Dometic or Norcold? Electric?

[abideejay]

It appears as though my Dometic fridge is on the blink. I went out to the trailer to get ready for a trip, only to discover that the fridge internal temp was over 80 degrees. The trailer sits in my driveway, leveled, plugged in to shore power when it is not on the road or in a campground. I switched to propane, and it started to cool...somewhat. I can't seem to get the refrigerator compartment to stay below 41 and the freezer...well, the Freezer pops are more like slushy pops.

When this trip is over, I will be taking the entire thing apart and making sure there aren't any blockages, etc.

I'm sort of mentally preparing myself for this to get rather expensive. My parents have a '14 TT with a Norcold fridge. It works amazingly well. We are currently across from each other in the campground, so both fridges are in comparable settings, and even on the same side of the TT's so the sun exposure is the same as well. Plus, theirs is the one that everyone is constantly opening and closing the door. All mine has in it are spare drinks and the freezer pops.

If I am unable to fix mine with no more than simple repairs, cleaning, etc...I am seriously considering replacing it. It's somewhat been a hassle since I bought the trailer almost a year ago. (2004 Aljo). I suspect it was not maintained, and since I have found all sorts of other "surprises" on the trailer, I'm not holding much hope for a simple fix.

With all of that being said, I see my options as this:
1) Replace with new Dometic fridge
2) Replace with new Norcold fridge
3) Replace cooling 'module' and keep existing fridge cabinet
4) Screw it all and go full electric with a compressor model from Lowes, etc.

I'd like to have the ability to run on propane, but the reality is that I'm plugged in just about everywhere. Just about.


Thoughts?

[Kay_and_Gene]

My dometic went out after 3 years. did all the checks myself and by the dealer. Replacement/repair was not in my budget so went with a 4.2 cu.ft. two door Frigidaire from Lowes. We never camp where there is no electric so this works great for us. It slipped right into the existing opening and a few pieces of trim and done.

[Community Alumni]

I've had all three, Dometic, Norcold and now an Atwood, to me they all perform really well. My current Atwood has a fan that cycles on and off all the time and I've found that it cooled at a lower setting better than my Norcold one. I've actually had to turn it down because things were beginning to freeze. It also has a larger evaporator tray and doesn't end up dripping water in the fridge like my previous two fridges did.

The feature that I like is that the helium is not flammable like the hydrogen was on the other units. Having said this though, I would have been happy with whichever fridge came with the trailer when I bought it.

[jaycocreek]

If I am unable to fix mine with no more than simple repairs, cleaning, etc...I am seriously considering replacing it. It's somewhat been a hassle since I bought the trailer almost a year ago. (2004 Aljo). I suspect it was not maintained, and since I have found all sorts of other "surprises" on the trailer, I'm not holding much hope for a simple fix.

With all of that being said, I see my options as this:
1) Replace with new Dometic fridge
2) Replace with new Norcold fridge
3) Replace cooling 'module' and keep existing fridge cabinet
4) Screw it all and go full electric with a compressor model from Lowes, etc.

Buying a used trailer is a crapshoot as far as the refer goes.I would just guess from what I have seen that the vast majority of rvers don't think having there trailer refer as level as they can is that important...Well,it is especially in older units.

I had the same problem as you with a used trailer.Worked when I bought it but went out shortly after...I replaced the cooling unit..About $400 bucks or so.In my opinion it raises the worth of your used trailer/motor home or whatever with basically a new frig in it leaving the new buyer more assured he won't have to replace the frig which is expensive.

Other than water damage,the refrigerator working properly is my number 1 concern buying a used unit.

[lawrosa]

I have a test going on here after I fixed my condensate tube today...

I like my dometic....

http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27923721.cfm

[GeoBoy]

I like my Norcold.

[FrankShore]

Atwood offers nice helium cooled refrigerators now!

I'd replace it with the Norcold, but that's just me!

[westend]

Another alternative is to replace the existing absorption fridge with a 12V model. The difference in price may be enough to outfit with solar and more batteries.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

If the fridge is toast, I would replace with a residential model. No more leveling worries.

[Old_Days]

Here is my 2 cents. If you always have electric by your camp sites I would go with a electric frig only. A new elec, propane frig is like 700. to a 1000. bucks. When you travel just freeze gallon jugs of water that will keep frig cold till you get power.

[lawrosa]

Watch the video here on condenstate lines issues..

They also compare attwood with dometic... Norcold refused to do the test..

http://rvrefrigeration.com/training-videos/