Fridge Ventilation/Exhaust Questions

[Bexar]

Hi all, I have discovered the venting for this original fridge on my 1960 Tradewind has not been rebuilt properly per these pics.



The round vent for the fridge furnace coming up the back of the fridge was vented almost under the counter top above and was burning it. Looks like the round exhaust pipe originally had an elbow tying it into piping routed thru the trailer body to a roof vent. What did this originally look like? Why would it have been abandoned? The PO had a very large roof vent installed and a large plenum built tying the area behind the fridge, with fridge furnace dumping into this area, into the new vent.

This all looks wrong to me at this point.

Any thoughts would be appreciated on a better approach.

Tnx! Richard

[HiHoAgRV]

My '61 is similar, the gas flue routes back into the wall where combustion gasses flow up and out of a small vent in the shell. Hot air across the coils ends up inside the living quarters. Kinda nice in cold weather but dumb in the summer

[Bexar]

I think the problem you describe is what the PO was trying to resolve. But in doing so they dumped the hot combustion gasses into a wooden plenum, actually under a countertop, which was going to eventually catch on fire. I'm still scratching my head on what to do. I would have been happy with your stock exhaust and would go back to it if I did not now have a big long vent in the roof above the fridge.
I could patch the roof and put a normal roof vent back but would need to fab the exhaust gas elbow manifold which is now missing. A previous camper I owned had the fridge coils vented thru the side of the camper via air convection...which seemed to work just fine.

[HiHoAgRV]

My '63 vents everything thru the roof like a modern trailer. Every once in a while I see a '63 fridge vent inside assembly for sale. That might be your best option.

[Cochese]

Through the roof venting is considered best for a chimney stack effect. My 65 cents through roof via a fiberglass chase which are still available, but pricey. I also use a computer fan to aide in the chimney effect.

[Bexar]

Thanks for the image & info. This is very helpful to know. I can now see I'm not the first person to visit fridge ventilation problems!

I've been looking at the fridge chimneys at Vintage Trailer Supply & Inland RV, (is it ok to mention vendors in the forums?) and see they both have them at pretty different price levels..wow! But I did not realize this option existed and it is a big improvement over what was there. I like the idea of a thermostatically controlled quiet fan too.

[Bexar]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

My '61 is similar, the gas flue routes back into the wall where combustion gasses flow up and out of a small vent in the shell. Hot air across the coils ends up inside the living quarters. Kinda nice in cold weather but dumb in the summer

How does the fridge furnace chimney transition into the wall. The chimney on this unit has a heavy oversized black metal lid with a long metal rod hanging deep into it. Seems stock per the fridge diagram I hv. The exhaust gases exit the top of chimney via holes in the side of the chimney. How did the gasses make their way into the hole in the camper shell originally?

[HiHoAgRV]

Kinda low tech

[Bexar]

So the gases are just dumped into the cavity behind the fridge but below the metal vent?? Wow! I was expecting something which would definitely capture the hot exhaust. Ok This tells me I'll buy the plastic chimney but will pipe the gasses thru it in a flue I fab to the vent. This way the gasses wont accumulate behind rhe fridge in any way. Tnx a lot for the pics.

[TG Twinkie]

Don't over think it. It has worked this way for many years. Just seal off the back and sides of the refer to prevent heat and exhaust fumes from entering the cabin. Restricting the flow with a metal flue could effect the flow.

[Bexar]

Yes, the factory setup did work. Good point. Thanks!