"Dear Low Tech RVing: When I open my RV refrigerator door, I about get knocked over by a strong ammonia odor. I only use 'Simple Green' to clean my fridge. Is there a problem here?"--P.U. Proboscis"Ah, another sad story from someone like P.U. Odors and RV refrigerators aren't uncommon, happily most are related to failure to take last month's supply of forgotten leftovers out and pitch them. Sad to say, sometimes RVers returning from a trip have actually forgotten to remove food from the traveling fridge, and after a while, the memories of the happy meals shared on the road turn into a nightmare. A good cleaning out may not always cure the problem. Some have found that commercial "pet odor" removing concoctions (found at pet stores) applied liberally to the inside of the fridge will actually remove even those "unforgettable" rotten food odors.
But the strong smell of ammonia in the RV fridge, that's another story. RV reefers don't work like the ones back home. Instead of using a compressor motor (highly energy consumptive) a combination of ammonia, hydrogen, and water is heated by a burner (or small electric element) and through the magic of science and technology, remove heat from the refrigerator box. Sadly, if the cooling system which seals this trinity of chemicals in matrimony is breached, well, all sorts of refrigerator hell break loose. If you smell the strong odor of ammonia around your RV refrigerator, its cooling unit is most likely kaput.
Kaput cooling units can be conquered with replacements, and yes, if you are very handy with tools you may be able to do-it-yourself. If you feel hesitant, most RV repair firms can do it for you. However, the consensus among RV techie types is this: If your RV refer is older than 10 years, it's probably just better to replace the whole unit as after all, other things can go gunny bag too. New refrigerators come with warranties. Not that a 12 or 14 hundred dollar payout makes you feel good. If your RV isn't moving much, i.e. you spend all your time in an RV park with available electricity, you might consider replacing the confounded chiller with a small "apartment size" refrigerator unit. Sears has them for about $350.
Photo: JasonRogers on Flickr.com