Norcold 8 cu Fridge - who makes the 'hold open" things?

JGCyber3 · 07-11-2021, 04:22 PM

eg so no mold, et hold open the fridge / freezer doors?

I had the side clip's on previous fridge so those dont work.....I tried the one that looks kinda like a dog bone and no dice....so any idea on what actually flipped works?

**chuckster57** · 07-11-2021, 04:24 PM

What is the model number?

JGCyber3 · 07-11-2021, 04:33 PM

it's pretty close to this one, just not digital, but same handles / opening....

NA8LXL

**chuckster57** · 07-11-2021, 04:49 PM

You might try here:

https://thenorcoldguy.com/gas-absorption-models-rvs/

rhagfo · 07-11-2021, 05:27 PM

If in storage, we just throw a towel over the door,
Keeps it open about 1”.

**sourdough** · 07-11-2021, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagfo

If in storage, we just throw a towel over the door,
Keeps it open about 1”.

^^^^ Same here.

Weldon · 07-13-2021, 02:57 PM

You can get little plastic clips from camping world. I bought a pack with 2 for the fridge & freezer, and 2 for coolers. Less than $10 for the set.

JGCyber3 · 07-13-2021, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldon

You can get little plastic clips from camping world. I bought a pack with 2 for the fridge & freezer, and 2 for coolers. Less than $10 for the set.

bought this already - gap between doors to big for the long piece and doors too wide for the 2 separate pieces - maybe will take a look again....

I like the towel idea - pretty obvious but I had clips that cost 3$ on my last fridge and they'd hold during transit...so was thinking same would be avail - apparently not!

but lot's of good ideas, thx all!!

LHaven · 07-13-2021, 07:10 PM

In my previous rig, I actually made my own with a leftover scrap of PVC "lumber", a router, and some velcro tape. (Had it published in Ten-Minute Tech, too.) Nice thing about it was that you could actually drive the trailer down the road with the fridge off without the doors bouncing open. I never even saw one of those little plastic tab thingies until the ones that came with my Cougar.

cliff · 07-13-2021, 11:06 PM

We use bungee cords to hold the doors open. We run the cord to a cabinet door handle near the door. Also, you can use a sponge between the doors leaving some of the sponge to keep both doors from closing.

**flybouy** · 07-14-2021, 02:46 AM

You can use about anything to prop open the door while in storage. I don’t get towing any great distance with it propped open. Why? When we travel any distance the fridge has food inside. A short trip say from the storage lot to home just shut the door. When you park then prop it open again.

LHaven · 07-14-2021, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

I don’t get towing any great distance with it propped open. Why? When we travel any distance the fridge has food inside. A short trip say from the storage lot to home just shut the door. When you park then prop it open again.

When my refrigerator is off, I like to have the doors open so that it doesn't build up a smell. My dealer isn't particularly close to me, and in my old rig, he was all the way on the other side of the metro area, so it was quite a haul. I was just as happy to leave the doors propped open, especially if I didn't know when I was going to get the rig back from him.

**flybouy** · 07-14-2021, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHaven

When my refrigerator is off, I like to have the doors open so that it doesn't build up a smell. My dealer isn't particularly close to me, and in my old rig, he was all the way on the other side of the metro area, so it was quite a haul. I was just as happy to leave the doors propped open, especially if I didn't know when I was going to get the rig back from him.

Propping the door open when not in use I think has been clearly established as the common practice. I don't know what "not particularly close" means. All I'm saying is that closing the fridge door for an hour or two should not build mold, unless it's particularly dirty then it doesn’t matter it will huild up mold anyway. As I stated, once you get it there then prop it open again.

My fridge came with a plastic piece to hold open the fridge and freezer door. The first time I left it in and traveled from the storage lot to my driveway (<1 mile) it was out and laying on the floor. There is nothing to prevent the door from swining while underway. There was no damage from that one experience but I wasn't going to press my luck again.

**JRTJH** · 07-14-2021, 06:48 AM

My last three refrigerators have been Dometic and all have come with door clips to prop the doors open during storage. NONE (not any of them) have been "robust enough" to hold the door open on a bumpy or rough road. ALL (every one of them) has been "suitable for storage" but "inadequate for towing".....

I wouldn't trust a small piece of plastic, clipped to another small piece of plastic that's "spring loaded" to hold against a "bump" in a third piece of plastic that's "intended to hold a door slightly open in a static environment" to have the strength or the ability to hold that same door open going down the road at 60MPH on a bumpy highway.....

If "keeping the door open while towing is the objective, the current Dometic devices are "WOEFULLY INADEQUATE".....

Weldon · 07-14-2021, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGCyber3

bought this already - gap between doors to big for the long piece and doors too wide for the 2 separate pieces - maybe will take a look again....

I like the towel idea - pretty obvious but I had clips that cost 3$ on my last fridge and they'd hold during transit...so was thinking same would be avail - apparently not!

but lot's of good ideas, thx all!!

I didn't realize you were asking about a piece to use while traveling. We use these once the trip is over and while the TT is at storage to prevent mold for a day or two until I come back and wipe everything down. Our fridge and freezer is always closed and locked into place during transit.

Sarge2 · 07-14-2021, 10:57 AM

Saw somewhere where pool noodles were used...slit down the middle and placed over the door edges... but again, while in storage..
I'm unsure why you'd want it propped open while traveling but I'm sure you can rig something that would work... just not sure what wouldn't jiggle out of position while moving... I'd be concerned about the doors flopping around banging on the walls or cupboards should it come loose....

LHaven · 07-14-2021, 08:22 PM

That's why I really liked my homemade plastic wedge. With a long velcro strip on the inner surface, and on the fridge frame between the two doors, that wedge stayed put until you positively removed it.

rjniles · 07-18-2021, 07:57 AM

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-441...lock/531852047

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/9f1...d&odnBg=ffffff

Frosty46 · 07-18-2021, 09:15 AM

Those large chip bag clips work well--with a rubber band to hold in place.

rlh1957 · 07-18-2021, 09:24 AM

A towel hanging out the refrigerator will hold it open as well as absorbing any humidity still lingering.

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