110v fridge on outdoor kitchen

[dpd12]

Hello all;
I am a new member and just purchased a Laredo 303tg. We are not new to TT but new to Keystone. We very excited about the new TT and outdoor kitchen.

Problem: We do lots camping without power. I have a yamaha genny that I run a couple hours a day to charge batteries. How can I take advantage of the outdoor 110 fridge without power? Will it work ok as an ice box? Will dry ice work? Really too bad the fridge is not propane. Any suggestions appreciated.

[KJcachers]

It's nothing more than a dorm fridge. Consider it an extra cupboard when dry camping.

[JRTJH]

I agree. It's a small "dorm type" refrigerator. In some RV's, the refeer has a freezer section, but in some of the more recent models, it's just the refrigerator with no freezer section. Some people add a couple of frozen half gallon milk jugs during travel to help keep it cool in transit, but I would be careful putting dry ice in it. Getting the plastic inside liner "super cold" could make it brittle and a kid (or adult) in a hurry could accidentally bump that brittle plastic and break it.

I'd guess the reason there's not a propane refrigerator is mainly because of cost and problems designing in a vent system on the "interior wall" of the outside galley. It's pretty simple to install a 110 plug and throw in a $150 dorm reefer, much more involved to install a $1000 Dometic upright with the construction of a vent stack that it needs to function. And a Dometic chest type 4CU FT all electric, probably the best choice for dry camping, is also $1000 and must have at least a dual battery supply to operate for any longer than overnight.

It's a compromise between simply adding a small electric reefer and "engineering" a much more expensive propane model.

[Ruffus]

When fulltiming two years ago we found ourselves hosting on the central coast of California for six months, 45 miles from the nearest large super market. I bought a Coleman refrigerater from camping world for $100 that runs on 12 volt. I kept it in my 5ver's basement and kept beer, milk and even parishables in it and it kept a temp between 30 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the outside weather. About once a month I had to unplug it to defrost the top coil because it would ice up from the condensation from the items in it. It also has a 12 volt adapter to 115 volts so I can use it in my shop when home.

[crash]

We too are getting ready to put a fridge in the basement are of our raptor for beer and mixers so I dont have to carry the coolers or keep going inside just for a golden beverage

[Bob Landry]

I have also wondered about the utility of the outdoor fridge. Considering it needs 110V to operate, that space could have been put to better use inside the trailer. My outback came with the "outdoor kitchen consisting of a 2 burner Suburban stove that's too small for anything larger than a small pot and the small plastic sink with no drain. Go figure. Everything that was in that foldout compartment has gone it's way on Craigslist and the space left is exactly the size needed to store a two burner Camp Chef stove that is actually large enough to cook on. The swing down door makes a perfect work table for cooking outside. As far as not having to go inside for a drink, that's what coolers are made for and work great for kids and large groups.

[SLIMSHADIE]

Bob not having an outdoor fridge, I know the concern. But we only dry camp 1 time a rear and the other 10-20 times we have at least electricity. I havent bought ice in 3 years other than the 1 time per year dry camping. It is so nice NOT to lug the coolers in/out and making sure they are dry before putting them away and so on.
The night before we load the outdoor fridge up and turn it on. When we finally get to our destination the next day is nice just to flip the door open and grab a cold one! I dont know what we would do without it now? Just pure laziness.

[Stublejumper]

Originally Posted by dpd12

Hello all;
I am a new member and just purchased a Laredo 303tg. We are not new to TT but new to Keystone. We very excited about the new TT and outdoor kitchen.

Problem: We do lots camping without power. I have a yamaha genny that I run a couple hours a day to charge batteries. How can I take advantage of the outdoor 110 fridge without power? Will it work ok as an ice box? Will dry ice work? Really too bad the fridge is not propane. Any suggestions appreciated.

Our 2012 avalanche 341 has a outside kitchen as well ,when in transit I run the 110 vac fridge with a 1000 watt true sign inverter,when dry camping I have the freezer compartment stuffed with ice packs and the setting set on the coldest setting so when the gen is running to charge those batteries it stays running the whole time and seems to work. I also bought a 3 way aborbtion cooler and plumbed gas into a quick disconnect and a 25ft hose (holds 58 cool ones).