Posted 2010-05-28 11:07 AM (#120683) Subject: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 489
I was kinda of excited about having a fridge in our new to us LQ but have decided it is much easier to use a cooler and ice. We spend most of our time at day shows without power and gas seems very fickle. I keep a cooler in the shower so it's really easy to drain without moving the cooler. Do you use yours?
Posted 2010-05-28 11:14 AM (#120684 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I use mine more than I use an ice chest now. When you say it is fickle on gas, what exactly are you meaning? Hard to light, won't stay lit, won't cool...
Posted 2010-05-28 11:31 AM (#120687 - in reply to #120684) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 489
Originally written by Tresvolte on 2010-05-28 11:14 AM
I use mine more than I use an ice chest now. When you say it is fickle on gas, what exactly are you meaning? Hard to light, won't stay lit, won't cool...
Doesn't seem to cool although I have only tried it once. My understanding is that they need to be level to work well on gas which usually won't be the case for us.
Posted 2010-05-28 11:40 AM (#120688 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Work better when level, yes. But mine is not dead level all the time when I use it. I just get picky about where I park and how I park. Mine stays plugged in at the house, so all the staples that last forever just stay in it. When I unplug, it switches to gas and never really shuts off.
It has just become more convenient. Ham & cheese get soggy when wet...and no matter what kind of sealed container I put them in, the kids never, never get them completely sealed back. That and the dadgum mustard always migrates to the bottom where you have to fish it out from underneath everything.
Posted 2010-05-28 12:51 PM (#120692 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 489
I may not have given it enough time...how long should it take to get cold on gas? Should it start cooling right away? If not what should I check, the panel indicates it lit and it is in the green.
Posted 2010-05-28 1:06 PM (#120694 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 479
Location: central sierra nevada foothills
I don't have a full LQ, just insulating and nice paneling, with shelving, vanity, etc. and my husband wired in 12v outlets and I bought a 12v fridge. It doesn't drain my battery on the trailer either. I can run it a whole 3 day weekend. I believe it's 48 qt. I love it! I use it more for my meats, cheezes and stuff that I don't want to get wet by the ice. My drinks I still keep in my tiny tote cooler with the ice.
Posted 2010-05-28 1:46 PM (#120697 - in reply to #120692) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Originally written by blackcows on 2010-05-28 12:51 PM
I may not have given it enough time...how long should it take to get cold on gas? Should it start cooling right away? If not what should I check, the panel indicates it lit and it is in the green.
Depends on outside tempature. I have mine take as long as half a day when it is hot out. Typically if it is unplugged and been off, I'll start mine the night before I want to load it. Left on overnight it will be cold the next day. That's part of the reason I started pluggin mine in during the times when I use it more. That and the fact that I can keep the mustard, mayo, ketchup, pickles, etc in there all the time.
Posted 2010-05-28 3:32 PM (#120702 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Our fridges cool faster when using propane. A noticeable drop in temperature can be noticed within ten minutes or so, and an operating temperature usually is reached within the hour. If they are started on a/c electrical, the heaters take longer to cool the systems and reach a proper temperature, perhaps twice as long.
One way to cool them faster, is by placing a bag of ice inside when you turn them on. We also have many "cool pacs", that when are pre cooled in a freezer, do well in chilling any smaller insulated spaces.
Posted 2010-05-28 4:32 PM (#120705 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 214
Location: lyle,mn
Yep keep pop, beer, ketchup, mustard the basics, keep some butter in the freezer part. I have thought about leaving some frozen hambuger in the freezer part but don't want to chance it if the fridge would stop working it would be a stinky mess.When you take a pop or beer out you replace right away. Saves on space for other food items.
Posted 2010-05-28 6:38 PM (#120708 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 434
Location: Brooksville, Fl
My fridge will begin to cool within 2 hours on either electric or gas. If it's not working well on gas, it may just need an adjustment and/or a cleaning. I find the fridge much handier than a cooler. We don't run ours all of the time and it doesn't take that long to cool. Most newer fridges can run just fine even if not perfectly level. Check your owners manual and it will tell you the range it will operate under.
Posted 2010-05-29 7:46 AM (#120715 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 74
we use our refrigerator and it works well after it gets cool. It can take a while to cool at first. Do those of you that leave yours plugged in at home, also leave it on gas while going down the road?
Posted 2010-05-29 3:09 PM (#120721 - in reply to #120715) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 434
Location: Brooksville, Fl
[QUOTE]Originally written by millironk on 2010-05-29 8:46 AM
we use our refrigerator and it works well after it gets cool. It can take a while to cool at first. Do those of you that leave yours plugged in at home, also leave it on gas while going down the road?
I don't leave mine on when we travel. You have an open flame that could be an issue in an accident. We've never had a problem with food spoiling but we also stuff our fridge as the hubby enjoys cooking.
