Help! Camper fridge - propane or electric?

[prairie hill]

DD and I are restoring a little '72 Red Dale camper given to us by friends who admire my ambition. . In the middle of the project and as the wiring is pretty basic and the exterior plug (exposed cable of about a foot outside) is all rotted I am re-wiring all - two outlets and two light fixtures inside - and maybe fridge. I need input on this part of it: how do I tell if the fridge is electric or propane run? I can't see any wires/lines (without pulling it out) and there are no visible controls. I called a RV repair place and the guy said sometimes they are dual - that there is a control inside the fridge to select, but I hung up before I checked and there's not on this one. I need to go ahead and rewire everything electric, as I am running all to new plug, but will I have to disconnect the fridge and pull it out? (The RV place is about 45 miles from me and the tires need to be replaced before I attempt to haul it that distance, so I can't take it in to have him tell me, and I need to do as much as possible of this myself anyway b/c of cost.) I can't just hook it up to the propane and try it either, as the connector has to be switched to the new kind before I can use that.
The previous owners are friends, but don't know anything. They bought it out of a pasture and got a few good years camping in it w/o using anything but the propane cooktop, and it's been parked several years. Basically they just wanted it for shelter when they wanted to go camping on the quick. They don't remember using the little (but really pretty adequate-sized so I'd like to use it) fridge.
I got a good deal - free - from these folks, no strings attached - AS IS. I've got about two months til I need it completely usable, and this is my first "dunno" with it.
Thanks for your help!

[fordy]

..................If it works off propane , you will have to unscrew a 1\4 inch copper pipe that supplies gas too the fridge . Frigs which work off of propane also reguire 12volts dc for their electricial control circuits , you'll also see a standard 120vac plug in cord if it operates off of standard house current .
.................RV mechanics in this area of north texas charge up to $95 per hour . I would NOT.......allow an RV repair service too fix anything UNTIL you discuss......EXPLICITLY...........how they are going too charge you too fix specific items . Especially , since this is an old camper with a very low resale value . You could easily end up with a camper worth $1,000 and owe them $5,000 for their services . , fordy

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by fordy

Frigs which work off of propane also reguire 12volts dc for their electricial control circuits :

I know nothing of newer ones, but I had one I got for $100 out of an old camper and used for several years up in Michigan when I lived off grid. Propane, had a pilot light. No electric of any kind required. Though it had a 120V AC heater circuit so you could run it on 120V AC with no propane if you so desired. Sold it quickly down here for $100 when I got electric. Little buggers hold their value. Probably should have kept it as electric can occasionally go out for long periods.

[OkieDavid]

Thinking out loud here since it's been years since we had one but I recall a small clear knob viewable from the inside of the fridge that would glow blue when running on propane. I also remember a twist striker to ignite the thing. Isn't there also a louvered vent on the outside of the unit where the propane feed line runs? Should also provide access to the wiring (if dual fuel) from there as well.

[prairie hill]

Sorry I've been so long in replying, but to let you know I appreciate the input on my question. Have had that part of my little project on hold several weeks while working on other parts of it - my mom just unexpectedly went Home last week, and I've been been kinda regrouping and muddling through. Nonetheless, thank you again. Remain determined to try and get this done in time for mid-October camping trip.

[ChristieAcres]

If you can post a picture of your fridge, and also just below it, I expect one of the handy folks here could be of more assistance.

[alleyyooper]

Okie David set you on the right track. You need a way to light the propane burner from inside the camper so there should be a twist knob for the striker. There should also be a glow tube to check that it is lit. Of course there should be a vent of some type on the out side to vent the propane exhust and draw air to run it so you do not burn up all the air in the camper and kill your self.

Al

[Cabin Fever]

The gas/electric refrigerator I had in a Class C motorhome had a louvered door on the outside of the rig directly behind the refrigerator.


I would open this door to light the pilot light for the refrigerator. Since your rig is a 1972, I would assume yours would be similar (ie, has a pilot light and not a glow plug) assuming yours can run off of propane.


Also, if your refrig can run off of propane, you should also have a plastic hood on the roof of the rig directly above the refrigerator area. This hood covers the gas exhaust vent.

[Blu3duk]

Sorry to hear your mom was called home unexpectedly, our prayers are with you and may you get back on track as soon as possible.

Older trailers were also vented through the roof, my 1971 was a three way fridge and had the pilot opening under the unit and an access door on the outside ifin i remember it correctly, i tore the thing apart 6 years ago due to roof leakage and rotten studs..... but rember the 110 outlet it plugged into, and the 12 volt wires going to it as well..... i cant say it was original, cause i was at least the 3rd owner, and i traded for it so i could have parts and pieces for a cabin i was gonna build..... and never built.

And yeah pictures help if you can post some, folks will surely give ya the str8 and narrow on it!

William
Idaho