Fridge in Slideout - RV-Dreams Community Forum

jeni4515 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Fridge in Slideout

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Unlike a residential fridge, most rv fridges are light. The basic problem that can occur with an absorption fridge (rv) is venting in a slide. Its a bit more difficult but the rv manufacturer will have designed for that. If your slide can support a sofa and a couple of normal weight people on it, the fridge would be a piece of cake.

Howard · Host

Our fifth wheel has the fridge in the slideout as do lots of other RVs. It certainly shouldn't be a deal breaker on a purchase.

With that said, as mentioned previously, the venting of the heat generated behind the fridge is very important. When the fridge is NOT in a slideout, that heat is vented up through the roof and it naturally travels that way. In a slideout, the heat is vented out through the side of the slideout. Often, battery operated fans behind the fridge are used to assist blowing the heat up and out. Proper baffling at the top of the refrigerator compartment is also helpful and aids in the flow of the heat out. If there is no baffling then the heat just tries to rise straight up and it gets caught in behind the refrigerator. Overheating of the fridge will cause it to fail sooner than it should as the chemicals in the pipes of the cooling unit will crystallize and harden.

So, having the fridge in the slideout is not that big of a deal, BUT might as well make sure everything possible has been done to push the heat out and vent it properly.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Echoing Howard's comment about proper installation of an RV fridge in a slide - we have some real world information.

We spent a couple of weeks in Phoenix last year with the outside temps (official at the airport) at 115 degrees. The rig was facing such that the fridge in the slide was exposed to sun all day. No shade and I have no idea just how hot the side of the slide / fridge got but the temps were at 115 degrees during the day. The RV fridge had no problems keeping the food cold and inside temps at ~34-~35. Freezer was fine as well. Ice cream stayed hard. I know, I tested it each night.

This isn't a discussion of RV vs. residential refrigerators as to which is better. Both are good choices based on application or desire. But properly installed, like anything, the RV fridge in the slide is just fine and should offer no concern.

jeni4515 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you everyone for your input. I can put my fears to rest as to the weight load of a fridge in the slide and I'll add the info regarding the venting to my notes. And Bill and Linda, if a fridge in a slide can keep the ice cream ready to eat in those temps, I'm definitely fine with that! :)

I just accepted a contract on my house so I need to get busy finding my new RV home. Scary but so looking forward to my new adventure! I appreciate all your input!

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Linda wrote:
Echoing Howard's comment about proper installation of an RV fridge in a slide - we have some real world information.
We spent a couple of weeks in Phoenix last year with the outside temps (official at the airport) at 115 degrees. The rig was facing such that the fridge in the slide was exposed to sun all day. No shade and I have no idea just how hot the side of the slide / fridge got but the temps were at 115 degrees during the day. The RV fridge had no problems keeping the food cold and inside temps at ~34-~35. Freezer was fine as well. Ice cream stayed hard. I know, I tested it each night.
This isn't a discussion of RV vs. residential refrigerators as to which is better. Both are good choices based on application or desire. But properly installed, like anything, the RV fridge in the slide is just fine and should offer no concern.

Emphasis added... I don't recall seeing that one on any checklist I have ever seen. Seems like a good item to add. biggrin

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree. I was very concerned about the fridge in the slide out because of things I had heard but turned out to be a complete non issue in our two years with the rig.

TRace

PrairieRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

If I may piggy-back on this topic . . . when a fridge in a slide-out is electric/propane, how is the gas line handled to accommodate the movement of the slide?

Patti

-- Edited by PrairieRV on Thursday 24th of March 2016 01:35:50 PM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

PrairieRV wrote:
If I may piggy-back on this topic . . . when a fridge in a slide-out is electric/propane, how is the case line handled to accommodate the movement of the slide?

Patti

Simple flexible gas line - no different in principal to the flexible lines going to the propane tanks from the regulator.

Fridge in a slide is long proven "technology" as far as slide installation goes. Issues only occur when trailer / motorhome manufactures don't do it correctly - just like anything else in the RV manufacturing world. Done correctly it works fine.

PrairieRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Linda wrote:
PrairieRV wrote:
If I may piggy-back on this topic . . . when a fridge in a slide-out is electric/propane, how is the case line handled to accommodate the movement of the slide?

Patti
Simple flexible gas line - no different in principal to the flexible lines going to the propane tanks from the regulator.
Fridge in a slide is long proven "technology" as far as slide installation goes. Issues only occur when trailer / motorhome manufactures don't do it correctly - just like anything else in the RV manufacturing world. Done correctly it works fine.

Thanks for that reassurance. And for knowing I meant "gas line" and not "case line" !!! Dang auto-correct - not that I make mistakes.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

jeni4515 wrote:
And Bill and Linda, if a fridge in a slide can keep the ice cream ready to eat in those temps, I'm definitely fine with that! :)

Probably not exactly what you meant, but I've never seen ice cream in our RV not ready to eat. :)

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had a few discussions on this topic due to never ending, ongoing fridge issues. We had to replace the circuit board right after we brought it "home" due to it failing while Dale was enroute, then 4 months later the cooling unit had to be replaced, in between that, Dale installed fans and baffling.

So now we have a fridge that works okay, most of the time. We still have issues if we're in warm weather (over 80) and trying to run on propane, especially if the afternoon sun is on the slide with the fridge. We usually have to run the fridge off our inverter for a few hours a day in the warmest parts of the day to keep the inside temp under 40.

We've both commented several times that our next rig, whenever that might happen, is not going to have a fridge in the slide. 3 years of battling with this one and hearing all the stories from other RVers has helped make this decision.

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dale & Ruth....not sure the fridge in the slide is the problem. Contrary to Bill & Linda we had never had any luck with our rv fridge in either the DRV or KZ fiver. Best thing we ever did was pull out the rv fridge and go with a residential model. Never could get ice cream to stay solid in rv type and always had some type of fridge problem. The last 2 years (residential fridge) have been trouble free and the ice cream has always stayed solid even on travel days with no power going to the fridge.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We're with Igotjam on this. We have the same model and year as Dale and Ruth and our RV fridge gave out with less than 2 years of us living in it full-time. In fact, we bought our coach in May of 2010 and moved in full-time in May of 2011. And, that was without us even doing much towing of the RV. Other than a couple of short trips to sites within 200 miles or so of home, we sat pretty much in one place. We removed the RV fridge and put in a Samsung 18 cu. ft. residential in July of 2012 and have not had a hitch yet with it.

As much as we both love staying in places without hookups, neither of us have regretted the decision to get rid of the RV fridge.

Terry

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our refer is in the slide and it's a residential so there is some weight and no issues. Our refer is right over one of the slide rails so I'm sure that helps.