Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge
| Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330079] |
Fri, 16 March 2018 18:23  |
quadracerx1
Messages: 207
Registered: April 2013
Location: Puyallup, Washington
Karma: 1
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How many use an Apartment Small Fridge 120 Volt instead of a RV Fridge?
What is your experience?
What type, size and brand of invertor do you use?
Thanks,
Steve
75 26' GMC Glenbrook
Puyallup, Washington
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| Re: Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330083 is a reply to message #330079] |
Fri, 16 March 2018 18:45  |
bwevers
Messages: 598
Registered: October 2010
Location: San Jose
Karma: 5
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Off the grid I haven't had much luck making an electric refrigerator run for more than a couple of days.
I had two gold cart batteries and a pure sine convertor running an old refrigerator.
Then I bought a new 2 way, propane/120VAC. It runs a long time off of propane.
Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
455 F Block, G heads
San Jose
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| Re: Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330086 is a reply to message #330080] |
Fri, 16 March 2018 19:10 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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We have a 6 or 7 cubic foot apartment fridge in our rear bath Royale. Its a magic chef I think. Separate freezer up top. The original Dometic was non operable when we bought the coach. I had this fridge in our garage and took some measurements. Sure enough with a little wiggle room it fits in the same hole as the original fridge. As there was a power outlet already there no extra wiring was needed.
I do not run it on an inverter. Either shore power, or when the generator is running.
The highs. I bought the fridge from a neighbor for 50 bucks. New ones are usually 280 or so on sale. If it dies Im not really out much. It keeps icecream frozen. Holds 30 pounds of ice if needed. There is a ton of space for everything in the fridge. I dont have to be as concerned about being off level for it to run. I can open the door and instantly tell its working as the light comes on. I can hear the fan run as well when its quiet, so again I can tell its working. With little ones constantly in and out of the fridge, it does not take that long to recover and keep things cold. No pilot light to worry about and the potential hazards associated with that.
The lows. Its sticks out about 2 inches farther than the original. Since we are all fairly slim people its not an issue, but it also is a somewhat tight squeeze around the dinette just due to the rear twin configuration of the coach. Unless your on shore power or running the generator you have no fridge. Just like your house fridge, as long as the door is closed things stay pretty frozen / cold for several hours before I feel the need to power it up and cool it down again.
Once this fridge dies, I will probably go back to a propane unit. But at the time I could not spare +/- 500 for a used unit, or 1K for a new one, knowing I had several thousand in maintenance that was higher priority.
Bottom line, if your mostly at campgrounds with power, or dont have issues with running a generator a while its a good way to go.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330122 is a reply to message #330079] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 09:58 |
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Brian K
Messages: 75
Registered: May 2017
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
Karma: 0
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So to preface, I rarely if ever Boondock or go off the grid. The few times I've had to go that way was when I had breakdowns, and had to either hole up in Walmart or a parking lot. So from my experience, I'll never be going several days without land power.
When I bought my coach it had a 40 year old fridge that didn't work. So for the first several months I used an ice chest and stored things in the broken fridge with ice too. This last fall I pulled out the fridge, pulled out the non functioning water heater, and went tank less (as laid out in a few posts on the forum). When I did that, I decided to convert the refrigerator space to shelving on top, and then I went to Home Depot and bought a $100 dorm fridge. So far it's been great. It cools up really quickly once I get to my destination, and I never need much more food storage than that. And I just got some extra shelving storage! But that's me. I'm a semi-single, 56 year old man too.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p64059-water-heater-install.html
(Once again, sorry for the non-rotated pictures).
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Sherman Oaks, CA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
[Updated on: Sun, 18 March 2018 10:03] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330125 is a reply to message #330122] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 11:13 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Ah Brian? Just what is "semi single" Some new gender description I am
unaware of? I know I am kind of out of touch, but.....WTH?
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Sun, Mar 18, 2018, 8:02 AM Brian Krikorian wrote:
> So to preface, I rarely if ever Boondock or go off the grid. The few
> times I've had to go that way was when I had breakdowns, and had to either
> hole
> up in Walmart or a parking lot. So from my experience, I'll never be
> going several days without land power.
>
> When I bought my coach it had a 40 year old fridge that didn't work. So
> for the first several months I used an ice chest and stored things in the
> broken fridge with ice too. This last fall I pulled out the fridge,
> pulled out the non functioning water heater, and went tank less (as laid
> out in a
> few posts on the forum). When I did that, I decided to convert the
> refrigerator space to shelving on top, and then I went to Home Depot and
> bought a
> $100 dorm fridge. So far it's been great. It cools up really quickly
> once I get to my destination, and I never need much more storage than that.
> And I just got some extra storage! But that's me. I'm a semi-single, 56
> year old man too.
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330127 is a reply to message #330125] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 13:42 |
Jimmy_Bonez
Messages: 105
Registered: September 2017
Location: NH
Karma: 0
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Justin are you guys still out on the road? Or back up north?
