Securing your RV fridge with a safety latch is the best way to keep the refrigerator closed. But there are also other DIY ways on how to keep RV refrigerator door closed while traveling. That’s to keep your RV refrigerator secure during travel and prevent spilling food and drinks that lead to a mess.
Here are some of the most effective methods you can try to finally end this stressful situation when you’re on the road.
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Ways to Keep RV Refrigerator Door Closed While Traveling
Before you try the following methods, your fridge’s gasket might just be dirty or isn’t ‘magnetic’ enough to keep the door closed. You may want to clean this first using a microfiber cloth with soap and water to make sure it’s free from debris.
After that, go ahead and lubricate this with petroleum jelly to reduce friction and regain some magnetic rigidity.
If your fridge still doesn’t stay closed, try the following methods:
Method 1: Using locks and latches
The simplest and most effective way to secure a fridge in a camper is by using locks and latches designed explicitly for RV refrigerators. Here are some locking devices that you can use:
1. Travel Latch For Refrigerators
There are many types of travel latch for recreational vehicles available in the market:
- The ‘key’ type, where you use a key to unlock it
- The ‘push button type, where you only have to press the button to open the fridge
- The ‘lock pin’ type, where you hang the chain into a screw to lock the fridge
Just like how you would put on your home’s doors, these locks work exactly the same way. There’s also the latch where you need to use a locking screw, but this is reserved for older models.
Before you attach a latch, make sure to check your RV’s manual or consult with an RV dealer to find suitable locks or latches for your refrigerator model.
Using a latch to keep the freezer door shut is the best method especially when you’re working on an RV residential refrigerator because you won’t have a hard time opening and closing it again.
2. Fridge Door Lock
Another option is to install a fridge door lock – another gadget to keep the refrigerator door closed. These are sticky rubber or magnetic strips that you ‘stick’ onto the front and the walls of your refrigerator.
Method 2: Using bungee cords
What to prepare:
- Bungee cords
- Magnetic eye bolts
Bungee cords or ropes work like belts. This acts as a refrigerator door strap that you’ll have to attach to a stable portion of your camper’s fridge.
To install this, get two pieces of magnetic eye bolts and put them on the two opposite sides of your fridge. Attach the bungee cords. Make sure that the bungee rope is stretched. The tension of the bungee cord will keep the door firmly closed.
This method works well, especially if you’re working with a Furrion 12 V fridge, according to this forum.
Method 3: Using child safety locks
One inexpensive solution to keep your fridge closed when you’re on the road is to use child safety locks. These locks can temporarily close your fridge doors, all while protecting your kids from randomly opening the fridge.
Method 4: Using velcros
Another method to do if your fridge will not stay closed is to use velcro. This is one of the most accessible band-aid solutions to fix this problem. All you have to do is to stick the velcro on both sides of the refrigerator’s openings to keep it secure.
You have to note, though, that velcros easily lose their strength over time, so they won’t be able to keep your door closed for long periods of time.
Method 5: Using duct tape or wooden planks
What to prepare:
- Duct tape
- Utility knife
- (Alternative) Wooden plank
If you don’t have access to all the materials mentioned above, another DIY way to keep your RV fridge doors closed is to seal it with duct tape or cover it with wooden planks to secure the refrigerator.
It may not be the most appealing way, but it’ll definitely be able to solve your problem if your freezer won’t stay closed when traveling.
How Do You Keep the Refrigerator Contents From Moving While Traveling?
You can install refrigerator braces or refrigerator bars to keep your fridge’s contents from going all over the place. These work like railings that prevent your food from moving along with the motion of your recreational vehicle.
Conclusion
Finding a reliable method on how to keep RV refrigerator door closed while traveling that suits your RV fridge problems will provide peace of mind during your RV adventures.
So, remember to inspect and maintain your recreational vehicle’s refrigerator door regularly – may it be a Samsung or a Furrion fridge – to ensure its proper functioning for you to enjoy a worry-free journey. Safe travels and happy camping!
Read more: Ways to keep rv cabinets and drawers closed while driving.
“Hi, I’m Francis’ husband—Calvin. Our story began with our shared passion for traveling. I have had a career journey for over 11 years at Ford Motor Company, where I took on the role of BMS SW Process Engineer.
Together with my wife, I have dedicated countless hours to exploring every nook and corner of the world. Ten years living in an RV may seem long, but time seems to fly by when I’m doing what I love with the person I love.
FMCA’s 103rd International Convention & RV Expo in Gillette, WY,
Like my wife, I hope to help you see the beauty of traveling off the beaten path by sharing insights into this lifestyle. In addition to my corporate roles, I also launched our website – Outdoorbits, in 2015 and continue to contribute my knowledge and skills to the present day. And I’ll be completely honest with you—no hiding the truth or sugarcoating the possible challenges.
So, if you want to run away from the busy lifestyle to embrace nature, I’m your guy.”