Larger fridge . . .

memisch · 10-17-2010, 01:29 PM

Hello everyone!

We will be picking up our 15' may 2nd . . .

We are thinking of putting in the 5 CF fridge instead of the smaller 3 CF standard one. I believe the larger one only works with AC or propane, while the smaller one works with AC, DC, and propane. Does anyone have a view on the tradeoff between size and being able to run off DC?

Thanks Matt

gbaglo · 10-17-2010, 01:57 PM

I went with the 5 cu. ft. and am glad I did.
You can't run the fridge on DC for long and if you use it on DC while driving, there is next to no power left over to charge the batteries.
If you keep the fridge closed and off while traveling, it stays cold for hours.

Bigger is better.

baglo

thoer · 10-17-2010, 02:04 PM

We also got the larger one and are very glad we did. Much more space for beer.....

cheryls · 10-17-2010, 03:16 PM

We opted for the 3 CF fridge in our 19', which was a huge step up from the 1.8 in our old Casita.

What baglo said about the fridge drawing a lot of battery power when on DC is correct. If we're on the way to a campground that doesn't have hookups we only sparingly (if at all) use the DC setting on the fridge while driving and have to remember to turn it off if we make a stop of any length. Which kind of defeats our insistence on having the DC option. If we're on the way to a campground with electric hookups I don't worry about using the DC while driving.

However, we're quite happy with the smaller fridge, as it allowed a reconfiguration to include both a microwave and a large food cupboard...

memisch · 10-17-2010, 06:17 PM

The 5 CF it is . . .

Thanks for the replys

Matt

ronstew · 10-17-2010, 09:14 PM

I agree with your choice. We find the 3 cu ft small. I need to buy two 2-litre (quart) milk containers every second day. And the above remarks about 12V energy consumption are correct, in my experience.

Note, though, that you are giving up precious storage space.

thoer · 10-18-2010, 08:32 AM

The larger fridge is designed to be able to run on LP while driving. I resisted doing that for a long time, but eventually after a lot of reading pro and con decided that it was no more dangerous than most driving and towing risks.

**Donna D.** · 10-18-2010, 09:01 AM

I've seen Cathy G.'s 15 foot Escape several times at Gatherings. She ordered the 5 cf refer and has absolutely no regrets. Since her trailer is the #1 15 footer, Reace wasn't even sure it would fit. She did lose a bit of aisleway space, but feels the larger refer is worth it. Looks like it fits well to me. YMMV.

escape artist · 10-18-2010, 09:04 AM

Hi: All...After our Boler with a 1.9cu.ft. fridge the 5 cu. ft. looked like a "Real Fridge". So far we have only towed once with the propane lit on our 5cu.ft. fridge. That day was 95* with very high humid conditions. Otherwise we just keep the door closed and usually travel 5-6 hrs. per tug with the fridge off. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Jim Bennett · 10-18-2010, 12:09 PM

We had contemplated using a 7 cf fridge in the 19 due to the fact we need to haul around lots of meat for our dog who is raw fed, and had actually found one that would fit through the door, the limiting factor on size for a fridge. After visiting Escape, we decided to stay with the 5 cf model, mainly to keep the storage cabinet above it, which we now use as our pantry. Now that we have used it a lot, the 5 cf unit works well enough for us. Jasper gets about half the freezer and a small bin in the fridge. There is still lots of room for beer, and some food if we feel like eating.

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