OK, I have never had to consider a full fridge replacement before. My fridge has bitten the big green weenie and decided to roll over and die.... Seems that Bob expected it to survive in -33C with wind chills of -40's.....It didn't.I bought this rig last May, in favor of replacing my old rotting Sportsmen. Another story there....Anyhow, I'm working in stupidly cold freezing temperatures and my fridge is toast. Or so it seems.I could buy an Amish cooling unit and fix the thing, but I really don't like this fridge. Dometic Americana. No model number on it but I think it is RM 2652. I have never liked this thing, it has no temperature control whatsoever. It is on, or it is off. Period, no more. I hate it. Eyebrow panel - on/off/ auto/ gas. Thats it.Anyhow, looks like I have to put a new one in. Several different brands out there, Dometic, Norcold and a few others.Bewilderment sets in, as I have never needed to compare brands before. But I need to know. If I'm going to buy a fridge, may as well get something better than this thing.Is this the old Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge deal? Or is one brand of RV fridge better than the other?I am looking at options for fridge replacement. I don't have 2G to shell out but need a fridge. I salvaged most of my stuff from the freezer, cooked it all up and put it in my pickup where it promptly froze, but ate like an oink the past 2 nights trying not to throw stuff out. Think I'll barf if I stuff any more in the piehole.... I hate wasting food. And no, I am not interested in putting a 110 only unit in. I boondock a lot and I need a proper RV fridge.Is there any difference in quality of Norcold, Dometic and others?

Hi Bob,I think both Dometic and Norcold make a unit with a 12 volt danfoss compressor. Be prepared for sticker shock.

Hey ButterBoy!I like the Norcold because it has a recessed pan area so if something melts, the stuff won't splash out on you when you open the door. Plus it gives you a lot of extra room to cram more frozen butter for latter exploits!WoodGlue

Well, that will teach that ole fridge for getting all moldy and giving you a new nick name.

Hi Bob,Here is an example of cheap panels right in Calgary!Under $1 per watt.

Are you sure it's dead? When it's that cold you need to block off the outside vent and put a light bulb in there to heat it up. I know this sounds wrong, but these things need heat to work.If it is dead then this may help.

Dumb question? Fridge brand quality? Which one?

36 Replies

BoonHauler
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
BoonHauler wrote:
Hey, can anyone provide a link for the Danfoss Dometic and Norcold units.

I'm installing a separate Refrigerator / Freezer in my rig and have been looking at the Nova Kool line.

Thanks in advance.

Nevermind, just contacted them directly. I'll post my info later.
BoonHauler
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
BoonHauler wrote:
Hey, can anyone provide a link for the Danfoss Dometic and Norcold units.

I'm installing a separate Refrigerator / Freezer in my rig and have been looking at the Nova Kool line.

Thanks in advance.

Nevermind, just contacted them directly. I'll post my info later.
islandvagabonds
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
For the Amish units contact David Force at RVCOOLINGUNIT.COM. David is a straight shooter that provided me with great service. The Amish unit works much better than the original Norcold. Install one of his circuation funs in the interior. It makes the fridge perform much like a residential unit.

Bob
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
BobsYourUncle wrote:
OK, I have never had to consider a full fridge replacement before.
My fridge has bitten the big green weenie and decided to roll over and die.... Seems that Bob expected it to survive in -33C with wind chills of -40's.....

It didn't.

I bought this rig last May, in favor of replacing my old rotting Sportsmen. Another story there....

Anyhow, I'm working in stupidly cold freezing temperatures and my fridge is toast. Or so it seems.

I could buy an Amish cooling unit and fix the thing, but I really don't like this fridge. Dometic Americana. No model number on it but I think it is RM 2652.

I have never liked this thing, it has no temperature control whatsoever. It is on, or it is off. Period, no more. I hate it. Eyebrow panel - on/off/ auto/ gas. Thats it.

Anyhow, looks like I have to put a new one in.

Several different brands out there, Dometic, Norcold and a few others.

Bewilderment sets in, as I have never needed to compare brands before. But I need to know. If I'm going to buy a fridge, may as well get something better than this thing.

Is this the old Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge deal?

