Transporting a Big Fridge 400 Miles?

DanielDD · Oct 18, 2023

Need some advice. Got to pick up a large upright refrigerator and transport it 400 miles to my home in the back of my 1st Gen Ridgeline. Anybody done this safely? Hate to have to stand it up, but concerned laying it on its side could cause the compressor oil to end up in the evaporator and then I'm screwed. If I stand it up then I've got big wind resistance to contend with for 8 hours of driving and there is the issue of properly securing it to the bed.

I could rent an open u-haul trailer. This would possibly allow me to tie it down better and it would be lower to the ground for loading and unloading. The size of the fridge is 37 wide, 32 deep, and 68 high

eurban · Oct 18, 2023

You can easily secure a refrigerator upright in the bed. Quality ratchet straps and the front set cleats should be more than adequate to secure it. Have a strap going over the top and down to the upper front cleats. Have a second strap going left to right to the upper front cleats that serves to pull the fridge tight to the bed to cab wall.. Use cardboard / rigid foam to protect and provide spacing as needed with the cab wall.
You could also circle a ratchet strap near the top of the fridge and then run additional straps down from that to each of the 4 (front and back) lower cleats.
You will obviously need some help to get the Fridge up and then later down off of the bed. Seems like that would still make more sense than paying for and then dealing with driving with a trailer.
Wind resistance / fuel economy hit will be more from a trailer with an upright fridge in it than just the upright fridge in the back of the truck.
Almost forgot, the final reason is you own a truck so you might as well use it!

DanielDD · Oct 18, 2023

Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah, really don't want to deal with renting a trailer and the hassles that go along with a trailer. I just learned that they don't come with jacks or spare wheels, so I do consider that an issue. Getting the fridge in the bed - I've got help. Getting it off the truck - I've got a 4 post lift that will help there...

ATL RL · Oct 18, 2023

I laid a frost free fridge with a top freezer on it's back and drove 8 hours home.

No coils on the back, they are on the bottom with a fan blowing on them when it is running.

I then set it upright for 24 hours and then plugged it in. That was about 20 years ago and that unit is still in the basement humming along today.

DanielDD · Oct 19, 2023

ATL RL - You better keep that old fridge cause the new ones are POS. We have a new Whirlpool fridge that we bought 10 months ago. Hate it - loud, makes strange noises, all in the name of efficiency. Can you believe the refrigerant they use in the new ones is isobutane? I'm making the trip to pick up my dad's 10 year old fridge that is bone silent. Well worth the drive to get a working older refrigerator. While I might get lucky carrying it horizontal, I don't want to take that chance..

ISO Truck · Oct 19, 2023

I have never done a full-size fridge, but have done smaller ones, and a dishwasher, and a hot water heater 160+ lbs that needed to remain upright. I was only going about 25 miles, probably would have done additional straps for a longer trip. But it never moved;

DanielDD · Oct 19, 2023

That is a good water heater. Exactly the same one we installed last year. Runs without electricity so you can still have a hot shower with not power. Looks to be similar height as a refrigerator, although the fridge is a couple hundred pounds heavier.

longboat · Oct 19, 2023

I'd google the manual for that particular fridge and see if there are any options for lying it down for transport. Also, i think the ride in the Ridgeline bed would be softer than in a trailer, so less to go wrong inside the fridge.

trainman605 · Oct 19, 2023

One thing to remember is when you tie something down in the back of your pickup is to tie it down so it won't come forward as well as backward. Most think it will fall out the side, or back, but the most dangerous would be coming forward under hard breaking, or a front end collision. I've seen many collisions where the load in the bed ended up in the vehicles seat area.

Huber Ridge. · Oct 19, 2023

From 15 years experience, you can lay a fridge down, but the rule is you want to stand it upright for twice as long as it layed down before you plug it in.. But I have always chosen to stand up right.. Like said before, you want to strap over the top of the fridge down to the cleats. If possible rotate the fridge 45* and do an x pattern with the straps over the top, to the 4 corners of the bed. Might also help with aerodynamics if you clock it 45*.

Mark1 · Oct 19, 2023

400 miles about 6 + hours. Unless you be certain the weather will be clear. Get a tarp and wrap it well. X cross the tie downs.

DanielDD · Oct 19, 2023

Mark1 said:
400 miles about 6 + hours. Unless you be certain the weather will be clear. Get a tarp and wrap it well. X cross the tie downs.

More like 8 + hours. Gotta stop for the wife, gas, bathroom, food + will be driving somewhat slower. The thing about a tarp is it flapping in the wind. Hard to get it good and tight. Will most likely wrap it with heavy duty shrink wrap roll. Got a large roll of it that I've used for several things while hauling. It holds up pretty well.

Not looking forward to the trip, but the fridge is free and in good working order..

Transporting a Big Fridge 400 Miles?

DanielDD

eurban

DanielDD

ATL RL

DanielDD

ISO Truck

DanielDD

longboat

trainman605

Huber Ridge.

Mark1

DanielDD

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