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Old 05-22-2019, 09:18 AM   #1
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2016 23' Flying Cloud
Fanwood , New Jersey
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How level does it have to be to operate fridge?

Our 2016FC23D is parked on our property on a slight hill with nose up. When the jack is lowered all the way down, we can make the trailer almost level but not completely level. It is almost imperceptible but with instrument, we can detect nose being slightly elevated still.


I'm wondering if I can operate the fridge in this condition. It doesn't have to work really well as long as we can get it to somewhat cooler the night before a trip.


If I turn it on, it's not going to blow up, is it?
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Old 05-22-2019, 09:28 AM   #2
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Overland Park , Kansas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atsushi View Post
Our 2016FC23D is parked on our property on a slight hill with nose up. When the jack is lowered all the way down, we can make the trailer almost level but not completely level. It is almost imperceptible but with instrument, we can detect nose being slightly elevated still.


I'm wondering if I can operate the fridge in this condition. It doesn't have to work really well as long as we can get it to somewhat cooler the night before a trip.


If I turn it on, it's not going to blow up, is it?
Not sure, but probably OK. Is it possible to park your trailer heading the opposite direction? That way you should be able to make it level, I would think.
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Old 05-22-2019, 09:29 AM   #3
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If it's anywhere close to level it will work. We've been in spots where we couldn't get level and it still worked. The situation you described won't be a problem.
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Old 05-22-2019, 09:35 AM   #4
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My manual says:
"Leveling is one of the requirements for proper operation with
absorption refrigerators. To ensure proper leveling the vehicle
needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable
sloping of floor or walls)."

Al
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Old 05-22-2019, 09:35 AM   #5
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Hi

With a modern fridge, if you can "live" in the trailer, it's level enough. If you feel awkward walking around in the trailer, it may not be level enough.

Bob
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Old 05-22-2019, 09:53 AM   #6
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If I turn it on, it's not going to blow up, is it?
No, it will either work or not. Probably will.
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Old 05-22-2019, 10:12 AM   #7
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We recently camped in a very unlevel site and my best effort to get situated was still way off. It was an epic location at Kirk creek on big sur coast and no other sites available so we made do. Fridge was a concern but worked fine, the shower drain not so good.
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Old 05-22-2019, 10:18 AM   #8
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Mine won’t cool if it’s more than a half bubble off.
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Old 05-22-2019, 06:13 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atsushi View Post
. . .
I'm wondering if I can operate the fridge in this condition.
. . .


What does your owner's manual say?

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Old 05-22-2019, 09:05 PM   #10
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billings , Montana
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atsushi View Post
Our 2016FC23D is parked on our property on a slight hill with nose up. When the jack is lowered all the way down, we can make the trailer almost level but not completely level. It is almost imperceptible but with instrument, we can detect nose being slightly elevated still.


I'm wondering if I can operate the fridge in this condition. It doesn't have to work really well as long as we can get it to somewhat cooler the night before a trip.


If I turn it on, it's not going to blow up, is it?
...you want it to last.....level...the bubble is 90% in the circle...I have never had to replace one..since 1971...
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Old 05-23-2019, 10:02 AM   #11
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It's the same in any TT with an absorbent type Refrig - make it as level as human possible.
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Old 05-23-2019, 10:11 AM   #12
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Newtown , Connecticut
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AS a side note, I've read it's okay to have the fridge operational when underway to keep food from spoiling when travelling from one destination to another. Given the ups and downs of highway surfaces, will this varying degree of levelness pose a significant problem?
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Old 05-23-2019, 10:17 AM   #13
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Plus or minus 5 degrees will work fine........

Larry
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Old 05-23-2019, 10:20 AM   #14
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How level does it have to be to operate fridge?

No, not usually because the motion helps circulate the fluids in the system by sloshing them around. The problem is when it’s far out of level and sitting still. Bubbles stop the liquids from circulating properly, hot spots occur, and then the problems start.

Most modern absorption units work fine when leveled properly fore and aft in the trailer assuming the fridge is mounted against the outer wall like normally done. Leveling the other way is not as critical. If yo can walk comfortably and sleep with your head up slightly (I have a crosswise bed) it’s good enough.

My criteria is if DW is not complaining about being out of level, it’s close enough. A degree or so won’t matter. I try to get the head of the bed, on the street side, higher than the foot for comfort. Fore and aft leveling is easy to get precise with the tongue jack and then stabilizers to prevent rocking. I use a level on the floor near the fridge to check it.
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Old 05-23-2019, 10:41 AM   #15
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Try putting some boards or blocks under your trailer tires to raise it to the point where the trailer is level with the jack stand lowered all the way.
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Old 05-23-2019, 12:33 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atsushi View Post
Our 2016FC23D is parked on our property on a slight hill with nose up. When the jack is lowered all the way down, we can make the trailer almost level but not completely level. It is almost imperceptible but with instrument, we can detect nose being slightly elevated still.


I'm wondering if I can operate the fridge in this condition. It doesn't have to work really well as long as we can get it to somewhat cooler the night before a trip.


If I turn it on, it's not going to blow up, is it?
Our driveway has a serious down slope towards the front of the trailer.
I have been parking 3 different Airstreams over 7 years and never had any problem with the fridge not working either on AC or LP. Sometimes I forget to turn it off between trips for several weeks and it keeps on working.
Relax and quit worrying about it.
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Old 05-24-2019, 05:25 AM   #17
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Hi

When we load for a trip, the trailer sits parked in the street in front of the house. It's not a level surface by any means. I don't use blocks when it's out there so it is noticeably off level while parked. The fridge gets fired up while it's there and it has always cooled down fine. Indeed as noted above, the "off level" is left to right rather than front to back.

Bob
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Old 05-26-2019, 10:13 AM   #18
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The damage to a trailer running a fridge off level is sometime cumulative. And deposits can form within the tubing which leads to a clog. As noted the newer units are built to a standard that if things feel level to you, then you are probably good. I’m old school and I used a bubble level on the floor of the freezer and initially leveled the trailer using the bubble as my guide point. From there I installed the big outside level on the front of the trailer, adjusting it to show level based on the bubble level on the freezer floor. Now it’s just a piece of cake to easily level the trailer upon arrival with my leveling blocks and that outside level. I’ve had one fridge failure in an SOB but that was after 14 years of service and it was caused by a leak in the tubing. I had just sold the trailer and the guy who bought it started smelling ammonia which is the telltale sign of a breach in the tubing. I felt bad for him because the last trip I went on, the fridge was fine.

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Old 05-29-2019, 10:14 AM   #19
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Quote:
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Mine won’t cool if it’s more than a half bubble off.
The DW says I won't work either when I'm a half bubble off.👍
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Old 05-29-2019, 11:06 AM   #20
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I had the ARP module installed, and that does protect the refrigerator from self-destruction and fire. It is worth looking into. See https://www.arprv.com/
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