refrigerator access door thingy

Danwilly · 12-07-2018, 10:06 AM

The two access doors to the reefer have this quarter turn black rubber things that need a coin or screw driver. A real PITA. Are there replacements for these that have a wingnut kind of handle? Or I am getting way to petty here?
Dan

nayther · 12-07-2018, 10:39 AM

IMHO you're getting way to petty. My last 4 rigs have them and they've never been a problem. How often do you open these panels? I might look in there once or twice a year just for cleaning and inspection but not any other time.

**Mr. Dan** · 12-07-2018, 10:43 AM

I can turn mine with a thumbnail... don't need much else as infrequent as I take off that panel.

bedubya · 12-07-2018, 11:02 AM

??? No coins in your pocket?

richp · 12-07-2018, 11:48 AM

Hi,

I use the flat head of a key to turn mine.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

pgandw · 12-07-2018, 12:56 PM

I carry a stubby straight slot screwdriver in the driver's side pocket of my minivan.

If it's a standard height PUP with a continuous run fridge, you access it a lot. On the road, I had to stop/start the fridge on DC as it would drop below freezing after towing at highway speeds for 4+ hours. Switching modes at arrival/departure is another access. And adjusting the cooling on AC or propane was needed once a day.

A possible fix is to replace Dometic plastic vents with Dometic stamped metal vents. The metal vents have better airflow, but will allow rain into the compartment on occasion. The metal vents I have seen have metal thumb screws and hinges.

The more normal RV fridge in the high wall models has inside controls and automatic features which eliminate almost all the outside accesses. One of the benefits of a high wall. Only disadvantage is reaching the inside controls with the A-frame folded down. I have to unlatch the roof and crawl in with a flashlight to change anything.

just my experiences
Fred W
then 2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
now 2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

derek6669 · 12-07-2018, 02:09 PM

definately too picky. I can undo mine by hand without tools, but a coin will also work

ben31 · 12-07-2018, 03:08 PM

I think I get in mine twice a year. A coin or large blade screwdriver works fine. Is there a reason you get into yours more often?

You could glue a nut onto the backside of the plastic on the RV side and then use a wing bolt to attach the cover. However, to me it would be work to fix something, which isn't really a problem. They do make nylon nuts and wing bolts, too.

benfox49 · 02-03-2019, 08:24 PM

Mine has a plastic vent cover on the bottom with built I bug screens,but the top vent is a metal one,with no bug,wasp guards. How do you all keep wasps out of the top vent.

Ben

Skip12 · 02-03-2019, 09:48 PM

Come on Forum members. Someone is asking for help. If you cant help or dont want to help, move along. It's pretty rude to call another forum member petty or picky just for asking a question.

There is no value in questioning their desire to do something or the importance of that activity.

67L48 · 02-03-2019, 10:45 PM

Original poster asks:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danwilly

[...] Or I am getting way to petty here?
Dan

Two people answer:

Quote:

Originally Posted by nayther

IMHO you're getting way to petty. [...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek6669

definately too picky. [...]

And, for answering one of the explicitly asked questions, they get this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip12

[...] It's pretty rude to call another forum member petty or picky just for asking a question. [...]

Now that's funny.

pgandw · 02-04-2019, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benfox49

Mine has a plastic vent cover on the bottom with built I bug screens,but the top vent is a metal one,with no bug,wasp guards. How do you all keep wasps out of the top vent.

Ben

Don't have much of a problem in Colorado with wasps or bugs, so I don't have screens on my vents. I imagine you could glue or wire tie or even bolt some window screen onto the inside of the vent.

Use metal screen on the top vent; it gets pretty warm (or it should get warm-to-hot). You may need to add an exhaust fan - I tie-wrapped a computer case fan to the vent cover on my A-frame - to get the fridge to cool well enough.

just my experiences
Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

trishas47 · 07-10-2019, 08:34 AM

How to take off the refrigerator vent on the side. Have an Alpha Wolf Cherokee??

5picker · 07-10-2019, 09:17 AM

Refrigerator vent doors in R/Vs have turn tabs that hold the door in place.

In the corner of the door you'll see the turn tab with a slot.
Use a quarter or screwdriver and turn the slot a 1/4 turn.
That loosens the tab and you can pull the door out. There's no need to completely remove the center pin of the turn tab. Just turning it a quarter turn will allow the door to be removed.

The opposite side of the door from the turn tabs have permanent tabs that stick out and fit into slots in the door frame.
When reinstalling, make sure you fit that side of the door first and then swing the opposite side into the turn tab sockets. turn the tabs back to lock them into place.

Also note that on most units, the refrigerator condensate drain hose sticks out the vent holes so the condensate can drain outside the refrigerator compartment. When removing the door you'll need to pay attention to the routing of the hose and be sure it gets put back when reinstalling the door.

On older units the condensate tube can become brittle and break easily when removing the door.

Bob414 · 07-10-2019, 10:48 AM

Too picky! Sure a wing nut or easier other solution would make things simple enough for kids or naretherewells to play with. And I will see your covers on the side of the road.

Bob

SS Cruiser · 07-10-2019, 11:09 AM

I have found that by cleaning up any burrs or flash around the square holes and making sure the tabs are in good shape, I am now able to turn them without tools. Before doing that, I needed a screwdriver or coin to get the job done.

kenandterry · 07-10-2019, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danwilly

The two access doors to the reefer have this quarter turn black rubber things that need a coin or screw driver. A real PITA. Are there replacements for these that have a wingnut kind of handle? Or I am getting way to petty here?
Dan

If you’re trying to access the reefer doors, I’m guessing it’s for maintenance?
If that’s the case, you’re probably going to need tools for whatever you hope to accomplish, so bringing a screwdriver to the game doesn’t seem so much to expect.

If you make it too easy, might not some child or troublemaker with too much time on their hands cause you grief, if you really want to make it easier to remove than it is today.

Just asking?

bedubya · 07-10-2019, 06:27 PM

The original post is 7 months old. My guess is he got it figured out.

5picker · 07-10-2019, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedubya

The original post is 7 months old. My guess is he got it figured out.

While this thread started 7 months ago, the poster in post # 13 asked a question today.

HappyCamperCanada · 07-11-2019, 07:54 AM

My fridge is a 3-way. The only way to turn it on is by accessing that panel. Electric or propane. The thermostats are in there too. I can predict that I'll be in and out of that panel a few times per trip. I just use a coin to turn the latches. If I don't have change, there's a flat head screwdriver always close by.

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