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09-18-2012, 08:09 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Annapolis,MD
Posts: 1,458
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At the Hershey RV show last week, I could find zero large motorhomes
without a residential frig. Not one Norcold or Dometic.
On a hot day, the large double door gas absorption units will not
cool adequately, even with extra fans and especially if it
is mounted in a slide out. Unless you do dry camping, go residential.
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09-18-2012, 08:14 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Angola State Prison - Murder
Posts: 4,230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laj
Just curios, was this on elec, or gas.
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Either one. If I go above 3, the frig turns into a freezer.
__________________
John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
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09-18-2012, 08:36 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,415
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Ok, thanks. I'm not quite that lucky. Have to be on 4 to get those numbers. Other then that absolutely no issues with mine.
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09-18-2012, 08:38 AM
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#18
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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Lets see, here are some differences, you make the logical choice.
RV fridge - $4000. Residential fridge - $1000.
RV fridge - 12 cu.ft. or less. Residential fridge - 15 cu.ft. or more, typically 18-21 cu.ft.
RV fridge - Requires worthless recalls (Fire trap). Residential fridge - far less risk and no recalls.
RV fridge - Requires extra fans inside and outside to help it work better. Residential fridge - no additional fans, simply plug in and enjoy.
RV fridge - doors fall off, door seals not replaceable, control boards fail, de-ice every 3-4 weeks, small storage areas. Residential fridge - 30-80% more storage space, frost free, replaceable door seals, etc.
Well, you get the picture.
I switched in April and I will NEVER go back to a RV fridge.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-18-2012, 08:45 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Angola State Prison - Murder
Posts: 4,230
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I installed the below a while back just under the roof vent, sucking the air out. Made that difference.
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a...-GUARDS/1.html
__________________
John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
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09-18-2012, 08:57 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
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Residential Fridges are a relatively new idea that used to be restricted to very high end Coaches, but has now begun to work their way down to mid-range units. If I was looking to purchase a NEW MH in the +$300K range, I would take a hard look at an "all-electric" rig. After almost 2years on the road we have found that our style of travel is from one power pedestal to another, so we would be well suited for this option.
On the other hand, I would never be looking to spend +300K on a fancy NEW rig. Most (not all) of the great deals on top quality USED rigs are still propane units and you'll have your choice of Norcold or Dometic. We have a double door Dometic that has been trouble free and very good at keeping everything "cold". Mind you, we do not travel in the US south during the extreme heat of summer.
If our Dometic ever decides to call it quits, I would certainly take a look at the Res. Fridge option, but I am not sure I could run it on our current 4x6 volt battery bank & 2000watt inverter. While we have storage space for a second inverter, I have no idea where we would find room for a second bank (4x6 volt) of batteries. In other words, if you are looking at USED rigs don't automatically assume the switch to a Res. Fridge will be easy, cheap or without some trade-offs.
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
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09-18-2012, 09:05 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
Lets see, here are some differences, you make the logical choice.
RV fridge - $4000. Residential fridge - $1000.
RV fridge - 12 cu.ft. or less. Residential fridge - 15 cu.ft. or more, typically 18-21 cu.ft.
RV fridge - Requires worthless recalls (Fire trap). Residential fridge - far less risk and no recalls.
RV fridge - Requires extra fans inside and outside to help it work better. Residential fridge - no additional fans, simply plug in and enjoy.
RV fridge - doors fall off, door seals not replaceable, control boards fail, de-ice every 3-4 weeks, small storage areas. Residential fridge - 30-80% more storage space, frost free, replaceable door seals, etc.
Well, you get the picture.
I switched in April and I will NEVER go back to a RV fridge.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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Richard....What other costs did you have going to the Res. Fridge? Did you need a larger battery bank? Did you require a second Inverter? What about extra wiring & installation cost?
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
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09-18-2012, 10:36 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 467
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What about the Amish cooling coils and the dinosaur board? I had heard they made a huge difference and cost far less than a new fridge.
Tk
__________________
Terri & Maria, Staci, Penny, Bailey and the rest of our Norwich Terriers
2019 Newmar Ventana 4369
2015 Ford Edge Titanium
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09-18-2012, 10:56 AM
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#23
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Registered User
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 905
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Residential fridge for $1000, how many years ago was that.
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09-18-2012, 01:51 PM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 96
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Wow!! I guess that answers that question. Residential it is! Now if I could just take part of this floor plan and part of that floor plan....put them together...I'd have the perfect coach.
__________________
2007 Monaco Executive, 45'. Director and Assistant Director for a non-profit.
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09-18-2012, 02:46 PM
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#25
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,198
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Just to chime in, cause it seems most of these posts refer mostly to the older "Notcolds"...
We have the big Dometic, the side by side with the zigzag doors.
It's 13-14 cubic feet, plenty big enough for us.
It makes ice fast enough to keep up with us, even 5 of us in the infield for a nascar race! (and we needed a lot of ice!)
It cools fast on either gas or electric, the freezer runs at 3 degrees, the fridge at 35, and our ice cream is always hard.
My next rig will undoubtedly have a residential fridge, but I have no issue with this Dometic.
The older ones, norcolds especially, would worry me.
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09-18-2012, 04:49 PM
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack1234
If our Dometic ever decides to call it quits, I would certainly take a look at the Res. Fridge option, but I am not sure I could run it on our current 4x6 volt battery bank & 2000watt inverter. While we have storage space for a second inverter, I have no idea where we would find room for a second bank (4x6 volt) of batteries. In other words, if you are looking at USED rigs don't automatically assume the switch to a Res. Fridge will be easy, cheap or without some trade-offs.
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I have a residential frig (Whrilpool 18.5 cu.in. full load Amp 6.5) and I have 4x6 volt house batteries and a 2000 watt inverter. I can run my frig, all electronics (TV, Blue Ray, TV receiver, Microwave, etc.) all will work over night (dry camping at Walmart) without any difficulty. I do not see a need to add 4 more 6 volt batteries plus a second 2000 watt inverter just to power a residential frig. The residential frig works good for my lifestyle.
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09-18-2012, 05:18 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,816
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We never had a problem with the Dometic, but we still like our residential frig better.
__________________
2011 MVP Tahoe 230 QB on Ford E350 Chassis
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09-18-2012, 05:48 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheArnolds
I have a residential frig (Whrilpool 18.5 cu.in. full load Amp 6.5) and I have 4x6 volt house batteries and a 2000 watt inverter. I can run my frig, all electronics (TV, Blue Ray, TV receiver, Microwave, etc.) all will work over night (dry camping at Walmart) without any difficulty. I do not see a need to add 4 more 6 volt batteries plus a second 2000 watt inverter just to power a residential frig. The residential frig works good for my lifestyle.
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Thanks for the info....good to know should the Dometic call it quits.
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
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