Community Forums

Dr4Film · 11-17-2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldHatt45

For those that have done the replacement i have a couple of questions.
1. It looks like if you take the doors off the Samsung, it will go through the Front Door. How did you do it?
2. How much trim work needs to be done?
3. Did you close off the outside vent? The Roof Vent?
4. Did you put in any insulation in the opening?
5. Any other problems with the installation?

Thanks,
Drew
2003 40DS02

Below is my photo documentary of the Samsung installation in my 2002 Windsor back in April 2012.

Best upgrade EVER!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Bumps · 11-17-2013, 09:26 AM

Our 2005 Vectra 40FD's Norcold 1210 "appears" to be working fine. HOWEVER, we are noticing a bowing/bulge in the paneling on the inside wall opposite where the ice-maker sits. The bulge is occassionally a little warmer(!) than the rest of the wall. Time to jettison the Norcold, we are thinking. In researching options, we find a number of negtive reviews on the Samsung RF197 (odd noises, over-icing, inferior hardware, etc). Have any of you RF197 retrofitters experieinced these issues? Are they trivial, or material? Thanks! \ken

delcirose · 11-17-2013, 09:33 AM

Drew,
This post from Richard provides great information. Your Travel Supreme and mine does not have quite the depth as his Monaco. It will require the bottom protruding into the inside. The other problem you will encounter is the depth of your refrigerator will not leave very much room to get it into the hallway and side it into the opening this is the point that you will be able to reinstall the doors and drawers. There is just enough room to get this done but not a lot left over. Your slide configuration being only a two slide model will be different than mine so I can not speak for that you will just need to measure everything very carefully. Heck yours might be significantly different than mine so I hesitate to provide specifics they might not apply in your case. Good luck I can say that you will love it. We don't dry camp very much only a couple of days a year maybe but when we do at night when we go to bed I just flip the breaker going to the frig off and pick it up again in the AM. I probably run the generator two hours a day to keep the batteries up. Going down the road the alternator keeps the battery bank going for the inverter and I have not noticed any problems with that. If you dry camp a lot yes you will need to add more batteries and solar to make yourself and neighbors happy. I do not live like this so it is not a problem for me. I am just now coming up on a year for putting mine in and we still say that it was the best thing we have ever done. I go so far as to say that if or when I look for another motor home and it does not have a residential frig and I can not put one in and it has a Norcol I am not interested.

Tom

delcirose · 11-17-2013, 09:39 AM

Ken,
One year in no quality issues. No strange noises, very little energy consumption. These refrigerators have a rearward tilting bias to allow inside moisture and condensation to travel down the back inside where you can not see to a catch pan underneath that just evaporates and you can not see that either, at least I never saw it. There are circulating holes on the rear inside compartments to allow air to circulate around the inside of the refrigerator make sure that you do not put large items tight against these area's. My neighbors when I used to have a stick built house had this same refrigerator in their home and they needed to have service on theirs for freezing up and this is what the tech told them. After that they have not had a problem and they still have it and it is working fine for them. Probably four years old for them now.

Tom

Bumps · 11-17-2013, 01:28 PM

Thanks, delcirose, that's a favorable report. Encouraging since there doesn't seem to be many other viable options. \ken

OldHatt45 · 11-17-2013, 08:03 PM

Tom,
While the model of my TS says 40DS02, it does in fact have 3 slides. (Don't ask me why they didn't call it a DS03.... LOL)
My refrigerator is also in the hallway just like yours. I have been measuring and remeasuring to make sure everything is going to work and it appears that it will.
The depth is my major concern. 24.25 without doors/handles is what they say. It looks like I have 25.5 inches from the front of the existing trim to the back wall, so I should be OK. Then you add the doors (another 3-7/8) and that brings me out even with the closet front (where the Washer/Dryer are) which is just to the rear of the refrig. So I figure that will also work. Last is the Handles which are 2-3/8 at their maximum arc. All things considered I can live with that, since there is really nothing in the bathroom or bedroom that comes close to being too wide.
Generally speaking, my travel habits are pretty much like yours. I don't really do a lot of boondocking and generally always have the generator running anyhow when on the road.
Also like you, if and when I am looking to buy another RV, if it does not have a residential refrig, I'm either not interested or an allowance will have to be made for replacing it.
Thanks for the info, and the post(s) by Richard were Extremely helpful!
Drew

OldHatt45 · 11-23-2013, 08:09 PM

Well, Over the last week I have gotten the Not So Cold out. Took it apart as a friend needed parts for his. Separated the Cooling unit from the box and carried both pieces out the Front Door. That was easy and doable by one person. When you get the Cooling unit off, neither piece is so heavy one person can't carry it.

Removed the Propane Line back to the manifold in the basement. Put a valve and cap on the connection point. Next year I will use that connection point to add a propane line for the Gas Grill <G>. Just an added kind of unexpected benefit..

