Hi All, I'm on a quest for a dry bath camper in the coming months and have a question for those of you that have a fridge in the slideout. I see for instance in the Lance 981 the fridge is up by the cabover in the slide but you have to either reach over a ledge or knell on it? to access it.? What are your experiences on this. It looks awkward to me. Thanks for your replies! Dak

On our AF 1150 there is a " ridge" (makes a nice sitting spot) but it is shallow enough to not interfere in getting things from the refrigerator. I suggest you go to a dealer or show and see for yourself.

brholt wrote:On our AF 1150 there is a " ridge" (makes a nice sitting spot) but it is shallow enough to not interfere in getting things from the refrigerator. I suggest you go to a dealer or show and see for yourself.Thanks, I fully intend to go see but wanted other experience also. Thanks for the reply! :)Dak

The refrigerator is built into the slide of my Arctic Fox 811. I have no problems reaching anything, but I am tall and have long arms. The ledge is about 1' deep, but I do not need to step on it.

Ditto on 'no problem'. I don't stand with my toes at the base of the fridge at home either. The camper fridge is about a foot away on the ledge. In fact, it's so natural and comfortable, I never once gave it a thought. Good question. Love ours...and it's friggin' huge too!!

The step actually makes loading groceries easy at times. I'll set my box of refrigerated items on the step when stocking the frig for a trip. The door typically swings towards the step so one wouldn't be standing there anyways.

Fridge in slide ? | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

805gregg
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
svjim wrote:
805gregg wrote:
The only problem with the fridge in the slide is no roof vent

I had a fridge in a 5th wheel slide out for well over 13 years without any problems, so I don't really think having the vent in the side wall is really an issue. I did manage to wipe out a couple of fridge roof vents with low hanging tree limbs. This is not so much a criticism of roof vents as my failure to be observant when parking.

As a practical manner, you really don't want to be opening an RV fridge very often, so from my perspective as long as the fridge works good and you can get things in and out of it easy, having to take an extra step or two is no big deal. I may be wrong, but must of the slide outs that I've seen, have the fridge on the slide out.

Probably depends on where you live and the outside temps

Jim
billtex
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2014
bjbear wrote:
Our fridge is on the slide. Absolutely no problem accessing it. One word of advice.... Make sure it has a ventilation fan for the coil. In warm weather, it is needed to ensure good airflow because the top vent is on the side instead of the roof.

Our fridge is NOT in the slide...heat can be one issue with slide fridges. Be sure it has a (quiet) fan and awning topper to help keep it cool. The other issue can be the copper plumbing binding in the slide.
Not saying it will...but it is something to keep an eye on.

Bill
deltabravo
Nomad
Aug 10, 2014
Ditto with what everyone else says about their AF. I have an 811. I'm 5'9 and don't have a problem reaching anything in the fridge.

I actually find the step area in front of the fridge a convenient place to place stuff during the day - my laptop bag typically goes there.
Jeepers92
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
AF 811- no problem, never even thought of it.
svjim
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
805gregg wrote:
The only problem with the fridge in the slide is no roof vent

I had a fridge in a 5th wheel slide out for well over 13 years without any problems, so I don't really think having the vent in the side wall is really an issue. I did manage to wipe out a couple of fridge roof vents with low hanging tree limbs. This is not so much a criticism of roof vents as my failure to be observant when parking.

As a practical manner, you really don't want to be opening an RV fridge very often, so from my perspective as long as the fridge works good and you can get things in and out of it easy, having to take an extra step or two is no big deal. I may be wrong, but must of the slide outs that I've seen, have the fridge on the slide out.

Jim
wing464
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Ihave been enjoying my Lance 981 Max since 2005 and the refrig in the slide is no problem what so ever... It is about 12 inches from the floor of the unit and the door opens easily toward the front... I suppose if someone is in the bunk area and wanted to get out, the door would have to be closed... The answer to that is to say "Hold on a minute"... problem solved...
805gregg
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
The only problem with the fridge in the slide is no roof vent
campn4walleye
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Our fridge is in our slide and we can stand completely in front of it. We have no issues. Our wet bath is straight across from it. Our TC is an Adventurer 910FBS. It's quite roomy, so I have to take a few steps from the kitchen to get to the fridge.

If we have limited access, we have to move the slide out at least 9" (I'm not skinny) and I can slide in to gain access. (It's incentive to keep me from gaining too much weight.) :)
dakonthemountai
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
bjbear wrote:
Our fridge is on the slide. Absolutely no problem accessing it. One word of advice.... Make sure it has a ventilation fan for the coil. In warm weather, it is needed to ensure good airflow because the top vent is on the side instead of the roof.

That's a good tip! I also did think about the access issue with a slide in as my RV port is not situated to where I can leave it open when I'm storing it, and I do use it as a guest house from time to time during the holidays, summer parties, etc.

I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions here! No on to look at one in person! :-)

Thanks again all! I know I can always come on here to get real information from those "in the know" or experienced!

Cheers!
Dak
AnEv942
Nomad
Aug 08, 2014
Ours is more like 18" back.

Never noted a problem, or wished it wasn't as far as access. Stand in front of your kitchen refrigerator, I doubt you get much closer.

Margaret likes the "shelf" in front, does the open the door, set the bag down to load refer. I cringe- to her glee Ive not been able to figure out easy way to time the door so it snaps back shut after 3 seconds.