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03-05-2013, 11:14 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Posts: 196
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Leave refrigerator on or off during short term storage?
I currently use my 5vr at least once a month for 3 day stints. My question is: should I leave the fridge on all the time or turn it off and leave the doors open during the times I am not using it. The camper is connected to shore power constantly so that would not be an issue with power to it if I left it on. What is everyone's experience with either way?
Thanks,
Glenn
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2016 3500HD Silverado Duramax LTZ
2012 Keystone Avalanche 341TG (Sold)
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03-05-2013, 11:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Here
Posts: 313
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I'd say personal preference, I see no foul either way.
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2012 Passport GT 3100RK
Previous Campers:
2010 Trailmanor 2720SL
2003 R-Vision Traillite
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03-05-2013, 12:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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Hi the only problem i see in turnning it off is you need to wait some time after you turn it back on for it to get cold. i leave mine on. one trick is you keep food in it while your gone, put some ice cubes in a small bowl in the freezer. if you loose power while your gone the ice will melt and refreeze into a block. if you still have cubes all is good.
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BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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03-05-2013, 01:26 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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The only advantage I can see by leaving the fridge on is that when you do take off on one of your 3 day trips, the fridge will be cold saving you the trouble of having to pre-cool it prior to your trip. Otherwise, unless you are using it as an extra fridge for keeping food or beverages cold, I don't see any reason for leaving it on.
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2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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03-05-2013, 01:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 865
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Well, my opinion would be, if the trailer is hooked to shore power and already at your destination, leave it on. If your unit is at home, leave it off with the door propped open and just turn it on a day before you leave for your three day stint.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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03-05-2013, 02:30 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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If you are going to leave it stationary for more than a day or two, and leave the refer on, make sure you are "reasonably" level. The ammonia evaporates and liquifies to cool the unit. When it returns to a liquid, it trickles down the circular coil. If the RV is not level, the ammonia can pool in that area and as it continues to abosrb heat, it gets pretty hot in that area. The sodium chromate (anti-corrosive agent) will also pool there as it flows with the ammonia. It will crystalize and can form a blockage in the cooling lines. Why is the sodium chromate there? It is used to protect the metal lines from the ammonia which is corrosive. If it crystalizes in the lines and forms a blockage the refrigerator will stop working. If it forms a partial blockage, the ammonia will continue to pool there and over time will corrode through the metal tubing. Either way, a major repair will be needed when that happens.
So, make sure your RV is relatively level if you're going to leave the refrigerator turned on. If you just "park it and forget it" and the tongue is "sometimes up and sometimes down" and/or curbside high or maybe in a puddle and streetside high..... You may find your refrigerator dies a bit quicker than normal. At better than $1000 to replace it, that's a costly lesson.
"Reasonably level" just means comfortably level enough to sleep, eat, cook and relax in without feeling you're "lopsided"
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-05-2013, 06:40 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North Florida
Posts: 1,241
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Your choice, I turn mine off
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2006 Keystone Hornet 29RLS (The Cracker Cabana)
2009 F-250 SuperDuty CC 6.8L/4.10 (The Black Pearl)
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03-05-2013, 06:40 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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The only reason I could think of leaving it on was if it was stocked.
Being paranoid like I am, I like having *no* power in a stored trailer just in case something shorts and might start a fire.
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-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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03-06-2013, 03:25 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Prince George Va
Posts: 1,300
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I turn mine off and then turn it on about a day before we head out .Just my 2 cents
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2008 F350 chipped and bagged 6.4 power stroke crew cab 4x4.2013 384pk Raptor (Gravy Train) 2006 Fatboy w/18inch ape hangers,2006 883c sporty,Army wife Kim,Cocoa (The Boarder Collie) and Rebel (The English Bulldog) (THE RICH RAGE WAR,BUT ITS THE POOR THAT DIE)
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03-06-2013, 04:45 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Posts: 196
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Thank everyone for the replies. I think I have decided just to leave it off and the doors open and just turn it on the day before as mentioned above. I too am paranoid about stuff so I always worried about unnecessary wear and tear. Thanks again.
Glenn
__________________
2016 3500HD Silverado Duramax LTZ
2012 Keystone Avalanche 341TG (Sold)
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03-06-2013, 04:47 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 1,910
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If you are storing it at home and you are reasonably sure power won't be interrupted, then there's real no downside to leaving it on. A commercial storage unit where power may be "iffy" is a different story. I have lost power at mine, and if that happens, the fridge turns into a mildewy mess. I go out and turn mine on the day before a trip since it's on their nickel anyway.
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2011 Outback 277RL
2013 F250 XLT Crew Cab 6.2L
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03-11-2013, 06:40 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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Stuff goes in the fridge on the first trip in April/May so unless I want to load and unload each trip, which I do not, it stays on until our last trip in Oct or so. If things go in the house, they might get used or not make it back out. If the power goes out, the gas takes over so all is good.
The new unit has a helium fridge so I home all works the same.
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