Fridge use whilst travelling
I hope this isn’t a silly question. We are going on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry next month and then driving through Germany and Austria. Can we run our caravan fridge using the battery during the crossing? Also, can we run our fridge whilst driving for long distances?
Many thanks for any advice
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should be a setting on fridge to use battery when connected to car as I think cannot use fridge on battery without car. don't know about ferries but I would freeze a couple of bottles of water and place in fridge to keep temp down while on ferry travels.
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Good advice about using frozen water to help keep the fridge cool on the ferry. Some people use frozen bottles of milk for that purpose.
If you set your fridge to the 12v battery position the fridge will run from the car battery when connected to the car and when the car's engine is running. Therefore, the fridge will work while you are driving but not on the ferry.
It's worth noting that you cannot use gas to run the fridge whilst on the ferry, or when travelling, no matter what gas system you have and the gas must be turned off on board the ferry.
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If you can chill your fridge down before you load and set off. Fill every inch, using frozen milk, cartons of juice and water as well as your contents. Try not to pen the door. Most of us arrive and find 1st nights dinner is still frozen despite being in the fridge rather than the freezer! It's a large insulated cool box once it's been cooled down.
Not a caravanner but I believe the fridge will be maintained in 12v whilst towing but would probably drain your battery on the crossing.
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Sorry, Bakers, the fridge will only work on 12v when the car engine is running. Motorhomes are generally the same and without the engine running the fridge will be disconnected from the vehicle battery.
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No, if there was such an option, Bakers, the draw of the fridge would very quickly flatten the vehicle battery. That’s not what you want when having to disembark the ferry. 😀
NB. The leisure battery never powers the cooling element of the fridge but runs the control panel and, usually, the interior light.
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Even on an eight hour crossing, if you have chilled it all down before departure, the biggest problem is thawing it out upon arrival.
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Good point, Metheven. I should not have assumed. 🙂
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On the Harwich/Hook ferry I always disconnect the hitch electric cable, just in case and habit really.
We usually carry a couple of ice blocks and a frozen bottle of milk in the fridge which keeps everything cool during the crossing.
On arrival at port reconnect the hitch electric cable, make sure the fridge is set to battery and as soon as the car is started fridge will activate.
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Hi TW,
Are you sure about not being able to use the gas for fridge when travelling? The instructions that come with the new units with crash sensors say you can. Have a look at Truma.com.
I agree that there are rules that say you must not on a ferry or in Eurotunnel, but on the road?
We have a separate fridge and freezer and the battery/engine does not keep the freezer cold enough when doing long distances, the ice blocks for the G&T melt, but the gas keeps the ice solid.
BillC
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I have done the Portsmouth/Santander 24hr crossing a number of times and I freeze a few milk bottles or water bottles to keep the fridge cool. No problems. Will not work on battery when on the crossing and I have always thought it was a no no to have it on gas when towing; not only could it blow out but should you have an accident you would have a gas bottle with the valve open in your outfit!
. When towing and the fridge is on 12v it should keep it cool enough, the trick is to ensure it is cold before you start your journey - the ice for my G & T is always there after a day towing. 1 -
Allegedly we can power fridge and space heater in our motorhome by gas on the move 😲. Could well be perfectly safe - we allegedly have the cut off in case of collision. I'm with you. Gas off whilst travelling enough other hazards on our roads without adding this into the mix !
If it's cold in the motorhome and heater not managing to heat the full area we put extra layers on - after all they're easily accessible in the cupboards 😉
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There is no difference between caravan and MH when it comes to fridges and gas systems; but there will be a difference between older and newer models of both.
BillC
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Hi, KB.
I’m willing to be corrected but it was my understanding that gas could only be used on the move for heating and only with the purpose designed system. This I believed to be due to the gas flame for the heating being protected unlike the flames for the fridge and cooker which are exposed. I’m not able to look at the Truma site at present.
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There is no indication on my new caravan that gas can be used on the move as seems to be the case with Motorhomes. The fridge will automatically switch to the appropriate fuel if there is one - but no gas in a moving caravan I think.
As others have said it has never been a problem for me on long sailings if the fridge is properly cooled. If worried put some ice cubes in a bag or box and if they have defrosted eat your food quickly! I enjoy eating local so I don't keep all that much in the fridge or freezer just a couple of emergency meals?
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It’s not all MHs that have the purpose designed system, Pippah. For the most part, they’re the same as your cvan.
Personally, I’d rather put on a coat rather than travel with gas heating on.
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The fridge in our MH was very good and would stay cold and the food in the freezer frozen solid even on the long Santander ferry crossing. Like others I froze milk and juice to pack the fridge door. Items of food on the shelves we fine and still cold. I did buy a fridge thermometer just to see if the temp dropped to a dangerous level but it didn't.
Have now moved back to a caravan and not yet sure how the fridge will cope with a long crossing. I will do the same as with the MH and hope that it performs just as well, if not then we will be eating extremely well for the first few days
The MH did have the crash sensor button on the gas bottle so we could have travelled with the heating and fridge on but never felt the need to do so. The caravan also has the same set up so assume it could be used to while travelling, however we will not be doing so. The gas gets turned off at the bottle when we pack up to leave a site.
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Hi DD,
You have given me a whole lot of new info’ in your reply above, regarding switching from 12v to gas and the timing. That and your point about my freezer not coping has prompted me to check-in with my dealer soon. We’re off to Spain mid Sep so would like it sorted, if possible. One question though; what kind of freezer do you have, is it incorporated in the fridge or a separate entity? Our fridge and freezer are a 192 litres. So the freezer is quite separate and quite big. By the way, what van do you have? Thanks again for the info.
BillC
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We don’t need to use it for heating as we have a Heat Exchanger with the ALDI system which drags heat from the Fiat engine and heats the. ALDI radiators! But just on the way to Spain in Winter...
BillC
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Hey DD, nice van. But don’t tell Boleroboy I said so!
I have a meeting with the dealer next week to discuss the fridge performance. Cheers!
BillC
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DD, sorry, should have said ALDE. As it happens I have never been near an Aldi store so wouldn’t know!! AT did stump me!
BillC
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