12v Fridge Boondocking Time with Josh the RV Nerd

Haylett Auto & RV of Coldwater Michigan | 800-256-5196
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[JoshtheRVNerd]

*Hey Everybody!! I want to begin with saying I don't feel this video has aged well and I frankly have considered taking it down. When this video was released 12v Fridges were very new to the towable RV industry (in the mainstream segment at least). The info shared in this video was all something that was provided to my by a supplier/vendor, but has proven to be theoretical and has not held up well in the world of practical application.*

*In our newer videos we've made an effort to provide better expectations for clients and hope you appreciate the continued commitment to providing you with GOOD and REAL information whenever possible.*
_-Josh_

[loricollins]

We have a 12V fridge in our Wildwood and we love it! Not only is it roomy but really keeps everything cold!

[tbamagic]

I've been totally happy with my Dometic gas/electric fridge. Great when at state parks on the foggy west coast. Most of these parks have no electricity. Skies are gray. Fridge is on gas all the time. Batteries stay happy.

[marcireale]

Oh yeah, 12v fridge for the win!!! So glad to see most of the manufacturers moving to them.

[chartrand]

My traditional 8cu ft RV fridge that came with my RV was not working well, and after some research, I replaced it with the 10cu ft Furrion 12v fridge. It fit into the same hole and I got 2 extra cu's ft of space. (yes you need to be a little handy) I love how much more efficient it is, I no longer need the little RV fridge fan, and It cools way faster from storage to be usable to pack food into. My only issue with mine is a sagging main fridge door. Furrion had me try a few adjustments before sending me a kit to fix it. I'll get that kit installed and test this next camping season. I'm happy to note that my experience with Furrion support has been great so far, and that's probably not something you hear about many companies these days.

I will say I won't purchase a new RV without a 12v fridge in it. I'm personally sold and I love your video here letting folks know.

[sleddy]

Answering all of my questions. Thanks Josh.

[supersami]

I’ve used the 12 volt fridges since 2008 in my RV’s starting with an Engel. We dry camping almost exclusively so my backup 53 dec generator is never an issue running it. As you noted the 17 day test was nowhere near realistic. We do a lot of BLM National Forest 14 day camping and we finally figured out the proper combo. Minimum two 6 volt batteries 225 amp hour, 100 watt suitcase solar and your generator. As you stated people are going to be using lights, fans and on a cold trip the giant energy hog the furnace. Our current rig has 300 amp hour AGM batteries, generator and 100 watts on the roof with the suitcase solar when it’s practical. These units have held up to the vibrations of driving quite well, we’ve had an ARB (Engel) unit since 2002 we use off road in our Jeep and have never had an issue with it. Great vid to go along with your ditch the residential units vid.

[robertdavenport]

I switched to a 5 cu ft danfoss compressor fridge (12v) six years ago in our RV. We've camped hundreds of nights using it and it works great. Food is always cold and it cools down quick. The draw on the battery is about 60 watts (5 amps) when the compressor is cycling, but that is very intermittent. I agree you need 2 batteries at least, but we've never run out of juice because of the fridge.

For serious boondocking, upgrading your batteries to Lithium and having multiple ways to charge (generator, plug in, solar, DC to DC charger from alternator) combined with a decent way to monitor your batteries state of charge makes life easy.

[badgerpa]

I had a drawer 12 volt frig a few years back and really liked it after about a week of adopting to a drawer from a door. The cold does not dump out when you slide the drawer open and we always froze some water bottles ahead of going out and put them in the frig it would be cold in a hour and stay cold. My home frig has a drawer and it is great for the drinks and snack things the kids are always in the frig for. It has a freezer drawer on bottom then a drawer you can run as frig or freezer then the side by side 2 doors frig. Works well when you have a bunch of kids over. Work on that dad bod it gets harder every year to get back in shape.

[edtworek]

BRO! I was introduced to the Furrion 12V units at a vendor show. Had the coldest bottle of water, I've ever had from an RV fridge! Quiet. No flame. I'm sold. Just wish they would get some service training started.

[JeffInDFW]

This fridge is the best of both worlds. You get the fast cooling, freezer that actually FREEZES, and larger size of a residential compressor in a package that was designed to live in a rolling earthquake (ie RV) like the old 2 way RV fridge. I've been sold since day one, but trying to find out the exact data Josh just shared. As usual, Josh comes through with the info that actual RV buyers need. I say mount two of these next to each other and flip the doors on one of them so you get a side by side with 21cf of storage!

[wavemister]

You are absolutely right on with your review of these new refrigerators, Josh. I have had mine since February and two dry camping trips and have found my 12 volt refrigerator superior in every way. No problem powering my rig with 200 watts solar. Thanks for the recommendation. Right on!

[Veetribe.]

Finally..someone explained this..thank you

[Dave-zlky]

Love your continuing information. Thanks

[ericnortan]

Just got home from first trip in my new wolf pup 16he. The fridge was great. Got a little nervous the first night as the battery started dropping but the solar panel did its job and she was at 13.6v the next afternoon. I did put the fridge on low and we were away from the RV most of the day. I will upgrade to more battery capacity and add aditional solar, but I think that is all I need. I think a generator is a good idea for boondocking, especially if you want to run the heater or A/C. Not essential but a really nice backup, we have a lot of cloudy days you know. All in all I was pretty happy with the performance of the solar/fridge setup and my wolf pup in general.

[waynegilberts]

This is the wandering rv tech. The o e draw back is the glass fuse is in back of the refrigerator. You have to pull it out to replace it. Modification is to cut the fuse out and extend it to the front with a standard ato 15amp so tech or customer can get to it. Other than pull refrigerator out and reinstall it. Which it take 90 minutes to do. That is the one bad part. Other it a great refrigerator

[imillionaires]

Another great video. Very informative. I did buy the 12v refrigerator/ 190w solar package on my new Rockwood 2614BS. I also bought a 3500w inverting generator for running one of the ACs.

[cletebohlke]

Thank you for that.cant wait to pick up my unit from you soon.

[michaelgehrke]

Class B vans like the Winnebago Boldt are pushing the envelope for boondocking. This is basically a self contained 30 amp vehicle capable of recharging itself while driving down the road. It uses a combo of lithium batteries, a 12v fridge and a 12v air conditioner along with solar panels. Do you see this technology trickling down to towable rvs?

[markfowler]

Josh thanks again for a great, informative video!