dgreen1069
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Re: Dometic NDA1402 Cooling Fin Heating Element
Carla, the heating pad I purchased worked like a charm. It is self adhesive and all I had to do was splice the wires into the existing wiring harness that I took off the broken heating pad. I used this one because it had the correct resistance: Heating Pad1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Dometic NDA1402 Cooling Fin Heating Element
LittleBill wrote: why not just buy a 10 cent 4 ohm resistor? I thought about that, but I wasn't sure if a small resistor could survive the 4amp load from the circuit. The heating pad I added seems to have worked. The fridge fired up as normal and I am waiting to see if it cools. The good news is, no more error code. I could not mount the heating pad in the exact space the previous heater was, but hopefully it won't matter. The new pad is on the back of the cooling fins, but towards the top due to screw holes in the middle. At 50w, I'm hoping the pad doesn't get hot enough to damage anything.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Dometic NDA1402 Cooling Fin Heating Element
dougrainer wrote: Other than the Fail code, have you seen abnormal icing on the fins? I would not throw away a good functioning refer just because a defrost element has failed. Even with the Fail code, the refer should still be functioning. Doug This is what I have replaced over the years as the most common defrost failure. It may be able to be used in place of the discontinued part. Just have to modify how it is installed. https://rvpartsexpress.com/product/dometic-3851411011-heating-element-water-drain/ The crazy thing is that the refrigerator DOES NOT function with an error code....at least not error code 12. I have never seen icing on my cooling fins, so I am not even concerned about the absence of the heater. I purchased a 12v 50w heating pad from Amazon that is designed as an oil pan warmer. That should give me the 3-4ohms of resistance the computer board is looking for at start up. I am hoping the heater pad tricks the computer board into thinking all the right parts are there so the fridge turns on. I am not a full timer, so frozen coils aren't an issue for us. We rarely camp for more than two weeks at a time.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Dometic NDA1402 Cooling Fin Heating Element
Thanks for the reply. My signature needs to be updated an I can seem to figure out where to do that. I have a 2009 Discovery 40x now. I may have to look at that option, but for the cost I may just go residential if it comes to that. I’d get a big boost in capacity for just a little more money.1.3KViews0likes0CommentsDometic NDA1402 Cooling Fin Heating Element
My rig has a Dometic NDA1402 refrigerator. When I turned the fridge on this afternoon I got error code 12. According to the service manual, error code 12 means there is a problem with the refrigerator side cooling fin heater element. I checked the element with a multimeterand found an open circuit (no resistance). I should be seeing 3 to 4ohms. Long story short, I have determined it needs to be replaced. Looking online, it appears the part (3850674015) is discontinued and unavailable everywhere I have looked. I would HATE to replace the entire fridge for this one simple part. Has anyone else run into this problem? Can I use a different heater element to accomplish the same task and fool the fridge into working? Does anyone know if I could simply add a jumper in place of the heating element to trick the refrigerator into working? If this is a bad idea or dangerous, please let me know. I am just brain storming at this point.4KViews0likes11CommentsRe: Considering a Newmar All Star 3950
bcobb2555 wrote: dgreen1069 wrote: I used to be very active on this forum but haven't been around much the last few years. I still have the truck and trailer in my signature but am finally looking to upgrade to a diesel motorhome. I am seriously considering a Newmar 3950. This is a mid-engine diesel coach on a Spartan chassis with a rear loft room above the master bedroom. I have a few questions for anyone familiar with this coach. Do you regret only having one slide-out? It seems to me that the slide out in the main room is fairly large giving the coach a lot of main living space. Do you find the loft usable? My kids are high school and middle school age and currently sleep in my trailer's bunks. The loft is certainly larger than what they are used to, but can a grownup sleep up there without feeling like they are in a coffin? Has the lack of outside storage bothered you? Like everything else, the storage is a compromise. I've read the mid-engine configuration actually makes service easier (which I would not have expected), but the double decker bedrooms eliminate a lot of storage from the rear. My gut tells me it isn't an issue since the motorhome probably still has more storage than what I'm used to. Any other likes or dislikes? Anyone traveled a significant distance to buy a rig from someone else? I'm trying to work out the logistics in my head and it seems a bit daunting. I just bought one and got back from our first big trip in it. The storage is but isnt an issue. It is an issue because there isnt much but we also make it