This seems to be a pretty emotional issue for some people, but in the end it isn't a "Ford versus Chevy" or personal choice so much as a product of the future versus a product of the past. I've owned eight RVs since 1975 and all, including our current RV, a motor home, came with an absorption refer. When our Norcold 1200LM failed and flooded the MH with ammonia (fortunately no fire) we replaced it with a residential model. We doubled the capacity, eliminated defrosting, enjoyed fresh vegetables for a weeks, and ate frozen food that didn't suffer from freezer burn. It runs just fine on the inverter, AC, or generator, and although we don't boondock, we have friends that do without a problem. True, my residential refrigerator wasn't designed for an RV, but neither was my convection microwave, TV, home theater, or even the fireplace. But they all work just fine, and in my refer's case, it has a longer warranty and will cost a lot less to repair. And I won't have to rely on an aftermarket fix (mysteriously called "Amish") if I have a problem. I can call any appliance repairman instead of a "certified" Norcold technician. Those that cling to the Norcold are welcome to, and I'm really not being critical, for many it's not really a choice. But even the smaller gas models (Winnebago 36Y for example)are now coming from the factory with residential (12 CF or so) refers, and once the manufacturer's contracts with Norcold and Dometic run their course, the absorption refrigerator will be history.
