Ice box vs 3-way fridge?

[WanderingSoul]

We just bought a 2003 Four Wheel Hawk and are considering converting the ice box to a three way fridge. We've never used an ice box before, nor have we ever contemplated a conversion like this. Is this project a good idea? We'd appreciate any knowledge or insights y'all might have!

 

[longhorn1]

We just bought a 2003 Four Wheel Hawk and are considering converting the ice box to a three way fridge. We've never used an ice box before, nor have we ever contemplated a conversion like this. Is this project a good idea? We'd appreciate any knowledge or insights y'all might have!

2 batteries, solar, and a compressor fridge. I wouldn't consider a 3-way fridge. Depends on where you live and where you go camping. My 2-cents

 

[billharr]

2 batteries, solar, and a compressor fridge. I wouldn't consider a 3-way fridge. Depends on where you live and where you go camping. My 2-cents

+1 Love my Compressor fridge.

 

[larryqp]

I would camp with the ice box a few times, research the threads on this forum regarding compressor refrigerators vs compressor refrigerators.

But as the two previous posts stated. I have a Dometic 65 refrigerator / freezer compressor cooler style unit, with 175 watts of solar, 2 x 100 amp Hr AGM 12 v batteries and I am a happy camper.

If you only camp 2 or 3 days at a time, the ice box may work.

Welcome to the FWC family

 

[BillTheHiker]

When I was only doing short trips I used a Coleman ice chest because I have the shell model without even a built-in ice box. That was OK until I did long trips and found it too much of a hassle. And it was difficult finding block ice so that made it worse. I got the smallest compressor type I could find, an 18 litre Indel B[sold in US by TruckFridge] and a 100 watt solar panel. I have a single 75 AH AGM battery and this system can run the fridge for three days,without driving to charge the battery, in warm, but not hot weather. I feel it is the best camping gear I ever purchased, other than the beer.

 

[Espresso]

My propane fridge runs forever with no concerns about battery life or camping in a spot with enough sun on the solar panels. I run on 110v at home before I leave, 12v when I'm driving and propane when I arrive at the campsite. I don't camp in extremely hot weather; most of my trips are to the California coast or the Sierra.

That said, I know very little about the compressor refrigerators other than the people who have them tend to like them.

 

[Backroad Joe]

Yup, 3-way is great. When boondocking the propane heat source is not much bigger than a pilot light. Likely go a month or two on a propane tank. And it makes ice for my cocktails!

 

[Argonaut20]

You may find that the Hawk has the wiring and plugged gas line for a 3 way fridge. You have to vent them in the side of the camper which is pretty easy using a multi tool to cut the side of the camper for the vent install (upper and lower vents). Dometic has a size chart which allows you to pick the fridge that will fit your camper. Shop around for the fridge (I've had good luck with Adventure RV as a source) including ebay.

If you decide to go the compressor route, if there is wiring for a fridge already installed, it will likely serve for a compressor fridge as well. I don't know that you would have to vent a compressor fridge, but they do produce heat.

I have used 3 way fridges for years and like them. I chose to put one in my 2002 Eagle when I renovated it. The only thing you have to watch is leaving them on 12V when you are on battery power. It can suck the battery to zero power pretty quickly.

 

[Andy Douglass]

We have the big Isotherm 130 compressor fridge, 160 watt roof panel (Overland Solar) and dual 6 volt batteries, and a 220 amp alternator in the truck. We don't sit in one place for more than a few days, but we never have any issues with power. I've always heard the 3 ways don't like to run unless level. We went camping with some friends who had a new travel trailer (they were the original buyers, and it was a few years old but had barely been used). They could not get their fridge running on propane.

Growing up, we lived in a remote cabin for a while that had no power. We relied on two old Servel propane fridges, and they were great. I like the idea of propane, but we got nervous about all the complaints so we went with the compressor fridge in our Hawk.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

2 batteries, solar and battery monitors, controllers, etc. for a compressor fridge. Not worth it to me. I wouldn't trade my 3 way fridge. There are things you must do to make them work correctly. The installations from the factory are horrible.

 

[buckland]

2 batteries, solar, and a compressor fridge. I wouldn't consider a 3-way fridge. Depends on where you live and where you go camping. My 2-cents

Agree exactly with longhorn1 et al. I installed an Isotherm 65 and love it ...super quiet and very efficient

 

[EM4]

Ditto on that call

My propane fridge runs forever with no concerns about battery life or camping in a spot with enough sun on the solar panels. I run on 110v at home before I leave, 12v when I'm driving and propane when I arrive at the campsite. I don't camp in extremely hot weather; most of my trips are to the California coast or the Sierra.

That said, I know very little about the compressor refrigerators other than the people who have them tend to like them.

