Follow up - fridge in winter?

[theflake]

I received a lot of good advice when I posted my first question, so I'm coming back with a follow-up! I will be parking my 25RB at a Provincial Park on a campsite, and visiting it once a month or so for a couple of nights at a time. I have access to 30 amp electrical service (only when I am on-site) and the water system is fully winterized.

My initial plan is to use the trailer fridge on electric while there. Since it will be freezing or below most of the winter, I assumed it would not be a big deal to use the fridge. However, I read somewhere that it can be harmful to turn on/use a fridge in very cold ambient conditions. I could always throw a cooler in the TV but would rather save myself some cold trips! Thoughts?

One more thought-since I will be running my 30 amp cord and a 30 amp extension cord from the trailer to the post, and leaving it outside all winter, should I wrap it in something to minimize damage? Maybe that corrugated plastic wrap that you use to consolidate cables behind a stereo? Should I wrap the plug connections? They will be buried under snow for much of the winter.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Blake

[Lloyd]

I think you are going to have a problem trying to run the fridge in the winter.
A lot of people have tried it and found out it wasn't a good thing.


Google--- RV fridge work in freezing weather

There is a lot of good reading there.

[Jeffur]

For the cord just make sure it's rated for outdoor use. Marine is a good example of all weather use.
If your fridge is ammonia ( most RV fridges are) it should have the heat race wire on the condenser just before it reaches the receiver. It will also have a thermocouple close to where the heat trace is but affixed to the back wall / plenum of the fridge. When the temps drop - it keeps the ammonia flowing.

[Lloyd]

I would say, camping in temps that are below zero might be a learning experience. Let alone, trying it in 20 to 30 below zero. Those cracker boxes we call campers, just aren't made for that. I'll bet they would/will look like an ice castle inside after a short amount of time.
Let us know how it all works out for you.

[harley]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

I would say, camping in temps that are below zero might be a learning experience. Let alone, trying it in 20 to 30 below zero. Those cracker boxes we call campers, just aren't made for that. I'll bet they would/will look like an ice castle inside after a short amount of time.
Let us know how it all works out for you.

OP is from Ontario , so -20 deg is in Celsius so it is about -2 f. Still cold tho.

[theflake]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

I would say, camping in temps that are below zero might be a learning experience. Let alone, trying it in 20 to 30 below zero. Those cracker boxes we call campers, just aren't made for that. I'll bet they would/will look like an ice castle inside after a short amount of time.
Let us know how it all works out for you.

Hello all,

Happy new year! We went up to the trailer for 3 nights on the 27th and had a blast! It was about 15F when we arrived, inside and out. Took the furnace and 2 electric heaters about an hour to get it up to 55F inside. We were able to keep the interior at about 65F during the day on electric alone,which I thought was impressive.

I decided to use the fridge, since it was basically prechilled, and it worked fine. We obviously empty out all the food when we depart, and leave the fridge and freezer doors open. So far, so good.

Raked about 2' of snow off the roof, but had to leave the slide out when we left as the seals were encased in an inch of solid ice. Will head up every few weeks to inspect and shovel as needed.

The adventure continues!

Blake

Sent from my K010 using Tapatalk

[dipped02]

Good to hear the fridge worked fine! Sounds great adventures ahead.