Repairing or replacing your fridge!?

[illusionist]

Hi there

We have a 2000 sportsman coach man
Diesel pusher

Our double door fridge freezer by dometic new dimensions has suffered a comple cooling failure

We full time and boon dock 4-5 nights a week.
Right now eating out of coolers! Not fun

So to repair I'm told upwards of $2000 maybe more

Some one suggested getting a real fridge and replace the rv one.

My question is pros and cons but more to the point how does the real fridge run as our works on gas and then auto switches to electric when generator is on or plugged in at rv park

How would a real fridge work. And where does one loom for them that would fit in the space I have.
I realize I might have to do a little cosmetic work and that is not an issue.
It's more of cost effectiveness repairing verses replacing

Thx

Sam

[jspande]

Sam, suggest you consider the Vitrifrigo DP2600.
Vitrifrigo America

I had the same Dometic New Dimensions as yours go bad a couple of years ago, and couldn't be happier with this unit. All exterior dimensions except height are the same as the Dometic (it's about 6 inches shorter which allowed me to provide air circulation to the compressor under the fridge) This is a 12 dc compressor unit so no inverter needed. I measured about 700 watt-hours per 24 hours so 250 - 300 watts of solar panels should pretty well keep it going. When the compressor is running it only draws about 4 amps at 12 volts.

Because it doesn't have all that cooling unit stuff on the back that absorption units do, the interior is a couple inches deeper, making much more usable space (especially the freezer) and the top shelf of the refrigerator section doesn't have those aluminum fins taking up a bunch of space.

Door latches are marine/rv type so no modifications to keep doors shut while travelling, and the unit is screwed in around the mounting flange just like the Dometic.

It's unfortunate they don't make a size that matches the side-by-side and 4-door rv models as well, but at least us 2-door people have an excellent option.

[450Donn]

2 grand to repair? Your getting screwed. Do an online search for Amish cooling units. Quality product. With some help getting the refer out it should take you a couple hours to remove the bad and install the new. Total cost, maybe 1 thousand dollars including second day shipping.
As for residential refers? Lots of people have done that using a Samsung refer. The problem is, then you need to install an inverter ( more cost) and have sufficient batteries to last you boon docking for more than 24 hours before running the generator

[illusionist]

Thx guys.

I'll continue to do some more research on both repair and replacing.
Repairing myself might just be an option I'll have 2 weeks down time right after Christmas.
Again thanks for the help.

Sam

[DAJO]

Originally Posted by jspande

Sam, suggest you consider the Vitrifrigo DP2600.
Vitrifrigo America

I had the same Dometic New Dimensions as yours go bad a couple of years ago, and couldn't be happier with this unit. All exterior dimensions except height are the same as the Dometic (it's about 6 inches shorter which allowed me to provide air circulation to the compressor under the fridge) This is a 12 dc compressor unit so no inverter needed. I measured about 700 watt-hours per 24 hours so 250 - 300 watts of solar panels should pretty well keep it going. When the compressor is running it only draws about 4 amps at 12 volts.

Because it doesn't have all that cooling unit stuff on the back that absorption units do, the interior is a couple inches deeper, making much more usable space (especially the freezer) and the top shelf of the refrigerator section doesn't have those aluminum fins taking up a bunch of space.

Door latches are marine/rv type so no modifications to keep doors shut while travelling, and the unit is screwed in around the mounting flange just like the Dometic.

It's unfortunate they don't make a size that matches the side-by-side and 4-door rv models as well, but at least us 2-door people have an excellent option.

That is interesting, I did not know anyone may a 12v unit. Can I ask how much they cost.

Dave

[jspande]

Dave, I paid about $1400 (from a Marine place in San Diego) a couple of years ago. I think the MSRP was $1750. Another maker is NovaKool (their's was about $300 more as I recall. I did the installation myself. My unit is black but they also were available in stainless steel (not sure how much extra that costs).

[HarveyP]

We repaired ours with a replacement cooling unit and advice from RVCoolingUnits.com The owner is a great man named David Force. He walked me through diagnosis and repair. His follow thru on other parts that had a warranty issue has been the real test. I emailed him with a warranty problem at 9pm Eastern time on a Thursday , had a reply with a tracking number an hour later, and had the part in my hand on Monday afternoon, shipped from his location to Wash,. DC area. All business should run as well as his. HarveyP