refridgerator ?

[Bob RV]

It has been cold here - around 27 degrees at night and around 45 during the day. DW went to load some food into the fridge for our upcoming Thanksgiving camping trip and she said the freezer had defrosted itself and some of the stuff in there had thawed--luckily nothing was lost. The fridge temp seemed normal--I put a thermometer in there and it read 35. The inside coach temp was around 40. Any reason the freezer wouldn't be freezing due to the weather?

[Bob RV]

It has been cold here - around 27 degrees at night and around 45 during the day. DW went to load some food into the fridge for our upcoming Thanksgiving camping trip and she said the freezer had defrosted itself and some of the stuff in there had thawed--luckily nothing was lost. The fridge temp seemed normal--I put a thermometer in there and it read 35. The inside coach temp was around 40. Any reason the freezer wouldn't be freezing due to the weather?

[DavidMc]

There are several possibilities.

You are running the refrigerator on 120-volt AC, and the power at the RV was out for a while.

The ventilation behind the refrigerator allowed the fresh-food section to be colder than the turn-on point of the thermostat.
Thus the refrigerator did not cycle and the freezer section was not adequately cooled.

Some traditionalists have been in the habit of inserting cardboard (or similar material) in the lower-vent (and exterior access door). This helps keep it warm enough to stay running.

Others have added a 60-watt light-bulb (as in a trouble-light) into that space and turned it on when very cold weather was expected for the same purpose.

Both (but primarily the blocked lower vent) have worked for me. Both are cheap enough to try.

[jimandsue60]

DavidMc said" Others have added a 60-watt light-bulb (as in a trouble-light) into that space and turned it on when very cold weather was expected for the same purpose".

We spent a winter in a very cold climate and did this, the frige worked very well all winter.

Jim

[Bob RV]

I thinks the problem is the coach is too cold (not running the heat while we are not using it) so I'm going to have to try one of those 2 ideas David--thx!!!

[SCVJeff]

Boy, I learn something new everyday...