Fridge Locks

Branchie · Senior Member

Fridge Locks

86GTS · Guru

From the big green shed, it works like a charm, really strong!

Just engage it when traveling, no more food on the floor episodes. smile

Comes in different sizes & lengths, there's a large range.

We use one to stop the caravan door from slamming shut on windy days.

Screenshot 2022-07-18 at 05-44-19 Dreambaby Child Safety Flexible Multi Purpose Latch.png

-- Edited by 86GTS on Monday 18th of July 2022 05:53:22 AM

Long Weekend · Guru

Yes, I used one of those on the fridge door in a previous camper trailer after the plastic catch broke in half.

And as 86GTS says, they work.

The one I bought actually had a picture on the packet of the latch holding a toilet seat closed!

Murray

Whenarewethere · Guru

I bought some neodymium magnets for a different purpose from magnets.com.au could be used for a fridge lock.

Watch your fingers with these things, the larger magnets have a crushing blow.

Ivan 01 · Guru

Magnets may be difficult to fit if the door and seal area configuration is not suitable to have a magnet fitted.

A magnet while being quite strong at times is still not a mechanical method of ensuring the door remains closed.

An over centre clasp is good and will be very secure but it can protrude out from the profile of the fridge body so it too may be a problem to fit in some instances.

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-1-61-inch-SUS304-Stainless-Toolbox/dp/B07XYX1LT8

or

this type but you will only need a very light duty clamp. I got a couple of small ones for my old Engel

https://www.amazon.com/YUEPIN-Toggle-Stainless-Holding-Capacity/dp/B07S896GLP

-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Monday 18th of July 2022 12:01:35 PM

86GTS · Guru

Who needs magnets?

These straps are as tough as old boots & even hold a caravan door open in a howling gale.

They might look Mickey Mouse but they are that tough that they are sometimes hard to undo in cold weather when the material is less pliable.

$5 each, job done.

Apologies for the sideways shots.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Fridge door seals are magnetic. It's just that they need to be a touch stronger.

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

We have been on many highly corrugated dirt roads and have never had the fridge door or microwave door or cupboard doors open by themselves.

Long Weekend · Guru

I have - and it wasn't even on a corrugated gravel road but a very rough road in the NSW highlands. Admittedly it was a light camper trailer that tended to bounce around more than a heavy caravan.

While most things emptied out and rolled around the floor the one that did the damage was a jar of corn relish - it left a stain on the floor.

Murray

yobarr · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
I have - and it wasn't even on a corrugated gravel road but a very rough road in the NSW highlands. Admittedly it was a light camper trailer that tended to bounce around more than a heavy caravan.

While most things emptied out and rolled around the floor the one that did the damage was a jar of corn relish - it left a stain on the floor.

Murray

What about the beer? Hope that all was OK there. This is the lock on my fridge door, abd it seems to work well. Just flick it across. Cheers

Jaahn · Guru

Well we have a 90L upright fridge, mounted on a stand in our MH. The door would come open on tight street corners occasionally with disasterous results. We used a bungy but then I made up a sprung latch out of a hinge, that just auto lifts as you shut the door and holds the top edge. You lift it to open. Works well. smile

The second thing we use, to prevent the items on the shelves moving to a position where they can fall off the shelves when the door is opened, is an inner shield of coreflute that just sits between the door shelves and the main shelves. It is cut out at the top and bottom to allow air circulation. Easy enough to make and we put this in when driving. No silly surprises when you open the door. furious
Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 20th of July 2022 05:17:51 AM

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Some good points.
Secure the items as best as possible inside the fridge to prevent them tipping over or worse still, hitting the door.

Those light duty latches that many van fridges have are useless.

What I found that when on corrugating the fridge door would jump up and down because of the clearance in the hinge.
Mine from new would move a good 8 mm up and down. (Domestic)

This managed to break the swing around cheap junk plastic latch that was engineered to keep the door close during travel.
The first thing I did was to shim and adjust the hinge to prevent up and down movement and then I fitted a small over centre clasp just above the centre of the door.

My wife found some insert things for the shelves in a caravan shop and we dont have any more worries

Santa · Guru

Fitted a small barrel bolt to the door of our fridge, works a treat. smile

Delf Trade 75 x 32 x 9.5mm Satin Chrome Barrel Bolt With 25mm Throw

KJB · Guru

And my "Fail Safe " Fridge lock ...... a good quality Octopus Strap (thicker and softly stretchier than most.)

I have also added a timber rest to support both ends of the bottom of the door to prevent up and down movement when it is closed (the weight of milk containers, beer etc., etc. in the door while travelling gives the bottom hinge a hard time) ....

Fridge Door 20220718_165117 (7).jpg