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Windsor NC
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We have an inverter that keeps our 23 cubic foot frig perfect. The truck charges the fiver batteries which in turn keep the inverter working at max level. We have thousands of miles on this fiver and we have never had a problem. We will never go back to the standard rv frig.
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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You have a residential frig you have an inverter! As mentioned be sure the inverter is on. I took one trip and the frig temps were up and realized the switch was off. I drove from SoCal to DFW, TX with two stops for two hours each for a nap with truck running non stop. Left SoCal with frig at 38 and freezer at 0 and arrived at the same temps.
I will NEVER own a RV refrigerator again! Love the KitchenAid.
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Coach-man wrote:That is the downer to residential fridges! If you stay put for long periods, and only move occasionally then they are great! Now, if your on the move a lot, your going to have to become an “expert” on batteries, and inverters. Starting with the alternators, yes plural. In your truck. Did your rig come with an inverter? What size is it, does it power more than the fridge? Perhaps, you need to upgrade it, or add one if not present? What is the amp rating on your house batteries? Typically, the factory ships their rigs without batteries, which are provided by the dealer at the time of sale. Again, they typically install the smallest, cheapest batteries they can get away with providing! Some people install a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries, to ensure they are providing enough amps to run things! That would then require, looking at your charging systems, both in the trailer, and in your truck, keeping the batteries charged! Yep a residential fridge can become an expensive option, if you outfit your truck and rig to support it! Good luck!
ONE alternator in my 15 RAM, two 6V batteries and one 1,000 watt inverter in RV. ALWAYS arrive with temps the same as when I left even on my 33 hour trip mentioned above.
One time I did arrive with temps up. Reason was the batteries were on their last leg. Trip to Costco and all has been well since.
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Coach-man
Florida
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Cummins12V98 wrote:Coach-man wrote:That is the downer to residential fridges! If you stay put for long periods, and only move occasionally then they are great! Now, if your on the move a lot, your going to have to become an “expert” on batteries, and inverters. Starting with the alternators, yes plural. In your truck. Did your rig come with an inverter? What size is it, does it power more than the fridge? Perhaps, you need to upgrade it, or add one if not present? What is the amp rating on your house batteries? Typically, the factory ships their rigs without batteries, which are provided by the dealer at the time of sale. Again, they typically install the smallest, cheapest batteries they can get away with providing! Some people install a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries, to ensure they are providing enough amps to run things! That would then require, looking at your charging systems, both in the trailer, and in your truck, keeping the batteries charged! Yep a residential fridge can become an expensive option, if you outfit your truck and rig to support it! Good luck!
ONE alternator in my 15 RAM, two 6V batteries and one 1,000 watt inverter in RV. ALWAYS arrive with temps the same as when I left even on my 33 hour trip mentioned above.
One time I did arrive with temps up. Reason was the batteries were on their last leg. Trip to Costco and all has been well since.
That may well be true! There are options for two alternators on these vehicles! I was expressing to the OP what he “MIGHT” encounter going down this road. There are many variables, and you can not post on a particular situation and expect that to cover all alternatives! Congratulations on YOUR PARTICULAR situation, but it does not cover all situations. Not to mention all the alternative’s and allow the OP to think his situation and yours are identical is doing him a diservice!
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Diamond c
West ky
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I just went out and checked and as I suspected the inverter is on. So I’m going to assume that it’s the truck that isn’t setup to charge the 5er. I’ll have my son-in-law to look at it again and if he can’t figure it out then I’ll take it to the dealership.
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Michelle.S
Western NY till fall, then Sebring, FL
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We had Friends this Summer get a new Redwood with the Residential Fridge and was having issues. Turned out neither the MFR or Dealer setup the Inverter properly. They contacted the Inverter MFR and they walked them through setting it up and all is good now.
We have four 6 Volt Bats and run both our Fridge and small Freezer off the inverter, when both are running they draw 16 Amps from the batteries, but they don't run full time. Been doing it this way for 6 1/2 years and 50K miles.
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country Crew Cab DRW, D/A, 2016 Redwood 39MB, Dual AC, Fireplace, Sleep #Bed, Auto Sat Dish, Stack Washer/Dryer, Auto Level Sys, Disk Brakes, Onan Gen, 17.5" "H" tires, MORryde Pin & IS, Comfort Ride, Dual Awnings, Full Body Paint
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12th Man Fan
Flower Mound , Texas
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Diamond c wrote:I just went out and checked and as I suspected the inverter is on. So I’m going to assume that it’s the truck that isn’t setup to charge the 5er. I’ll have my son-in-law to look at it again and if he can’t figure it out then I’ll take it to the dealership.
It sounds to me like you may have a battery problem. If your RV is new with new batteries you should be able to run the fridge for minimum of 24 hours off of the inverter without even plugging in to the truck or shore power.
Once you get it all figured out and everything working right you will be very pleased with this setup.
You only need one alternator on your truck for the system to stay charged if everything is working.
What size of battery pack do you have?
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Coach-man
Florida
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If your inverter is setup up correctly, and is sized for the load, I suspect your problem is with the house battery (s). As I mentioned previously, dealers install the smallest and cheapest batteries in these rigs! I would suggest you look at least two 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series to produce 12 volts to support your setup. I really doubt your truck alternator is the problem.
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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Joined: 09/07/2010
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We are all just shooting in the dark until we know what make and model refrigerator you have. Or at a minimum, is it a true 12V DC refrigerator or does it run on 120V AC from an inverter.
Two things that will improve its operation while towing are 1) a DC-DC charger and 2) a better battery, like lithium ion.
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Coach-man wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:Coach-man wrote:That is the downer to residential fridges! If you stay put for long periods, and only move occasionally then they are great! Now, if your on the move a lot, your going to have to become an “expert” on batteries, and inverters. Starting with the alternators, yes plural. In your truck. Did your rig come with an inverter? What size is it, does it power more than the fridge? Perhaps, you need to upgrade it, or add one if not present? What is the amp rating on your house batteries? Typically, the factory ships their rigs without batteries, which are provided by the dealer at the time of sale. Again, they typically install the smallest, cheapest batteries they can get away with providing! Some people install a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries, to ensure they are providing enough amps to run things! That would then require, looking at your charging systems, both in the trailer, and in your truck, keeping the batteries charged! Yep a residential fridge can become an expensive option, if you outfit your truck and rig to support it! Good luck!
ONE alternator in my 15 RAM, two 6V batteries and one 1,000 watt inverter in RV. ALWAYS arrive with temps the same as when I left even on my 33 hour trip mentioned above.
One time I did arrive with temps up. Reason was the batteries were on their last leg. Trip to Costco and all has been well since.
That may well be true! There are options for two alternators on these vehicles! I was expressing to the OP what he “MIGHT” encounter going down this road. There are many variables, and you can not post on a particular situation and expect that to cover all alternatives! Congratulations on YOUR PARTICULAR situation, but it does not cover all situations. Not to mention all the alternative’s and allow the OP to think his situation and yours are identical is doing him a diservice!
HMMMMM, never said a word about identical. Just stating what I have and how well it works.
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