Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-05-2013, 11:14 AM   #1
justlkn
Senior Member
 
justlkn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Posts: 196
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
__________________

2016 3500HD Silverado Duramax LTZ
2012 Keystone Avalanche 341TG (Sold)
justlkn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 11:23 AM   #2
B&T
Senior Member
 
B&T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Here
Posts: 313
I'd say personal preference, I see no foul either way.
__________________
2012 Passport GT 3100RK
Previous Campers:
2010 Trailmanor 2720SL
2003 R-Vision Traillite
B&T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 12:06 PM   #3
SAABDOCTOR
Senior Member
 
SAABDOCTOR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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.
__________________
BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
SAABDOCTOR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 01:26 PM   #4
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 01:35 PM   #5
davidjsimons
Senior Member
 
davidjsimons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 865
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
davidjsimons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 02:30 PM   #6
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
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"
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 06:40 PM   #7
fla-gypsy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North Florida
Posts: 1,241
Your choice, I turn mine off
__________________
2006 Keystone Hornet 29RLS (The Cracker Cabana)
2009 F-250 SuperDuty CC 6.8L/4.10 (The Black Pearl)
fla-gypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2013, 06:40 PM   #8
f6bits
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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.
__________________
-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD

2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew FX4 5.4L w/Max Tow
f6bits is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2013, 03:25 AM   #9
crash
Senior Member
 
crash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Prince George Va
Posts: 1,300
I turn mine off and then turn it on about a day before we head out .Just my 2 cents
__________________
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)
crash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2013, 04:45 AM   #10
justlkn
Senior Member
 
justlkn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Posts: 196
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)
justlkn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2013, 04:47 AM   #11
Bob Landry
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 1,910
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.
__________________
2011 Outback 277RL
2013 F250 XLT Crew Cab 6.2L

Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
Bob Landry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 06:40 PM   #12
GaryWT
Senior Member
 
GaryWT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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.
GaryWT is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.