Refrigerator Change in a Class A Gasser

[FloridaRosebud]

OK, we are discussing changing out our Dometic 2862 for an all electric. One option is the guy who does the conversion in Indiana (JC Refeigeration I believe) and I spoke with him. $750 for him to do it. I just need to get the MH to him. Wife does not like that idea, and wants a new unit. So we've been looking at residential units, and there are a few out there - BUT - folks in the last 2 campgrounds have warned us that the residential units are not made to bounce around in an RV, and we need to look at the Norcold, Dometic Nova Kool, or other all electric units.

Question - who has made the change in their gassers (DP's ride much smoother, so I don't know if it's a fair comparison) and is happy with the performance and longevity, and what did you install.

Al

[FloridaRosebud]

MountainAir05 wrote:
WRT111SFDM Whirlpool purchase from Homedepot. 10 cu ft Stainless. You just have to find one close to what you have room for. As stated I cut about an inch on top, and couple inches on bottom. My heater is under my refrigerator, so just use 2x4 and made another frame above the heater and put the floor back in. Just a 2x4 frame like a table. I have two T105 batteries and put in a power inverters and since my batteries are only a short distance put in a relay and the inverter and ran the wire to the back of the refrigerator plug in.

That is one of the ones I bookmarked at Homer. Thanks!!

Al

[MountainAir05]

WRT111SFDM Whirlpool purchase from Homedepot. 10 cu ft Stainless. You just have to find one close to what you have room for. As stated I cut about an inch on top, and couple inches on bottom. My heater is under my refrigerator, so just use 2x4 and made another frame above the heater and put the floor back in. Just a 2x4 frame like a table. I have two T105 batteries and put in a power inverters and since my batteries are only a short distance put in a relay and the inverter and ran the wire to the back of the refrigerator plug in.

[garyemunson]

If you always camp in RV parks with hookups, you'll never notice a difference using a residential (wait, your ice cream will always be hard!). If you occasionaly bookdock or get caught some night without reservations and no capmground within 100 miles, gas is still king.

[FloridaRosebud]

MountainAir05 wrote:
We put in a residential refrigerator over tens years ago and have not look back. We have a Ford and it has lasted so far with what ever roads we are on. Yes I cut the top by one inch and the bottom a little more, but had the room to do so. As already stated they are installed on everything now and I think they are much safer. Food is stored at the right temp and the freezer is like home since we are in it for months it is home. Would never go back to the older system. good luck on your choice.

What brand did you use, and was is a single wide door or double wide door? I'm limited to a single wide door.

Al

[MountainAir05]

We put in a residential refrigerator over tens years ago and have not look back. We have a Ford and it has lasted so far with what ever roads we are on. Yes I cut the top by one inch and the bottom a little more, but had the room to do so. As already stated they are installed on everything now and I think they are much safer. Food is stored at the right temp and the freezer is like home since we are in it for months it is home. Would never go back to the older system. good luck on your choice.

[FloridaRosebud]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Really? How much "bouncing" do you do in your RV? The residential refrigerators are being installed in motorhomes, travel trailers, and 5th wheels. They work quite well if you always camp where you have electric hook ups or have enough solar or generator with a battery bank.

While I realize they are being installed in a lot of TT, 5ers and MH, I have read about and talked to folks who have had issues. Hence my question. To answer yours, my MH can be quite jarring while driving on rough roads. Is great on smooth surfaces, but in South Carlonia for example I-95 is a nightmare. Air bag, tire inflation, and shocks are optimal, so it's the nature of the beast. I have a Dometic 2862, so at most a 9.5 or so cubic foot unit will fit, and I'm not going to cut up the opening to get something else there, so I am limited on what domestic fridge I can even fit in there, and most are lower end units.

Al

[PNW_Steve]

I have over 6000 miles on my Frigidaire with zero problems.

In my last rig I needed to replace the absorbsion refrigerator in a bit of an emergency. The only thing that I could find that would fit in the space was a Magic Chef on sale for $179. It was a real POS.

I was on the road full time. The Magic Chef lasted almost four years.

[DownTheAvenue]

Really? How much "bouncing" do you do in your RV? The residential refrigerators are being installed in motorhomes, travel trailers, and 5th wheels. They work quite well if you always camp where you have electric hook ups or have enough solar or generator with a battery bank.

[MrWizard]

Those folks don't know they are talking about
They are wrong