110v Residential fridge install

Almot wrote:



Yes, I would not replace a $400 cooling unit when everything else is rusty and nearing the end. A new 6cf RV fridge isn't always $1,800 though: $1,320 6cf. This is still too expensive, and I would rather get a 12V built-in 6cf compressor fridge like Novakool for the same price. Or 3 times cheaper 120V fridge if it fits, and if it's not too loud, and if I'm on power grid. Too many "ifs".
First obstacle is still the cabinet size.

My 26ft TT HAD a 9.8 cu ft obsolete RV fridge, no suitable DIRECT replacement was available. Any replacement of that size WOULD HAVE REQUIRED considerable amount of cabinet modification (height AND width, the opening was to small).

A RV fridge in that size back 8 yrs ago was "priced" at $1600 PLUS SHIPPING.. The shipping cost was easily going to cost about $200 PLUS I would have to schedule a day off due to truck freight..

Granted I could have had a local RV dealer order the fridge but they would have tacked on the shipping PLUS a "markup" AND SALES TAX which would have easily driven the cost up to $2,000.

Years ago I helped my Dad, replace his RV fridge with another RV fridge, he ran into the same problem I did.. His fridge size was discontinued! The replacement fridge required 1 inch taller opening and 3/4" wider opening.

The moral of the story.. Just because you have a RV fridge, it does not necessarily mean you will be able to find a replacement that will fit in your opening without the need for you making modifications..

As far as modifying the existing cabinet to fit a home fridge, that is EASY to do and STILL make it look like it belongs there..

I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you take a good look at a fantastic retrofit which a member of a different RV forum did..

OUT GOES THE NORCOLD IN WITH THE MAYTAG

You can not even notice that the Maytag was not part of the rig from the factory!

Yes, Home fridges often do require some "work" to fit them in and most likely that "work" is not for you. But for many people like myself we simply are not scared to make mods which are an improvement to our RVs.

In many cases a simple piece of trim wood around the fridge cabinet will give the fridge some class and cover the short fall for depth..

Most of these fridges (even the ones with the coils in the sides) do not need all that much clearance on the sides. Two inches on the sides will work well and really if you look inside the cabinet cavity you will find at least 1x2 construction with paneling over the 1x2s.. Not hard to come up with 2 inches of side wall space.

I was fortunate (and the OP of this thread) to find a back coil fridge, this style does not need side wall clearance but does require top clearance (if you close off the old top vent which I did) but you only need about 2 inches there (once again not hard to find).

I realize it is hard to wrap ones head around the idea, but really even if I was not demoing the entire trailer, modding the existing cabinet would have been a very straight forward and easy project. In my case the original cabinet opening was only one inch short and width was the same. Most likely would have been a several evening project for me..