Dometic refrigerator at higher altitudes

[hshea]

We purchased a new Keystone TT last year at the RV show here in Denver to replace our 10 yr old Forest River that never had an issue in its life. Now Denver is at 5280 feet and we camp in Colorado at National Forest campgrounds that usually do not have hook ups are all above 5280 ft. The Dometic fridge hardly works on propane it tries to ignite and fails to ignite 99% of the time, we have been to 5 dealers and spent nearly $800 of our own money and it still doesn't work. Now Dometic is telling us that their new fridges will not work above 5,000 feet. Why are dealers in Denver selling a TT with a fridge that only works at sea level?

We are so frustrated and sad we sold our old Forest River - needless to say Keystone doesn't give a darn and Dometic say there are no fixes for altitude so we have a $30k travel trailer and have to use a cooler?

Has anyone else had this issue and found a work around?

[humblerb]

SoundGuy wrote:

GizmosMom wrote:
We camped in the Grand Mesa at 10,000 feet. Our 2016 Forest River Sunseeker Dometic refrigerator did the same thing. We dug out the manual and it said that when camping above 5,000 feet we should have electrical hookups!

Reading the owner's manual ... imagine that! :W

Our dealer said that the manufacturers are "making different products" these days.

Well that's certainly an informative response from your dealer. :S

Sorry I'm just getting back to this post. The guy at 10' above sea level is me (Houston). Sorry if you thought I was giving you a hard time.

[TurnThePage]

Too bad they don't make RV fridge CPAP machines! 🙂 Maybe it's time to consider leaning on some kind of solar/generator/inverter set up.

[braindead0]

SoundGuy wrote:

braindead0 wrote:
I've never had any problems up to 7000', others have reported working fine at higher altitudes.

Nor have I ... the Norcold manual light 323 in our Fleetwood popup worked just fine anywhere we went, including over 10,000' in Colorado. So what? ... that doesn't change any official position manufacturers such as Norcold and Dometic may have on the subject. The fact is air is thinner at elevation and this does affect the performance of propane gas fridges ... those of us who find we can run above the recommended maximum of 5500' simply got lucky, for whatever reason. Regardless, the bottom line remains - fridge manufacturers make no guarantee any fridge will continue to run properly on propane at high elevation and to argue otherwise is pointless. :R

You conveniently cut out the part where I noted my manual does NOT say anything about problems running at high altitude. Their is no 'official position' for all models, only some manuals (unknown what models) stating that operation about 5000' may be a problem. There is no 'recommended maximum' for all models, at least according to Dometic.

Feel free to go back to page 2 where I provided a link to the current manual for my model (and several others), in that manual you will find no 'official' position on this subject in fact no mention of altitude (even tried the misspelling quoted in another post).

This thread needs more facts and less baseless assertions.

[jaycocreek]

We camp at 65-7000 alot for firewood and hunting.Both my Dometic refers(2010 Travel trailer & 1993 Class C) work fine at that altitude,can't say the same for my Onan 4K (110 hrs) which was a surprise yet both Honda's work fine.

[SoundGuy]

braindead0 wrote:
I've never had any problems up to 7000', others have reported working fine at higher altitudes.

Nor have I ... the Norcold manual light 323 in our Fleetwood popup worked just fine anywhere we went, including over 10,000' in Colorado. So what? ... that doesn't change any official position manufacturers such as Norcold and Dometic may have on the subject. The fact is air is thinner at elevation and this does affect the performance of propane gas fridges ... those of us who find we can run above the recommended maximum of 5500' simply got lucky, for whatever reason. Regardless, the bottom line remains - fridge manufacturers make no guarantee any fridge will continue to run properly on propane at high elevation and to argue otherwise is pointless. :R

[braindead0]

SoundGuy wrote:

rbpru wrote:
5500 ft does not sound that high to me. I am surprised they do not work.

Convenient interpretation but not what Dometic actually says in their owner manuals ...

"Reduced cooling performance and burner outage may occur at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet above sea level (while operating on LP gas)."

