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HansenClan · 07-30-2012, 06:30 PM

I'm sure this has been asked, re-asked, addressed and re-addessed, but, how do people keep their fridge cold for long drives through hot climates, i.e. the desert???

We have a 65 Overlander with the original fridge that works like a champ on both power and propane. The problem is, after getting it nice and cold on power, switching to propane for the trip, the pilot will never stay lit!

Any help, tips, hints, and or redirects would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance!

SeasideSteph · 07-30-2012, 06:40 PM

I've been told when you're not leveled out, air can get in and put the pilot out.

ventport · 07-30-2012, 07:09 PM

If your fridge has the louvered access door, make a metal baffle to keep the wind from hitting the burner directly. I did that on my 64 Avion and now my fridge never goes out when I travel. Before I made the baffle it would go out almost every trip.

Kamiak · 07-30-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansenClan

I'm sure this has been asked, re-asked, addressed and re-addessed, but, how do people keep their fridge cold for long drives through hot climates, i.e. the desert???

We have a 65 Overlander with the original fridge that works like a champ on both power and propane. The problem is, after getting it nice and cold on power, switching to propane for the trip, the pilot will never stay lit!

Any help, tips, hints, and or redirects would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance!

I think you'll find this recent thread helpful. "Withidl" has posted pictures of the furnace filter approach. I've been using a filter exactly like it for a dozen years with no blowouts. Previously any little puff from a passing vehicle would blow out the reefer.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...fle-91489.html

Bigventure · 07-30-2012, 08:13 PM

On the back of the fridge in the lower right corner is a little door on the pilot heater housing. It swings open to light the fridge in the back. If the door is open the pilot will blow out.

idroba · 07-30-2012, 08:44 PM

On your '65 Overlander the air should come through a vent in the floor and a vent in the belly pan below that. There is no vent in the access door. It was pretty unusual for the floor vented units to blow out, but you could try a small piece of cheap furnace filter over it.

However, more likely is that the low flame (not a pilot light, the flame goes from low where it does not cool to high where it does) is not strong enough. This can be caused by several things.

One would be a gas regulator which is not producing enough pressure.

A second possibility is that the "by pass" screw for the low flame needs to be taken out and cleaned so more gas gets through. I can't tell you what it looks like exactly, someone may have a manual which identifies it. Take it out and clean it and put it back in.

A third possibility is that the burner is sooty, or rusty so the low flame is not strong enough. You can blow it out with compressed air, sometimes with a flexible tube hooked to your air compressor and not have to take the refrigerator out of the cabinet. It is better if you do however, you can much more easily get at the parts.

The next possibility that comes to my mind is that the thermocouple is not being heated enough on the low flame output. It could be out of position, or the thermocouple itself could be weak. If it cools down, it will shut the gas off.

So, some things to consider and try out. let us know what you find.

HansenClan · 07-30-2012, 09:12 PM

Thanks for the great input! I do have an access door, a vent hole directly below and replaced the gas regulator last year. A few years ago, I did remove the fridge and cleaned all parts and re-hung the baffle in the divergent chamber. I think I will try and limit the amount of air coming in from the underside vent hole and blow all the parts out again.

Headed through the high desert to Mammoth Lakes next week so we'll see what happens!

Thanks again for all your help!

HansenClan · 08-14-2012, 12:30 PM

It worked! I covered the open vent hole with HVAC filter and the burner stayed on through the 8 hr 104 degree drive! Thanks for the help fellow Streamers!

Janie Q · 08-14-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansenClan

It worked! I covered the open vent hole with HVAC filter and the burner stayed on through the 8 hr 104 degree drive! Thanks for the help fellow Streamers!

Did you cover the belly pan vent or the floor vent?
We are having the same problem right now on our travels.