Preparing to Leave in Hot Weather

[Endlesssummer]

Hi Everyone,
It’s been a challenge this summer preparing to leave on a vacation when it’s 108 degrees outside. The good news is that we are beach camping where it’s 25 degrees cooler!
My question is there any precautions I should take when turning on the fridge and letting it run in extreme heat outside and unconditioned air inside the MH. Fridge is running on the AC mode.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

[klutchdust]

AJR wrote:
As the fridge is plugged into 120V. Just turn it on a day or two ahead on time. As long as it is semi level. It should work as advertized. Mine does, ice cubes in 24 hours.

What is happening is the outside temperatures are reaching 100 and above. Before this I have had few issues with my fridge, doing exactly as you have mentioned. My recent trip to the Sierras I had 100 degree plus temps. The fridge fluctuated from 40 to 60. (Based on my thermometer on the top shelf)
So now the trailer is plugged to ground power and in the back yard. it's over 100 this week and fridge could get to 40 at night then warm up during the day to 50 or so. The fridge is empty btw. So I installed this....



Same out side temps, fridge was 38 this morning and keeping 40 all day so far. I wired it through the back of the fridge and used 12 v on the buss bar.

[AJR]

As the fridge is plugged into 120V. Just turn it on a day or two ahead on time. As long as it is semi level. It should work as advertized. Mine does, ice cubes in 24 hours.

[hotjag1]

We also pre cool everything and occasionally put a fan inside the refer during really hot weather. What works very well for us was buying a small 4 or 5 inch desk top fan (110v) and putting it in the outside refer access area. It blows the hot air up over the coils and out the top. Since we have an inverter, the fan can stay plugged in and runs all the time. Of course when we are plugged in at a park, the fan would run continuously anyway.

[klutchdust]

Pre cool everything before it goes in the fridge. Cardboard holds heat so keep those beverages loose and not in packaging. Like was said use fan inside fridge. i have ordered a fridge fan that will be wired into the door light wiring. Also replacing the thermistor with one that you can set the temperature on vs sliding the plastic up and down the fins.
When the outside temp goes above 90 the fridge will start to struggle. Also, these fridges work better on propane thanelectric. Propane heats the chemicals better that are in the system.

[Endlesssummer]

Doheny Beach So Cal here we come !!

[Endlesssummer]

Thanks everyone for your comments! It all makes good sense and we will certainly apply them. Refrigerator operation is vital or no one is happy!!
Thanks again

[bobndot]

Use a battery operated fridge fan inside the fridge.

Place it on a shelf in the rear pointing at the fins.
I use two of them. It helps once you start opening and closing the door.

Don’t overpack it. Circulation is your friend. Know where everything is located inside the fridge so you don’t stand there with the door open, moving stuff around looking for the mustard.

In temps like that we use an additional small cooler for frequently used items to limit the ‘open door time’ of the fridge. Recovery time is longer than a compressor fridge.

[time2roll]

No issue with the fridge. Need to give it 24 to 48 hours to cool.

Or just pack it with cold food only and roll. Make sure the propane is working.

[Y-Guy]

Like Lwiddis we load frozen water bottles (that we drink later) into the freezer and the fridge, it does help get the cooling action going. We also us a small fan in the fridge to distribute the air around the fridge better. Our fridge is under our awning so we don't have issues with the direct sun, but when driving in the heat & direct (118° in Kanab, UT) the fridge did struggle until we parked and got the awning open.

[ReneeG]

Thats a constant for us, to pack in hot weather to go camping in cooler climes. Our reefer is on the shaded side and since our rig is parked at home and plugged in, I run the AC, at least set to 78,to keep all the food in the cupboards as well as helping the fridge, cool. It's always worked for us.

[enblethen]

Park so refer is in the shaded side of MH.

[Lwiddis]

Load frozen water in containers in fresh and freezer compartments to give the fridge a “head start” on cooling down.