So the unit arrived, my oldest son came in for Christmas so had a good helper. First comment is that the quality is heads and shoulders better than the OEM unit. All went mostly well. The mounting holes on the back of the new unit do not align with the original holes and they tell you that on a sticker. Would have made it easier to align the blind inside holes if it had. It is easier to lay the unit down to test fit and adjust the fit.I lifted it and held it at a 45 angle while the helper started the screws from the inside. The one thing I missed was that the unit DOES NOT come with new heater rods. I got one of the old ones out but the other had bare wires showing where they go into the rod so I will have to order a new one. I watched several videos, thought I was paying attention but I never read or heard I needed to buy new ones. I also thought it came with the new fans. Since the unit is coming back out next year I will order new ones.I broke the igniter/thermocouple too so I couldn't test it before re-installing it. We are camping for a week Thursday through NYE so had to install it. Hopefully I can get a new igniter Friday and it will work on gas.If not we will be camping out of coolers.While I would not call this an easy DIY project, I would do it again.2005 Fleetwood DP Norcold 1200 LRIM SIDE BY SIDE.Went out to get something out of the motorhome fridge and was hit by the strong odor of ammonia. Oddly, the fridge is still cold but when I took the out side vent cover off the smell was very strong.A few Googles got me to the Amish Replacement units for $1100.No re mans for the 1200 of course.Has anyone done this themselves? We were supposed to go camping after Christmas. Looking iffy.The motorhome has a kitchen and living slide so plenty of room to pull it out.Any advice is welcome

Yes we had our 1200 series cooling unit rebuilt for about $900 in 2012, but not the "Amish" cooling unit often talked about here. We went to National RV Refrigeration in Shipshewana IN. It is also an Amish owned company, but does all his own selling, rebuilding, removal and installing. Very sharp young man and easy to get a hold of. Keep in mind the Amish have used gas refrigerators since they came out. He works on residential and Rv refrigerators, gas freezers and RV air conditioning units, using his own cooling coil design.

I would seriously consider install a residential refrigerator.

Hi,Solar and a residential fridge for me when the time comes.

I have given thought to going the residential route but we do a fair amount of of dry camping plus I plan on selling it sooner rather than later and am worried about resale.

I had National (above) put in a Amish cooling unit several years ago since I was in the area. I ran mine out of level and while it still worked, in hot weather it was marginal even with extra fans. Putting in a cooling unit is something you can do yourself and there are several video on doing it. I'm able to get my 1200 out by myself by having a platform almost as high as the bottom of the unit which I slide it onto. Remove the four bolts inside before laying down and then it's fairly simple to remove the old unit and put the new in.I recently bought this spare Refrigerator as it will fit where the 1200 was with only cutting out the top area where the screws go that hold the 1200 in. Most 20+ cu ft ones are 6" taller and require major modification. If I install this unit I will probably put in a seperate pure sine wave inverter to power it as I already have extra batteries.

Dreaded Ammonia smell Norcold Amish unit experience? UPDATE

Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2014
The Amish Made from Cooling Unit Warehouse.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 26, 2014
Hi Big,

So what unit did you end up with?
dougrainer
Nomad
Dec 26, 2014
Do NOT use the original fans. Go to Radio Shack or some other local store and get a 12 volt fan/s with ball bearings to use for a lot less money. Run a 2 wire harness from the Fan Tstat on the upper condenser down the back side by the main control module to bypass that tstat if the tstat fails down the road. Doug
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2014
UPDATE

So the unit arrived, my oldest son came in for Christmas so I had a good helper.

First comment is that the quality is heads and shoulders better than the OEM unit.

All went mostly well. The mounting holes on the back of the new unit do not align with the original holes and they tell you that on a sticker. Would have made it easier to align the blind inside holes if it had.

It is easier to lay the unit down to test fit and adjust the fit.

I lifted the fridge at the top and held it at a 45 angle while the helper started the screws from the inside.

The one thing I missed was that the unit DOES NOT come with new heater rods. I got one of the old ones out but the other had bare wires showing where they go into the rod so I will have to order a new one. I watched several videos, thought I was paying attention but I never read or heard I needed to buy new ones. I thought it came with them. $45 a pair so no big deal but now I have to take the fridge out again.

I also thought it came with the new fans. At $100 a pop I think Ill re-use the OEM fans

I broke the igniter/thermocouple too so I couldn't test it before re-installing it.

Hopefully I can get a new igniter Friday and it will work on gas.

While I would not call this an easy DIY project, I would do it again.
Grandpa_Rick
Explorer
Dec 17, 2014
When my DW and I took ours out, we used the slings that go over your arms. I found them at Home Depot for ten bucks. It makes sliding the refer out a snap. We also took the doors off so we could lay the refer down to make the removal and installation of the cooling unit easier.
jwmII
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
Big Katuna wrote:
I saw that. I have a furniture dolly already. I'm trying to chase down a hydraulic lift table like Harbor Freight sells.

A hydraulic lift table is overkill. Not to mention a pain in the butt to handle in the RV. Set or slide the fridge out of its hole on a bench or stool about the right height and go for it. It is not necessary to lay the unit down either. The mastic sealing the unit in place releases quite easily just by pulling on the old cooling unit tubing with one hand and holding the fridge case back with the other hand.
hypoxia
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
I agree with dougrainer as I have had friends with residential problems with the same experience as he noted.

When I changed my cooling unit I did it in the upright position.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Dec 16, 2014
Bob, I use a milk crate on a rug to get it out. Someone on the outside with a big screw driver levering it at the bottom will help to get it started as it will be kind of stuck in place.
At 10 years old I'd put new fans and run a pair of wires from the Tstat so you can manually turn the fans on from the back side if needed.
I added more insulation (1/2" foil faced polyfoam) between the flue and the case as that side of the inside of refer is warmer than the other side.
Remember to take the four bolts out before laying down.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2014
I saw that. I have a furniture dolly already. I'm trying to chase down a hydraulic lift table like Harbor Freight sells.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
Big Katuna....get a cheap furniture dolly from Harbor Freight and build it up with a wood frame to the height of the refer. You can slide it out onto the dolly and then move it around, spin it, access it more easily. There are several YouTube videos on how to change them that walks you through the project. As "Grandpa Rick" stated, the replacements have been more successful using a lot of sealant. Check the fans to and make sure they're working.

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