work. You have a large side box, a small side box, and the up and down in the back. Just pack it tight! One of the boxes is just for tools and parts being a trucker I want to have anything I made need to avoid the dreaded side of the road breakdown. The loft is awesome. My kid is only 3 and one in the oven so for now its great. I slept up there a few nights and being 6 foot it was a little tight but doable. One night it did rain and all the kids in the group wanted to watch movies in the loft which was cool but also meant all the kids were in our RV lol. I found this as I was looking into service on one as I have a massive oil leak. "Some say the mid engine is easier to work on" is a quote I have seen on closed topics from 6 years ago but I cannot imagine how it would be easier. It is pretty cramped in there even with the floor access taken out. The one slide is fine for us. There is plenty of room in the back to change and sleep, what else do you need? When its closed and people check it out I often here "there is a lot of room in here with the slide in" referring to the walk way through the cabin. I have not been in many RV's so I do not have anything to compare it too. It rides really nice having the motor in the middle. Again, I have not driven a pusher but being in the trucking business all my life (pulling / dragging / weight distribution of load etc) its nice to drive. Congrats on the new rig. The one I was looking to buy didn't work out so I ended up going another direction. We bought a 2009 Discovery 40X which isn't a bunkhouse at all. It has two couches that are hide-a-beds and a large U-shaped dinette that converts to a bed. The larger beds work well for my kids since they are older, and we are hoping the extra living space will serve us well as we become empty nesters in the next few years.373Views0likes0CommentsRe: DP models that work well for families
GreenSalsa wrote: We altered our new 2014 American Revolution 42T. We removed the walk in closet, replaced it with bunks, tore out the 2nd bathroom (front) and used that space for a real hanging closet, and finally took out one of the sofas and replaced it with a real working desk (for homeschool and work). Be advised it was just over 2.5 times your budget. That said, there are plenty of used 42Ts you might want to alter... Thanks for the reply. I actually picked up a 2009 Discovery 40X one week ago today. It has a queen bed on a slide in the rear and two sleeper sofas and a large dinette up front. After all my searching, I found this one almost in my back yard. The seller was fantastic to deal with and we are super pleased. Can't wait to finish cleaning and stocking it so we can take it out on the road. I will say, even after decades of towing large trailers, driving this thing is a bit intimidating. It's fine on the open road, but I need to get more comfortable with the seating position and mirrors.399Views0likes0CommentsDP models that work well for families
I'm in the market for a used diesel pusher and have been looking at Newmar Allstars and other bunk models such as the Discovery 40G (leaning away from), and Berkshire 390BH. I like the Tiffin 38QBA, but there aren't many used ones out there and I'm looking for a high output ISB/ Allison 3000 as my minimum powertrain. Since bunkhouses are so few and far between, what other models are out there that work well for families? I'm thinking we'd need opposing couches and a dinette so we could have a few sleeping options. My kids are middle school and high school age, and we tend to bring a friend or two with us. I've been looking blindly at RV Trader, but I think my search would be more efficient if I had some model numbers to search for. My budget is around $100k, which puts me in the 2006-2010 model year range.1.8KViews0likes9CommentsRe: Newmar vs Berkshire - Diesel Bunkhouses
I REALLY like the main living area of the Allstar, but worry I might regret not having a bedroom slide. Any thoughts on owning a motorhome with one slide? What about the age? The newest Allstars are 2009’s. I’ve heard motorhomes take a BIG hit when they hit the 10 year mark. Is that as big an issue as I’m thinking?689Views0likes0CommentsNewmar vs Berkshire - Diesel Bunkhouses
I've been in the market for a Newmar Allstar, but they are somewhat few and far between. I'm considering a Berkshire 390bh, but can't seem to find much about their build quality. I also like the Tiffin 38QBA, but they are newer and cost a bit more (I'm trying to stay below $100k). There are several videos on Youtube showing how Newmar constructs their RV's. I can't seem to find any videos for Forest River which makes the Berkshire line. If I can get a Newmar I'd like the 3950. It has a loft above the master The downsides to the layout are no slide in the master and very limited outside storage. The coach has one large slide but the main living area has two extra captains chairs which I REALLY like. The Berkshire is a more standard bunkhouse layout. The Berkshire has FAR more exterior storage. The Newmar comes with an ISC vs an ISB in the Berkshire. Does anyone have any insight on either of these models? Is there a general rule of thumb on how much dealers markup used inventory?4KViews0likes10Comments
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