In all the discussion about refrigerator, i've always taken away from the subject that it needs to be level to operate correctly. And having it running while parked and not level can damage it. Every night I go to work, I pass by a rest area that has at least one rv in it. Every time I go to Walmart, there is at least one and often more parked in the parking lot. Neither of the places they park are what I call level. They usually slope to one side. My question is (for those of you that wallydock or overnight in parking lots), what do you do? Do you shut it off? Do you let it run and its ok? I never see any levelers out to make things level either.

My owners manual says the refrigerator needs to be reasonably level to operate. It goes on to describe by saying camper should be level enough to stay in comfortably.Mine is a 2012, I do think the newer models are not as fussy as in the past. My self, I still try to be very level, when fridge is running. I think most would have them running in the parking areas.Jerry

Side to side can be off a lot, its the front to back that can cause issues. Camping at Bristol races 6 years back, I was 6" off side to side but level front to back and did not have any issues. Friend was opposite being almost level side to side but about 6" or a touch more off on the front to back. His fridge stopped after a day. Fridge started working again after he pulled off the site and got moving. He had no other issues in the ongoing years until he sold the rig. Randu

Our basic rule is as long as we are comfortable in it and a coke or beer can stays on the table its good. Has worked for over 40 years and never had any fridge problems. But will shut it off it I am way out of level. Driving makes no difference as it changes all the time..

I just checked my owner's manual for Keystone, and it simply says, "Level". It does not specify say "how" level. I do know from experience (after owning 3 different travel trailers now), the camper does not have to be "perfectly" level for the refrigerator to work. I think a good rule of thumb is simple: If the camper is so uncomfortable you cannot walk in it without feeling like your on a roller coaster, or lay in bed without rolling out, or sliding to the floor, your refrigerator will probably have poor performance also. Being "out of level" (that much) will not hurt them, they just won't cool as efficient, or may stop completely.

Brian, we see 'crooked' rv's all the time at race tracks, many for 4-5 days at a time. I know with our's I try to get level as much as possible while stopping overnite without putting the jacks down but many times we end up unlevel. Our fridge will not work when too far off, I get an error code. My assumption is if I do not get the unlevel code then it's ok.

Fridge Question | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Dec 08, 2013
I just checked my owner's manual for Keystone, and it simply says, "Level". It does not specify say "how" level. I do know from experience (after owning 3 different travel trailers now), the camper does not have to be "perfectly" level for the refrigerator to work.

I think a good rule of thumb is simple: If the camper is so uncomfortable you cannot walk in it without feeling like your on a roller coaster, or lay in bed without rolling out, or sliding to the floor, your refrigerator will probably have poor performance also. Being "out of level" (that much) will not hurt them, they just won't cool as efficient, or may stop completely.
snowdance
Explorer
Dec 08, 2013
Our basic rule is as long as we are comfortable in it and a coke or beer can stays on the table its good. Has worked for over 40 years and never had any fridge problems. But will shut it off it I am way out of level. Driving makes no difference as it changes all the time..
Randu
Explorer
Dec 08, 2013
Side to side can be off a lot, its the front to back that can cause issues. Camping at Bristol races 6 years back, I was 6" off side to side but level front to back and did not have any issues. Friend was opposite being almost level side to side but about 6" or a touch more off on the front to back. His fridge stopped after a day. Fridge started working again after he pulled off the site and got moving. He had no other issues in the ongoing years until he sold the rig. Randu
MFL
Nomad II
Dec 08, 2013
My owners manual says the refrigerator needs to be reasonably level to operate. It goes on to describe by saying camper should be level enough to stay in comfortably.

Mine is a 2012, I do think the newer models are not as fussy as in the past. My self, I still try to be very level, when fridge is running. I think most would have them running in the parking areas.

Jerry

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Fridge Question

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