NorCold Fridge - How Sensitive to Being Unlevel?

We burned up a fridge at an off-level campsite a few years ago. Said to heck with eating up precious vacation time calculating degrees off-level at every rest stop and campsite. We bit the bullet and installed an ARP unit (aka Fridge Defender at arprv.com). Just install a temperature sensor on the flue and wire the ARP unit between the 12v power source and the fridge and you're done. If the temps get too high the ARP simply shuts off DC power to the fridge.

The ARP also displays flue temps. In very little time you'll get a very good idea just how off level you can get before the flue temps start increasing above 375 F. (190 C)---standard operating temp for our fridge. After using the ARP on 3 different fridges, we've discovered not all fridges are created equal. With our 2nd fridge, simply pulling off the side of the road (with a slight lean to the right) would set our flue temps soaring. With our current fridge, we can go insanely off-level before temps start to climb.

Nowadays we go anywhere we want and never give our fridge a 2nd thought.

Freep wrote:
The best way I have found to stay level is to park level.

I use a leveling app on my phone and set it on the console in the truck. Works like a champ.

Exactly what I do, then it's much easier to fine tune with leveling blocks if needed.

The best way I have found to stay level is to park level.

To do this: Start off by getting perfectly level without levelers and with the TC still on the truck, like in a parking lot. Check for level in the TC using a small level(I like the idea of making sure the stove is level) which you will use in the cab. Then find a place in the cab that gives you the same reading you got in the TC.

Now every time you park, put your little level in the spot you found(or made) in the cab. This way when you're parking you can reference the level in real time and you're doing most of the leveling work before you're even parked.

I use a leveling app on my phone and set it on the console in the truck. Works like a champ.


OR! you can go super complicated and put a level on the stove and then put a camera on the level and a monitor in the cab. ;)

The second reason a fridge will fail is if it develops a leak. When stuff leaks out it will look like yellowish powder, though you probably will never see it.

3 front to back, 6 side to side> Thats the trailer, not the fridge. Most fridges are mounted on the side wall, so be sure you know which 3 or 6 you have to think about. I always thought in terms of the camper...

It must have bounced.....

I try to find as level a spot as possible but haven't worried about perfectly level, within reason. I try to get the head of the bed on the high end. Harbor Freight sells a cheap inclinometer that is a quick check on the counter and fits in the kitchen drawer.

We have one fridge that is 15 years old and one that is 19 years old and the only problems we have had was once when a controller board went out and once when the vent fan died(it's mounted in the slide).

With our TC and vehicle, fridge is mounted on a side wall, I calculated, we could be up to 10 inches side to side and 13 inches front to rear. That's using the Mfgr. specs.

I don't think we've ever been out of level more than half that for an overnight.

3TV wrote:
Yes, 3 degrees is a 6% slope. The road in front of my house where we parked the Forest River motorhome was not a 6% slope, (more likely a 3% slope) so maybe an unlevel fridge did not contribute to that fridge failing. I still plan to have my truck/camper as level as possible.

Maybe not. Still, it's not like pulling teeth to get level, and as you already know, replacing a failed fridge (even if you don't have to remove a window) is expensive. Might as well do it and be sure.

From Truck Camper Adventure..

Today, Norcold recommends that their refrigerators operate within 3 degrees off level side-to-side and 6 degrees off level front-to-back. What does this mean for you when leveling your rig? Half a bubble on your RV level should be good enough for an overnight stay, but if I’m going to be boondocked for several days or a week at the same location then I like to get my rig as level as possible. Taking a few extra moments to properly level your rig will enable your refrigerator to cool better and last longer by preventing ammonia crystals from forming.

Take the time and level it right,you won't be sorry...

I level the refer perfect then I go outside and set my leveler bubbles to be perfectly level according to the already level refrigerator...This makes it quick and easy to be level without having to go inside,then I double check the level..

Once you have had to replace a RV fridge cooling unit,you will take the extra steps to be sure it functions properly..

Yes, 3 degrees is a 6% slope. The road in front of my house where we parked the Forest River motorhome was not a 6% slope, (more likely a 3% slope) so maybe an unlevel fridge did not contribute to that fridge failing. I still plan to have my truck/camper as level as possible.

Interestingly, Using Trigonometry's Tangent function I calculated the front to back height difference that would meet the 3 degree refrigerator side to side maximum tilt off level for my 24' motorhome and it resulted that one end can be 15" higher than the other end and still allow refrigerator safe operation.