PeterV
Advanced Member
I had a 3-way (propane) fridge in my camper for the first 3-4 years and it worked ok, about 95% of the time. But roughly 5% of the time (eg. when parked not level for the day while out and about, or who knows why) that it didn't work, it frustrated the hell out of me and spoiled a bunch of food in the process. I also had to constantly adjust it based on ambient temperature, and it still sometimes froze my food (in the non-summer seasons). Basically every time I stopped the truck somewhere, I checked on the fridge. Once, while I was parked for 3 days in the backcountry, it didn't work at all (and later after that trip, started working again mysteriously). Must have been parked not level. After that trip, I gave it away on craigslist in frustration.
I switched to a compressor fridge (Waeco CR-65) and freaking love it, it is a night and day difference. I set it to a setting just like my home fridge, and it just works from then on the entire trip. Never have to touch it, so refreshing! I also used to have to fill up propane for every big trip, whereas now I fill up the propane once a year or two (only for the furnace) which is a nice bonus.
I do have solar. Obviously both systems have pros and cons, and each person will value them differently. For me, the compressor fridge works way better and is hassle-free. In my experience, the propane fridge is far from "set it and forget it" like some people here seem to imply. Maybe I had a bad one, but it was replaced once under warranty by the previous owner right before i got it (so it was brand new) - he had problems too.
I switched to a compressor fridge (Waeco CR-65) and freaking love it, it is a night and day difference. I set it to a setting just like my home fridge, and it just works from then on the entire trip. Never have to touch it, so refreshing! I also used to have to fill up propane for every big trip, whereas now I fill up the propane once a year or two (only for the furnace) which is a nice bonus.
I do have solar. Obviously both systems have pros and cons, and each person will value them differently. For me, the compressor fridge works way better and is hassle-free. In my experience, the propane fridge is far from "set it and forget it" like some people here seem to imply. Maybe I had a bad one, but it was replaced once under warranty by the previous owner right before i got it (so it was brand new) - he had problems too.