Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
If you read the installation manual for the refrigerator carefully (Keystone doesn't) you'll see that the top and sides of the reefer should be insulated from the back of the reefer. That is to keep the box from being exposed to the heat generated by the absorption unit.
When Keystone builds our trailers, they don't insulate the bottom or the sides of the refrigerator cabinet. Once they slide the refrigerator into the slot, they "sometimes do/sometimes don't" seal the edges of the refrigerator box from the back. There also is supposed to be a fiberglass mat that lays on top of the refrigerator. Even if they do seal the sides, there's about 10" on each side of the refrigerator (close to the trailer wall) that aren't insulated at all. This area is adjacent to the inside of the trailer, in your floorplan, to the pantry, in mine, to the area where the two recliners are located. Yours will contain heat, mine is dissipated into the cabin for the A/C to remove.
You could remove your refrigerator as Chuckster57 suggested, install 1" pink rigid foam along the back parts and that would eliminate any heat transfer into your pantry. If you do any "really cold weather camping" you'll find that that part of the pantry wall will be "frosted" rather than warm, so you'll get a "double whammy" from the cold as well as the heat you're currently experiencing.
If you do decide to add the foam, remove your lower vent cover on the reefer and mark the sides of the refrigerator so when you slide it out, you'll know where to install the foam so it butts up against the sides of the refrigerator when you reinstall it.
Just another thought to "improve on Keystone's quality work"  |
John, I think I can visualize what you (and Chuckster) are suggesting. Doesn't help me much right now that the TT (and fridge manual) are 200 miles away. BUT, if I pull out the fridge, then insulate the side panels and reefer back, I'm essentially trapping the heat back there against the exterior wall. Is that a good thing, esp. long term?
Since my fridge and pantry are in the slideout, with the fridge against the slideout side wall, should I only insulate the pantry side and let the heat dissipate through the back and side exterior walls? The engineer in me says it's better to have an active heat removal system than a passive one.
But the more I think this thing through, the better I like the idea of insulating as opposed to installing vents and fans. Looks like a fridge removal is in my future.
As for the "really cold weather camping", no thank you. I've got two a/c's, but only one heater. Only time I go to Michigan is every July on my way to Ontario walleye fishing. Other than last years "Polar Vortex", we normally average about 14 days a year that the temps get below freezing. The money I save on snow blowers can be spent on the TT.