Replacement Fridge or New Cooling Unit

[SGTJOE]

I have a 2001 National Tradewinds and my dometic fridge has just had it's 2nd cooling unit quit. 6 Years ago I paid $1200.00 to have it changed out, now I'm being told that it will cost me a little over $3,000.00. So my question to you all is do I do it or do I have a residential fridge installed instead.
Now if I do a residential fridge has anyone on here done that and what was the cost? My fridge is a Dometic NDR 1292, it's a side-by-side. For those who have switched over, can you tell me the cost and where a good place that has the experience to get it done. I live in Southern Utah.

[SGTJOE]

Well it looks like I may be going to a residential fridge. The shop said they will not install a cooling unit since they recently did one and it actually caused some folks to lose their RV. The Cooling Unit supplier refuses to take any responsibility on their Unit which was installed a few months ago.

I'm going to have them pull my old Dometic fridge out and we will measure the height and see how tall a fridge can be installed with some modifications if needed. Fridges I've looked at that will meet the depth and width cost under $500.00, plus I can get an extended warranty for 5 years 95 bucks. Labor at the most will be 5 hours at 125 phr. Over all cheaper, safer and much colder then staying with a cooling unit again.

[SGTJOE]

After visiting all the RV shops in Saint George, UT I'm going out to one on Tuesday so they can look everything over and give me an accurate labor quote. So far they seem the best with the cooling unit at $910. +shipping and a 5 year warranty. Let you all know next week. Last cooling unit replacement was done inside my MH on the floor. No window removal.

Too bad there isn't a RV wrecking yard close by.

[C20]

We used these folks and are very happy with the product and service.

https://www.rvcool.com

[Big_Katuna]

Open the windows. ACs just move air around. Mine dissipated in a few days.

[SGTJOE]

Even after a few days, the smell is horrible. Turned on the 2 a/c's to see if this will "clear" the air and opened all the windows. How long will this stink remain?

[Big_Katuna]

I walked in one day and the ammonia smell nearly knocked me down.

Worked great right up to when it leaked.

[Gjac]

Those that report that your cooling units no longer worked, what was the issue? Were the tubes blocked or did they leak ammonia or something else? Also a thermometer that just measures air temps inside the refer will be higher each time your open the door a thermometer inside a glass of water will be a more accurate way to measure the actual temperature of the food.

[imgoin4it]

I’m waiting for a residential refrigerator I ordered from Lowe’s last week. Our Norcold worked great for 11 years then it worked no more. Not taking ant chance with any fix for it and going residential

[Weldon]

Bought mine at Home Depot about $400. took the door off and it came thru the door. The one I bought fit perfectly in the space where the old one was. Was able to secure it from the backside with wood screws thru a metal brace on the frig. Probably need to secure it a bit more from the to inside the trailer. You will need the inverter and possible battery change to go with the inverter. Go for it!

[Big_Katuna]

Mine cools great. Even in Florida. Fills up the ice cube bin in a day.

Absorption technology is common in industrial applications.

[kmb1966]

Here are some more questions that they will ask that you won't have the right answer:
1. What type of thermometer are you using?
No matter how you answer this question, they claim it is no good.
I told them I had a fridge thermometer. They said those are junk. You need an infrared thermometer. So I go buy that type of thermometer. Then they claim that those can also be very inaccurate. Then they told me to buy a outdoor weather thermometer. I bought that. Then they said those can be inaccurate. By the way, they were all reading about the same in my fridge. DOESN'T MATTER YOUR ANSWER. THEY HAVE AN EXCUSE.

2. Where in the frig are you taking your measurements?
DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE COLDEST READING I CAN EVER GET IS ABOUT 39 DEGREES AND THAT IS AT 5AM.
3. Are your fans running?
YES.
4. Do you have an ARP UNIT?
IF YOU SAY NO, THEY TELL YOU IT IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE BECAUSE OF THE FANS.
So I purchased the ARP unit. NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I NEED TO TURN OFF THE ARP UNIT BECAUSE THE FANS AREN'T HELPING.

You might get lucky and it work for you. I think they work fine if you don't live in the South where it gets 100 degrees in the daytime and 85 at night. If it gets cool at night (50-60 degrees), this unit works just OK.
Like I said, you might get lucky and it be installed correctly and everything work out with no problems. There are always exceptions.

[kmb1966]

ScottG wrote:
What this thread tells me is if I install an Amish unit and it works poorly, they'll blame it on the install and leave me hanging.

Correct. And ALSO, they have no "installers" that they "recommend". They want you to bring it back to them in INDIANA. That's ok if you live in that area. That was not feasible at all for me.
Just say NO to all that game and get a residential fridge if you can.

[RLS7201]

kmb1966 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
My new Norcold is an absolute pile of junk and I'll probably be installing an Amish cooling unit or a compressor conversion kit from JC Cooling in it eventually.
If your going to stay with an absorbtion type fridge, you'd be much better off getting a good cooling unit for your existing fridge rather than a whole new fridge.

I too have the new Amish Cooling unit in my Norcold. BUT GUESS WHAT? IT DOESN'T COOL REASONABLE EITHER! JC Refrigeration blames the installer, and the installer blames JC Refrigeration and you get no where with either. Right now my unit is ON with the new Amish cooling unit, and it is 10 degrees in the freezer and 42 in the refrigerator. Ice cream does NOT get frozen hard, and if you open the door twice, it's now 45 degrees in the refrigerator and takes many hours to get to 42. AND 42 IS NOT THAT SAFE!
My plan is to get a residential unit and spend the $ and call it DONE. I am tired of playing the Norcold Amish games while they take my money and make up reasons to blame each other.

I would go with the installer at blame.
Those absorption cooling units MUST be installed with no air flow up the sides and less than 1" spacing in the back.
I have helped many of my friends by gluing foam insulation around their absorption refrigerators. All the air flow MUST go up the back around the coils. Many of the RV manufacturers get it wrong in an effort to reduce build time. There is nothing wrong with the cooling of absorption refrigerators if installed properly.

Richard

[SGTJOE]

Executive wrote:
My 1200 failed once. Had the Amish unit installed. It failed a year later. Removed the 1200 and it went to the dump. Installed the Samsung and couldn't be happier. Best mod done to the coach. Did it myself at a campground in Gulf Shores. Took me two days with the tools I had. Would have been shorter if I had the right tools. Below is a link with pictures and narrative.....Dennis

Samsung Fridge Install

Would you like to visit Saint George, Utah for a few days, room and meals included.

[AllegroD]

x2 on the RF18 from Lowes. Got ours (no scratch), on sale at $1000, including a military discount. Went through the door.