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01-20-2020, 06:21 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 533
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Do you carry an ice chest?
We have a new 25 Flying Cloud, and experienced a problem with our refrigerator that got me thinking. What happened was that the fridge was cooling fine until we stopped at a specialty food store and stocked up on goodies … and then loaded up the fridge. Which effectively killed the fridge's ability to cool.
So I'm thinking that we need to take certain steps to make sure we keep the fridge operating at a reasonable temperature. First, reduce what's in the fridge, AND second cool things before they go in, AND third use a cooler to help all of the above.
Do y'all do this? Any of it? Something else?
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01-20-2020, 06:34 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,310
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A number of people do. They don’t run the refrigerator while traveling and put their frozen etc in a large cooler. I personally don’t because it’s just one more thing to have to mess with. Why did your fridge not work? Did you have it on LP?
Also you should buy a circulating fan which will help keep things cool. It evens out the cool air and make the refrigerator work more efficiently. They are pretty cheap.
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01-20-2020, 06:38 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Yes. Especially in warm weather it is important never to put anything warm [or room temp] in the fridge. An ice chest cooler should first be used to pre-chill everything that is to go in the fridge. The available ice cubes also means you don't have to make any cubes in the freezer.
We carry one cooler in the van tow vehicle, and often carry a second cooler to store bags of ice.
Another option is to have a 12-volt cooler/freezer in the two vehicle:
[Edit -- site very slow -- will finish post later]
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01-20-2020, 07:39 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2008 28' International
Happy Valley
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 270
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All of our drinks go into a 65qt YETI that sits in the hall way above the axles. When we set up camp, it goes outside or into the back of the truck.
Works well for the 4 of us. Always did it this way.
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01-20-2020, 07:41 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Mooresville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,085
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I carry a cooler for a few reasons. I carry a 45 at cooler to carry ice for drinks and larger items the refrigerator can't hold. I carry a small softside cooler for times we need a portable cooler (tailgating \ picnicking \ beach outings \ etc).
One trip our refrigerator went out and we had no alternative but to put a block of ice in the refrigerator. I have always carried a cooler since then. It ensures my refrigerator won't break on me!
__________________
2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax
Equal-I-zer Weight Distribution attached to the Gen-Y Torsion Flex Weight Distribution Hitch
"Roadrunner"
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01-20-2020, 07:58 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Chapin
, South Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 314
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Before a trip, I turn on my frig on electric about 36 hours before departure. I put a couple of Blue Ice frozen packs in both the freezer and frig when I turn it on to assist with cool down. By morning, temps are good. I load with items from house frig & freezer so only a few degrees warm up from opening door several times. Next morning, unplug and switch to propane, hit the road. I have one of those little battery operated RV refrigerator fans I run whenever unit is on. Not sure if it helps, but a friend gave it to me, so I use it. If we restock on the road, most items already cold.
I had one instance where frig went out during travel. Assume wind blew out pilot. Things warmed up a bit, but I step inside AS every time we stop (2-3 hrs). Reset and restarted with no problems.
Most trips I put our Yeti Roadie in the back of the truck, but that is because I like my beer ice, ice cold. Not wasting that space on food. Priorities.
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01-20-2020, 08:00 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,107
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we love our YETI products
a 20L, a small soft side and two YETI mugs
it is worth their cost
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01-20-2020, 08:11 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2023 27' Globetrotter
Williamsburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 388
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We carry a 45qt YETI for use in the truck, but also as a spare in case the fridge becomes inop...same rationale as stated above.
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01-20-2020, 08:23 PM
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#9
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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I have a Yeti 35 we carry every where. Also have a Yeti 65 that makes bigger trips.
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01-20-2020, 08:33 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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On several trips we have noticed the slider temp control on the fins in the top of the fridge has been bumped or something and slid down leading to too warm of a fridge. So I check that first.
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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01-20-2020, 08:46 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
2000 30' Excella
1999 30' Excella 1000
Low Country
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 820
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electrilc
We have an electric cooler that stays in the truck. We plug it in as needed, fabulous for getting groceries just to get home w/o things getting warm, especially ice cream.
__________________
StreamNTyme
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01-20-2020, 09:47 PM
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#12
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30' 1999 Excella
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 295
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Sometimes we leave our Airstream and TV in storage in Colorado, and fly back in weeks later to pick it up. We stock up on groceries but don't have time to pre-cool the fridge. We have found that a pound or two of dry ice does a good job of jump-starting the cooling. Just don't get anything frozen like ice cream.
__________________
Hey, its the only way to be sure!
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01-21-2020, 12:47 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Wenatchee
, Washington
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 512
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We’ve got one of those stainless steel coolers, purchased from Costco a few years ago. It matches our AS perfectly.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 SLT CTD 4X4 pickup
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 27FB
WBCCI #7180
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01-21-2020, 02:29 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,378
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Always carry an ice chest.
Hi, we have three vehicles and we keep an ice chest in all of them. All of the time. Mostly used for shopping to keep cold things cold until we get back home. This also applies to shopping with our tow vehicle while our trailer is in a campground.
In 15 years, my refrigerator acted up once. We put as much frozen items in the ice chest that would fit and I used large plastic container for the rest with ice from the nearest source.
At home we sometimes shop at a specialty market up to 50 miles from our home. Cold and frozen items go into the ice chest. This is necessary in warm weather.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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01-21-2020, 02:34 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Belbein
So I'm thinking that we need to take certain steps to make sure we keep the fridge operating at a reasonable temperature. First, reduce what's in the fridge, AND second cool things before they go in, AND third use a cooler to help all of the above.
Do y'all do this? Any of it? Something else?
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Hi, we precool items in our house refrigerator before putting them in our trailer. I also turn on my trailer refrigerator at least one day before loading it for a trip.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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01-21-2020, 05:30 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
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Wow! I had no idea so many people carried ice chests! Just one more piece of junk to haul around, IMHO. Although we have an electric cooler from many years ago, it sits in the attic. We have a soft insulated bag, sold as a soft cooler, for grocery store trips, to keep cold things cold until they get put into the refrigerator. Works well. I have a countertop ice machine for my wife because she uses a lot of ice, more than the freezer can make. Finally, yes we precool the refrigerator 36-48 hours in advance of a trip. With all of that, I have never needed to carry an ice chest.
Larry
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01-21-2020, 06:13 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I used to carry a large ice chest when children went along. They were continuously needing drinks and snacks, so the fridge door was opened a lot if I didn't.
Now that it's just two of us we carry a small 6pack cooler in the truck for drinks while towing or if we are day tripping away from the trailer.
No large cooler for us. We don't need it.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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01-21-2020, 06:17 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Wenatchee
, Washington
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsbrodsky
Wow! I had no idea so many people carried ice chests! Just one more piece of junk to haul around, IMHO...
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Maybe so, but we have plenty of room in our truck. As others have said, it comes in handy when hauling groceries back to the trailer when we’re on the road.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 SLT CTD 4X4 pickup
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 27FB
WBCCI #7180
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01-21-2020, 06:20 AM
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#19
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Two insulated soft bags carried in the TV.👍
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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01-21-2020, 06:25 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Berlin
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,787
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Not any more. I have a yeti cooler that works great but found I did not need it as the refrigerator is more the sufficient. However, I do carry the Yetti soft bag which works great. We use it when we take day trips or grocery shop on the road.
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