Motorhome Magazine Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Refrigerator question
Open Roads Forum Already a member? Login here.   If not, Register Today!  |  Help

Newest  |  Active  |  Popular  |  RVing FAQ Forum Rules  |  Forum Help and Support  |  Contact

Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Travel Trailers

Open Roads Forum  >  Travel Trailers  >  Small TT's

 > Refrigerator question

Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 2  
Next
Come-N-Go

San Antonio

Full Member

Joined: 08/05/2008

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 08:05pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We are looking at a casita 16 for 3-5 day trips to some out of the way places that our 5er is too big for. Tt has a small refrigerator, no freezer. How do you freeze meat and such, if you are gonna be gone several days? Does anyone use a portabe freezer? THX for any replies.

USAFBILL

Alabama

Senior Member

Joined: 09/20/2002

View Profile


Posted: 09/24/08 08:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Might consider a cooler with dry ice.

Merrykalia

SW Virginia

Senior Member

Joined: 04/18/2005

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 08:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I will freeze the meat at home before we leave, place it in the fridge, and let it thaw in the fridge. It normally takes it several days to get completely thawed. If you are only going to be gone 3-5 days, it should be fine. Even in the fridge, most meats will keep for at least 5 days unless they are old when you buy them (check the dates well).

PapPappy

Wilmington, NC

Senior Member

Joined: 12/23/2007

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 08:12pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Never did it, but I'd guess that dry ice in a cooler would do the trick. And if you were to freeze your meats before leaving, wrap them in newspaper, it would probably last that week without problem.

Even without dry ice, and using regular ice, if it began to thaw, it would be a few days into the trip, and should be fine. The only think I'd worry about, might be chop meat and maybe chicken, which tends to go bad faster than say, steaks. So, plan your meals to use those meats that might "go" faster than the others. 3-5 days shouldn't be much of a problem...and you say that the TT would have a small fridge anyway.

I think it will all be about the planning. Heck, you can have a non-meat meal the last day....maybe spagetti!

Have fun!


DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris
The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008
The Pets


pete42

Jamestown, Ohio

Senior Member

Joined: 09/21/2007

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 08:36pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

would your "out of the way" places be located where there are no stores?
If not buy what you need when you need it.





Twins4us07

Virginia

Full Member

Joined: 09/15/2008

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 08:58pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I use a 3cuft fridge with a small icebox freezer. It is wonderful just do not get a thermoelectric unit, get a true fridge with compressor.


1997 GMC Yukon, Firestone Airbags,K&N Intake,Flowmaster,Tekonsha P3, Hensley Arrow,Mckesh Mirrors,VR3 Rearview Camera.
2009 Cougar 29BHS X-Lite,Kippor 3000W Generator(quiet as a Honda but cheaper).
Twin Girls who hate hotels....


Dennis Smith

Colorado Springs

Full Member

Joined: 09/07/2007

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 09:02pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

buy fresh meat, freeze it hard and it will take two or three days to thaw, and beleave it or not meat will be ok for 4 or 5 days thawed in the fridge, hince the term "aged beef".

wrenchbender

Phx

Senior Member

Joined: 06/04/2005

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 09:36pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We do the dry ice routine often for trips longer than 3 days.Does very well for trips to Mexico.

Tim from Alabama

PERPLEXED

Senior Member

Joined: 04/07/2006

View Profile

Offline
Posted: 09/24/08 11:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

There is also the old redneck idea for keeping beer cold. You take the meat, freeze it hard, put a little ice in the bottom of a cooler, put the meat on top of that, then pour in ice in layers, spreading rock salt on each layer, and finally on top. It will keep the frozen meat from spoiling for as long as 2 weeks as long as it isn't kept in the heat, and stays in a cooler location such as inside your rv. But, be sure the meat is covered with plastic or wrapped in some fashion as not to absorb the salt.

Years ago when I was young...God was it that long...a bunch of us took a toolbox in the back of a friends' truck and emptied it. We put several cases of beer in it and layered the ice spreading the rock salt on each layer, taking over 10 bags of ice. When we got to our party location a few hours later, we found our beer frozen solid. The beer had been shelf warm, but was frozen thick within only about 3 hours. Took us several days and removing the ice from the toolbox just to get it to start thawing. And, it took another couple days to thaw out to drink. So, all in all, it took us around 4 days to get to drink all that beer.

The party was definitely a bust.


If I don't meet your expectations
Maybe you should lower your standards.

Sunbird

Geezerville Arizona

Senior Member

Joined: 09/21/2001

View Profile


Posted: 09/30/08 11:43pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Casita 17 comes with a freezer.





Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 2  
Next

Open Roads Forum  >  Travel Trailers  >  Small TT's

 > Refrigerator question


Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Travel Trailers


New posts No new posts
Closed, new posts Closed, no new posts
Moved, new posts Moved, no new posts

Adjust text size:

© 2008 Motorhome Magazine | Terms & Conditions | PRIVACY POLICY | YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS