I was just wandering how level does a refrigerator have be in order for it to run without any damage?

 

I run mine when I'am driving and it doesn't seem to hurt it , have been doing it for years. I also heard that it should be level but how level is it when your going up a 6% grade. If I haul a refigerator and lay it on it's side I usally wait a day before pluging it in to let oil go back down to the compressor. My main reason for making sure the motor home is level is being able to sleep , other than that and cooking I don't worry much about it.

 

I was a little concerned about it because I have a driveway that about
40 degree angle. When we get ready to go camping, I would have to hook it up and pull the trailer down in front of the house unhook it, just to get it level. That means hooking it up and unhooking it and hooking it up in a couple of days to go. I can get the trailer almost level in the driveway within 10 or 15 degree. Hope this is level enough.

 

Not sure about newer fridge but old ones were ok on angles on elect.(don't use a motor but an elect heat element to heat freon and circulate by convection) but on gas the flame to heat freon hit on a heat plate, if angle was to much flame would miss plate and melt under side of fridge.
Clark

 

The newer fridges do not have to be as level as the older ones. The danger as stated is that the tubes create an air lock. Driving and short use on an angle don't hurt anything. it is just prolonged off centre use that creates the pockets.

 

Actually, it is amonia that boils via propane or electric element. When the amonia condenses back to fluid, the cooling action happens. If you are at an angle, the "steam" may not condense at the right spot and the amonia may "pool" causing a blockage. It will work at some angles away from level but stop working if the angle is too severe. I suggest you plug it in and try it. If it works you are maybe less efficeint but not hurting anything. It work while driving, even on grades, because of he sloshing around hence no pooling.

 

The owners manual for my unit in the 5er says 4-6 degrees port/stbd, +/-1 up and down. I try to stay pretty close to 0-1 dgree in all directions. Some camp locations just dont allow for 0 in all directions unless you really over use your stablelizer jacks or way too many leveling blocks. One place that comes to mind is Washougal MX park, the camping area is all hilly pasture area. It makes for a nightmare leveling your rig.