Freezer in the garage?

JJaxon · 03-14-2021, 01:16 PM

Does anyone carry a small chest freezer in their toy hauler garage? Not the type for autos, but the kind you'd see at home.
They sell some small ones, and I wonder if bouncing down the road would kill it. Plugged into washer dryer outlet in the garage, it would be on 120v when plugged into shore power, inverter when travelling down the road.

jasin1 · 03-14-2021, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJaxon

Does anyone carry a small chest freezer in their toy hauler garage? Not the type for autos, but the kind you'd see at home.
They sell some small ones, and I wonder if bouncing down the road would kill it. Plugged into washer dryer outlet in the garage, it would be on 120v when plugged into shore power, inverter when travelling down the road.

Where I live they have door to door meat salesman..(capitol meats?) or something like that... they employ people that basically bring there own pickup truck and put a chest freezer in the back... I guess they plug it in at night and just open it quickly to get out orders then get home and plug back in .... I would NEVER buy anything from them but I’ve seen some of the sketchiest truck and freezer combos rolling down the road ... some Charter captains on a budget will do that also

I would make sure it’s in a conditioned area

**chuckster57** · 03-14-2021, 01:32 PM

You would have to make sure you have an inverter powered outlet in the garage, After that I would think you would be ok.

JJaxon · 03-14-2021, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

You would have to make sure you have an inverter powered outlet in the garage, After that I would think you would be ok.

My washer dryer outlets are in the garage and on the inverter leg, so it would be plugged in there and powered at all times. I'd also wrap it in some heavy shipping blankets for added insulation, strap the top closed so it doesn't bounce open. Thats my initial plan anyway.

**chuckster57** · 03-14-2021, 02:18 PM

I haven’t seen a washer/dryer on an “inverter” plug. You tested with a plug checker to be sure?

JJaxon · 03-14-2021, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I haven’t seen a washer/dryer on an “inverter” plug. You tested with a plug checker to be sure?

Yes. When I installed solar and the inverter, it initially powered only one leg of the 50amp service. The L1 side. The things I want powered are the L2 side. Rather than swapping breaker to breaker, I moved the feed wires Black for Red, Red for Black, so all the items I want are now powered by solar-battery-inverter when not plugged into shore or generator.

Picture is factory setup before I moved the 2 wires in the middle.

**chuckster57** · 03-14-2021, 03:10 PM

Gotcha. As a rule I haven’t seen a factory installed inverter power a washer/dryer.

Hblick48 · 03-14-2021, 07:05 PM

Not sure how the compressor would tolerate the trailer bouncing down the road. The home units (compressor) are not designed to operate while "in motion", it is a mechanical pump. I was going to put a dorm size refrig/freezer in our rig for extra space. After reading reviews about them not lasting in a dorm environment, figured RV would not be ideal.

notanlines · 03-15-2021, 01:33 AM

All rear kitchen RV's have the fridge/freezer in the rear. Keep the ceiling and side vents open when you travel and hit the road. I don't see a problem at all.

**flybouy** · 03-17-2021, 08:42 AM

^^^^ Yup, my outdoor kitchen has a "dorm style" 120V fridge that sets right against the rear wall. That's the roughest ride other than the bumper. I'll start it up the day before we leave (or sometimes just a few hrs.) fill it pre cooled drinks and take off. Hasn't been an issue in the years we've owned it.

Hblick48 · 03-17-2021, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

^^^^ Yup, my outdoor kitchen has a "dorm style" 120V fridge that sets right against the rear wall. That's the roughest ride other than the bumper. I'll start it up the day before we leave (or sometimes just a few hrs.) fill it pre cooled drinks and take off. Hasn't been an issue in the years we've owned it.

Do you run it off of an inverter while trailer is moving, or is the refrigerator off?

**flybouy** · 03-17-2021, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hblick48

Do you run it off of an inverter while trailer is moving, or is the refrigerator off?

We just leave it off. We load it cooled down with items that are cooled down so it's basically like an ice chest. If we are traveling a longer distance, say driving for 8 hrs. or so, then I'll throw a couple of the "blue ice" packs if there's any perishables in it. If it's only drinks I don't worry about it. When we get to the cg it will cool back down rapidly (we don't boon dock). We travel with the inside fridge running on LP and have never had a problem with it.

JJaxon · 03-17-2021, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hblick48

Do you run it off of an inverter while trailer is moving, or is the refrigerator off?

I just completed my solar install, which includes an Inverter. I have yet to travel with it, but that starts in a few weeks, 2700 miles.

My plan is to boondock at least half of the nights until I reach my destination. I can - or should be able to - do this while travelling using the solar/inverter/batteries. If it cant keep up, I have a 5500 watt Onan generator that will recharge batteries (400ah) when/if needed, and power everything in the RV. The fridge also runs off propane when not plugged into shore power.

The freezer will be in the rear garage of the toy hauler, and will start out frozen. I have a remote thermostat to monitor it. It too will run from solar while travelling.

**flybouy** · 03-17-2021, 11:22 AM

Sounds like a good plan.

Hblick48 · 03-17-2021, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

We just leave it off. We load it cooled down with items that are cooled down so it's basically like an ice chest. If we are traveling a longer distance, say driving for 8 hrs. or so, then I'll throw a couple of the "blue ice" packs if there's any perishables in it. If it's only drinks I don't worry about it. When we get to the cg it will cool back down rapidly (we don't boon dock). We travel with the inside fridge running on LP and have never had a problem with it.

My main concern was running it while in transit. Keeping it off in "ice chest" mode while traveling sounds like the thing to do.

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