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05-03-2021, 04:12 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Jefferson City
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #28451
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Rear Kitchen issue
We recently purchased a LK model with the kitchen in the rear
The fridge is on the back wall
The last two outings we obviously hit some bumps which can’t be avoided regardless of travel
The refrigerator apparently did some hopping and the grate on the back pulled the electrical plug loose
Has anyone else had this issue and if so how did you resolve
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05-03-2021, 05:04 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,520
M.O.C. #2283
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With the kitchen in the rear you get a lot of whiplash. I’ve unloaded all my cabinets, broke every dish. The only way I know to help is slow down or do what I did get did get another camper.
Lynwood
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05-03-2021, 05:12 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,672
M.O.C. #12947
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That is always an issue with rear kitchen models. Before our Montana, we had a small rear kitchen SOB fifth wheel, and never had the fridge come loose, but regularly had kitchen drawers, pots and pans, and other assorted debris on the floor and the entrance was right there at the kitchen. That was the number one thing we avoided when shopping for our current rig.
Don't know if maybe the IS suspension would help smooth things out, but there aren't many things, other than not hitting bumps, that will help. Hopefully others that have the same setup can offer advise.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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05-03-2021, 07:42 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,533
M.O.C. #22835
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Mine is 41.5 feet, yours is 40.5 feet. When they get that long, the rear over hang is so great, even the slightest bump causes the rear to bounce and bounce hard. A tire hitting a 1 inch deep hole will cause the center of the trailer to slightly move. But the end may move 6 inches, and forcefully too.
I have a rear bedroom with the closet across the entire rear. On our maiden voyage, the entire closet inside collapsed, shelf on the floor, cloths on the floor, and 4 tiny holes in the walls where screws use to be holding a hundred pounds of cloths and bedding with g-forces probably twice that of normal gravity, up and down. Lesson learned. Long story short, I ended up rebuilding the entire closet ... from the floor up ... literally, and all the support is now from the floor, not the walls.
I did the same thing when we installed the washer-dryer too. I rebuilt the shelves they sit on from the floor up. I learned my lesson from the collapsed closet.
In your case, with the refrigerator in the very rear, it is going to get an extreme amount of bounce and g-forces up-and-down at every bounce. The length of the rear is just too far from the axles. The law of the lever will prevail. All you can do is think creatively how to secure the refrigerator in place, to keep it from moving, and perhaps do some creative re-wiring so things don't come unplugged.
Unfortunately, this is a problem with all of these 40 (plus) foot campers. The rear takes a horrible beating. You'll just need to rebuild and strength any moving items. Avoiding bumps in the road is impossible. Rebuilding your camper to strengthen everything is a must.
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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05-04-2021, 08:11 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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We full-timed in a 2012 3585SA which is a rear kitchen for 6 1/2 years and never had a problem not even a chipped dish. Loved our RK! It was only 37' though.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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06-14-2021, 06:53 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Jefferson City
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #28451
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Thanks for the input
I managed to tape a cardboard piece over the plug and that has prevented further problems with unplugging
I am still looking at options to better secure the fridge
Concerned about premature failure from the shock
Unfortunately not much to attach to without concern of damage to cabinets
Thought about getting something to position between top of fridge and bottom of cabinet to prevent upward movement
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06-15-2021, 12:52 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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When i converted from rv fridge to residential, one of the things i did to make sure i never had any fridge hopping was to put two household flip down door stops that you see in lowes, etc on the roof of the fridge enclosure. They have a feature that keeps them up until you flip them down. These stops flip down and sit against a board that i siliconed to the top of the fridge. My fridge has never budged during travels. I use a stick to flip them up when i want to pull my fridge out for cleaning behind it.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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