Simple Survey on Fridge Performance While on Propane

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the updates!

Maybe I missed something, but so far has anyone reported a totally successful fridge fix?



PS -- No such success reports on the . . . Fridge Works . . . thread either.

[switz]

One wonders why there was no apparent testing done in the SouthWest in the summer for, proper refrigerator operation. Also wonder why the leak tests were not done with different flow rates in the test chamber to discover the incorrect design of the drip rail above the door.

The answer that comes to mind is that Airstream does not really care about QC.

[Gail Miller]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks for the updates!

Maybe I missed something, but so far has anyone reported a totally successful fridge fix?



PS -- No such success reports on the . . . Fridge Works . . . thread either.

Stupid, stupid, stupid refrigerator .. not gonna work ... I HATE stupid!

[JDKnight]

Spoke to the dealer tech on this. He said that Airstream did something with the vent location on the newer units to fix the issue? It looks like it's in the same place as others have described. Does anyone have a picture of the vent area from your basecamp for me to compare?

[Gail Miller]

Originally Posted by Bborzell

Several of us have reported that the Basecamp fridge will not cool to a food safe level while on propane (which is the only option while driving).

There have been references to inadequate air space in the cabinet that houses the fridge resulting in elevated cabinet temperature from the propane burner.

Since many, if not most of us, would precool with shore power prior to departure and switch (either by employing the "Auto" button or manually) to propane while towing, it is possible that, if the fridge loses sufficient cooling while on propane and we simply plug into shore power when we reach our first destination, that we would be unaware if the fridge temp has risen to an unsafe food safety level.

If this scenerio is reflective of what goes on given the current design for ventilation, then it would not be surprising that Airstream reported to me last week that they have heard of only a few instances of failure to cool while on propane.

While we have several reports of failure to maintain a food safety cooling level under propane operation, I have yet to see a report of anyone whose Basecamp actually cools adequately while on propane.

If yours does cool to an adequate food safe level while on propane, it would be helpful to know the conditions under which your fridge is operating when it cools appropriately under propane (did you precool on shore power, did the trailer sit in high outside temperature, were you boon docking and under propane for an extended period of time?)

I think that it is important to get all sides of folk's experiences with this issue. Remember that, if you don't check your box temp while on propane and simply plug in again upon arrival, you may never know what box temp was maintained while on propane.

Thanks in advance.

I took the shelves out of mine ... it makes pretty good storage. Stores my Berkey water filter, two coffee pots, a cooking pan, etc. Mine does not work well on shore power or propane. Don't trust if for food on any level. I'm planning to camp in NW Arkansas the 20th - Thanksgiving. I will observe Saw-whet Owl banding, then Thanksgiving with my family. I'm taking two ice chests :-(

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Gail Miller

I took the shelves out of mine ... it makes pretty good storage.
. . .

Pretty expensive shelf unit!

[Gail Miller]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Pretty expensive shelf unit!

Well, true, but until AS comes up with a workable solution, I'll just use it this way :-)

[Tom P.]

Nice write up - I had the fix done a month and a half ago and still have problems: frequent marginal cooling in hot weather, and now that the weather is cooling down in New England, the main compartment is freezing items! - milk, produce, meats... I've sent my complaint update to my dealer in NH - hoping for a solution at somepoint.

[MrKenmore]

Thanks Tom P. This is what I was afraid of. Can't really test it out until summer time next year. Very frustrating. Looks like I am driving 122 miles to and 122 miles back on Monday 11/20 all to get a 2nd battery!

[Bullwinkle]

I haven’t had mine done. I’ve decided to wait until next year. Hopefully by then Airstream will have a fix that actually works. I think it probably needs a completely different fridge, one with temp controls

[MrKenmore]

Oh I don't blame you one bit. The fact that the fridge has no means of temp controls is completely bizarre. Especially given the variability of the inside fridge temps correlating to the outside ambient temps. I've got trips set up for December in SC and then FL in April 2018. If it doesn't work in SC, I am ripping it out and replacing it with an AC/DC style.

[Bullwinkle]

Originally Posted by MrKenmore

Oh I don't blame you one bit. The fact that the fridge has no means of temp controls is completely bizarre. Especially given the variability of the inside fridge temps correlating to the outside ambient temps. I've got trips set up for December in SC and then FL in April 2018. If it doesn't work in SC, I am ripping it out and replacing it with an AC/DC style.

Yes, if Airstream can’t do it right, I also will change to another fridge myself

[switz]

Suggest sending Airstream the bill for the replacement........

Reimbursement for out of pocket warranty repairs, don't you know....

[MrKenmore]

Had the fix done yesterday. I'll do some tests this weekend. Temps aren't hot in NY now so I guess I really won't know for sure until next summer.

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the update. Even in this weather, you will get some insight into the "too cold" aspect of the fridge, because there is no thermostat or sliding thermistor on the cooling fins. Recent posts indicate a continuing problem IMO, even after the fix.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Peter

[TroyH]

This may be beside the point since we don’t live in a hot climate, however it might be a useful data point. We have a 2018 that supposedly has the recall already done (haven’t checked for a 2nd battery).

We used our Basecamp this weekend in a mid-40s outside temperature and the fridge got below freezing (30°F on our thermometer) and froze a bag of carrots!

[MrKenmore]

TroyH-

Was that electric or LP mode?

[TroyH]

Originally Posted by MrKenmore

TroyH-

Was that electric or LP mode?

Electric

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by TroyH

This may be beside the point since we don’t live in a hot climate, however it might be a useful data point. We have a 2018 that supposedly has the recall already done (haven’t checked for a 2nd battery).

We used our Basecamp this weekend in a mid-40s outside temperature and the fridge got below freezing (30°F on our thermometer) and froze a bag of carrots!

Thanks for the report. This seems to be a consistent result in cooler weather, as the BC fridge lacks any method for regulating internal temp like most other Airstreams. [thermostat or slide thermistor on cooling fin]

[MrKenmore]

Thanks TroyH. I'll start running some tests this weekend.