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Old 09-12-2018, 08:09 AM   #1
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Hook up the night before - refrigerator concern

We have an upcoming trip that requires us to pull out very early in the morning. I thought I might hook up my fifth wheel the night before. My only concern is the refrigerator. I am a couple inches nose high when hooked up heading down the road. I have read so much about how important it is to be level for the refrigerator to function properly. I have read many comments about potential damage to the unit if powered up in an unlevel state. Thanx in advance for your commentary.



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Old 09-12-2018, 08:19 AM   #2
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Long story about why but we camped 4 days/nights with the trailer almost a foot off level side to side. Refrigerator on the entire time and worked just fine. Three years later still no problem.
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Old 09-12-2018, 08:31 AM   #3
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We just had our refer replaced in Shipshewana IN due to dismal cooling. It has been bad from the time it was new and just seemed to get worse.
I've always kept it as level as possible when using the fridge.
When I parked it on the lot of the Amish farm where they were doing the swap I asked if I should level it side to side since it was a half bubble off. He said it didn't matter much side to side but front to back was a little more important.
Still I would not worry about 2" out for one night.
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Old 09-12-2018, 08:34 AM   #4
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I'd have to look it up, but going from memory, I think it's been said it needs to be within 3 degrees of level (or something like that) before it becomes a concern. You'd have to hook it up and see how far out your fridge actually is.

I'm nose high as well and have hooked up the night before several times this year. It's actually the whole reason we went fiver, so I can be hooked up the night before and still fit in the driveway. However, my driveway is at 3% slope, so between the nose high and driveway slope, the actual trailer sit's pretty level for the night.
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Old 09-12-2018, 08:41 AM   #5
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If you're 2" off level across the length of your trailer, you're <1/4" off across you're refrigerator. However, I never hook up the night before. I back up close, but never connect. If I have an over night emergency, I don't want a trailer tied to my truck.
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Old 09-12-2018, 08:59 AM   #6
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It is the side to side level that you need to worry about, however, your amount should be ok.

I always hookup the night before...sometimes two days before I leave.

My 5'ver tows about 1 1/2 high in the front and when hitched up on level ground my front to back level bubble is touching the edge of the line, but still between the lines.

If you were much more unlevel than that, it isn't that big of a deal to put some leveling blocks under the trailer tires to bring it up to level.

Only takes a minute.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:17 AM   #7
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To the OP, I would not worry about the refrigerator, but I would worry about the rear axle carrying a disproportionate amount of weight if you are 2 inches nose high going down the road.

The torsion axles do not equalize the load, front to back, as conventional axles do. That, coupled with Forest Rivers decision to load the axles to near thier capacity, raises a red flag to me.

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Old 09-12-2018, 09:22 AM   #8
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It is the side to side level that you need to worry about, however, your amount should be ok.
Actually of the two side to side is the least important, look at the back of your gas absorption frig. The angle of the tubing is designed to drain the liquid back to the reservoir and is sloped in the front to back orientation. If you are to high one way or the other this changes the angle and may cause the liquid to not flow properly after condensing in the upper portion of the cooling unit and to crystalize in the tubing.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:29 AM   #9
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Not to worry, that concern is old school. Now a days they claim if you can walk in it comfortably your alright. It's not like years ago. You will be fine , my driveway is on a sloop I used to hookup all the time and run it, I was a good 3 to 4" off level, never had a problem in 7 years with a 5er.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:30 AM   #10
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What's the difference?

So what is the difference if you are 2 inches off when parked in front of your house OR going down the road for several hours when towing? Do you run your fridge when towing? If you do than its the same.....
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:33 AM   #11
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So what is the difference if you are 2 inches off when parked in front of your house OR going down the road for several hours when towing? Do you run your fridge when towing? If you do than its the same.....
The difference is when going down the road the constant movement does not allow the liquid to sit in one place and crystalize like might happen when parked. I do believe it would take some extended time off level for this to happen.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:36 AM   #12
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Actually of the two side to side is the least important, look at the back of your gas absorption frig. The angle of the tubing is designed to drain the liquid back to the reservoir and is sloped in the front to back orientation. If you are to high one way or the other this changes the angle and may cause the liquid to not flow properly after condensing in the upper portion of the cooling unit and to crystalize in the tubing.


