Old-Biscuit wrote:
That old fridge is still working because it was simple and WELL built with thick-walled tubing
Those same things will NOT be found in NEW rv fridges
One reason 12V compressor fridges have gained in popularity
Just look at the number of 120V AC residential fridges being used as replacements and even OEM now'
The use of residential fridges has bloomed because the absorption fridge (at least in its RV iteration) doesn't work very well outside of a narrow ambient temp range. Also the RVs with the residential fridge option tend to be higher end units that are going to spend MOST of their time sitting in an RV Park and not bouncing around the trails to a wilderness campsite. They also tend to be all electric RVs with no LP at all and have LARGE diesel generators that run constantly if not plugged in.
The compressor fridge was built to handle the constant vibration and range of motion of rough trails due to its previous long history of use in boats and the trucking industry.
I have had a Tundra compressor fridge in both of my Outfitter truck campers (previous 2004 and now a 2007) as well as a portable ARB fridge/freeze that I use when 4Wheeling. These things work GREAT! I know people that use it to keep ice cream frozen in 100+ degree temps while wheeling in the desert. Ours kept fresh seafood frozen for our return trip to the US from Baja.
I turn on the Tundra and it is starting to freeze ice in about 45 minutes. As opposed to the absorption fridges in our previous Class A and C that had to be pre-cooled for a day prior to use. People I know who RV at the Colorado River have all kinds of things rigged up to keep their absorption fridges temps down in the usable range.
*Tundra compressor fridges were bought out and are now made by Dometic.
