Community Forums

smokey5209 · 09-21-2010, 05:35 PM

I understand that many start their fridge the night before a trip.

I am going to try this instead of the day of departure.

Does the motorhome have to be level in order to run the fridge as described?

Thanks
Ed

AFChap · 09-21-2010, 05:42 PM

Starting the fridge the day before will result in it being a decent temp to preserve the food you put in it.

Quote:

Does the motorhome have to be level in order to run the fridge as described?

It is a VERY good idea to have it reaso0nably level ...you certainly don't want it noticeably out of level as that can cause damage to the cooling unit.

bigskymt · 09-21-2010, 05:47 PM

We've always plugged in and started the fridge the day before then loaded it up that evening.
We're never far enough off level to consider it a concern.

safari1 · 09-21-2010, 05:47 PM

Manual it needs to be within 3 degrees of level. We always start ours the night before to get the fridge cool. Propane seems to work faster to get cool than electricity, our friends say the same thing.

Vegasdan · 09-22-2010, 06:31 AM

Load up the fridge with cold food also.

RovinOn · 09-22-2010, 07:13 AM

We always start the Fridge the night before and make sure the coach is as level as possible.
The food goes from our inside Fridge right to the Coach's

Regards,
RovinOn

Hammer Down · 09-22-2010, 07:19 AM

I keep my MH plugged up at home inside the shop(50 amp receptacle) with only frige on all the time. Appliance tech said would be better on frige to run rather than stopping and starting all the time. Anyone else keep theirs on?

kc5tdr · 09-22-2010, 11:49 PM

When we still had our house and rv plugged in we left our fridge on all the time also. It was a good place for sodas when I was working outside.

Ken-55 · 09-23-2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer Down

I keep my MH plugged up at home inside the shop(50 amp receptacle) with only frige on all the time. Appliance tech said would be better on frige to run rather than stopping and starting all the time. Anyone else keep theirs on?

Ours is on all season . . . RV sits in the driveway (plugged in), vacuum packed meats in the freezer, condiments in the fridge . . . ready to GO!!!

dmason · 09-23-2010, 02:44 AM

Just started doing this myself three trips ago. Works like a charm. Only last time I didn't check it after starting with propane and it didn't stay on. When back to check four hours later, restarted and worked fine. User error!!!!

Ernie n Tara · 09-23-2010, 08:41 AM

Fridge hasn't been turned off since we bought the MH and I don't anticipate it will be any time soon (we travel about 50% of the time).
Ernie

HotMech · 09-23-2010, 09:13 PM

I start mine up when I get it out of storage, sometimes just hours before a trip.
I have a "habit" so I just load in a large bucket of ice when I start the fridge, to give it a kick start, and by the time I get there, everything is cold.

62Morgan · 09-24-2010, 11:38 AM

Ditto on using "Ice" to jump start it.

I turn her "ON" for one full day before departure. Place a stainless steel bowl of ice in the fridge and another in the freezer compartment. AN internal fan will move the cold air around. Do not place any food items inside at startup.

Be sure the 12 volt disconnect is not engaged. You need both 110 volt and 12 volt for the fridge to operate.

Doesn't have to be perfectly level. If you can walk comfortable and the motorhome doors are not binding...it's good enough for the fridge to operate.
If too steep, use the levelers and/or wheel ramps to lessen the severity of slope.

Equally important at stock-time: Leave room for internal air to circulate vertically within the fridge compartment. Do not overstock the topmost shelf. Place items vertically if possible on the top shelf. Everything must be chilled already before going into the RV fridge. Keep large dimensioned items on the outside edges of the shelves. This will keep the weight off the shelf midportion and let air to circulate properly.

Stillwater · 09-24-2010, 12:17 PM

I start ours the day before as well. I put one of those large plastic ice packs that you throw in a cooler in the freezer and two smaller packs in the fridge. Sure speeds up the process. I then swap the freezer packs for items directly from the fridge and freezer the next morning. If we aren't going for long and the freezer has room I leave the freezer pack in to act as a cold sink.