Refrigerator

Bamaman1 wrote:
For the most part, refrigerators are cooled by ammonia, and they use heat to refrigerate--electric or propane gas. And the fridges do not drain condensation on the coils as well as they should.

RV refrigerators often have a 10 year lifespan, however they are rebuildable. Many owners choose to use dorm style refrigerators or ice chests in lieu of spending $350-400 to rebuild their RV fridge. Completely new refrigerators are also an option, but they're most often $1,000-$1,500--quite expensive.

.......or replacing with a home style (compressor) refrigerator.

Std equip on some MHs & 5ths.

Search the MH forums and you will find folks replacing the AC/Propane fridges with compressor type.

More efficient, cost less, much longer lifespan, cool faster, not affected by not being exactly level, etc..:C

~

stargirl96 wrote:
Hello Ken,
Please explain about the Amish cooling unit?

Here is a link to website for the Amish cooling unit. You essentially replace the coils mounted on the rear of the unit with much heavier quality ones. Give David Force a call using the phone # from the site. He is very knowledgeable and will answer your questions.
http://rvcoolingunit.com/Default.aspx

I think the answer to your question is that most trailers don't have auto levelers and are leveled with blocks. Being harder to level than a MH I think many are run more often out of level.

Find the so-called "Amish" units at pinesrv.com.

JJBIRISH wrote:
I personally know of and have had working fridges that were near 40 years old…

Mine is 39 years old and all I've had to do is replace the thermocoupler for $12 (knock on wood).

DutchmenSport wrote:
I heard it said "they" can make a light bulb that will last 100 years and not burn out. But if "they" did, everyone would buy 1 bulb and never have to buy another.

Don't think so. That kind of bulb would be too expensive. "They're" coming close with LEDs, in that you have to buy 10 before you find one that actually looks good.

I heard it said "they" can make a light bulb that will last 100 years and not burn out. But if "they" did, everyone would buy 1 bulb and never have to buy another. The company making them would be out of business after everyone bought their first bulb because there would never be any repeat business.

So you know, they make 'em cheap so you have to replace them. It guarantees repeat business and keeps "them" in business.

FYI, I've never had to replace a refer in any of my RVs. (hope I never do either).

10 years… mine has over 10 years of full time use, the absorption fridges still work in my 90 and 91 trailers… I personally know of and have had working fridges that were near 40 years old…

Most fridges fail or have shortened life spans from improper use, and that goes for the Amish cooling units as well… the amish units do seem (REPORTEDLY) to cool down faster and get a little colder, but they to fail and I suspect for the same reasons…

Failed Amish cooling unit…

Not-the-best quality of steel in the coils.

The high failure rate of RV absorption type fridges has very little to do with what class of RV they are in. How they are installed at the factory is directly related to how well they will cool as many are improperly installed with many RVers complaining about lackluster cooling performance.

It's a crapshoot to how long an RV fridge will last, we do know that the more level an RV fridge is operated over it's lifetime improves overall longevity. Most common issue is a clogged cooling unit and they can be replaced, Amish cooling units tend to be of higher quality.

Many RVers have reported 10 plus years of reliable service from their RV fridges, our Dometic has been rock solid over the last 7 years and cools very well regardless of exterior ambient temps. Guess we just got lucky or maybe whoever installed it was in a good mood that day.