Need a new refrigerator May 18, 2016, 09:13:10 pm My fridge has failed and I need to replace it. My LD is an '89 and though I love her and do lots of improvements, I'd like to avoid spending $1800 on a new fridge. Does anyone have any suggestions for replacing it at a less painful price? I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and I've been told that the one person around here who used to do rebuilds in no longer in business. Any thoughts is much appreciated.-Cynthia
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #1 – May 18, 2016, 10:57:27 pm "Does anyone have any suggestions for replacing it at a less painful price?"-----Replacing a refrigerator might be less expensive in other areas of the country, but in the Bay Area, labor charges and sales taxes are high, so I think you're in for some "pain". The only two RV repair shops in the South Bay (both in San Jose) that I'd suggest are Leales and Sturken; a search will bring up their websites. You might want to call both to get an idea of what a replacement installation will cost. 1 Likes
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #2 – May 19, 2016, 12:13:25 am Hi,We've used both Leales and Sturken. for repairs to our2003 Mid-bath. From out experience we think that Sturken is the better of the two. But it's a much smaller shop and you may have to wait to get in. David and Wendy Harris Quote"Does anyone have any suggestions for replacing it at a less painful price?"Replacing a refrigerator might be less expensive in other areas of the country, but in the Bay Area, labor charges and sales taxes are high, so I think you're in for some "pain". The only two RV repair shops in the South Bay (both in San Jose) that I'd suggest are Leales and Sturken; a search will bring up their websites. You might want to call both to get an idea of what a replacement installation will cost. 1 Likes
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #3 – May 19, 2016, 12:22:51 am Quote from: Cynthia Mynthia - May 18, 2016, 09:13:10 pm My fridge has failed and I need to replace it. My LD is an '89 and though I love her and do lots of improvements, I'd like to avoid spending $1800 on a new fridge.CynthiaOdds are the refrigerator has been replaced at least once.The cooling unit can be replaced at about half the price, if the refrigerator is new enough.Unless the refrigerator has been replaced within in the last 8 years or so, they usually are not worth rebuilding as the plastic becomes brittle, plus the controls and electronics start having problems as they age. The only good reason to rebuild an old refrigerator is if a replacement, that fits the existing cutout, isn't available.If you go that way, repair parts are available, such as control boards and gas valves but be aware it may be a pay me now or pay me later scenario. Unfortunately, RVing isn't a cheap hobby or lifestyle.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #4 – May 19, 2016, 08:43:49 am Quote from: Larry Wade - May 19, 2016, 12:22:51 amUnless the refrigerator has been replaced within in the last 8 years or so, they usually are not worth rebuilding as the plastic becomes brittle, plus the controls and electronics start having problems as they age. LarryI had never thought of it that way. So a rebuild, cooling unit, board, eyebrow control, plumbing, etc. everything but the box itself could cost about as much as a new unit and you would still have brittle plastic and old seals. So a new unit would be the way to go.Our board did something flaky a month back. Has not happened again. 1 Likes
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #5 – May 21, 2016, 10:41:52 am Our refrigerator in our 22 foot 1986 MB died also. We are considering replacing it with a 12volt/AC refrigerator like truckers might use. We know it won't fit in the space where the refrigerator is but we do have room where the barrel chairs were. We don't dry camp so figured we could run off 12 volt battery when moving and then switch to 110 volt when stopped. Also, don't want to spend more than $300 for the fridge.Has anyone done this? Any suggestions for minifridge?CindyAdata & the Girls
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #6 – May 23, 2016, 04:09:56 pm Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I think it is probably the right move to just replace the refrigerator as Larry suggested. I figured as much, but thought I'd put it out to the group in case someone had a well kept secret to a less painful solution.Cynthia
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #7 – May 23, 2016, 08:43:02 pm Quote from: cynthia - May 21, 2016, 10:41:52 amWe don't dry camp so figured we could run off 12 volt battery when moving and then switch to 110 volt when stopped. Also, don't want to spend more than $300 for the fridge.Just bear in mind that most of the inexpensive 12 V/120 V coolers you're talking about can only get down to about 40° F. below the outside temperature. That means you shouldn't count on keeping anything frozen. And if the temperature in your rig gets up into the nineties in hot weather, the fridge's interior will probably be in the fifties, which may not be safe for some perishables.Unfortunately, to get real cooling power you need to spend about twice as much. My Dometic CF-040 40-quart compressor refrigerator/freezer cost about $600, as I recall.
