Refrigerator Side Vent

[bartholins]

So, I'm to the point of installing a rv refrigerator in my cargo trailer. I haven't put any holes thru the sides yet - my power comes in underneath - a little "not convenient" but I don't mind at all - rather like it. I'm pretty sure I will be doing the same thing with the fresh tank fill hose... for a few reasons (not worth getting in to right now). So this leads me to one of my random thoughts - is it crazy to wonder about trying to vent from the floor instead of from the side of the trailer? I know one major concern is that side vent is also the access to the back of the fridge, but my thinking is I could possibly get away with hooking stuff up from an access door in the trailer, then sliding it on back?

So assuming folks say that's as dumb of an idea as I'm afraid it is What about modifying the back of the vent a bit to allow for the two wall 'studs' (vertical 1" square tube) instead of cutting, framing around opening, etc? Again, potentially stupid... but the purpose of the side vent would still be fine (venting and access), I'm just wondering if the door would still be sturdy enough after cutting out enough material to allow the wall studs through it

Anywho, sorry for the relatively ridiculous questions. You all have been a ton of help so far - I always love the ideas floating around here.

Thanks!!

--Sam

[hankaye]

bartholins, Howdy;

Have you googled the make of 'fridge' you have or have you looked at any of the installation diagrams?
Basically, they work differently from your household fridge, and they vent heat (which normally rises).
Some vent through the side above the inlet vent/access for servicing (if there is an obstruction), or
through the roof. I would suggest that you get some installation diagrams and then see what might be
possible.

hank

[jhamm]

I installed a 3 way fridge in my trailer last summer. I reinforced the vent door with some flat aluminum to give it a little more support. Make sure you do some good research on installing the fridge. Using them on propane is worth the trouble of the install but I found the installation was critical in making them work correctly. You need to vent on the side and the roof and enclose the vent channel for the right airflow.

[bartholins]

Just to follow up - I have read all the install manuals on the fridge and understand how they work and the venting required. I was looking at trying something a little outside the norm. After getting the fridge so I could actually look at it, the bottom has it's frame that comes almost all the way to the rear of the opening it's supposed to have, so I'd have ~1" x 24" venting if I went thru the floor. So rather than trimming the frame of the fridge and gambling on something - I'm throwing in a side vent. I'm leaving the wall studs and trimmed the plastic vent cover to go around them. For anyone else considering it - I'll tell you the one thing I didn't think of. The vent design is such that any rain or water hitting the side of the trailer would be drained back out of the trailer... when you trim this to go around wall studs, you're breaking that design. I'm going to just caulk well around the cuts (not great I know). But I've very rarely ever needed to get in previous rv's fridge access panels... here's to hoping that luck holds up, and if I need to get in it, I'll have to re-caulk.

Just thought I'd throw out the warning if anyone else ever thinks about it. On the bright side, the plastic cover itself seems plenty sturdy with the material removed. I'll get a picture of it done to show what I'm talking about if there's any interest. I'm guessing since this hasn't come up before, most others frame / cut around it the right way though.

[McDave]

I understand what you mean about cutting the studs, and venting from the floor...Best to go with the manufactures instructions. I have a "Dometic' fridge and this is the vent door I used..http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dometic-RV-Refr ... 35fad165f8
I am using a smaller vent cover for the top and enclosing the vent area to act as a flue or chimney.. "hot air rises..." etc.