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Bigdog's avatar
Bigdog
Explorer
Aug 26, 2016

Replacement fridge

I have a Tradewinds 7390 LTC with a Dometic RMD 1292 and looks as if we're going to need a new cooling system, 25 months on a 24 month warranty. Rather than get another cooling coil for a 15 y/o fridge, i'm thinking about getting a replacement home type fridge and I know that some of you have done this and I need to know what many makes one that will replace it.
  • Measure the space the existing refrigerator takes in the cabinets and then go on line and research what is available. Depth seems to be a big issue, as a residential refrigerator may stick out away from the cabinets. Many people have purchased a cabinet depth residential refrigerator to eliminate this.
  • If you decide to go with a replacement cooling unit, check out RV Cooling Unit Warehouse and do it yourself. Residential is good as long as it fits and/ or you understand the limitations power-wise
  • I have essentially the same one and will replace it the Samsung 18 cu ft. Width and depth are not an issue but there is some cabinetry mods necessary to accommodate the 71" ht vs the existing 60" or so.

    Many have gone before you on the conversion so there is a lot of knowledge about what it takes. I'm going to wait till we get home than order the fridge when it's on sale. Unfortunately if yours is not working you may not be able wait for a sale. My guy has done a dozen or so and said it takes ~11 hours for the whole job.
  • I replaced my Dometic NDR1492 with a Samsung RF197. This is a counter depth refrigerator and the gasket for the doors is at the edge of the surrounding woodwork. It could have been slid back slightly more but then the doors would not have opened properly.

    The Samsung is not quite as wide as the Dometic by about 3". I positioned the Samsung to one side of the original opening so the right door could be opened further. I did have to remove two drawers under the refrigerator opening to accommodate the height of the Samsung.

    When not hooked to shore power I run the frig on my MSW inverter. With 4 golf cart batteries I can easily run the frig overnight.
  • I replaced my fridge with another of the same brand (Dometic). Same size, nothing to modify. Take the old one out, slip in the new one...turn it on. Fast and simple. The only difference was the old one came with an ice maker, which after the first trip, wife demanded I remove it. (Took up too much room in the freezer, she said...so I did.)
    The new one does not have an ice maker.
  • jerseyjim wrote:
    I replaced my fridge with another of the same brand (Dometic). Same size, nothing to modify. Take the old one out, slip in the new one...turn it on. Fast and simple. The only difference was the old one came with an ice maker, which after the first trip, wife demanded I remove it. (Took up too much room in the freezer, she said...so I did.)
    The new one does not have an ice maker.
    i don't know about yours, but you do that with something like a NORCOLD 1200 you'll wind up with a bill north of $4000, and a fridge that's still broken. Fix the old one right for ~$1500 all in
  • SCVJEFF: Replaced old Dometic with new Dometic. As I mentioned, same size, outside (of course...) Same with the inside (without the ice maker). $1500. Installed.
  • jerseyjim wrote:
    SCVJEFF: Replaced old Dometic with new Dometic. As I mentioned, same size, outside (of course...) Same with the inside (without the ice maker). $1500. Installed.


    yes but that's a pretty small basic lpg fridge u bought in a lot(most cases) people are replacing 1200 1210 norcolds which are Large LPG fridges and very expensive to buy as a new unit (3600++) ,
    I took out a perfectly running 1210 SS fridge and installed a frigidaire 18 cu foot SS 2 door looks great and works great and much much bigger Cu Ft wise. cost me $1147 cdn. self installed
    with a new ice maker lots of freezer room and wifey likes her rye and ice LOL
  • SCVJeff wrote:
    jerseyjim wrote:
    I replaced my fridge with another of the same brand (Dometic). Same size, nothing to modify. Take the old one out, slip in the new one...turn it on. Fast and simple. The only difference was the old one came with an ice maker, which after the first trip, wife demanded I remove it. (Took up too much room in the freezer, she said...so I did.)
    The new one does not have an ice maker.
    i don't know about yours, but you do that with something like a NORCOLD 1200 you'll wind up with a bill north of $4000, and a fridge that's still broken. Fix the old one right for ~$1500 all in


    I just took out a 1210 Norcold, this is my 3rd DP unit with such fridge and never had a single problem worth worrying about in the last 12 years of using such systems with the exception of a thermistor($20) we simply needed a larger fridge when snow birding