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 18, 2018, at 9:13 AM, James Hupy wrote:
>
> Ah Brian? Just what is "semi single" Some new gender description I am
> unaware of? I know I am kind of out of touch, but.....WTH?
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
>> On Sun, Mar 18, 2018, 8:02 AM Brian Krikorian wrote:
>>
>> So to preface, I rarely if ever Boondock or go off the grid. The few
>> times I've had to go that way was when I had breakdowns, and had to either
>> hole
>> up in Walmart or a parking lot. So from my experience, I'll never be
>> going several days without land power.
>>
>> When I bought my coach it had a 40 year old fridge that didn't work. So
>> for the first several months I used an ice chest and stored things in the
>> broken fridge with ice too. This last fall I pulled out the fridge,
>> pulled out the non functioning water heater, and went tank less (as laid
>> out in a
>> few posts on the forum). When I did that, I decided to convert the
>> refrigerator space to shelving on top, and then I went to Home Depot and
>> bought a
>> $100 dorm fridge. So far it's been great. It cools up really quickly
>> once I get to my destination, and I never need much more storage than that.
>> And I just got some extra storage! But that's me. I'm a semi-single, 56
>> year old man too.
>> --
>> Brian K
>> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
>> Bellevue, WA
>> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
>> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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Jim DeMellia and Jen Radefeld and our cat Ickis
NH natives
1975 GMC “Palm Beach” ,455, her names Linda
Full time RVers exploring the beautiful and unusual parts of the country.
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| Re: Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330129 is a reply to message #330079] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 15:30 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Jim H,
I can't believe how semi out of touch with the new lingo you have become...
Now that I have decided to not care what my semi friends may think about me being semi hard to be around and being semi over weight, it just semi bothers me now..
BTW Brian, I'm joking!!
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330130 is a reply to message #330129] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 15:34 |
Sammy Williams
Messages: 522
Registered: August 2010
Karma: -2
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I saw a portable (smaller) fridge on sears website, it was just a bit over
400. :)
On Sun, Mar 18, 2018 at 3:30 PM, Scott Nutter wrote:
> Jim H,
> I can't believe how semi out of touch with the new lingo you have become...
> Now that I have decided to not care what my semi friends may think about
> me being semi hard to be around and being semi over weight, it just semi
> bothers me now..
> BTW Brian, I'm joking!!
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330131 is a reply to message #330130] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 16:52 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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O.K, yesterday, I just got a new cell phone. It still has SIRI, but in
addition, it has Bixby, and I consulted he/she/It? about "semi single" To
put it simply, I ain't the only one who is out of touch. Whoa Mama, talk
about TMI. Not going back there for a while! (Grin)
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
On Sun, Mar 18, 2018, 1:34 PM Sammy Williams wrote:
> I saw a portable (smaller) fridge on sears website, it was just a bit over
> 400. :)
>
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 18, 2018 at 3:30 PM, Scott Nutter
> wrote:
>
>> Jim H,
>> I can't believe how semi out of touch with the new lingo you have
> become...
>> Now that I have decided to not care what my semi friends may think about
>> me being semi hard to be around and being semi over weight, it just semi
>> bothers me now..
>> BTW Brian, I'm joking!!
>> --
>> Scott Nutter
>> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21
> final
>> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
>> Houston, Texas
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330134 is a reply to message #330132] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 17:38 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Yeah, when I get it, I finally get it. I didn't mean to get personal. Some
people have different interpretations of that term. No reason or blame for
it, really. Just the way it turns out after all is said and done. At least
you have a couple of faithful 4 legged companions. They don't judge, they
just give love unconditionally, no matter what.
Glad you are part of the GMC mix.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
On Sun, Mar 18, 2018, 3:22 PM Brian Krikorian wrote:
> Well...divorced for 10 years, 2 dogs, and a girlfriend. That's how I
> define "semi-single"!
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330138 is a reply to message #330079] |
Sun, 18 March 2018 20:58 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Just to hear Jim say " Whoa Mama" was so outta sigh. No, better than that. It was Groovy!!!
But glad to hear he finally got rid of his flip phone!!
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
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| Re: [GMCnet] Using a small apartment fridge instead of an RV Fridge [message #330146 is a reply to message #330138] |
Mon, 19 March 2018 00:06 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Flip fone went the way of pagers. You remember them I am sure. Had one on
my hip for longer than I like to remember. My flipper went away for a
Galaxy Note 3 in 2012. Now it is a Galaxy 8. Another bell curve to ascend.
Love it.
Jim Hupy
On Sun, Mar 18, 2018, 7:22 PM Scott Nutter wrote:
> Just to hear Jim say " Whoa Mama" was so outta sigh. No, better than that.
> It was Groovy!!!
> But glad to hear he finally got rid of his flip phone!!
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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