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Campgound Can-Do Project and Owner's Advice

Learn how to install an RV solar fridge exhaust fan.

From "RV Roadtrips"
episode DRVR-112

Host Gary Bunzer shows Tim and Wendy Metro how to improve their refrigerator's performance by installing a solar fridge exhaust fan, an easy project than can be done while camping.

The Metros also share advice on cooking while dry camping and how to make sure everyone has access to the RV when they return from dirt biking.

Between the Class A motorhome and trailer for the dirt bikes, Tim Metro hauls approximately 70-feet of RV into Means Dry Lake!

Figure A

The RV setup at the camp is usually in a round configuration where everyone's front door faces an inner ring, which creates a town setting with walls.

Installing a Solar Fridge Exhaust Fan

Materials and Tools:

electrical tape
solar fan kit (figure A)
drill
penny (or screwdriver)

Mount the solar panel on the roof of the RV.
Drop the wires of the solar panel through the exhaust duct through the roof vent.
Inside the RV mount the exhaust fan 4" below the condenser fins near the top of the fridge—pre-drilling suggested.
Connect the solar fan wires to the exhaust fan by plugging in the connectors from each unit.
Your fan and panel is now installed.
To ensure the that fan is working properly, check to see if the fan is blowing air upward.

Owner's Advice

Pre-Trip Cooking—cooking certain items in an RV kitchen can be more time consuming than you are looking for while on vacation. Pre-prepping particular items at home can cut down on time spent in the kitchen and give you more time for relaxing.
Wendy Metro often makes a large pot of spaghetti or boils potatoes prior to a trip, which cuts down on cook time while on the road. Also, boiling water for cooking takes a lot of energy. When dry camping, any prep work that can save cooking time will conserve energy.
Hide a Key—spare keys are a big issue for a family that dirt bikes. Family members often arrive back at camp at different times and need a way to get into the RV to await the others.
While camping the Metro family uses a hide-a-key strategically placed on the outside of the RV. Carrying keys in your pocket while dirt biking is asking for we're-locked-out problems.

The beauty of RVing is more than just the experience "in" the road vehicle, but also the fun at the destination: