I bought a new FWC 2 years ago with factory solar and 2 batteries. I have never been able to go more than 3 days without the fridge stopping because of battery drain even with full sun and driving 2 - 3 hours per day. I throw food out on every trip and have seldom used my lights or any accessories. I took time off work to take it to FWC, who found nothing. I've taken it to American RV, the new distributor in So Cal, 3 times, involving 6 Saturday mornings, and 2 weeks of rental cars. The first two times they did find issues with the factory install which they fixed, but had no effect. Now they are installing a second bank of vents and giving me two new batteries.
FWC has been good through all of this and all work has been done through warranty. But I am two + years into owning this and feel that I have never taken a normal trip where I've been able to enjoy using the camper and all of its accessories. I look at the voltage every stop.
I'm not convinced that this next step is going to solve the problem.
I never camp at a campground. If I can see someone I find another location. Should I expect to be able to go more than three days given that I almost aways have full sun and drive 2 - 3 hours per day? If not how do you deal with it out in the boonies where there is no place to plug in and recharge?
It seems that many here fight their solar and do lots of DIY upgrades. Should that be necessary above and beyond a factory install? Is it worth the hassles? Do people keep spending money and time trying to make solar work because it's "cool" to have solar? I had never had a camper/RV when I bought this and with the sales story and the great added expense, I thought the solar would work, and I thought it would be cool too. I'm considering switching to propane if this next "fix" doesn't work. Why don't more people go with a propane fridge? It seems to be much cheaper, you can go weeks, and it "just works". Is there something I don't get about solar vs propane?
FWC has been good through all of this and all work has been done through warranty. But I am two + years into owning this and feel that I have never taken a normal trip where I've been able to enjoy using the camper and all of its accessories. I look at the voltage every stop.
I'm not convinced that this next step is going to solve the problem.
I never camp at a campground. If I can see someone I find another location. Should I expect to be able to go more than three days given that I almost aways have full sun and drive 2 - 3 hours per day? If not how do you deal with it out in the boonies where there is no place to plug in and recharge?
It seems that many here fight their solar and do lots of DIY upgrades. Should that be necessary above and beyond a factory install? Is it worth the hassles? Do people keep spending money and time trying to make solar work because it's "cool" to have solar? I had never had a camper/RV when I bought this and with the sales story and the great added expense, I thought the solar would work, and I thought it would be cool too. I'm considering switching to propane if this next "fix" doesn't work. Why don't more people go with a propane fridge? It seems to be much cheaper, you can go weeks, and it "just works". Is there something I don't get about solar vs propane?