RV refrigerators are sensitive to movement, especially since most of their components are prone to leaks or damage to the internal part of the fridge. Unlike home refrigerators, most elements in RV refrigerators are fastened tightly to prevent them from moving around during a long drive, including the RV fridge’s shelves.
Take note that not all RV refrigerators shelves are the same. However, this guide applies how to remove RV fridge racks of several different RV fridge models.
Some shelves in RV refrigerators are not easy to remove because of the lock components that hold the brackets in place. Sometimes, the manuals don’t include the procedure to remove them because the manufacturers don’t want people to remove them to prevent damage.
Removing the Shelves
These are the steps to remove the shelves from your RV refrigerator safely:
Check the Manual
Try to double-check the refrigerator’s manual to see if there are instructions on unlocking the shelves. If instructions are not available, examine the lock mechanism of the shelf to see if you can open it without prying hard.
Find the Shelf Locks
Locate the locks of the shelves. They are normally located at the edges of the shelves in front. The locks are small, plastic pieces that need to be turned to release the shelf.
Release the Plastic Clips
There are generally two types of plastic clips that are used to hold the shelves in place inside an RV refrigerator. The first type is a spring clip, which is simply a piece of flexible plastic that pops out when you press on it. The second type is a locking clip, with a small tab you must push in before removing the clip.
To remove the spring clips, simply press on them with your fingers until they pop out. To remove the locking pins, insert a small flathead screwdriver or another similar tool into the slot on the tab and push it in until the clip pops out.
You will have to gently release the plastic retaining clips to remove the retainer from the slide. After that is removed, the shelf should be free to slide out.
The shelf can then be tilted and slid out at a slight angle after releasing the edge from the fridge’s body. Alternatively, you can slide the wire shelf left. It will come loose on the right side.
Returning the Shelves
Whether you’re removing the shelves to clean the fridge or to accommodate a larger item, returning the shelves is generally a straightforward process:
Position the Wire Shelf
Make sure the wire shelf ends are positioned in the desired place on each side. The wire shelf should be in the same place as when it was installed.
Place the Shelf in Place
Using the slots on each side, slide the shelf in. The shelf should fit snugly and not wobble.
Lock the Shelves In
Make sure to insert the plastic plugs into the holes in the wall. The shelf locks need to be rotated to lock the shelf.
