Coachman VIP fridge makes worktop hot

beverley12
beverley12 Forum Participant Posts: 87
edited July 2019 in Caravans #1

The fridge in our Coachman VIP makes the cutlery tray draw and worktop above it warm. On a recent trip abroad and very hot temperatures the cutlery and worktop were hot. This was like having a radiator on in the caravan which in 38 degrees was not good! 

Whilst I accept the temperatures were excessive we have been in similar temperatures with previous 2 motorhomes and fridge did not have problems.

i feel it is more about design possibly? We had an awning and the fridge vent is then inside the awning.

It has been back to dealer who says fridge is working properly and there is no problem. I have read that a fan can be installed at the back of the fridge to cool it in hot temperatures. 

I feel we shouldn't have to do this - it should be fit for purpose I.e lots of folk take caravans to warmer places for holidays. I feel really quite disappointed and a tad angry. 

Has anyone else had this problem with a fridge in a caravan?

Are there any solutions? 

Comments

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2019 #2

    The hot exhaust should really not be able to reach the drawer or worktop as the fridge should be sealed to the vent in the wall, so it might be an idea to check that that is the case.  Often you can do this by removing the outer grille and using a small mirror to check the situation.

    If the seal is good then the problem is as you suggest, the heat is not escaping fast enough, and a small 12v fan will help.  Also, ventilate the awning better in warm weather.  Our fridge also vents on the awning side, and when we used an awning we never had a problem even in hot weather.

    A suitable fan is not expensive and there are videos on U Tube on how to fit one, so you should be able to do it yourselves. I doubt you will get much joy out of the dealer.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited July 2019 #3

    Has it always been like this, with this particular caravan, or has something changed?

  • ADD46
    ADD46 Forum Participant Posts: 437
    100 Comments
    edited July 2019 #4

    Beverley12 - we have a Coachman VIP but maybe a slightly different design, as we don't have the cutlery drawer above the fridge. Our worktop has never got warm due to the fridge below. I agree with KjellNN as the awning may have affected the vents especially in the temperatures we've had this week. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #5

    We also have a Coachman caravan and our cutlery tray is above the fridge and yes the tray did get rather warm when we were away in France recently in the hot weather.

    We don't have an awning so there was sufficient air flow, to be honest I never thought it a problem just that the fridge was working hard to maintain the temp.undecided

  • Robert
    Robert Forum Participant Posts: 61
    edited August 2019 #6

    I had a Coachman vip the fridge would not cool to 5 deg when warm  had between 12-20 deg at times in door 

    dealer agreed with me but when contacting Thetford they said it ok 

    So vowed not to buy another caravan with a Thetford fridge previous & present domestic fridge working ok I believe some one has said before Thetford should of stuck to making toilets

Categories