Big difference between "may" and "will not" and is the same result many report ... fridge works for some at elevations, for others it doesn't. :R

If you're going to post a quote from a Dometic manual, please include the model(s) it covers.

As I noted in an earlier post, the manual for my Dometic fridge (model RM2351) says nothing of the sort. Obviously SOME Dometic manuals do say that, but mine does not.

I've never had any problems up to 7000', others have reported working fine at higher altitudes.

[SoundGuy]

rbpru wrote:
5500 ft does not sound that high to me. I am surprised they do not work.

Convenient interpretation but not what Dometic actually says in their owner manuals ...

"Reduced cooling performance and burner outage may occur at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet above sea level (while operating on LP gas)."

Big difference between "may" and "will not" and is the same result many report ... fridge works for some at elevations, for others it doesn't. :R

[Colo_TJ]

Smaller Dometic version. It has the Danfoss compressor. Which I recommend you look for in specs if you decide to go this route. Highly efficient. Still gonna use more battery than propane.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/dometic--coolmatic-cr-compressor-refrigerators--P015_450_001_509

[Colo_TJ]

NOT cheap but a two way compressor type fridge. The 12 volt is much more efficient than the 12 volt 3 way evaporation type, which you have now.

Just a sample. They come in many sizes and styles. I have an ARB cooler style. They work way better and quicker than the evaporation type you currently have that is not working over 5000 ft.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/norcold--de-0061-ac-dc-refrigerator-freezer-right-hinge--5388699?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-Shopping_PLAs-_-5388699&adpos=1o4&creative=65739116644&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwmf6-BRDi9fSN7Ijt1wUSJAASawcjzRe885yGa3jDvMHRowqJcxNljFQxIk1KlMqEEfKWjRoCC-Hw_wcB

[rbpru]

5500 ft does not sound that high to me. I am surprised they do not work.
I think I would try the air adjustment galexander suggested.

[sky_free]

This might be a bit of an extreme solution, but you might be able to replace your fridge with a danfoss compressor 12v model if you are super motivated. Don't know what model you have to offer specifics. I looked into it and something like this might work if you currently have a 3-4 cu ft: http://www.truckfridge.com/tf130acdc.html

I toyed with the idea of ordering our Escape without a fridge and just installing one of these myself, but I'm not motivated enough to actually pull the trigger and do it. The normal RV fridges have worked OK for us so far up to 9,000 ft under cool conditions.

[xyzHollyxyz]

I have a 2015 Dometic 2652 (2-door) and page 3 of the operation manual states:

OPERATING REFRIGERATOR AT HIGH ALTITUDE

All gas appliances experience lowered efficiency (or rating) at high altitues. This is a direct result of lower atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels, and is not a defect of the refrigerator.

Reduced cooling performance and burner outage may occur at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet above sea level (while operating on LP gas). Always operate refrigerator on electric power at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet.

Just seems crazy to me that camping equipment can't be made to reliably work while camping in the mountains. How frustrating.

[braindead0]

The manual for the Dometic RM2351 doesn't say anything about altitude or any operating issues of this sort. Covers other models as well: link to manual

Must be just some models/sizes or designs, or they don't mention it.

Maybe if the burner is in need of cleaning?

[galexander]

DW wife and I went to RMNP in August and had same problem with water heater and fridge. We where at 8,300 ft in the Moraine campground, so said my GPS. After a few days of trying to keep the water heater and fridge lit and running, it dawned on me that at higher altitudes, less air causing not enough air for combustion. I opened the water heater cover and took off the fridge outside cover thus allowing more unrestricted air to get to burner for better combustion, or so that was my thoughts, and it worked. Fridge pilot lit and stayed lit and water heater lit off, had a ok flame but not the best. Both ran fine for the next five days and the pilots never did go out. Not saying this is a cure all for everyone, just my experiences that might help someone the next time they are at higher altitudes. When I got home both units ran like brand new, altitude was now 1,020 ft.