Or is one brand of RV fridge better than the other?

I am looking at options for fridge replacement. I don't have 2G to shell out but need a fridge.

I salvaged most of my stuff from the freezer, cooked it all up and put it in my pickup where it promptly froze, but ate like an oink the past 2 nights trying not to throw stuff out. Think I'll barf if I stuff any more in the piehole.... I hate wasting food.

And no, I am not interested in putting a 110 only unit in. I boondock a lot and I need a proper RV fridge.

Is there any difference in quality of Norcold, Dometic and others?
Bob'sMyNephew's name!

Six of one, half a dozen the other brand, Bob. My first rig had Dometic. This one, Norcold.
BoonHauler
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
Hey, can anyone provide a link for the Danfoss Dometic and Norcold units.

I'm installing a separate Refrigerator / Freezer in my rig and have been looking at the Nova Kool line.

Thanks in advance.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Mar 06, 2014
WoodGlue wrote:
Ooooohhh, ok ButterBoy, I'll knit you a new fridge! :B

WoodGlue

Thanks buddy1 you're a pal!

Butterboy, hahaha

I eagerly await your delivery of a fresh new knitted fridge!

BTW, what the flip is a knitted fridge?.......
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Mar 06, 2014
Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
Whatever you do Bob, repair or replace, please do the work yourself, with pictures. I'm sitting on the edge of my chair waiting to read about what goes wrong. I'm sure I'm not alone on that here :B

Hahaha! LOL on the read about what goes wrong!! :B
When I was younger, I had a bit of a nickname, mostly self imposed by myself. Bad Luck Bob! But I now do smile and take it all in stride. Hafta laugh at things that go wrong.

Yeah, always do the work myself. I'm just built that way. I love fixing things.
I have a basic understanding of how the RV fridge works but thats it. I have not worked with them enough to really know and understand the total workings of them.
Maybe I should do that. All I need is a descriptive page to read and I'll understand it.

good call on the pics, I'll be sure to have my camera handy.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Mar 06, 2014
wa8yxm wrote:
Your choice list:
'snip'

I don't know anything about this danfoss thing. Nothing.

I do have to have a unit that runs off propane. 12V or 110 only doesn't work, as I boondock a lot. Gotta have the unit for gas. Minimal power consumption.

I have looked at the Amish cooling units. Likely the cheapest way to go.
I have no problem doing the work myself. I have been a fix it guy all my life. Very easy for me. I know and understand this stuff. And if I haven't done it before, I can easily learn. it is natural for me.
God blessed me with this talent!!!

Thanks for the input, I appreciate that!

Not sure where to get a cooling unit from - haven't done the homework yet.
Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
Whatever you do Bob, repair or replace, please do the work yourself, with pictures. I'm sitting on the edge of my chair waiting to read about what goes wrong. I'm sure I'm not alone on that here :B
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 06, 2014
Your choice list:
Full replacement may not be needed.. You can replace JUST the cooling unit (The "Works" as it were) and if you do that, consider an Amish Cooling unit.. Many links about the forum on those.. Most forum members who have one (I do not have one so can not say) give them high quality marks. As i said, personally I can not comment since I do not have one.

Full Replacement

Norcold
Dometic
norcold Danfoss
Dometic Danfooss
Residential

In reading the forums and posts from folks myself included, who have them not really much to recommend Norcold over Dometic over Norcold.. The OEM cooling units, that is the working part of the thing, Appears they are much the same.. Norcold does have a different way of disposing of condensation than Dometic, not sure I'd say one is better than the other though.

Danfoss compressor units (Both Norcold and Dometic offer at least one) These are all electric (12/120 volt Fridges, Door closed they draw less than 50 watts and they work very well (Works out to about 3 amps) I have an Engel chest freezer-or-fridge (Depending on T-Stat) unit next to me as I type. LOVE IT.

Residential: These are 120 volt only compressor units, Many draw 100-1000 watts I would rather avoid them as they suck way too much power.

IF I ever do a full replacement of my Dometic.. i will likely go with a Danfoss compressor type.

Forum Discussion

Dumb question? Fridge brand quality? Which one?

36 Replies

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