Freezer not cold enough.

[TDiddy51]

I have a Norcold 21171M 4-door refrigerator w/icemaker in my 5'er and it won't keep ice cream solid. The temp ranges from about 12 degrees to 24 degrees when the refrigerator setting is on 9. This is with an outside temp in the low 80's. I had it in the shop at Camping World and they replaced a thermistor, saying that was causing the freezer not to get cold enough. I am now full-timing and am not happy about the lack of getting this problem solved. Anyone have any suggestions? The rig is a 2008 Crossroads Seville 35CK.

[drfife]

gordypig wrote:
NEVER--EVER-- buy an RV with the refrigerator in a slide-out

If you do, get a residential fridge.

No holes in the sides (or roof if fridge not in slide)....

[gordypig]

NEVER--EVER-- buy an RV with the refrigerator in a slide-out

[gordypig]

You failed to mention if the refrigerator was installed in a slide out, worse thing RV manufacturers ever did. Baffles need to be installed from the inner outside wall toward the cooling fins, and a computer fan thermatically controlled.Also I've found refrig boxes not insulated. Also Norcold insulated boxes are vacuum packed, if there compromised they will swell, tear and your box will not cool properly Replacing the thermistor was a complete and total rip-off, that only needs replacing if the lower box is freezing. I make a living repairing RV's and make a great living fixing Camping World's blunders

[wantabe351]

I installed two 3" computer fans in the upper vent for my Frig when I pack in a CG and that side of the RV sits in the afternoon sun. A switch that I wired to control the fans is placed in the lower Frig vent grill. When needed I just flip it on and it helps immensely..I also installed a 3" computer fan inside the Frig on the top shelf blowing downward,wow what a difference in frig temp-top or on the bottom drawer...but I still need to keep my ice cream on the bottom of the freezer compartment and its rock hard..I feel that when the frig goes bad a standard 120v frig/freezer will go in its place,no more fans then...

[TugCE]

In my career at sea I have seen a lot of problems with refrigeration systems. When hearing a complaint of the freezer not freezing the first thing that I would check is if there was enough room for air to circulate around all of the items in the freezer. In order for everything to stay frozen make sure that it is not pack too solidly. This is on everything from a huge walk in unit to a small apartment size refrigerator.

[John_Bridge]

I've had three different rigs, and I have NEVER had that problem. Hard, soft or otherwise, ice cream doesn't stay in my freezer very long. 🙂

[stickdog]

GBuilders wrote:
I have the 8 cubic foot Norcold and I keep my ice cream on the bottom shelf behind the bag of ice and on the 4 or 5 setting its rock solid as long as the kids keep the door closed. Our friends will sometimes put meats or something they want to freeze and that does not work very well in an RV fridge.

We freeze meat all the time in our 8cu ft Dometic but just as ice cream it must be on the bottom and next to the back wall.

[GBuilders]

I have the 8 cubic foot Norcold and I keep my ice cream on the bottom shelf behind the bag of ice and on the 4 or 5 setting its rock solid as long as the kids keep the door closed. Our friends will sometimes put meats or something they want to freeze and that does not work very well in an RV fridge.

[TDiddy51]

There are 2 factory installed fans installed and operating.

[Old-Biscuit]

Fridge in a slide out does not cool as effective as ones that have roof top vent.
Chimney effect is reduced.

Really need fans in outside compartment to move sufficient air across coils, especially as outside air temps increase.

Install at least two t-stat controlled fans at top vent.
Good, tight, unobstructed air flow is the key.

[MTPockets1]

Our 9 CF Dometic works great! Freezes well. Will freeze inside frig compartment if set on coldest setting. Maybe the answer is the brand?

[Fishinghat]

I installed five computer fans on the inside of the vent cover. That forces air up the thru the cooling coils at the rear of the frig, cooling the heat exchangers much better than just the chimney effect. That keeps the frig from having to work so hard in hot weather and keeps the freezer much cooler.

I wired the fans to a switch so I could easily turn them on/off in cooler weather. The 12 volt supply was right there at the base of the frig. I used computer fans since that is what I had, but any quiet & efficient fan should work just as well. In fact, installing two of the larger five inch fans at the top of the frig would work much better if you want to go thru the effort of installing them.

[ksg5000]

Think about the people who are camping in tents and using coolers - their struggling to keep the beer cold.

[drfife]

We solved the problem by having a 120v residential refrigerator installed.

My wife loves it. More room. Less weigh. Mose consistent temps. Not to mention the ice maker.