To be clear, it’s actually the side to side of the refrigerator that you need to worry about. In most rigs, since the fridge is perpendicular to the trailer/Motorhome, this means you level the rig front to back to level the fridge side to side. But it’s not always the case. There are some floorplans out there with a rear mounted fridge resulting in the need to level side to side to level the fridge. It all depends on the person’s perspective.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:45 AM   #13
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To be clear, it’s actually the side to side of the refrigerator that you need to worry about.
That was what I was getting at in my above post.

The refrigerator side-to-side.

I had a rear fridge model and the fridge went bad in about a year from not always having the side-to-side level.

And this was when parking it in the street in front of my house when this occurred.

Once I learned of this I always made sure to level it side-to-side while parked at the curb in front of my house.
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:52 AM   #14
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Back to the OP's question....
2" out of level on a big rig will not harm the refer overnight.
IMO.
Hook up,
go camping,
have fun!
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Old 09-12-2018, 09:59 AM   #15
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We've been using these fridges in RVs for over 35 years. Never worried about being off level several inches either way for the fridge, even for extended periods.

I'm with the group that says if you can walk alright inside your rig, the fridge is fine.

I think the statement most folks refer to that says you need to ensure the fridge is level is just a CYA. But that is just my opinion and it has served me well
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Old 09-12-2018, 10:09 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaadk View Post
To be clear, it’s actually the side to side of the refrigerator that you need to worry about. In most rigs, since the fridge is perpendicular to the trailer/Motorhome, this means you level the rig front to back to level the fridge side to side. But it’s not always the case. There are some floorplans out there with a rear mounted fridge resulting in the need to level side to side to level the fridge. It all depends on the person’s perspective.
That is a great point! Leveling is referred to with rigs as side to side front to back with no regard to the orientation of the frig. So your side to side which is actually front to back is more critical then your front to back witch is actually your side to side. I try to think in terms of how the cooling unit tubing is orientated.
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Old 09-12-2018, 10:10 AM   #17
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We've been using these fridges in RVs for over 35 years. Never worried about being off level several inches either way for the fridge, even for extended periods.

I'm with the group that says if you can walk alright inside your rig, the fridge is fine.

I think the statement most folks refer to that says you need to ensure the fridge is level is just a CYA. But that is just my opinion and it has served me well
I agree with you about walk alright should be fine.
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Old 09-12-2018, 12:28 PM   #18
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Refrigerator Level?

Don't worry about he fridge level. Any "normal" slop front to back and left to right will not effect the operation of your fridge.
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Old 09-12-2018, 01:11 PM   #19
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"Level" is within 3 degrees when measuring side-to-side or curbside to streetside and
6 degrees front to back or nose to tail. If you get some free time and play around with
a level, the bubble literally has to be pegged to one side or the other on those small, 6"
torpedo levels in order to be 3 degrees out. As has already been said, when driving it
keeps the chemicals from pooling so level isn't a concern. Not considering how it affects
the truck, shouldn't be an issue keeping your fridge plugged in the night before. Another
way to keep your perishables safe when driving is to freeze a gallon jug of water (or two)
and keep them in the fridge while driving. Worst case scenario it helps keep the food
and stuff cool and you end up at the campsite with 2 gallons of drinking water.
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Old 09-12-2018, 01:32 PM   #20
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The orientation of the fridge is important. If it is along the front or back wall, side to side should be close to level. Along a side wall, front to back level is important. To understand this, check out this explanation of how an rv fridge works. https://www.rvrepairclub.com/article...eration-works/
If the liquid gets stuck in one of the loops, it can ruin a fridge.
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