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #8 – May 24, 2016, 07:49:20 am Quote from: Don Malpas - May 19, 2016, 08:43:49 amI had never thought of it that way. So a rebuild, cooling unit, board, eyebrow control, plumbing, etc. everything but the box itself could cost about as much as a new unit and you would still have brittle plastic and old seals. So a new unit would be the way to go.Our board did something flaky a month back. Has not happened again.The reason I replaced the cooling unit in a traiker I had was the cooling unit b ad 5 year warranty while a new unit had a 1 year. That and the fact that I could replace the cooling unit insuide the trailer were the drivers.But with the small unit I had t be price was close to 2/3 of new.
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #9 – July 01, 2016, 05:11:12 am I just replaced (I assume the original) refrigerator in my 2003 RB a couple weeks ago. It had only 3 shelves (the old on had 4, not sure if one was added) and configured a bit different. The shelves from the old one can be used in the new so we added/changed some and still have them to play with until we figure it is right. Now have two freezer shelves which seams to be a good thing.I scavenged circuit boards (the failure was not electronics, leaked cooling unit) but suspect if connectors are different they will not be usable as parts. The little circuit board at the top front seams similar and the gas valve. It looks like the spark coil thing which was separate on the old one is now part of the main board on the new.I haven't had very good reliability with the add on fans inside or in the back vent space. I had one inside that hung from the cooing fins with an alligator clip. It broke so I replaced the fan and it broke again, from not getting carefully placed for driving I suppose. perhaps wire tying it to shelves would be better. I ended up getting the little Valtera blue battery powered thing and it failed in a couple months after being dropped a few times. Using the motor's electrical contact to double as motor mounts is not my idea of very good engineering. I managed to use screws to mount and power the motor (even though I figured my chances of success were slim) and it is back in action. I recently discovered the fan I put in the top of the vent less than two years ago (also Valtera I think) is no longer working. I took it apart and briefly got it to work, but then decided to lube it a bit and couldn't get it to go. I don't think it would have lasted long anyway with its bent up tin foil thick things that I guess act as motor brushes.Does anyone know of better options for these fans that are more durable? There is also a much more spendy ARP device that monitors boiler temperature and will shut the boiler down if need be as well as control cooling fans.
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #10 – July 01, 2016, 10:34:00 am Quote from: Jay Carlson - July 01, 2016, 05:11:12 am I had one inside that hung from the cooing fins with an alligator clip. It broke so I replaced the fan and it broke again, from not getting carefully placed for driving I suppose. perhaps wire tying it to shelves would be better. I ended up getting the little Valtera blue battery powered thing and it failed in a couple months after being dropped a few times. Using the motor's electrical contact to double as motor mounts is not my idea of very good engineering.Does anyone know of better options for these fans that are more durable?I used a BRUSHLESS 12V muffin fan nylon wire-tied to the wire refrigerator shelf for inside circulation. It is wired across the interior light switch such that it only runs when the door is closed. Never had any problem, and internal temps stay really consistent.Steve
Re: Need a new refrigerator Reply #11 – July 01, 2016, 10:39:57 am Quote from: cynthia - May 21, 2016, 10:41:52 amOur refrigerator in our 22 foot 1986 MB died also.CindyAdata & the GirlsCindy, just a note that the mid-bath (MB) model is built only on the Ford chassis, and is 26.5' or longer. Not relevant to your issue now, but if the bath is behind the driver's seat, you probably have a rear lounge (RL). This can become an issue in future posts, where the floorplan will be relevant for anyone trying to give advice.Steve
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