I cleaned up the refrigerator hole and removed the old shelf. Fortunately Travel Supreme did not glue everything together, so it came out pretty easy. The Front trim piece above the removed drawer came off nicely and will be reused.

Used all the original bracing for the new shelf. A Plus. Put a piece of Fiberglass into the roof vent and caulked it so no leaks. Put in some foam insulation then a thin piece of Lucite on the inside of the vent hole.

Had to take the Front Door off (a 2 man job) to get the Samsung in. Also took the Passenger seat off so I could swing the Samsung into the coach. Went in just fine with the Samsung doors off and the water connections on the back also removed.

Not touching the top trim in the hole, I dropped the new shelf to get the 70.5 inches I needed for the Samsung. Doing it this way, I can remove and reinstall the top hinges ofthe Samsung quite easily. In order to get the Samsung into the hole, you can do it with the doors on, but its way easier with the doors off. Cut the Front of the new shelf to match the contour of the Samsung lower trim skirt. Works out Great since you can use the holes in the "leveling feet" to bolt the Samsung to the shelf! The trim piece above the removed drawer had to be cut down about 3/4 inch to give me the right height and fill the space. Am working on how to make that lower panel into an access panel for the kitchen plumbing that is under the fridge.

So, just about done. I have been taking pictures and will continue until it is finished and will post them when done.

All in all, not a real scary job. Just takes some thinking and a little woodwork and everything should be fine.

Will post again in a few days.

Drew

Dr4Film · 11-24-2013, 07:47 AM

It sounds like your project is going according to plan.

Anxious to see the photos once you get'r all done.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

becks · 11-24-2013, 09:04 AM

Nice work Drew, sounds real close to the same process I went through when replacing mine. Its a good feeling when you are able to sit back and admire your work on a job well done. And you will have pictures to boot to help others with there future installs. Enjoy.

OldHatt45 · 11-24-2013, 04:13 PM

Richard,
Pretty Much according to plan. A couple of little glitches, like haing to remove the front door which I didn't think I would have to do, and the fact that the hallway area where the Refridge hole is just barely wide enough, but with Samsung Doors off it is plenty wide enough. Also a pleasant glitch is that the height that it is installed gives me enough room to take the Samsung hinges off easily. And I do plan to put a document together just like yours, which was a BIG, BIG, BIG Help!!!!!

Becks,
As I've said before, Knowledge is not Knowledge if only one person has it!
And Yes, it is gratifying. But just as important is Cold Ice Cream!!! LOL
I couldn't have done the job near as easily without the help of everyone in the group!!!

So Thanks Group!
Drew

abrasv · 11-25-2013, 07:15 AM

Are there any other models besides the Samsung that can be used? Reason I ask is that I saw a similar looking Whirlpool at HD yesterday whose measurements were about the same. Price was somewhat better.

All the threads I've seen mention just the Samsung. Just curious as I am getting ready this winter to replace my Norcold.

Dr4Film · 11-25-2013, 07:56 AM

I am sure that there are other models that will fit into the space or even after the space has been modified.

However, Samsung is the ONLY manufacture that has stated that their fridge WILL work using a MSW inverter whereas there has not been any other manufacture that will guarantee that fact even though it may work. Of course if you have a PSW inverter than that point doesn't matter. Also, I have had warranty work done on my Samsung RF197 while installed in the coach BUT I have read where others who installed Whirlpool, Maytag, and other brands, they refused to honor the warranty once they found out it was installed in a motor-home.

I would suggest that you do an extensive research and due diligence BEFORE deciding on what to purchase, etc. It will pay off in the long run.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

adonh · 11-26-2013, 05:07 PM

Just looking at the new 2014 Thor motor home online to get get some ideas on interior upgrades that I am considering on my coach. On this 2014 Tuscany it comes standard with a residential refrigerator. In looking at the gallery pics and the video it has a stainless steel model with the double upper doors and the lower pull out freezer. So it looks like the Motor Home Industry is moving away from the "RV" refrigerators as well. They don't mention the brand name.

2014 Tuscany TAG Premium Diesel Pushers: Class A Diesel Motorhomes by Thor Motor Coach

OldHatt45 · 12-02-2013, 07:31 AM

All,

I have finished up my Replacement of my NotSoCold 1210LRIM with a New Samsung RF197ACBP. I hopefully have figured out how to attach a pdf document of the replacement process. I have to Thank Dr4Film, Delicrose and Becks specifically for your help. I also want to Thank All the other folks that provided tips and pointers along my journey.

The only part of the replacement that required more than 1 person was actually bringing the Samsung in to the RV and putting it on the Dolly. Everything else was a 1 person job.

Anyhow, hopefully the attachment is here and you can read it. Especially for those that have not done it, read the whole document before starting the job.

Thanks and Safe Travels.

Drew