 

[68 Siesta]

I converted to a 3 way from an ice box. I got the 3 way fridge from someone who pulled it out of a fwc because it wasn’t cooling well. That person replaced it with a compressor and loved the difference.

In my opinion it’s hard to properly vent a 3 way in a pop up camper so that the fridge cools well. An upper and lower side vent doesn’t seem to vent right. The air just doesn’t circulate well with 2 side vents.

I was able to vent straight up through the ceiling in my hard side pop up and the same fridge that didn’t work in the factory fwc install worked great for me. Seems to freeze my milk even camping in 100 heat. I’d definitely have a 3 way that works well rather than a compressor with all the batts and solar that has to go along with it.

That said, I do think compressor fridges generally work better in pop up campers due to space restrictions.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

In my opinion it’s hard to properly vent a 3 way in a pop up camper so that the fridge cools well. An upper and lower side vent doesn’t seem to vent right. The air just doesn’t circulate well with 2 side vents.

I was able to vent straight up through the ceiling in my hard side pop up and the same fridge that didn’t work in the factory fwc install worked great for me. Seems to freeze my milk even camping in 100 heat. I’d definitely have a 3 way that works well rather than a compressor with all the batts and solar that has to go along with it.

That said, I do think compressor fridges generally work better in pop up campers due to space restrictions.
Exactly correct. You have to revamp the the factory installation to get proper venting and air flow. That and a couple of computer fans and mine will cool 60* below ambient.

 

[ckent323]

We have a 3-way Norcold fridge in the 2007 FWC Keystone Camper. It is original and was factory installed. It has the optional 12 v fan which helps on hot days. It works great on propane and 110 V. If it is already cold it holds temp OK on 12 V. We have learned that the pilot will occasionally blow out if we go over 65 mph but we typically leave it on propane all of the time unless plugged into shore power. We have a remote thermostat with wireless readout in the cab of the truck so we can monitor the temp when driving. The propane lasts more than 7 days rain or shine even with some cooking on the propane cooktop and some heat from the propane heater at night..

We also have a Dometic CFX-28 12v refrigerator/freezer behind the center console in the extended cab area of our truck. It works well too.
I would not consider switching our 3-way refrigerator in the camper to a 12 v refrigerator.
If I were converting from an icebox the choice is less clear. If I already had propane but not solar I would lean towards the 3-way.

If price was not a consideration I would put in >250 W of solar and a 100 Ah LiFePO4 battery and probably go with a 12 V refrigerator. Our trips are often more than 12 days in duration and we frequently have experienced several consecutive cloudy or foggy days on our trips. Also we like to camp in forest areas and in combinations these conditions challenge complete reliance on solar.

 

[ntsqd]

Our first camper came with a 3 way fridge that was poor performing most of the time. Once in a great while it worked just OK. Did the 'clean the fuel orifice' deal on it several times with only marginal increases in performance. Two 80mm computer box fan type fans on staged thermostats pushing hot air out of the upper vent got it to work OK most of the time. Best that I ever saw was 40°F below ambient. On a 95°F day......

Replaced it with a compressor fridge. Couldn't be happier. 100W of solar, BEP Marine VSR, 6ga. cabling, and a pair of 2GC batteries more than kept up with it. No noisy fans needed.

New to us camper came with the exact same model Dometic 3 way. Didn't hesitate, didn't try to make it work, just replaced it with the same model Indel compressor fridge.

 

[roverjohn]

I love small three way fridges if only because they run without electrical power so I have that for something else. With my first truck camper I used an icebox and then made ice in one of the first ever compressor fridges which I still have. This was long before solar was practical. The system worked fine but I traveled a lot back then so the truck's alt was constantly keeping the battery charged.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

We’ve had both 3 way and compressor style refrigerators in our campers. The compressor styles are more effective, but I find the 3 way more convenient because of power needs. Of the compressor type refers, I find the top loading portable types most handy for what we do.

 

[CougarCouple]

Hi Wnaderingsoul
One other thing to consider is the chemical used in the three way refrigerator.

https://rvshare.com/blog/rv-refrigerators/

Hope this helps, there is other information on this site.

Russ

 

[trikebubble]

I wouldn't trade my 3-way for anything. It seems like every day someone or another is fretting over the solar/battery setup etc while my little old propane fridge just keeps on ticking along, sipping barely any propane and keeping my beer ice cold. On our 3 week journey to the Artci last summer I believe i used a total of about 25 pounds of propane. That included cooking, heating the furnace, heating the hot water tank, and running the fridge. I also run the fridge on propane while driving (yeah, yeah...I've heard it before. Never had an issue running my fridge on propane while while driving in 20+ years of camping and road tripping) Anyways, I love my 3-way fridge and never had to worry about where we find our self camped out, whether in the dark season or under tree canopies.