Moving a Refrigerator, upright or on side?

Just scored a $20 Fridge on craigslist that I will be picking up this saturday! The question is, can I put it in the truck bed laying on its side? I have read elsewhere on the interwebs that it could be ok as long as I leave the fridge upright and unplugged for a day after moving. Has anyone moved fridges done this with out ill-effect to the refrigerator?

Its only $20 but I am going out of my way to borrow my brother-in-laws truck so I dont want to kill the fridge. If I need to stand it upright, what is the best way to tie it down to the truck?

Thanks in advance! Can't wait to start the fridge-keggorator

I've always heard the same thing...leave upright but if you have to transport on it's side, let it stand for a day or so before turning on the compressor. I'm no HVAC specialist though, just a guy who's moved a few fridges.

+1 on leaving it upright for 24 - 48 hours.

This lets the oil return to the compressor that gets displaced when it is not in it's upright operating position. Did this with a upright freezer this summer.

or just move it standing up so u can use it when u get home....

slide it all the way into the truck bed (almost against the cab)

1 tie-down through the fridge door handle and 1 through the freezer door handle if it is a standard top/bottom fridge. pull it towards the back of the bed/cab

if it is a side by side: 1 tiedown through the handles should be good pulling it tight against the back of the bed/cab you could also throw an extra over the top pulling it down if the handles are low or you think you need to.

My current kegerator I move upright if I'm moving it. I know that other people with the same model who transported them on the side ended up having issues. Probably because they were impatient and plugged the thing in right away as soon as they got home, but I would rather not take the chance.


However, I used to move my dorm fridge in college by laying it on its side in the back seat of my car and it always worked fine.

After I moved a fridge on it side, I left it unplugged for several weeks in my garage until I had the time to move it to it's permanent place. After I finally plugged it in, it took about a day to get cold.

I actually used to deliver those bad boys, we would tell the customers to let is sit for 2 hours if we delivered it upright, and 24 hours if we had to set it on its side for any reason.

..and then 50% of them decided you were full of crap and plugged it in immediately anyway. Warranty call.... my fridge dun broke.

Like everybody said. Move upright, can plug right away, move on its side, wait a day.

Also, make sure to latch the doors shut, especially if you load in the direction that the wind could catch into the doors and open 'em!

M_C

Thanks everyone! I will try and keep it upright, however things don't always go according to plan. Will keep everyone informed.

Kegging project, here we come!

I moved one on the side last summer. Plugged it in within 12 hours, no ill affects. I only had it on its side for about 30 minutes. I think that has more to do with it.