Norcold Fridge - Running while Trail Manor is folded up

Quick question - I'm prepping for my second trip.

I wanted to open up the TM, pack the fridge then close it and plug it in. As long as I leave the Norcold Fridge setting on electric, and the fridge fan on, amd I good to go on getting the fridge to start by just plugging the trailer in?

I don't plan on running the fridge while in transit, so was thinking I could just leave the knob turned towards electric.

Please advise

[rvcycleguy]

A couple of things to think about. The best way to use the fridge is to cool it down before you leave home. Plug in the fridge to a 110 plug or use an adapter for your park plug to reduce it down to household plug. Or use the propane mode if you cannot plug in the TM. Chill it overnight if possible, then pack your cold items from the home fridge. More than likely, your cold items may still be cold making it easier and shorter time period to chill after you arrive to your destination. You can have the switch on electric while towing but the fan will be using 12v from the tow vehicle through the 7 way plug at the hitch. When you stop for lunch or gas, the fan will continue to pull 12v and if left for too long may drain the battery on your tow vehicle.

[HIKERZ]

Typically I chill the unit down then load it. I will put it on battery then drop the tops while leaving it plugged into the 110. When its time to go I just unplug the trailer and plug it into the TV. This has seemed to work for me

[Bill]

Chowder -

You can do just what you outlined. As RVCycleGuy mentioned, the fan will be running while you are on the road, but it draws a tiny amount of power. The tow vehicle readily replaces this power when the tow vehicle engine is running. If you stop and park and turn off the tow vehicle engine, the refrig fan will still run, but its power drain is so small that it would take 4 or 5 days to draw down the TM battery to 50% capacity, and more than double that if the tow vehicle battery contributes.

The refrig is slow to cool down, so pre-cooling is a good idea when you can do it. Not required, however.

Incidentally, this is a good time to suggest that you figure out whether your tow vehicle has an isolator that will disconnect the tow vehicle battery when the ignition key is turned off. Lots of posts on the topic - use the search term "isolator" in the electrical forum.

Bill

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by Bill

... As Earl mentioned ...

Earl? Who is Earl in these replies?

rvcycleguy

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by HIKERZ

Typically I chill the unit down then load it. I will put it on battery then drop the tops while leaving it plugged into the 110. When its time to go I just unplug the trailer and plug it into the TV. This has seemed to work for me

Doesn't the rear roof cover the park plug access port when lowered?

[MudDog]

Originally Posted by rvcycleguy

Doesn't the rear roof cover the park plug access port when lowered?

Don't know what year, but they did change that. I can access the plug on my 2009 with the shells down.

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by MudDog

Don't know what year, but they did change that. I can access the plug on my 2009 with the shells down.

Thanks.

Thanks! I tow with a 2010 F150 and with the previous trailer I would run the fridge on 12V and go in have an hour long lunch, etc, never any problems with the TV battery being drawn down.

That being said, I'm doing more dry camping so I plan to not run the fridge on 12V in transit. I believe my truck puts out enough power to keep the batteries charged, but I don't want to risk it. For the first trip in the new TM we pre cooled the fridge on 110 and loaded with pre cooled food and were in transit for about 5 or 6 hours with the fridge and fan off and the food was plenty cold when we arrived. This was in about 90 degree weather.

I've decided to keep the fridge turned off while in transit as long as my food is staying cold. I'm not too worried about it unless i plan to be on the road for 12 hours or so.

My TM 2013 does allow access to the shore power plug, so I'll just keep the fridge turned on electric with the fan on when folding up the night before departure. This will also be helpful on trips where we drive part way to the inlaws, sleep and then get up and keep driving. I'll just plug in at their house and not even open the trailer before departing again the next morning.

Thank you for your help!
Josh

[ELM-JLM]

Originally Posted by rvcycleguy

Earl? Who is Earl in these replies?

LOL Bill musta sensed I was thinking of a reply!ROFLMAO!