View Full Version : Tent trailer fridge
Alty
Mar 22, 2014, 05:33 PM
We're planning on selling our tent trailer this spring, but last year, before we put it away for the winter, my husband realized that the fridge is no longer working.
I would like to sell it in complete working order, otherwise we won't be able to sell it for what it's worth.
I've looked online and am having a very hard time finding a fridge for a tent trailer. Does anyone have any idea where I can begin to look, and how much this will cost? I don't mind getting a used one, as long as it works.
I wish I could tell you what sort of fridge is in it now, but it's still in storage. It's a tent trailer fridge, so it's small, like a mini fridge in a hotel.
If it helps, our Tent trailer is a 1999 Dutchmen, 8 ft.
I no longer know how to post a picture in this new skin, so sadly I can't provide one. Even if I could, I only have a picture of the trailer, not the fridge.
Any help would be much appreciated.
johnfowler1966
Mar 22, 2014, 05:46 PM
This will sound dumb but take the fridge outside and turn it upside down sideway repeat about 10 times put back in and its going to work after then. A man told me about this with the one I had, I said sure it will but it did I hope this work for you
Alty
Mar 22, 2014, 06:18 PM
This will sound dumb but take the fridge outside and turn it upside down sideway repeat about 10 times put back in and its going to work after then. A man told me about this with the one I had, I said sure it will but it did I hope this work for you
I'm more than willing to give that a try. It would be great if we could get it to work and not have to buy a new one. Especially since ours is a three way fridge, runs on propane, electricity and gas. They're not cheap to buy.
Thanks. I'll let you know if it works. :)
johnfowler1966
Mar 22, 2014, 07:11 PM
Try it I do believe it will work let me know how it did for you?
By the way the one I had run on propane, electricity also it mixes up the chemical inside when up roll it round the man told me if fridge set up for a while you will have to do this
I recalled that it is called {burping a refrigerator} look it up
ma0641
Mar 22, 2014, 09:10 PM
The cheapest solution would be to replace it with just an icebox. We had a StarCraft with one and it worked fine, at least for our camping.
drtom4444
Mar 23, 2014, 08:59 PM
These refrigerators do not fail because there are no moving parts to fail. The only problem you can have is a thermocouple if it's gas or a heater coil if it's electric, both are cheap parts, but if it sets up for a while you need to "burp" it to get the ammonia-water process started again. There has to be a temperature difference which is what the little heater in the form of a pilot light or heater coil is used for. The heat drives the ammonia out of that water which then absorbs the ammonia again to keep the cycle going.
Alty
Mar 24, 2014, 05:08 PM
These refrigerators do not fail because there are no moving parts to fail. The only problem you can have is a thermocouple if it's gas or a heater coil if it's electric, both are cheap parts, but if it sets up for a while you need to "burp" it to get the ammonia-water process started again. There has to be a temperature difference which is what the little heater in the form of a pilot light or heater coil is used for. The heat drives the ammonia out of that water which then absorbs the ammonia again to keep the cycle going.
Thank you so much for the info.
Ours is three way (according to my husband), it can run on propane, electricity, or gas.
So, is "burping" it, just removing it, and doing what the other poster said, tipping it upside down, and on it's side? Or is there more involved?
Right now the trailer is still in storage, because we got another dump of snow and can't bring it home yet. But if mother nature co-operates we'll be bringing it home next weekend. I'd like to have it listed before April, since most of us crazy Canadians go camping for the May long weekend (even though snow often falls when we do), and the time to sell is before that date.
drtom4444
Mar 25, 2014, 12:12 AM
That's all it is. Just mix it up and turn it on.