Community Forums

Retiredfields · 06-07-2008, 12:52 PM

I had always heard that RV refrigerators need to be operated on level ground. I have also heard that modern refrigerators are much more tolerant of slopes. So, yesterday I parked on a moderate slope towards the front of the coach. The refrigerator worked fine all day, but when I checked this morning, it was warm in the freezer and fridge. The refrigerator was still powered on and the propane flame was burning fine. No error messages from the refrigerator.

No change for several hours, but as soon as I moved the rig to a level surface, the refrigerator began cooling again. It now is cooling down and appears none the worse for wear.

This applies to the large Dometic two door model that was installed on the Alpine. The slope I was on is about a 6-8% grade.

This is FYI only.

Ken

Retiredfields · 06-07-2008, 12:52 PM

I had always heard that RV refrigerators need to be operated on level ground. I have also heard that modern refrigerators are much more tolerant of slopes. So, yesterday I parked on a moderate slope towards the front of the coach. The refrigerator worked fine all day, but when I checked this morning, it was warm in the freezer and fridge. The refrigerator was still powered on and the propane flame was burning fine. No error messages from the refrigerator.

No change for several hours, but as soon as I moved the rig to a level surface, the refrigerator began cooling again. It now is cooling down and appears none the worse for wear.

This applies to the large Dometic two door model that was installed on the Alpine. The slope I was on is about a 6-8% grade.

This is FYI only.

Ken

Barbaraok · 06-07-2008, 01:01 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The slope I was on is about a 6-8% grade. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I believe it is that if you feel comfortable, then the fridge would work ok. Did you feel comfortable at 6-8%?

Barb

Retiredfields · 06-07-2008, 01:13 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Did you feel comfortable at 6-8%? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes Barb. That is the slope, while parked in front of our winter home and loading the rig. I have two heavy duty truck chocks that I use to block two wheels, however the rig parking brake (driveline brake) holds surprisingly well.

Ken

Ted III · 06-07-2008, 02:24 PM

Ken, I don't quite understand why your refrig cooled during the day but I find 6-8% pretty substantial. I would think you would feel you were walking uphill depending on which way you were walking.

Renipladlo · 06-07-2008, 06:35 PM

And although new models are more tolerant of being off level that amount of slope and the time involved is excessive. I think you should not run the fridge that long, being that unlevel. But then replacing them is not more than a couple of thousand, and we all know, alpine owners are as rich as Bill Gates, otherwise we would not own them!!!!!!

OldForester · 06-08-2008, 07:42 AM

We have the same type of 6-8% slope in our driveway, where we also load the coach. I have found that if the refer was cold before I put it on that slope, it holds the cold whether on propane or plugged in, but if I start it on that slope, it won't get cold.

Also, did you set the clock on your fridge? I assume you did, but since it has a defrost cycle in the early a.m. hours, if it wasn't set right it might have been on the defrost cycle--