I need HELP!!!: Refrigerator at high altitude

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Refrigerator at high altitude

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12103
Printed Date: 10 May 2025 at 3:46am
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Topic: Refrigerator at high altitude

Posted By: Andy
Subject: Refrigerator at high altitude
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2018 at 10:42pm

The Dometic brochure for the refrigerator in our trailer (2017 179) indicates there may be problems at altitudes above 3,800 feet. Just this weekend we went to northern New Mexico at about 9,600 feet and never could get the gas operation started. the ignition would fire but the furnace never started. The water heater and stove worked with no problems. Another R-Pod was camped in the same area and after several tries got his going. When I returned to El Paso I was able to get it working on the gas option. We have camped several times at altitudes of ~ 6,000 feet with no problems.

Any thoughts on how to overcome this limitation? We will be going out for about 2 weeks the end of September and will be at similar altitudes.

Thanks,

Andy

Replies:

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 9:52am

Definitely following this thread! I'm headed above 6,000 myself in a couple weeks!

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 9:57am

Any spider webs or wasp nests around the burner? I usually start our fridge in the driveway at home (2620 ft) and it stays running till we get home. The highest elevation might be around 9,000 ft.

Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 10:46am

I guess I'm a little bit anxious about dragging the Pod with the gas burning; I know it's done all the time but still... What do you do when you have to fill the TV? Do you turn off the Fridge?

I did not have any bug nests or anything that might have prevented it from lighting.

Since it lit when I got back home the only thing I guess is that it had to do with altitude.

Thanks for the info

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 12:12pm

Originally posted by Andy

I guess I'm a little bit anxious about dragging the Pod with the gas burning; I know it's done all the time but still... What do you do when you have to fill the TV? Do you turn off the Fridge?

I did not have any bug nests or anything that might have prevented it from lighting.

Since it lit when I got back home the only thing I guess is that it had to do with altitude.

Thanks for the info

Since the pod has a 3-way fridge, most tow in 12v mode. Verify your particular tow vehicle sends the proper voltage and amperage to the Pod while underway. If it does, 12v and avoid the worry..

If it doesn't, use propane, and don't worry. The RVIA reports the most common cause of RV fires is the 12v system, not propane.

If it's a trip under 4 hours, I probably wouldn't worry about traveling with the fridge cooled, loaded, and shut off. Use a remote thermometer to keep track of things, and don't worry.

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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 2:09pm

Originally posted by john in idaho

Any spider webs or wasp nests around the burner? I usually start our fridge in the driveway at home (2620 ft) and it stays running till we get home. The highest elevation might be around 9,000 ft.

John, you play in the altitude in question. Seems you run continuously. Can it be or could it be if you don't there could be an issue?

If I read it right, his stove still worked. So it seems a bit strange the frig did not lite.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 2:47pm

1/2 dozen or so folks responsed on the other Rpod site I'm on. Folks have camped up to 10k without issue. The statement back is probably a clogged line. They also mentioned Spyder webs.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 3:50pm

Greetings from Ketchum, Idaho, elevation 5,853 feet above sea level. We camp in our surrounding mountains with elevations well in excess of 6,000 ft. We have never had a problem with the gas option on the fridge at home or up in the mountains.
Thanks

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Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods

Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 4:31pm

Thanks to all for the info. Here is a reply from Dometic today:

Thank you for contacting Dometic. The orifice behind the fridge that allows gas to pass through to get to the burner is only rated up to 5500 feet. There is no guarantee that your fridge will NOT work up that high. But if it does, it might/will struggle to stay lit, if it lights at all. There is no fix for that. We only offer one sized orifice.

Jon

CustomerSupportCenter

Phone (800)544-4881
customersupportcenter@dometic.com

Dometic North America

So it looks like this will be a hit and miss situation.

Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 4:39pm

Back when I had a pickup camper years ago, I had to twist the propane tank around to get it in place. The repair guy at the RV place told me to never tip a propane tank on its side, because liquid may get into the out let and freeze, cutting off the flow when you turn the tank on. I don't know how true that is but I have always been careful. Could you have tipped your tank on its side after filling it??

Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 4:51pm

We live at 4900 ft and regularly camp at 8000+, have never had an issue. Although we do light it before we leave home. Maybe once its running its ok but struggles to light when cold at altitude? (just grasping here)

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 4:57pm

Having camped at 8-10K feet a few times.. why not just use a good cooler, and ice? Ice should last for weeks even in the summer. Heck I have been snowed on at altitude in August.

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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 5:08pm

I've heard a bunch of responses now and and no failures.. And these are folks that camp at these attitudes often.

Something else seems to be going on. Consensus rolls back to clogged line.

Since it worked again later (even though lower altitude) you may have cleared the line.

With all this in mind,I'm going to run mind on propane before I leave to ensure the lines are clear. As I travel I'll be on battery, yet when stopped overnight, on propane.

Hey, it's a system that worked for me on our last run for 46 days through the Nor'East Maritimes.

The Sou'West is new to me. This thread has been very good for me to research.

-------------
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 5:44pm

That sounds like a reasonable method so I will keep that in mind. My TV does provide charging so I can keep it cold while traveling and then try to light it before I get to the final stopping point. I'll bring extra ice also just in case! Thanks for the thoughts.

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2018 at 6:32pm

We have camped quite a bit at elevations in excess of 7000 ft. Even at the visitor center at RMNP the elevation is 11,796 ft. , we had lunch there in our 177 and the fridge worked fine. The only time we aren't running propane are those few occasions where electricity is available, otherwise we run our fridge on propane probably 95% of the time and 100% of the time while traveling down the road. Our 177 is approaching year 8 and has over 25,000 miles on it. The only issues we have had is when a wasp or bee began building a nest near the orifice. Since putting a screen over the air flow openings, that problem has been totally eliminated. The other time is when the tank is changed out and you have to purge the air out of the line, but that takes only about a minute to do.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2018 at 6:57am

+1 to jato's post. We run on gas unless 110vac is available. The battery option is not even connected.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost