How close must you be to true level to not harm refrigerator

You might check with the manufacturer of your fridge/RV. The manual that came with our Itasca includes the manufacturer's manuals for appliances. Ours specifies within two degrees either way side-to-side and within six degrees either way front-to-back. I put a dymo-labeler tag above each level bubble (the RV came to us from a prior owner with two, in separate locations) spelling out the limits.

I always level the RV to within two degrees front to back for sleeping comfort, and am happiest when it's within one degree each way; but don't obsess over it.

I hadn't thought about the question of whether the fridge might be out of level to the RV, and haven't checked the levels since I got the RV - good point about testing against the fridge itself.

Quite often I see a rented motorhome camped way off level. I think about starting a conversation about refrigerator technicalities but always conclude it would be an unwelcome intrusion. As owner of a former rental MH, I am very glad the fridge works well. Maybe somebody saved it by talking to one of its renters.

If your comfy inside, then so is your fridge. Ours shows temp of 28 degrees, works fine, nose slightly up on our hauler.

Any more questions?

wildroot wrote:
My RV does not have automatic levelers and getting it really level is most times a real problem.Does it harm the operation of the Refrigerator if I am not at trus level.And if so, is there a time limit on how long it can be unlevel without doing damage?

This is what the cooling unit of your RV fridge looks like:


Your RV should be level enough that the liquid refrigerant can flow down the zig-zag tubing by gravity. If your parked RV is out of level enough that the liquid refrigerant can't flow downhill through that zig-zag maze and gets trapped, damage will occur to the unit.

As others have said, if your RV is level enough so that you feel comfortable while inside, then the refrigerator should be fine. You can see that you would have to angle the fridge quite a bit for the gravity flow of the refrigerant to be impeded.

The situation that could cause damage is if you are traveling with your fridge running, and you park on a relatively steep grade while heading off on foot for sight-seeing or shopping. If you do park on a hill, remember to turn off your fridge until you get back.

Also as others have said, don't worry about the fridge if running while you are driving -- the constant motion prevents the liquid refrigerant from accumulating in the zig-zag tubing.

Keep both to 3 degrees and you are covered.

Where is Chris and Doug when we need a definitive answer :h :B

I think Big Katuna hit the nail on the head.

Big Katuna wrote:
Which is opposite of what I understood.

The cooling unit tubes in the back zig zag at angle from top to bottom. Optimally, if level gravity dictates that the flow is even all the way down. If too far off level, left to right, one angle is almost flat (slower) and the other faster.

If you lean the top more to the front, it still flows the same if level side to side.

Since you showed your work, I'm going to go with your conclusion. :B

IAMICHABOD wrote:

Rice wrote:


I see this a lot, but always wonder what is "front to back" and "side to side"? If the refrigerator is along a side wall of the RV, the refrigerator's front-to-back is actually the RV's side-to-side.

So what does the "front to back" refer to--the RV or the refrigerator?

It refers to the refrigerator,as you look at it that is the front.....

So it is 3 degrees front to back ( as you look at it) and 6 degrees side to side or Left to Right.:B

Which is opposite of what I understood.

The cooling unit tubes in the back zig zag at angle from top to bottom. Optimally, if level gravity dictates that the flow is even all the way down. If too far off level, left to right, one angle is almost flat (slower) and the other faster.

If you lean the top more to the front, it still flows the same if level side to side.

Bottom line is I get mine level as I can. But not just for the fridge; it drives me cuckoo not being level.

Rice wrote:


I see this a lot, but always wonder what is "front to back" and "side to side"? If the refrigerator is along a side wall of the RV, the refrigerator's front-to-back is actually the RV's side-to-side.

So what does the "front to back" refer to--the RV or the refrigerator?

It refers to the refrigerator,as you look at it that is the front.....

So it is 3 degrees front to back ( as you look at it) and 6 degrees side to side or Left to Right.:B