How big is an RV refrigerator?

Category: home and garden home appliances
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What Size is an RV Refrigerator? If you will be replacing your RV fridge, it is important to keep size in mind. While most household refrigerators measure between 18 and 21 cubic feet, a typical RV refrigerator will be between only 4 and 12 cubic feet.



Hereof, what size is an RV refrigerator?

Common sizes for residential refrigerators are 18, 20, and even 21-cubic feet. RV refrigerators on the other hand are considerably smaller, with the most common sizes being 4, 6, or 8-cubic feet.

Also Know, how does the refrigerator work in an RV? An RV refrigerator does not have a compressor or use any moving parts to cool things down. This is called an absorption refrigerator. Basically, an absorption fridge uses a flame to heat a combination of ammonia, hydrogen gas, and water. When using shore power or a generator, the heat is produced by an element.

Correspondingly, can you use a regular refrigerator in an RV?

Yes, the RV refrigerator can be replaced with standard refrigerator or residential refrigerator. But, one should consider all factors before doing so. RV refrigerators can be two way powered or even three way powered.

How much does it cost to replace an RV refrigerator?

Typical Large RV Parts Replacement Costs A refrigerator can cost upwards of $1,000. Large ones can cost as much as $2000.

33 Related Question Answers Found

Does RV refrigerator work better on gas or electric?

Traditional wisdom has it that the fridge cools better on propane, but there is absolutely no science behind that. Maybe it was true in the past, but modern RV fridges have good-sized electric heaters that are the equal of the propane heater in performance.

How do I keep my RV fridge cold while driving?

Things that can keep rv fridge cool while driving
  1. Keep the refrigerator cold before you start the journey.
  2. Make sure you keep the refrigerator door closed for most of the time (hours before) before you start the travel.
  3. Keep the RV refrigerator door closed while in traveling as well.

Will RV fridge run off battery?

You can run RV refrigerators on batteries, but practically, it is not the best. A refrigerator requires lots of power. So the battery will drain out quickly. Your refrigerator will run for 8 – 10 hours with the batteries on.

Why does my RV fridge not work?


If replacing the thermocouple doesn't work, your pilot light problems might be because the pilot light's gas line has too much air in it. This prevents the pilot light from turning on and staying on. To fix it, access the fridge's gas valves. If not, you'll have to reset the fridge manually.

How much propane does RV Fridge use?

It is not easy to gauge how much propane your refrigerator will consume. But if it is 12 cubic feet fridge, then it can consume approximately 1.5 pounds of propane on a daily basis. With this, the energy of about 1,400 British Thermal Units (BTU) is produced every hour.

Why does my RV fridge freeze everything?

Using thermistors is a an easy way to measure temperature in an RV refrigerator electrically. If the thermistor goes bust, then the refrigerator keeps continuously pushing cold air through the metallic fins at the back- which can lead to the fridge freezing everything.

Should I leave my RV refrigerator on all the time?

The only thing that you will do by leaving the fridge on is increase your energy usage. A good rule of thumb is to turn on your RV Refrigerator 24 hours prior to going camping. This gives the Refrigerator time to cool down sufficiently. The simple reason that I suggest keeping it off is due to energy conservation.

Do RV refrigerators use a lot of electricity?


Anytime you plug in any additional electrical appliance into your home electrical system it will increase electrical usage. Will you see a dramatic increase in your electric bill by just running an RV Fridge, no you should not. The converter/charger will use more electric then your fridge.

Is it safe to travel with my RV refrigerator on propane?

The fact of the matter is that there is no simple answer, and most RV owners run their propane while driving. However, leaving your propane on does expose you to some risks. This is a very safe method, and comes with the added bonus of running an air conditioner in your motorhome.

Does RV fridge need battery to run on propane?

Absorption refrigerators can run off of LP gas. A “3-way fridge” usually refers to an absorption RV refrigerator that can run off of AC Power, LP gas, and DC Power. This fridge can run off of shore power (or a generator), propane, or house batteries.

What is the best refrigerator for an RV?

Best RV Refrigerator Reviews 2019
  • Midea WHD-113FB1 Double Door Refrigerator and Freezer - Best Bang for the Buck.
  • Avanti RA7316PST 2-Door Refrigerator - Best of the Best.
  • Whynter FM-45G 45-quart Portable Refrigerator and Freezer - Editor's Choice.
  • Dometic DM2652RB Americana 2-way Double Door RV Refrigerators.

How long will a 12 volt battery run a refrigerator?

If disconnected from the car, a 12-volt, 50AH equivalent, flooded lead-acid car battery and a properly sized inverter (1,500 watts minimum) can power a fridge for about 11 minutes until 50% drained, and about 21 minutes until the battery is completely discharged.

How much electricity does a RV refrigerator use?

If we go by the amp number that we put out, using the formula of volts and amps the average starting watts for a rv refrigerator comes to around 500-600 Watts. And the average watts for running the fridge will be around 150-200 watts.