Loose foam insulation behind upper refrigerator vent

mlk51

I have a loose piece of foam insulation inside the upper side vent on my new-to-me 2017 T@B 320 S (build date 3/17). It's actually two pieces of foam taped together at 90 deg. It was sitting on the fins when my BIL showed it to me but I don't know if that was where it was when he opened that vent to look around. We tried moving it around to see if a logical fit would happen but it didn't. I had previously tested the fridge under both gas and electric and it held its temperature for several days in each mode. So I don't know it that foam piece fell when I moved it to there for storage. Any idea where this foam assembly should go? I tried to take photos but they didn't really show anything except the side of the stove or the fins on the side of the fridge.

mlk51

I should have said that the foam part I'm talking about consists of two pieces ~6" x 24" (from eyeball & memory not measurements) and taped together along one long side.

pthomas745

Are you looking at the insulation from the outside by looking through the vent?  There are a couple of different photos and descriptions of what things look like inside the fridge compartment under the stove.  It would be possible to get to the insulation by taking the vent off, but it may be easier to get to it by lifting up the stove. (Not hard).

Pictures in the thread below that describe installation of fans in the vents to improve air flow in that area. 

What exact fridge model is it?

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/1592/norcold-three-way-custom-fan-mod

There are some more photos here, but of an earlier trailer. 

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/1551/norcold-3-way-fridge-exhaust-fan-kit/p1

Sharon_is_SAM

You may want to look at this recall notice.  IIRC there was a lot of discussion regarding insulation falling.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3784/expanded-recall-of-t-b-320s-from-1-1-2013-to-8-31-2016-for-3-way-refrigerators/p1

Bayliss

@mlk51, the below photos are the refrigerator cabinet in my 2019 320 S (built in 2018), but it sounds like it is the same as your 2017.  The foil covered foam appears to have been placed there as an air baffle.  The first photo shows how the foam is configured for the Norcold Model N180.3x refrigerator (assuming you have the same type of installation.)  

It is not clear if you are saying that the foam is completely loose.  However, when in place, the taller vertical foam is secured to the floor with a small length of wood block (at the base, out of view), with wood screws and glue.  When I removed those two foam pieces to install a 2-way Isotherm refrigerator, I discovered that there was a wood screw sticking up through the trailer floor and penetrating the strip of wood at the base of the vertical foil covered foam.  Also, there were two or three pocket screws that were inserted through the top of the wood strip (again, at the base out of view.)  Glue was then applied around the base of the wood strip.  The second photo with a red arrow shows where the screws are generally located.  It was difficult to remove the pocket screws, because there is little room to access them.  I ultimately ripped out the foam (I did not need it) and removed the screws.

I do not recall exactly how the horizontal piece of foil covered foam was attached to the vertical piece, but it was likely taped and/or glued in place, and possibly had one or two screws to provide some additional support to the vertical piece.

When you look through the upper exterior vent, the horizontal piece of foil covered foam is visible (third photo), but it should not be loose.

IF the foam pieces are indeed loose, you will need to remove the refrigerator to re-secure them in place.  It would be very difficult to do much by trying to reach through the side vents.  If you are fairly handy, it's not a big deal to remove the refrigerator.  However, be sure to first shut off the propane at the tank.  Also, turn off electrical power to the refrigerator, because you will need to disconnect the AC and DC wiring to pull the refrigerator out from the cabinet.

mlk51

@Bayliss, yes, I do have the Norcold Model N180.3x. Looking at your photos, it looks like it's the top horizontal piece in photo 1 and the piece I see in photo 3. I don't recall seeing any holes through it that could be caused by screws so I'm betting it was taped or glued up there somehow. At least now I can see where it should be and can deal with it. Thank you very much!!

mlk51

And, after much maneuvering, it's taped back in place. Thank you all, again

Bayliss

Good job, @mlk51.