Posted 2010-05-29 4:18 PM (#120722 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 198
Location: Iowa
Love mine. It works great. I especially love being able to take ice cream on camping trips!! I use the refrig for food...use an ice chest for beer! (I like those mountains nice and blue!)
Posted 2010-05-29 10:16 PM (#120728 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 85
Location: Galahad, AB, Canada
I would never go back to a cooler after having a fridge.
A cooler is fine for non-perishables that you prefer to be cool, but don't need to worry about. But things like sandwich meat, cheese, yogurt - I don't like to worry that they might be spoiling because they aren't cool enough. I am a worry wart about food poisoning, but it just isn't something I want to chance. When I use the fridge I never have to worry about things spoiling.
The other big advantage with a fridge is - everything is easier to find because it isn't buried at the bottom of the cooler. Its rather annoying moving everything around to find the thing you need at the bottom of the chest. With a fridge everything is much easier to find.
We have no problems with gas in our fridge. We try to park someplace fairly flat, but it doesn't have to be ideal to still work. So I doubt you'll have huge issues when you park at shows. If the trailer is flat enough for you to find everything else useful, I expect it will work for the fridge. Good luck and enjoy.
Posted 2010-06-01 5:04 PM (#120810 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
Member
Posts: 40
Location: Alberta, Canada
I love the great big fridge in my 10ft SW. You can really load it up and it sure is nice to have cold food/drinks as well as frozen food you can microwave.
Posted 2010-06-02 2:56 PM (#120845 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 330
Location: northeast Texas
I would never go back to an ice chest either. I was sick of the mess. Could never take salad. Cheese and lunchmeat would get soggy. Condiments in the bottom. Not to mention expense and worry with ice, specially if it was hot. We never turn our fridge off. It stays on propane while we travel and at home stays plugged in. We keep it packed with drinks, water, condiments, bags of chocolate and the freezer has hamburger patties, steaks, froze fries, Lil Steamers veggies, weiners, ice cream. It cuts my packing time in half and I dont forget stuff. It gets really cold on either elec or propane. Ours has a temperature setting feature so maybe you need to see what yours is set on. Also could need the vent cleaned. I did go through a wreck that knocked the fridge loose from the cabinet. The pilot went out. Dont know if that is a safety feature or just happened. We did smell some propane so closed the bottles while waiting for the wrecker. We have the 6.0 fridge with seperate freezer. Thats what was in the wrecked trailer also.
Posted 2010-06-02 6:40 PM (#120855 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 80
Location: Tracy, CA
Like most said it takes awhile for the frig to get cold. I bring most of my cold food stuff in a large ice chest and then transfer to the freg once I get to whare I'm going to camp. I make blocks of ice to bring along and that last me for about 8 days even in summer. Nice to have ice for your sodas, etc.
Posted 2010-06-07 4:17 PM (#120965 - in reply to #120694) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 3
Location: Wilton, CA
This message is directed primarily to COWPONY01 but I'd appreciate any leads.
COWPONY01 wrote: I don't have a full LQ, just insulating and nice paneling, with shelving, vanity, etc. and my husband wired in 12v outlets and I bought a 12v fridge. It doesn't drain my battery on the trailer either. I can run it a whole 3 day weekend. I believe it's 48 qt.
My question is: what brand is your 12v fridge? where did you get it?
Posted 2010-06-08 11:44 AM (#120993 - in reply to #120683) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
Member
Posts: 31
Location: Mt.Carroll,IL
Back when I was showing and doing more camping and didn't wanna use a cooler with ice in it, I got an electric cooler....I would also fill empty gatorade bottles with water and freeze them....That why it would keep things cold and I would have icey cold water to drink....The electric cooler is nice cuz you can keep things cold or hot and I can hook mine up to a marine battery...You have to watch it cuz it will drain a marine battery in a couple of hours and you don't wanna leave it plugged into your truck's ciggeratte lighter when you stop cuz it will drain your battery....Just used the electric cooler when I would take short trips with the horses....But have used it when I have gone on vacation and keep it plugged in in my motel room with soda, water, cheese n crackers, fruit and juice in it...
Posted 2010-06-10 7:15 PM (#121049 - in reply to #120728) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 112
Location: ohio
We have a LQ trailer with a nice big fridge and YES we would not want to be without it. When camping 3-6 days it is a very nice convience. We keep it on all year long even when trailer is setting winterized. One word of warning - take the food out of freezer if you are dont camping regular and check on it often. We pulled a stupid trick when we took it to the repair shop and asked the dealer to keep it level so the fridge would stay on. Well, when we got it home everything was rotted and after 4 years, the smell is still there. That is why I say check on it. I used to camp with coolers and it was a pain to keep enough ice for 3 or 4 days. But back 12 years or so we didn't know any other way!
Posted 2010-06-11 11:53 PM (#121075 - in reply to #120685) Subject: RE: Do you use you fridge?
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Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
If you were closer I'd take it. The trailer I just got has a frig, it makes ice but the frig part doesn't get cold anymore. It did the first few times I used it though.