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.

After talking to MANY people, the ice cream situation seems to be pretty common. While everything else in the freezer is hard as a rock, the ice cream is soft. We have started putting ours on the bottom of the left freezer after hearing that suggestion at a rally. If everything else is frozen, nothing wrong with the appliance.

Ours is the same way, it will keep meat and such frozen and will make ice but will not keep ice cream solid.It will keep ice cream pretty hard in the winter and cooler days but on a hot day, forget it !!!This is pretty typical for RV type Refrigerators.

Also, Norcold refrigerators cooling unit defrosts itself every 46-47 hours. I'm not talking about defrosting the freezer, just the cooling unit. If you watch your freezer temp closely you will see it increasing from 8'ish degrees up into the high teens every 46-47 hours. This is programmed into each Norcold and they all do it. If you happen to check your ice cream in the middle of this cycle it will be pretty soft. When it is in the 8 degree range it is much harder.

Welcome to the wonderful world of camping with an RV fridge! :BIce Cream never gets as cold and hard as it does in your home fridge!

We have a standard 2 door Norcold and keep ice cream in the left rear bottom corner and it stays solid. Recently went to get some and had to run the scoop under hot water before use in order to get it.

Freezer not cold enough. | Good Sam Community

drfife
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
NEVER--EVER-- buy an RV with the refrigerator in a slide-out
gordypig
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 07, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 07, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
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
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
There are 2 factory installed fans installed and operating.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2013
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.