Fridge - Not Level overnight?

Boy, I am sure confused now. I believe I will just keep on doing what I have been doing for over 15 years. Not saying I am a pro, but here goes my process, use it for advice or not. We park at home, using my parking area that is concrete level side to side with a little slope front to back, park it and use the tongue jack to level it front to back. When traveling, we use the fridge of course and when we park, side legos go under the side I need for leveling, then front is leveled. Most of the time when on the road moving every day, we never unhook, we use blocks side to side and on the truck rear or front (if needed) to raise and lower trailer from front to back. this of course if jack on tongue is too close or far form the ground. Well, as far as parking goes anywhere else, we use the parking lots and use our blocks so we don't damage any asphalt, we also pick up our blocks as it wouldn't be right to have my neighbor do it for me! Besides, he and his kids won't fit in our trailer with us and may not want ot go along! Well my comments, never had any issues with fridge, heard a lot of do's and don'ts and will keep on doing what we are doing as it works. like the others said, follow the manufacture guidelines, level it up it only takes a minute and your good to go. Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

frankdamp wrote:
We reaped the whirlwind of fridge damage, though it may just have been old age. Just before (2 days) we left on the planned 4 week trip down the Oregon coast an into California in late April, the fridge died. We couldn't get it fixed in time, so we went anyway.

After 2 weeks of pulling into a Fred Meyer store every morning along the Oregon coast to buy more ice, we gave up on the rest of the trip. About $1800 later, we had a new fridge. We went with another Dometic rather than going through the grief of a conversion to a residential unit.

BTW, when actually moving on the road, there's enough jolting and rolling motion that the fridge is fine no matter the grade you're climbing or descending. I understand it take about 24 stationary hours with a fridge significantly out of level to cause a problem.

If you are referring to the fridge in the unit in the RV listed in your signature, then it could of been from different things. Age, yes, that could be it. But you also bought it 8 years old. You never know how the previous owner(s) treated it. They could of continously abused it and it finally built up.

We reaped the whirlwind of fridge damage, though it may just have been old age. Just before (2 days) we left on the planned 4 week trip down the Oregon coast an into California in late April, the fridge died. We couldn't get it fixed in time, so we went anyway.

After 2 weeks of pulling into a Fred Meyer store every morning along the Oregon coast to buy more ice, we gave up on the rest of the trip. About $1800 later, we had a new fridge. We went with another Dometic rather than going through the grief of a conversion to a residential unit.

BTW, when actually moving on the road, there's enough jolting and rolling motion that the fridge is fine no matter the grade you're climbing or descending. I understand it take about 24 stationary hours with a fridge significantly out of level to cause a problem.

OK, I'll disagree too:

One of the things I like about WalMart overnights is that the lots are pretty level. I have stayed at a few and never been uncomfortable in the bed or walking around inside and never noticed any significant slope.

I do remember putting the tongue jack down on the TT once to take the weight off of the truck's suspension. Then, I read on a forum that I shouldn't do that or I'll ruin Wallydocking for everybody else.

wny_pat wrote:
And 6 degrees is 1.3" per foot.

It is.

3 degrees is a rise of 5 inches over 8 feet.

Tvov wrote:

wbwood wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
Is it ok to leave the fridge NOT LEVEL when it is operating overnight.

NO, it's not

Use your jacks and leveling blocks.

What about all those RV and trailers at Walmarts and rest areas over night? I see them without any leveling going on and they aren't level. And I highly doubt they are turning their fridge off at night when it's 80-90 degrees outside during the summer.

The vast majority of parking lots are pretty level, usually more level than many campgrounds we've been in!

Most parking lots around here are not level due to proper drainage. There is normally some sort of slope. Whether it's any slop of significance, I have no idea. I asked the question months ago about those that I see parked at Walmart and in the rest areas. I've not seen any of them with jacks down or up on boards and there is some obviously tilt just from looking at it. The concensous was that it would take a lot more than that to cause damage. And bascially as someone mentioned, if it's not uncomfortable to walk around in, then it's generally ok. I think some said their manual stated something to that effect.

bsinmich wrote:
...going up a grade like that you are getting some bounce effect that keeps the coolant from settling.

yep

wbwood wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
Is it ok to leave the fridge NOT LEVEL when it is operating overnight.

NO, it's not

Use your jacks and leveling blocks.

What about all those RV and trailers at Walmarts and rest areas over night? I see them without any leveling going on and they aren't level. And I highly doubt they are turning their fridge off at night when it's 80-90 degrees outside during the summer.

The vast majority of parking lots are pretty level, usually more level than many campgrounds we've been in!

Wow!!!!!!!!! 4 pages of advice and no one can agree on single answer