We have a Bailey Unicorn with the big fridge fitted.Normally it is brilliant.We are in France at the moment where it is very hot.
It is struggling with the heat ok I accept that.
Reading the instructions the recommendations are that if temp exceeds 32 degree's you fit the optional fan cooling kit!
Why do yhey not fit it as standard?
I know these these temperatures are rare in uk but we do take our vans abroad.
I have a fan blowing into the lower vent which is definitely helping as well as putting ice packs in.
Cheapskate manufacturers I think?
The campsite owners said their freezer is struggling too!
Guess I will price up the fan kit on return.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
My fridge iced up completely and switched itself off to defrost for 24 hours in some really hot weather last year. I didn't even know it could do this until I looked in the manual! And it wouldn't work on gas either.
I thought it might have just broken down, but no, 24 hours later and defrosted, I switched it back on and it worked again.
I was thinking maybe to put a reflector sheet (the sort you get for car windows) over the outside of the caravan underneath the vent, just to shade the side of the van, as the sun was on the fridge side of the caravan virtually all day. This was in the UK!
Fitted a temperature controlled fan to mine after first time abroad and similar problems. The fan expels the hot air out of the back of the fridge much faster than convection.
Cheap fix if you do it yourself but manufacturers won't spend an extra penny they don't have to.
Dave
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
The fan blowing onto it is helping,its also cooler today.We put a frozen water bottleand icepacks in,still not thawed.
The fan is a mains one we use in the van,so I stood it on our camp kitchen blowing onto the lower vent,you could feel the difference by putting hand by the top vent.
Can try the gas option,but we had simillar problems in the past and gas use made little difference(not this van).
We have a smaller powerful fan at home which I can use.
I suspect the Dometic kit is expensive! They give the part number in the fridge manual
Alternately I will look at pc fans.
Our van has the big fridge freezer which is very effecient as long as its not
too hot.
Thanks for the advice folks.
Post last edited on 04/07/2015 17:50:46
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
We have had the same problems in the last few days, in Belgium after going to Germany. We have had temperatures ranging from 9 degrees one day in Bavaria (where it rained for 12 days out of 14), up to 35 plus on the way down and back. Also had the pleasure of a 3 hour wait at Dunkerque today. Now back at a CL near Dover.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Fridges
