Travel Lock for Frig

JackConrad · September 01, 2007, 06:52:20 AM

Cliff,
I used a couple brass cabin latches from West Marine, similar to what NCBob used. I initially installed them using double face foam tape. This did not hold up well. I now have them installed using Goop. I put a good sized drop of Goop on the back of the latch mounting plate and placed in in position on the door/door frame. I used duct tape to hold everything in place until it set up. I then trimmed the excess with a utility knife. So far, they are all working and have not loosen up. I like these because a quick glance from the driver's seat lets me know if we are REALLY ready to start moving. Jack

prevost82 · September 01, 2007, 09:40:43 AM

I bought a house fridge that has the freezer on the bottom with drawers so it doesn't need a lock. The top fridge part I drill throu the plastic above the (left /) right hinge bracket and used a pin on a chain.

Ron

H3Jim · September 01, 2007, 01:44:10 PM

I used a marine latch. Chrome, easy to use, strong enough to hold it closed under hard braking. Way better than having food roll all the way down the aisle!! dont ask how I know, but its related to the velcro didn't hold.

gus · September 01, 2007, 06:46:15 PM

Gary,

As a retired member of "Our Forces" I have yet to meet even one person who is against them/us.

On the other hand, I have met many people who are against the idiots who sent our forces to Iraq. Don't ever confuse being against these people with being against our forces.

Wanting to get them all home and safe is being for them, not against.

FloridaCliff · September 02, 2007, 09:29:06 AM

Guys,

Thanks for ALL the great ideas.

I am always amazed at what Busnuts come up with.

I have a few favorites that I will be investigating further.

Nick,

I will use the chain idea to save the contents from my two kids, they can consume some food, yet they are skiny as a rail.

Oh, for those days again!

Cliff

belfert · September 02, 2007, 09:42:13 AM

What about the locks used on double hung windows? I was thinking I could mount one half on the edge of the door and the other half on the edge of the fridge.

This thread reminded me I need to do this before my trip in four weeks.

NJT5047 · September 02, 2007, 06:59:01 PM

Brian, I know you got lots of things to do, so remember that 100 MPH duct tape (military/race car duct tape, not that $#!+ that Lowes sells) will solve your fridge door problem. Cheap and quick....and dirty. I garuntee it'll work. There's always Bungee too.
Hey...maybe a backup?

Hope ya'll get those fridge doors under control!
JR

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · September 02, 2007, 07:54:03 PM

Quote from: NJT5047 on September 02, 2007, 06:59:01 PM

Brian, I know you got lots of things to do, so remember that 100 MPH duct tape (military/race car duct tape, not that $#!+ that Lowes sells) will solve your fridge door problem. Cheap and quick....and dirty. I garuntee it'll work. There's always Bungee too.
Hey...maybe a backup?
Hope ya'll get those fridge doors under control!
JR

Hi JR,
One more thing....
Don't forget to bolt the refrigerator to the bus!
Someone I know, [and I won't mention who] slid his refrigerator back into it's hole at a record 16 seconds while doing 65 mph.......

Nick-

belfert · September 02, 2007, 08:29:11 PM

Bolting in my fridge is on the list of things to do. The fridge has been in for a while, but never used. It is held in place via a tie down strap at present.

The fridge door faces forward so a quick stop could probably cause the door to open with duct tape as the latch.

kyle4501 · September 02, 2007, 08:51:43 PM

I have a RV gas/elec fridge with the built in latches that work . . . . most of the time

So for added insurance, we've added small eyebolts on either side of the fridge & use a bungee cord as an extra safeguard to ensure the stuff stays inside . . . . at least until we open the door

But, Alas, this is in a lowly Airstream trailer & it might not apply to the bus

Stan · September 03, 2007, 05:30:36 AM

Brian: With the fridge facing forward you have another problem. Even in normal driving, things on the shelves tend to move forward and end up balanced on the edge of the shelf against the door. A real booby trap when you open the door and things fall on the floor. Camping World used to sell spring loaded rods that you could put across the front of the shelf to hold everything in place. The ones they sold were for RV fridges and were not long enough for large house type fridges so I made my own out of round telescoping curtain rods.

JackConrad · September 03, 2007, 06:31:41 AM

Quote from: Stan on September 03, 2007, 05:30:36 AM
Brian: With the fridge facing forward you have another problem. Even in normal driving, things on the shelves tend to move forward and end up balanced on the edge of the shelf against the door. A real booby trap when you open the door and things fall on the floor. Camping World used to sell spring loaded rods that you could put across the front of the shelf to hold everything in place. The ones they sold were for RV fridges and were not long enough for large house type fridges so I made my own out of round telescoping curtain rods.

When we installed our "house type" refrigerator, the shelves had about a 1" lip that faced down on the rear of the shelf. We took the shelves out, turned them over and around before putting them back in. We now have a 1" lip pointing up across the front edge of each shelf. My wife also found that the anti-slip rubber mat stuff they sell at Camping World helps keep stuff from sliding around on the shelves. Jack

FloridaCliff · September 03, 2007, 09:51:09 AM

Nick wrote: One more thing....
Don't forget to bolt the refrigerator to the bus!

And also don't forget to plan access to those bolts for a future replacement/repair!

Cliff

TomCat · September 03, 2007, 10:23:22 AM

Quote from: belfert on September 02, 2007, 08:29:11 PM
Bolting in my fridge is on the list of things to do. The fridge has been in for a while, but never used. It is held in place via a tie down strap at present.

The fridge door faces forward so a quick stop could probably cause the door to open with duct tape as the latch.

My 18cf house fridge faces forward, right in the center of my kitchen space. As long as there is anything substantial in the wall behind the fridge to tie to, securing it there is very simple, very inexpensive, and easily accomplished in about 15 minutes.
Also easy to detach if service or replacement is needed.

By lucky accident each of my fridge shelves has about an 1/8 lip on the front of each shelf that prevents things moving too far forward in a panic stop. The strap on the door takes care of the rest.

Jay
87 SaftLiner

Dallas · September 03, 2007, 10:48:12 AM

Quote from: FloridaCliff on September 03, 2007, 09:51:09 AM
Nick wrote: One more thing....
Don't forget to bolt the refrigerator to the bus!

And also don't forget to plan access to those bolts for a future replacement/repair!

Cliff

My 12 cu ft house fridge, (Remember when that was a house sized fridge? Now it's considered a small apartment size!), is bolted to the floor through the bay. If I need to move it, I only have to undo the bolts and out it comes.

The tie back we use on it is a long Velcro strap that came with the accordion stand for our dump hose. I riveted it to the side of the fridge and wrap it around the door two or three times so the strap itself is what is holding the door, not the Velcro.

Dallas