered fridge. Me being one of them.

This is the first one I've had with the "manual" start. I thought it was odd too, but I suspect that it's not that way due to cost cutting. This unit apparently is used in Europe, so I suppose it adheres to their standards.

Other than the start tech, this appears to be a very nice fridge, from a leading supplier (Dometic).

And yes, I'm a Travato and a Promaster fan. And I bought one, so I'm familiar with the truth about them. It just seems that someone is always trying to start something negative about them for some reason. It doesn't take to many posts for people to perceive there is a "problem", when none really exists. That is why I responded.

[gerrym51]

erip wrote:
With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

erip-Davydd's not the one making the original post. Having said that 3 way fridges are yesterdays technology even if they keep getting improved. modern compressor rv refrigerators have low amp draws are the better way to go-although they can be noisier.

Most Roadtreks and sportmobiles and Advance rv have gone to compressor fridge. mine will have a compressor fridge also.all roadtrek sprinter models have them and i've been informed today that the Roadtrek 190 will have compressor as special order option

[erip]

With the technology of solar and the availability of 12V compressor fridges, why would any manufacturer use an absorption fridge, auto ignite or piezo ignite, in this day and age, yet thats where we are. The only perfect RV is one designed exactly by the person using with top quality materials. Sadly the rest of us are not Romney rich, so we research and then go with the closest fit possible and try to enjoy what we own.

[Davydd]

Sorry guys but you can design and size a refrigerator any way you want when you start from scratch with a new RV. That argument is just rationalizing not putting in an auto-ignition 3-way. Does anyone else still currently offer a Class B refrigerator you have to hold down a button to light it?

[erip]

The fridge in the travato wasn't chosen for price it was chosen for size/dimensions. Some people who chose a travato, chose it for the floorplan, and the fact that its the first promaster rv already available. I myself am not interested in yet another couch across the back that folds down, tiny bathroom, unnecessary overpriced corian countertopped b van, so i didn't need to wait for pleasureway to recyle a lexor into a promaster. Seems as tho if people have issues or concerns about their RV's, its fair game for the armchair critics to come in and trash a product.

[stan909]

I think the fridge is chosen for it's dimensions and not it's price. All rv fridges are expensive for what you get.