First camp in fuzion 342 questions

ksss wrote:
Our 342 fridge works fine, although the setting are set higher than they were on our previous Fuzion 322. I will say that the original fridge blew the tanks within the first couple ours of operation when we first got the unit. It was fixed under warranty, but it blew that yellow powder stuff everywhere. I do wish that the 343 came with the large double door fridge.

If the 342 had the double door fridge, I wouldn't own a 315! The double door and the amount of cabinet space in the 315 were the selling point for me. Personally I think they are dropping the ball on a lot of models by not putting the large fridge in them. You have a camper that sleeps 8 people and they expect you to survive on less than 1cf of food storage per person. When there are 7 or 8 of us, we use every inch of the 12cf plus we now have a 4cf fridge in the garage so we have enough cold storage for a week.

Our 342 fridge works fine, although the setting are set higher than they were on our previous Fuzion 322. I will say that the original fridge blew the tanks within the first couple ours of operation when we first got the unit. It was fixed under warranty, but it blew that yellow powder stuff everywhere. I do wish that the 343 came with the large double door fridge.

I forgot my iPad charger too, so I ran home and just signed on. We're only camping ten minutes away.

The fridge is on the highest setting possible... I don't know if that is a 5 or a 9. I believe the brand is "domestic".

It was hot, but since we are camping with another couple and their RV, there were 5 teens and 2 kids running in and out. I think everyone forgot about the garage door. So that is the new rule... Keep garage door closed between kitchen and garage and go outside via the garage door.

I'm investigating the fridge fan concept, thanks.

I assumed that since she was looking for other solutions her fridge only goes up to 5 on the settings! At least I hope that is the case. The first order of business would be to make sure it is turned all the way up! My 12cf goes up to 9 but I don't assume that every model works the same.

Perhaps one of those RV fridge fans in the bottom of the fridge to circulate air. I have one in mine, seems to help.

You have an adjustable temp control on that fridge (it's on setting 5) so moving the thermistor (clipped to fin in food section) will NOT help cool your fridge down.

Moving the thermistor affects cooling cycle on fridges that DO NOT have an adjustable temp control.

So put the thermistor back in mid position.


Change your adjustable temp setting to 9.

Also with fridge in a slide out.......air flow across the backside of fridge is critical. Do you have fans in outside compartment? If so..are they running?

If not......you need to install a couple of fans on cooling unit below the upper vent so they pull air in and up across cooling unit and exhaust out top vent.

Proper clearances are critical to allowing for proper air flow.
If clearances between back of fridge and sidewall of rv are too large air flow gets disrupted. Need to have tight clearances at top of fridge where air flows out of upper vent.
Wouldn't be the first time that mfg. installed fridge wrong.....causing on going cooling issues.

AND your RV is LEVEL..correct. Off level operation will kill a fridge cooling unit. Damage from off level is accumulative and permanent

Propane vs electric..........no difference. BTUs actually used for the cooling process is about the same.

Which model of fridge?

Spleenstomper wrote:
Last night was the first night-- went pretty well except we forgot the pillows lol.

Today, the refrigerator/freezer (in the slide) seem to be struggling/not getting and keeping food cold enough. It's on the setting of "5" and "AC" and "auto".

Any suggestions? It's about 96 outside so maybe that is the issue?

Thanks in advance.

My first time with my TH when we switched from our TT my wife and I forgot the firewood and the camping chairs in the garage. Gosh we felt like idiots - even worse because we were boondocking there wasn't even a campground picnic table!

You might try changing the setting on the outside of the fridge from 5 to 9. Also, get a small battery powered fan to circulate the air around on the inside of the fridge. This helps quite a bit. RV fridges are not as efficiency as a regular unit in a house. They take quite a bit longer to get cold. If you didn't do it this time you might turn it on a day before you go camping so that it's get down to the right temperature before you leave. Then switch to propane while on the road. Make sure you load the fridge with food and drinks that are already "cold" from the house fridge.

LIke you my wife and I have a YETI - we have one of their larger models which holds many drinks/food and keeps the ice from melting even in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the days. Love that thing.

Have you decided to plumb in a couple additional speakers in the living room yet?

Switch fridge to propane, it will work better.

You probably won't gain much with that adjustment, but it is worth a try. RV fridges don't recover very well so any time you add warm or hot items it takes a toll on the system. Keep the drinks in a cooler when possible. We put a mini fridge in the garage this year just for drinks. It doesn't do a much better job of recovering, but if I restock it at night before I go to bed, it does just fine.

I think you have an 8cf, but this still applies. I found with our 12cf that it really helps to have a fan circulating air over the fins. In fact I have 2 fans in mine. It really helps reduce the temperature and it keeps the fins from frosting up. The next thing that many people do (especially when the fridge in a slide out) is add fans behind the fridge or in the vent stack to move more air across the coils. I haven't gone this route yet, but I have been considering it.

Do you only have 1 AC unit in your 342? You make it sound like it is unbelievably hot in your trailer. Our 315 will stay in the low to mid 70s with 2 AC units in 96* heat.

I assume that you tried to light the pilot first? With the knob in the pilot position, push the knob in and hold while you light the pilot. You may have to hold the know for a few seconds after it lights.