RV 3 way refrigerator

I spent 20+ years living in MV and you may have some options.

I'd first check with any friends who live in the older non-HOA neighborhoods and see if they'll let you park it on their driveway for a weekend.

I'd also call the Lake and ask the Operations Manager if you can bring it to the upper parking lot on a quiet day and plug it into 120V for a couple of hours.

I started RVing after I moved away, but I'd also call a couple of the local storage places and see if they'll give you a daily/weekly rate for a space with 120V access for your testing purposes.

Another option is to rent a good generator and take it to wherever you have the TT.

I live in an area that has an HOA and they are douchebags, so haven't had a chance to bring the trailer over to the house, soon as I do I will turn that puppy on and let you all know what's up, I do appreciate the help/suggestions !

Sondra

I would plug the 120v heater directly into 1 120v circuit to see if it gets hot and the refer cools overnight. This will bypass the circuit board and electrical systems. If it cools this way you know that the refer is good and it may be a simple fix to get the rest of it working. You can also check the ohms between the two leads of the heating element and your manual will tell you what it should be so you will know if your element is good or bad. Mine was about $35 to replace. If you post back what happens with this test and turning on the LP you will get more help.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Sondy132001 wrote:
My RV frig is dead, the guy I bought the trailer from said it worked one day the next it didn't. I have been looking for a refrigerator for a year, they seem to be made of gold. Even the used crappy ones on Craigslist are $700. New ones are $1200 yikes almost more than I paid for my used trailer =)

Is there a place online to find used rv refrigerators that won't break the bank ?? thanks for any info.

Have you tried to operate it?

Does it turn ON?

What does it do....what does it not do?

They are not complicated..........power/heat source/liquid-vapor-liquid cycle.
Sometimes it is just a fuse/bad connection.....sometimes a control module.....sometimes the cooling unit.

But.....'fridge is dead' doesn't describe much.

Replacement cooling units can be purchased for >$500

And there are RV Salvage Yards

Thanks for the information on the salvage ! I will have my trailer on Sunday at my house, and I will see if it turns on, I was told when I bought it, it no longer worked so I have never tried to do anything with it, I will make the effort this weekend. Again thanks for all the input.

S

Sondy132001 wrote:
My RV frig is dead, the guy I bought the trailer from said it worked one day the next it didn't. I have been looking for a refrigerator for a year, they seem to be made of gold. Even the used crappy ones on Craigslist are $700. New ones are $1200 yikes almost more than I paid for my used trailer =)

Is there a place online to find used rv refrigerators that won't break the bank ?? thanks for any info.

Have you tried to operate it?

Does it turn ON?

What does it do....what does it not do?

They are not complicated..........power/heat source/liquid-vapor-liquid cycle.
Sometimes it is just a fuse/bad connection.....sometimes a control module.....sometimes the cooling unit.

But.....'fridge is dead' doesn't describe much.

Replacement cooling units can be purchased for >$500

And there are RV Salvage Yards

If you don't use the propane part of the fridge (which we don't) then I'd suggest just installing a $300 fridge from Lowes. That's what my father did in his camper when the fridge went out. We never dry camp and generally camp within a few hours of the house. He's yet to run into a situation where the food isn't still nice and cold even after a two or three hour drive (as long as you keep it sealed it'll generally stay cold several hours). Luckily my factory fridge hasn't died yet, but I suspect I'll do the same when it does. On my father's we just re-worked the wood framing around the fridge. It actually looks nicer now than before in my opinion. I'll post a pic of it this weekend as the whole family will be at the lake. My father was in the same position as you and didn't want to spend $1200 for a fridge.

You can replace the cooling unit for less than $500,probably alot less with an older unit. I replaced one a few years ago for less than $400 and it was like new again.

yeah I'll do that, see if it's an easy fix ! It's a Norcold 874, from 1982 =) I do have a manual for it.

I would look for the model number and try to find an owner's guide. I have a Norcold and was able to find a troubleshooting chart. I used that to test and find my problem.

Have you taken it to an RV shop to be looked at? I might be some $25 fix?

Bill