Norcold hinge problem

[sunshine 1]

My right fridge door is saging. Do I have a hinge problem? The door have not come of the hinge. Attached is 3 pictures on the right side door one picture of the tops on the left door.

[Gonefishing]

The hint looks bent to me. Try and straighten it or replace

[sunshine 1]

Thank you Gonefishing for your reply. I got a little discouraged there were so many who had viewed the post, but you were the only one who cared to respond. Thanks again.
I fixed the problem by replacing the broken plastic washer on the bottom hinge with a regular washer.

[rohrmann]

When we had a cooling unit replaced years ago, the mobile tech showed me that he bent the bottom hinge up a bit before putting the door back on. He said a washer added would do the same thing so the door would be raised up a bit.

[sunshine 1]

Thanks Rohrmann for that info.

[Robev]

It’s an issue we have had on our 35’ 3120 manufactured in 2019. We boondock a lot and so much of our travel is off the main highway and so we are exposed to a lot more rough roads in our travels. The bent hinge we have corrected about three times over our four years of ownership. No 1 cause is rough roads and No2 cause is too much weight in the fridge door. Typically large drink bottles of milk etc, that stresses the door hinge lower, hitting or going over large pot holes. The double doors will cause the centre flap not to close and that’s just because the height of the doors has dropped. You can use washers to lift the door a little, but eventually the door support needs bending upwards. On mine, I have recorded the distance from the hinge bottom to the floor when it’s perfect. I use a 10” crescent to bend the hinge back up again and make sure both doors are the same distance up from the floor. I have photos on my home computer which I will post here later this evening when I get home.

[Robev]

As promised, here are the measurements I promised I found after it was set up on my Montana 3120 2019.

[Daryles]

Maybe cut a block of wood and put it under the Hinges on Travel days AFTER you get it set to the correct height.
IF you go this way, you would want to put some felt on the bottom of the block of wood to prevent scratching the linoleum.
Also attach ribbon flags to the blocks trailing out on the floor as a reminder to remove the blocks before putting the slide out.

[Robev]

Brilliant suggestion Darly! I'm going to do that and will post a pic here once its completed.


On the 3120, there is a small ledge, from memory, on the bottom outside edge of the kitchen slide, that I am hoping will hold a block of wood from falling out while the RV is underway. The felt is a great suggestion. I have a lot of carpet 'off-cuts' that I can use instead of the felt, that will do the same job. (use what's available). Rather than use a flag, I'll use some bright paint on the wooden block, so it stand out and looks out of place!


Like most RV'ers, we have a pre-departure check that we go through before we lock the door and go, and this will be another part of that check list. My wife doesn't like having to lie milk containers etc on their side in the fridge, rather than using the door, which is much more convenient. So using a block in future will mean she 'can' instead use that space in the door. Further, if the block and felt/carpet is a tight 'friction fit', is should take maybe up to 75% of the weight in the door, rather than all that weight being transferred to the lower door hinge. As the 'Good Book' says, Iron sharpens Iron. So thank you fellow RV'ers for sharing your ideas on here. You are all contributing to a better ownership experience, using and living in our Montana RV's.

[Daryles]

You are right. There is a bit of floor there under the fridge you can set the block on.
Maybe drill a small screw hole through the Hinge.
Set the block then put a screw through to keep it in place permanently.

[daboom11]

The teflon washer is worn out or missing between the door and hinge. 20 cent fix!