Hi Folks,We have a Prime Time Crusader 351 REQ 5th wheel that has the stainless steel side opening doors with the freezer on the bottom.This is new to us and love the trailer, including the residential fridge option. With our first trip out this fall, we kept encountering issues with the doors opening while traveling. We used foam and wrapped bungee cords tight around the door handles to hold the doors closed.It worked most times, but a couple times a can or jar would fall in such a way that the doors would open slightly and jam while travelling.I'm almost at the point of hammering a 2x4 in the door handles to hold them closed (just kidding - for now!).Has anyone else experienced this with your residential fridge, and if so, what fix did you use?Thx!!

it should have a travel lock as a strap or a knob that screws in.The dealer did not show you this in your pdi?

We use these Southco locks.If you use them, be VERY careful where you drill on your fridge.

IH FanOur solution is to not leave items that can force the door open in the frig. We purchased three plastic trays that fit side by side on the bottom shelf. One wide try holds all of our jars and condiments. Another wide one holds our bottled water. The narrow one is reserved for beer. On the shelf above we have a wide tray that hold two rows of coke cans which are on their side. Everything else goes in the door racks. Have not had the door open one time and everything stays organized. It also helps when unloading the frig when you get home. Works well and very little cost to solve the problem. Good luck

At an RV show last weekend I overheard a lady discussing that with a salesman. She said a friend had their residential style fridge door come open during travel and dump most everything in the floor. He was recommending straps something like these, the best I could tell from his description. Adhesive backed so there is no drilling required.

Don't put anything in the door shelves. It's the weight of heavy items in the door that opens it. I quit putting food and jars in the door and it never opened again even on rough roads.

Keeping residential fridge doors closed during travel

shada
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
We have a res frig and keep the doors closed . by utilizing the place where you change door swing from one side to another there are threaded holes in the frame, I found a old plastic knob and glued a piece of all thread the right length. now all I do is screw the knob into the threaded hole and lightly snug it up . works great and cheap to make
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2014
jdocter7 wrote:
I push stuff to the back, fill the empty space with old foam egg cartons and use a Velcro strap on the doors. Another Velcro strap hooks from the freezer door to a 3-M cord loop that is stuck to the left side of the freezer. No drilling holes. No failures in many miles of fulltiming.

Isn't sad that we have to go to all this to keep something as simple as a fridge door shut?

You'd THINK the RV manufactures of these RV fridge's would make a door with a latch or whatever that keeps the door shut while traveling down the road. After all they are an in and RV and they KNOW we will be traveling with them! :B
jdocter7
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
I push stuff to the back, fill the empty space with old foam egg cartons and use a Velcro strap on the doors. Another Velcro strap hooks from the freezer door to a 3-M cord loop that is stuck to the left side of the freezer. No drilling holes. No failures in many miles of fulltiming.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
IH_Fan wrote:

I'm almost at the point of hammering a 2x4 in the door handles to hold them closed (just kidding - for now!).

There's something wrong with this solution???

Anything that can't be fixed with a hammer and a two-by-four just can't be fixed at all, in my opinion.

Duct tape comes in a close second! :B
hanzfranz60
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
We replaced our 4-door Notcold with a side door stainless residential fridge. We installed a ratcheting travel strap that we put across the doors for travel. It connects to hooks on either side of the fridge. We use microfiber towels to keep the strap from scratching the doors.

We have seen some unique methods the trailer manufacturers are using in their factory installed fridge units. Next time you are near an RV show, go check out what the new rigs are doing. You may get some ideas there too!
dons2346
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
Been wanting to try the picture post thingy so here is my solution to the opening door.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
IH_Fan wrote:

I'm almost at the point of hammering a 2x4 in the door handles to hold them closed (just kidding - for now!).

There's something wrong with this solution???

Anything that can't be fixed with a hammer and a two-by-four just can't be fixed at all, in my opinion.
MNRon
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
We have a simple cupboard door handles above and below the fridge screwed into the wood frame that we put a strap with quick connect through. Strap is tight over fridge doors preventing them from opening.
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2014
huh, over 15 years travelling and none of my fridges ever opened.

when I get set up, I SLOWLY open fridge to see what might jump out.

but nothing ever swung my door open. what ya carrying in there :) :)

I saw those extension poles that go across from side to side (like curtain rods) in the fridge to keep things in place but I never had to buy them.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2014
Don't put anything in the door shelves.

It's the weight of heavy items in the door that opens it. I quit putting food and jars in the door and it never opened again even on rough roads.

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Keeping residential fridge doors closed during travel

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