I will point out that the leveling of the fridge prior to stationary
operation isn't just for propane mode.  It's for all modes.

Mike

Jeffrey Earl wrote:
>>From all I've read in the VW Owner's Manual and
> various online resources, I believe the fridge should
> not be OPERATED at an incline exceeding 4-8 degrees,
> but simply sitting (inoperative) is OK.
>
> To quote from the Owner's Manual:
> "Should level ground parking be unavailable, it is
> best to discontinue operation to prevent overheating
> of the core which can lead to permanent damage of the
> refrigerator."
>
> It makes no mention of a settling period, and I assume
> that such settling occurs rather quickly upon
> shutdown. So it would seem to me that you are safe in
> doing precisely what you propose in your example.
>
> It should also be emphasized that this is a problem
> for such fridges only during STATIONARY operation;
> while driving up and down hills of any incline, the
> normal jostling of driving keeps the liquids and gases
> functioning properly, and damage is not a problem.
>
> RV Mobile has a very informative section explaining
> how these fridges work:
> http://www.rvmobile.com/TECH/TROUBLE/COOLDOC.HTM
>
> And also a helpful chat forum dedicated to Dometic
> fridges:
> http://rvmobile.com:8085/wb/default.asp?action=10&fid=2
>
> Jeff
>
> --- Doug in Calif <vanagon@astound.net> wrote:
>
>
>>I have a question about this,
>>Lets say you take a road trip from Colorado in your
>>westy to see the Golden
>>Gate.
>>Several days later you are at Fisherman's warf in
>>San Francisco and loading
>>up your
>>westy fridge (which has been running since you left)
>>with some expensive
>>goodies.
>>
>>Now you want to go visit your friends in town who
>>live on a hill that is
>>sitting at a
>>30degree angle.
>>
>>If you just shut down the fridge after you park it
>>in gear, set the
>>handbrake as tight as it goes
>>and chock the wheels, does the fact that it may take
>>several hours for the
>>fridge to settle down
>>and it will be resting at 30 degrees hurt anything?
>>
>>Is this a good example of yet another advantage to
>>consider Karl's solution
>>to use the
>>Norcold compressor fridge?  Hey Karl, how about an
>>update on how much you
>>like that fridge now that you
>>have had it a while?  How much angle will it
>>tolerate?
>>
>>It must be nice to have the fridge off, buy food,
>>put it in and turn it on
>>and know that within 1/2 hour its down to
>>34 degrees.
>>
>>Cheers.
>>
>>Doug
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Jeffrey Earl" <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 6:27 AM
>>Subject: Running Dometic Fridge while parking on
>>hills Q.
>>
>>
>>
>>>P. Stanhope wrote:
>>>
>>>>>Hi, my driveway is steep like a hill. Will this
>>>
>>>ruin
>>>my Dometic fridge if i keep it running on propane?
>>
>>If
>>
>>>so, is there a mod so i can park on on an incline?
>>>
>>>thanks
>>>Phil 84' Westy Tiicoe'd
>>>
>>>
>>>Yes, this will most definitely-and
>>
>>permanently-ruin
>>
>>>the boiler system which runs the fridge, and I
>>
>>suspect
>>
>>>is the cause of many defunct Westy fridges.
>>>
>>>The factory Owner's Manual recommends the fridge
>>
>>be
>>
>>>tilted at no more than +/- 8 degrees in any
>>
>>direction
>>
>>>while in operation; the experts at RV Mobile
>>>http://www.rvmobile.com/ suggest +/- 4 degrees is
>>>safer. To determine your degree of tilt, purchase
>>
>>a
>>
>>>set of RV levels, which will allow you easily see
>>
>>when
>>
>>>you are in the proper range:
>>>
>>
> http://www.dyersonline.com/pc-1530-248-hoppy-rv-level.aspx
>
>>>I use something like these RV leveling blocks
>>>
>>
> http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-jacks/leveling-blocks-rv.htm
>
>>>to get my Westy within proper range when parked or
>>>camped. If your driveway is sloped too steeply for
>>>even these, maybe try standard wheel ramps like
>>
>>these:
>>
>>http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200205624.htm
>>
>>>Good luck!
>>>
>>>
>>>Jeffrey Earl
>>>1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
>>>http://www.vanthology.com/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>__________________________________________________
>>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
>>
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>>
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>>
>
>
>
>
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