First EVER camping trip in GMC starts Friday!

[tyler]

Congrats! I had never been out of the neighborhood before my first multistate launch - made it, but would not recommend!

As far as fridge, it should do fine on its own, a few spells off level doesn't really hurt anything, it just won't cool because of the physics of the
heat and loops in the unit. That being said, I like the idea of turning it off when other factors are under load, especially on a shake down cruise. I
have a tow car, and in general I unhook and have my wife drive it separate when I know a tough pass is coming. I stop every few hours anyway, it only
takes a few minutes to hook/unhook and it allows me to focus on the coach instead of coach and toad. Same logic might apply here - do everything you
can to feel confident. One way to bolster any RV type fridge is to have freezer blocks that you rotate between freezer and fridge. A few hours in the
freezer, and then move them to fridge, or overnight in freezer, and then put them in fridge during the day to help on hot days. This will extend the
fridge temp time and, depending how far the whole trip is, might be enough to leave it off the whole way (don't open the fridge door more than you
have to is the key to success on this strategy).

You know that it is best to manually shift the gear lever to "S" to pull a mountain correct? You will be running about 40 mph, but it should climb all
day like that. Something about how the tranny engages it is better to pull the lever than let it kickdown.

Enjoy your trip
--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC

 

[6cuda61]

Leave the fridge on if you like...no harm there but dont forget to shut it off when you fuel the RV. Someone already said to put the trans in "S" for
steep hills.

Personally i just shut our fridge off before we leave unless it more than a 5 or 6 hr ride as the contents stays cold and the coach movement keeps the
amonia in the system moving a bit helping it hold temp. (Everything is either frozen or prechilled before we put it in there....including the fridge
itself)

Enjoy you maiden and dont forget to post back here after.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600

 

[Matt Colie]

Larry,

Asking questions here is a very inexpensive way to get great information from very experienced people.

About the reefer, a lot of fear is raised about running an absorption reefer out of level. While the basis is fact, the worry is exaggerated. From
what a manufacturer told me once and repeated by the guy that used to run National Refrigeration, the device has to get uncomfortably off true before
it is an issue. As far as driving with it running, not an issue. It is not very likely that the GMC will be able to negotiate a grade steep enough
to matter. Highway grades in the US are supposed to be limited to 10%. A 10% grade is a little less than 6°. So, leave it running if you want. If
you are concerned still, your planned excursion looks to be less than 3 road hours. Just turn it off. If the planned excursion is longer and you are
paranoid (being paranoid is how I have stayed alive this long), you can bring a small cooler for the enroute snacks. If you never open that big door,
things stay cool a really long time.

I wish you a boring drive and a wonderful time.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[Carl Stouffer]

If your concern is that the fridge will be out of level for the drive over the mountain, that is not something to worry about. As Matt said, above,
the little bit of an angle is not enough to affect it. Plus, the amonia mix is always sloshing around the tank while underway. Completely a non
issue.

I have had a Norcold 3-way for about 11 years now, and while I generally do not run down the road with the propane on, the fridge is always on during
a trip. It operates on 12v DC power to keep it cold, and should do even better on propane. Just a personal preference on the propane, but I know
plenty of people who run theirs on propane while driving, and have for years, without issue
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[Rob]

My previous class-B van had a 3-way fridge and the cooling on 12V was to “maintain” cold only - it would take a VERY long time to get cold on DC only. Very little cooling compared to propane or AC...

So - I started running it as a 2-way and rarely used the DC functionality (mainly because the fridge we had was not auto-switching between modes).

Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath

>
> If your concern is that the fridge will be out of level for the drive over the mountain, that is not something to worry about. As Matt said, above,
> the little bit of an angle is not enough to affect it. Plus, the amonia mix is always sloshing around the tank while underway. Completely a non
> issue.
>
> I have had a Norcold 3-way for about 11 years now, and while I generally do not run down the road with the propane on, the fridge is always on during
> a trip. It operates on 12v DC power to keep it cold, and should do even better on propane. Just a personal preference on the propane, but I know
> plenty of people who run theirs on propane while driving, and have for years, without issue
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[boybach]

hey thanks all - I guess I'll be leaving it on!

BTW this isn't an ammonia fridge it's a helium fridge ( not that there's anything wrong with that! :lol: )

thanks again will report back on progress

all the best

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses

 

[Richard RV]

Larry,

When I first got my coach I was also a bit nervous about running the propane fridge while driving. I still don't run the generator while driving, but
others do. Running the fridge while driving is pretty much mandatory if you're in warmer weather and driving for more than just a few hours. It's
not a problem. Initially I had an issue with the fridge turning off sporadically, which I believe had to do with the shockwave of air from trucks.

Like most things, keep an eye on it until you trust it enough to feel comfortable. Then still keep an eye on it!

Enjoy your trip and safe travels!

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
‘76 Edgemonte

 

[boybach]

Well my first week of GMCing went well, stayed at various friend's properties and didn't bother plugging in, so I guess you could say I boondocked the
whole time. Went to four locations staying in each one for a day or two. About a 300 mile round trip if I count the ferry ride to one of the islands.
Didn't run the Onan much as I there was no need to use the microwave but one time and it wasn't really necessary to get the roof A/C on apart from
doing the odd demo for my friends. Even though the days were hot, once I arrived at the destinations I spent most of the time outside.

Coach behaved well, steep long grades that I expected to crawl up ended up being no problem at all, even had to slow down so I didn't go over the
speed limit and it was no problem keeping up with traffic. That 403 can really go some!

The biggest surprise was the heat exchanger, I had piping hot water for shower etc even after being parked for 16 hours and even then I had to mix the
hot with some cold so as not to have it feel TOO hot. Amazing!

Fridge ran the whole time and hovered around 38 or so.

The only issue was my new furnace failed to start. The blower didn't come on so I'll have a look at the wiring tomorrow.
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses

 

[6cuda61]

Good to hear that all went well!
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600