need to remove frig from '73

[rhodyrunwv]

This model 29' Airstream has mid-bath, bedroom in rear. Have removed all screws from sides and front of Dometic frig and it won't budge. What's the secret, Guys? Appreciate any help you can give me.

[cooperhawk]

Open rear access door and see if it is screwed down to the floor. Mine was. Also, it is a tight fit and comes out hard.

[Darol Ingalls]

There are bolts(usually 4) through the angle iron frame around the bottom of the unit that go through the plywood floor and probably through one of the frame cross-members. Look at the underbelly skin just below the fridge. There should be four small square "patches" rivited on that cover the heads of the bolts. Open the outside access door to find the nuts. On trailers this age, these are usually rusted. Put some penatrating oil on the threads and let soak for a day or two. Meantime, find some long-handled wrenches to reach all the nuts and another set of hands to operate the wrench under the trailer. Be prepared for skinned knuckles and some frustration, but remember Airstream's original intent was to keep the fridge from moving around when traveling - not to make it easy for you! Darol

[PizzaChop]

You need to remove the wall (partition) to the right of the fridge. This will probably involve removing the end table next to it. Once it is removed, you'll find a 4-5" piece of right angle aluminum screwed to the floor and to the right side of the fridge. (You can't get to it without removing the wall.)

I've removed one from a '72 Overlander and a '73 Sovereign and that is all that holds it (there's also one attached to the exterior wall....forgot about that one....just remembered...it's been a while)

Unless someone else has replaced it, there aren't any other bolts in the floor, frame crossmembers, etc.

It's kind of a pain but you can't fight it. Like most A/S stuff, you have to remove at least 3 items to get to the thing you want. Here's a pic with the wall and fridge removed.