Save Your RV Refrigerator: Always Level

Above, leveled in Yosemite National Park's North Pines Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is an axiom in the RVing world: always lever your RV to prevent damage to your propane refrigerator. 

No matter how long I am stopped anywhere for overnighting, I always lever the motorhome. If I am stopping somewhere that would be longer than 30 minutes, I shut the refrigerator off. When I get back into the motorhome to get back on the road, I turn it back on.

I have never had to replace my RV's refrigerator due to not leveling since I do the above.

This is a topic in RV Travel that every RVer should read. 

They begin with:

 I read this tip:

Do you level? That’s a question repeatedly posted on RV forums, regarding leveling an RV when stopping at the end of the day. Here’s a typical response: “I try to get it relatively close unless it’s just for an overnight stop, in which case I don’t bother.” Unless it’s an overnight stop? ALWAYS level your RV. Another comment tells you why: “I’m on my second Dometic 4-door. I level METICULOUSLY every time I stop to camp and I check level every morning. I refuse to go thru all that replacement AGAIN.”

RV refrigerators need to be level to work properly, and to prevent damage. No absorption-type RV refrigerator has ever read the fine print that says, “Don’t count the damage caused by operating off-level if it’s only overnight.” Seriously, damage to an RV cooling unit is CUMULATIVE, and every “only overnight” adds up. Can’t level? Shut off the fridge.

I was rather shocked by people’s thinking that running an absorption refrigerator out of level overnight or for any length of time is an acceptable practice. As mentioned above, the damage is cumulative, adding up each time you operate your refrigerator out of level.

To read more, go here. 

Save Your RV Refrigerator: Leveling Tips For Overnight Stops

Above, my nine-year-old RV refrigerator works fine
 since I always level the RV. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My motorhome is now nine years old. My refrigerator is the original one and works perfectly. 

The reason being is that no matter how long I am staying somewhere, I always level the RV. 

However, based upon an article in RV Travel, there are those who feel that leveling the RV for an  overnight stay is unnecessary. To call this wrong-headed thinking is an understatement.

They begin with:

I read this tip on RVtravel.com:

Do you level? That’s a question repeatedly posted on RV forums, regarding leveling an RV when stopping at the end of the day. Here’s a typical response: “I try to get it relatively close unless it’s just for an overnight stop, in which case I don’t bother.” Unless it’s an overnight stop? ALWAYS level your RV. Another comment tells you why: “I’m on my second Dometic 4-door. I level METICULOUSLY every time I stop to camp and I check level every morning. I refuse to go thru all that replacement AGAIN.”

RV refrigerators need to be level to work properly, and to prevent damage. No absorption-type RV refrigerator has ever read the fine print that says, “Don’t count the damage caused by operating off-level if it’s only overnight.” Seriously, damage to an RV cooling unit is CUMULATIVE, and every “only overnight” adds up. Can’t level? Shut off the fridge.

I was rather shocked by people’s thinking that running an absorption refrigerator out of level overnight or for any length of time is an acceptable practice. As mentioned above, the damage is cumulative, adding up each time you operate your refrigerator out of level.

To read more, go here. 

RV Leveling Tips

Above, The Beast needed a little help to level it at Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

After several years of RVing, I've gotten pretty good at eyeballing level sites to set up camp. Most often, if the spot isn't exactly level, it only takes a few minutes to level the RV.

For those who need to find an easier way to level their RV, Do It Yourself RV has posted some tips on RV leveling.

They begin with:

Whether you just pulled into a spot at an RV park or you’ve found the perfect spot to boondock, leveling your RV is one of the first things you’ll do.

RV leveling is important for two reasons. For one thing, your RV will be way more comfortable when it’s level. Perhaps a more important reason to level your RV is because of your absorption refrigerator. Absorption refrigerators are designed to function best when they are level. If your RV isn’t level, your refrigerator has to work extra hard to make your fridge cold. It relies on chemical reactions and needs gravity to make them work efficiently. Even occassionally being unlevel will shorten its life.

Maybe more importantly, being unlevel can also lead to your refrigerator overheating and catching fire when you are out camping, and nobody wants that. Here are some great RV leveling tips that will help speed up the process so you can get to doing what you love.

To read more, go here. 

Must-Have RV Accessories

Above, stuff you'll need outside of the RV. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a lot of people buying recreational vehicles these days, many of them are first-time buyers.

Along with the vehicle (or trailer), there's a few must-have accessories that buyers need to have.

Better Homes & Gardens posted an article listing some of them. A few I would disagree with their contention of being a "must-have" item.

There is one item that is definitely essential and they forgot to include it: a refrigerator leveler. Running an RV refrigerator without leveling it will lead to expensive repairs. The type I find the easiest to use is the bullseye level by Camco. To find out if the refrigerator is level or not, just place the level at the bottom of the freezer and see where the bubble is and adjust the RV's level accordingly. 

They begin their article with:

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, RV travel is more popular than ever. Providing both private sleeping accommodations and an isolated mode of travel, RVs and campers have seen a huge surge in popularity as people look for safe ways to get away for a while. Reflecting this demand, shipments of new RVs are expected to reach a record high in 2021, according to a recent report from the RV Industry Association.

If you're new to the camper life, you'll need to stock up on some gear before you hit the road. RVs are equipped with tons of amenities that make it feel like a cozy home on wheels, but they don't always come with everything you'll need for a successful camping trip. Whether you have a small towable camper or a fully equipped motor home, the right gear will help you set up camp and make the most of your trip. Here are some of the must-have RV accessories every camper needs.

To read more, go here.