R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > I need HELP!!!
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Can my truck power the fridge while towing?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedCan my truck power the fridge while towing?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1446 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Can my truck power the fridge while towing?
    Posted: 23 Aug 2019 at 5:35pm
The easy, and safe, thing to do is run the fridge on propane when on the road.

TT
2010 176
FJ Cruiser
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2019 at 2:31pm
The fridge load is close to 10 amps (when on 12V), which is substantial. I would be inclined to put a current monitor on the 12V line to see what happens with and without the fridge running.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
podwerkz View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2019 at 1:30pm
That's kinda normal, or at least, common.

The charge line on the 7way plug is not capable of high amperage.

The easiest way to limit current drain is to set the fridge temp control slightly higher (warmer) when traveling...return it to your normal setting once you are back on propane. Of course this may mean your ice cream may get soft after several hours traveling in hot weather...but usually frozen meat etc will not thaw out.

There are other options such as running a heavy gauge charge line, buying dry ice, using a separate cooler, etc.

Some owners will recommend or report success with using propane setting for the fridge when traveling. I do not do this and wont recommend it.
r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2019 at 12:45pm
Does your "truck" send 12v to the camper? what size is the lead? how many amps is the fuse that protects the circuit?
Back to Top
poohbill View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 22 Aug 2019
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 87 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2019 at 12:13pm
Hello. We are learning trip by trip how well our 2017 Ridgeline RTL tows the 2016 R-Pod. One thing we have discovered is that the fridge drains the trailer 2x12v battery bank faster than the truck can charge as we drive down the road. All other charging is nominal, whether shore or solar, but we switch the fridge over to propane once we've arrived. All other electrical connections between the truck and the trailer are working as designed.

Should the Ridgeline be able to keep up with the drain while towing at 65mph? If so, I can walk with confidence into my Dealer with a warrantee repair order and watch them struggle with something they likely have no experience fixing. Tongue

Have you any advice on diagnosing? 

Thank you.

Bill
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz