| Author | Message | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 205.200.78.195 Rating: N/A |
Good Evening Well I'm finally getting to the appliance stage of my conversion, and am once again looking for some advice. The fridge, should I spend the extra $$$ and go propane or just stay with an electric unit. I have been planning to just go electric but a couple of neighbours think the propane is worth the money. It is concidrable a lot more money so I thought I'd ask the experts. Thanks once again | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 152 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.205  Rating: N/A |
Grant, Are you planning on boondocking or dry camping or will you always be staying somewhere with electricity? I think that is the best way to look at how to make a decision. I am building to dry camp, so the LP is a must for me. If you are running LP for your hot water and furnace, using an LP fridge would let you dry camp. Good Luck! Glenn | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 72.89.73.18  Rating: N/A |
Grant, it will depend on how you use your coach and what other appliances use propane. The propane fridge is great for boondocking as not much electricity draw if any. We use a smaller 110v unit from an appliance center and plug in at home and camp and use the invertor on the road. We try to limit how much we open it underway ( easier with the kids gone ) and we fill the bottom bins with ice. Some will tell you you cant run the propane underway but alot of folks do. Good luck | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 340 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.36.66 Rating: |
Grant, I have a total electric coach and like Glenn said if you are going to use your coach electric is not the way to go without solar.I have to run my generator about 3 to 4 hours a day to keep the batteries charged and can not cook with the cook top I have without using the generator because it's 240v and will kill the batteries in a short time.I am changing over to propane 1 thing at a time, the propane frides are a lot better now than they were 5 or 10 years ago I have a Norcold propane and love it another plus for propane is the size of the battery bank you need about 1/2 the size of a electric coach (Message edited by luvrbus on April 06, 2008) (Message edited by luvrbus on April 06, 2008) | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 205.200.78.194 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the great responces! I am planning on dry camping for the most part. I also was planning on installing a propane hot water tank as well as stove top. I was thinking that the new electric fridges didn't draw too much power but I do believe you guys have possably changed my mind. I've been told a good full sized propane fridge runs upwards around $2500.00, is this correct? Thanks again guys | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 153 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.205 Rating: N/A |
Grant, I've seen that price thrown around alot and it may be true for the new 2 door side by side units. I think you can get a nice used unit for 1k or under. I bought a whole 1995 trailer for 1500, and the appliances worked, except the hot water heater. I'm even scavanging wood for building other things! | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 251 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 209.218.200.174  Rating: N/A |
I bought a used Norcold for under $800 and it works great, was hardly ever used. Unless you want new, then expect to pay a lot more. I shopped around and found a great deal. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 341 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.36.66 Rating: N/A |
2500, for the 4 door side by side is about right they list for over 3 but I saw them in Quartzsite in Jan for 1500 bucks they are 12cf | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 342 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.36.66 Rating: N/A |
Grant, these guys have good fridges that can be set up for rv's and you get a lot more for the money they are located in Prescott AZ but look at the site any way for info www.propanefreezer.com Dynamax is the company name I don't live far from them and found out about it after I bought my Norcold (Message edited by luvrbus on April 06, 2008) | ||
| Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member Username: Frank66 Post Number: 71 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
we use a norcold propane electric, love it except it takes a long time to get cold on start up, bought it from a slavage place the front trim was bent a little, never used 250.00, and we do run it on gas while under way Frank Allen | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 285 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.90.226.53 Rating: N/A |
If your'e willing to spring $1300 bucks ,to me the house style Servelle is a far better deal than the RV stuff. Many of the RV units suffer from poor voltage at times , they eat the factory cheap circuit boards , so folks rip out the stock one and install a Dinosaur board for reliability.$130+ Also the RV stuff had skimpy insulation to have as large an inside as can be done.The Servelle iis far better insulated , so slightly bigger outside. The Servelle is propane ONLY . no crappy electrical boards . totally manual. The propane consumption is very low , our old Motorolla (later mfg by Dometic) eats a pound a day , new units can do great on 1/4 of that. Purchase a std RV exhaust for the roof , and box the exhaust to help it exit , and I think you will be delighted with a silent fridge/freezer that allows silent boondocking , almost forever. FF | ||
| Tom Yaegle (Tom_5c)
Registered Member Username: Tom_5c Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 96.235.246.180 Rating: N/A |
Grant, If you decide on a propane fridge I have a new Norcold. It is a 1200LRIM (w/icemaker) 4 door 12 cu ft. It is a new takeout, some scuffs or scratches on the black door panels. I would like to get 1300.00 for it. I live in Pa. Tom Y | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 228 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
To add to fred's list, there are a few other makes e.g. Sibir made in Switzerland and Consul from Brazil both good sized, manual in operation and two doors. Joe. | ||
| Jerome Dusenberry (Jerry32)
Registered Member Username: Jerry32 Post Number: 52 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 148.78.245.11 Rating: N/A |
There is a surplus place in town here and he useually has fridges and other RV stuff at good prices. I paid $40 for my 21 foot awnig without arms. It was new by the date on it and still in the wrapper. Jerry |
