Before you turn on the refrigerator, perform a thorough inspection of the exterior refrigerator access panel.  Remove spider webs, insect nests, pine needles and all other forms of dirt and debris.  On LP-Gas models, assure that the burner flame is light blue in color.  If the flame is yellow, have the system serviced by a qualified refrigerator technician. 

Start and run the refrigerator at least twenty-four hours prior to departure.  Residential refrigerators will require shore power, generator power, or running the inverter off the house batteries.  If you have a residential refrigerator, be sure the battery bank is fully charged, topped off with distilled water (LLA) and clear of corrosion so you can count on adequate electrical power for the refrigerator when the vehicle is away from shore power and the generator is off. 

Before staring propane units, verify the LP-Gas tank is full.  Check all connections for tightness and briefly engage a stovetop burner to bleed the airlines. 

Pre-cool the refrigerator prior to loading items.  To get a head start on cooling the box temperature, place sealed bags of block ice inside the refrigerator and freezer.   To help keep box temperatures stable, allow hot foods to cool before placing them inside.  Do not overload the interior box.  Stuffing the refrigerator full of food will reduce airflow and result in raised temperatures, especially during hot weather.

On LP-Gas operated units, level the vehicle within half a bubble while parked to assure gravity provides proper return of the refrigerant.  Brief stops for an hour or less will generally not affect refrigerant performance.

Keep the interior box cool.  Put a thermometer inside a clear sealed container of water and place inside the refrigerator to monitor food temperatures.  Once cooled, the interior temperature will remain cool when the door is closed, allowing you to turn off the LP-Gas valve while driving.

Excessive frost build up on the fins can indicate the door is being opened too often, or there is an air leak around the gasket.  Frost build up can reduce refrigerator performance.  Frequently clean around the door seal folds using a soft cloth dampened with warm water.  Always keep food staples in the same location to reduce the need to open and close doors while hunting for items.  If your unit includes a drip pan at the outside access, fill the pan with water to above the vent tube opening for help with frost reduction.  While parked at a campground, check water levels in the drip pan add water as necessary.  

During storage, empty the box, disengage power and engage the storage clips to hold doors in the open position.  Wipe the interior box using a solution of four tablespoons baking soda and one-quart of warm water.  Rinse with clear water and thoroughly dry using a soft clean cloth.

If your LP-Gas refrigerator is more than three years old, maintain the burner tube twice each year.  Rust and scale can fall into the burner tube and prevent the system from lighting on LP-Gas.  To maintain the flue, disconnect gas and power to the refrigerator.  Remove the screw on the burner box located in the outside access.  Slide the cover sideways.  Use a vacuum to remove rust and scale.