How long to cool the refer. to a "useable" temp?

[Mark N.]

I understand it totally depends on ambient temps., but let's say if it's 60 degrees outside, and I plug the Montana in and turn on the refer., approx. how long before I would dare put perishable foods like fresh fish or something in it? Are we talking a couple hours? More than that? Overnight?
I'm going to my trailer this weekend and it's going from outside storage to hookups immediately with no time inbetween and we'll be packing food with us in a cooler in my truck. Thanks!

[dieselguy]

It's 60ish here in the Big K. I turned mine on the other day and about 6 hours later it was @ 35F.
Had I put a bag of ice in th efreezer, it would have been an hour or so less.

[bncinwv]

When we travel, I go to the mini-storage the night before to turn the fridge on. By the morning it is usable. Other times, I will turn it on in the morning and by the evening it is usable. Seems like the typical cool down period is 4-6 hours from what I remember reading somewhere, perhaps here on the forum.
Bingo

[Mark N.]

OK thanks! My trailer is 350 miles from me, so I can't turn it on until I actually arrive to use it. I'll just keep the perishables in the cooler until my wireless thermometer says it's safe I guess. Thanks again.

[mjammersc]

One thing we do when we don't have time for a long cool down (assuming its a reasonable ambient temp) are items that we plan on using in the next day or two that are a concern, we start with them frozen when we put them in the fridge which accelerates the cool down and they thaw during that time. We also put the frozen items next to other items that we don't want to warm up too much but can't be frozen. This is for times where I pick it up from storage, come home, and load and go. The food is the last item to load so the fridge gets a little time to start cooling too.

[DQDick]

You can also freeze some of the freezer pads made for coolers and put them in the fridge along with the food you want to keep fresh.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by Mark N.

OK thanks! My trailer is 350 miles from me, so I can't turn it on until I actually arrive to use it. I'll just keep the perishables in the cooler until my wireless thermometer says it's safe I guess. Thanks again.

We start out on propane and carry essentials in an ice chest.

[Larry-P]

My wife fills plastic coffee cream containers with water & freezes them at home (6 or 8) & places them in the RV freezer/frig to help speed cool down.
After freezer/frig cool down throw container away or keep some frozen & place in frig when traveling instead of leaving frig on.
Works great for us.

[DonandBonnie]

Refrigerators work better with something in them to cool. When you first turn it on, put something non perishable inside so the unit can cool it down. A gallon of water would work well.