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Topic: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope (Read 503 times) previous topic - next topic
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New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Friends, I am brand new to RVs. Please forgive my level of ignorance.

I purchased my 2019 24’ TK yesterday and then drove three hours to get home. I live in a city, and am pleased to report it was very easy to parallel park on my street at about 5 PM Friday evening.

Now it is 2 PM Saturday afternoon...21 hours later. I suddenly realized that my street slopes downward, and my brand new RV has not been level for 21 hours! Have I ruined it already? Is my fridge ruined? Nothing is running, and the systems are winterized.

Please advise...

I am going to download a leveling tool so I can see how many degrees I am talking about.

Maud
2019 Twin King "The Taj Mahal"
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #1 –
I downloaded a tool called Bubble Level. I placed my iPhone against several places I thought were supposed to be vertical, and got 1.2% to 1.4%. Should I be concerned about my fridge?
2019 Twin King "The Taj Mahal"
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #2 –
Quote from: Maud  - 
Now it is 2 PM Saturday afternoon...21 hours later. I suddenly realized that my street slopes downward, and my brand new RV has not been level for 21 hours! Have I ruined it already? Is my fridge ruined? Nothing is running, and the systems are winterized.

If the refrigerator was not on, no damage will occur.
If it was running, off level damage is accumulative, time will tell.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #3 –
"...my brand new RV has not been level for 21 hours! Have I ruined it already?"

Maud

21 hours is not enough to 'ruin' your fridge. Running the fridge off level (beyond where you would personally be comfortable) is a cumulative thing. Do it once it's doubtful if it's damaged. Do it many times and you are asking for trouble.
Relax, you are most probably going to sidestep this one.  :o

By he way, if the fridge was 'off' no damaged would have been done, regardless!   ;)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #5 –
I feel so much better. Thank you. No, the fridge isn’t running. Degrees, not %. Sorry. Thanks again! I think I had a freak-out because this RV cost more than my house. I will calm down.
Maud
2019 Twin King "The Taj Mahal"
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Maud  - 
. . .  this RV cost more than my house. . . .
Maud
Sounds like either you have had the house a lot longer than the LD, a  very modest house or you live nowhere near California  ;)
Welcome to the FOLD (fraternal order of LazyDaze)
Joel
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #7 –
Maud,
Congrats on your new purchase.  You are a fast worker.  Two weeks ago you posted requesting to purchase a newer TK and now you are a new owner.

Welcome to the FOLD.

Linda
Linda B
Green 2021 RB
2022 Ford Maverick toad
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #8 –
I got so very lucky that Annette and Steve, located so close to me, were ready to part with their unit...and it is exactly what I had hoped to find! When I realized I needed to find a motorhome about three or so months ago, I started out by looking at vintage Class C RVs. As I studied the various makes and models, I came to realize that a Lazy Daze would be a perfect choice for me, and began searching for one in earnest. I never imagined I would be so lucky as to find a 24' Twin King so close to me in the middle of the country! I owe it all to Annette and Steve!

Joel, you are so right. I live in St. Louis, where our real estate is famously affordable. Plus I bought my houses long ago. I could never afford to live in California and own a home.

I am grateful to have joined the FOLD.

2019 Twin King "The Taj Mahal"
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #9 –
"I will calm down."

There's nothing wrong with righteous concern! If you always have it you will do quite well.

My original fridge lasted 14 years. I always seek a level position when camping over night or longer. It's the 'other' situations that accumulate the damage. A lunch stop or a lunch stop combined with a nap, a two hour lapse while you are out to view the local points of interest, the delay when you get caught in a construction zone, etc. Each of these impairs the cooling fluid from doing it's job until one day, when you least expect it, the hammer falls and you smell that sulfur stink, which tells you that the cooling system has ruptured and there will be no more refrigeration until it's repaired or replaced.   :o 
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #10 –
Follow up question.

When parked on a slope with the fridge OFF for an extended time is there a wait time period after you are level again before starting up the fridge?
2021 Mid Bath
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #11 –
"...parked on a slope with the fridge OFF for an extended time..."

If your fridge is 'off', regardless of slope or position, the coolant in the coils is not moving. So to answer your question, No, you will not incur damage. Once the rig is leveled or under motion there is, as far as I know, no delay period before you can turn it on safely. A pre-cool down period will be helpful before you load it up with fresh groceries in anticipation of a trip.  ;D
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #12 –
Understanding how absorption fridges work will help users understand what's OK and what isn't.  Basically, the cooling process (only when the fridge is on) relies on gravity to move chemicals downhill through the pipes and passages.  Being unlevel can interfere with that movement. 

This video explains it all very well:
https://youtu.be/b2J61TkKsJ8?t=434

Driving down the road with the fridge on means that gravity can still work on the fluids, so that's no problem.  A fridge that is turned off isn't cooling.  So, being unlevel and off isn't a problem. 

Modern fridges are designed to tolerate a bit more deviation from level than the older ones were.  I've read that 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back are acceptable deviations.

I've also seen this rule of thumb - if you're comfortable living/walking in the coach (ie. it 'feels' pretty close to level), the fridge is probably fine. 

Rich

 
2003 MB
Re: New Owner Question: Parked on Slope
Reply #14 –
Now that's funny. Perhaps more so because we have seen people trying such.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy