This is our first year with our RV (Class B). I'm wondering about what others do about their refrigerator when they're not using it. I know through winter storage, etc to turn it off, clean it out and leave the door open. But once camping season starts but you're not using it full time when the rig sits for a week or two between uses, do you leave the unit plugged in and the refrigerator running on AC with condiments, etc left there for the next trip? Or is this two hard on a small 3-way frig - i.e. should you clean it our and shut it off to give it a rest?

Nothing wrong with leaving it on. It should be sitting level though. I'm not sure why - just the advice I've read on here. Maybe someone can expand on that.

How you use it is up to you and how you camp.Only issue........make sure RV is level anytime fridge is turned ON.SO that may help you decide whether or not to leave fridge on or off.ON EDIT: WHY LEVELRV absorption fridges use gravity to help in the flow of coolant/gas/anti-rust inhibitor during operation.Off level operation disrupts the gravity flow which can result in overheating....overheating causes inhibitor to form crystals which will plate on on inside of tubing causing more restrictions/more overheating issues/more plating out.......DEATH to a cooling unit.And this damage can occur in as short a time as 20 mins of off level operation. Damage is accumulative and permanent.What about when in transit.....traveling with fridge on??OK. The motion of vehicle (side to side rocking, bouncing, rolling) keeps coolant flowing so overheating of coolant doesn't occur.But then you pull off on side of road/tilted shoulder for rest break/lunch etc. NOW overheating can happen due to lack of motion and RV being off level.LEVEL........Reasonably level. If comfortable to walk/sit/sleep then OK.In other words..you know when RV is off level.

I turn ours off between use simply because there's no point in paying for energy - either propane gas or electricity - to keep the darned thing running when we're not using it.

If not using it for 2 days or more, I turn it off, clean it out, and leave it open.

Noob Refrig Question | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2015
How you use it is up to you and how you camp.

Only issue........make sure RV is level anytime fridge is turned ON.

SO that may help you decide whether or not to leave fridge on or off.

ON EDIT: WHY LEVEL

RV absorption fridges use gravity to help in the flow of coolant/gas/anti-rust inhibitor during operation.

Off level operation disrupts the gravity flow which can result in overheating....overheating causes inhibitor to form crystals which will plate on on inside of tubing causing more restrictions/more overheating issues/more plating out.......DEATH to a cooling unit.

And this damage can occur in as short a time as 20 mins of off level operation. Damage is accumulative and permanent.

What about when in transit.....traveling with fridge on??
OK. The motion of vehicle (side to side rocking, bouncing, rolling) keeps coolant flowing so overheating of coolant doesn't occur.
But then you pull off on side of road/tilted shoulder for rest break/lunch etc. NOW overheating can happen due to lack of motion and RV being off level.

LEVEL........
Reasonably level. If comfortable to walk/sit/sleep then OK.
In other words..you know when RV is off level.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jun 29, 2015
X-2 leave it on
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jun 29, 2015
Nothing wrong with leaving it on. It should be sitting level though. I'm not sure why - just the advice I've read on here. Maybe someone can expand on that.

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