Replacing Dometic Fridge

When we got to the campground tonight and opened the trailer door and smelled ammonia. Checked the access door outside for the fridge and found a cooling system leak. Got back in truck and drove home, not what we had in mind for the weekend.

I know you can buy cooling units but i think we are going to replace the whole fridge. It looks like the RM2852 has been replaced by the DM2862, dimensions are the same. The question is, has anyone replaced their fridge ??
Any pointers ??

Thanks..........Jim

I had to replace the fridge in my motor home a couple of years ago, the original was dometic and I replaced it with a Norcold. I twas very easy, old one out new one in Job done. There where only four retaining screws holding the fridge in place, two on each side of the door opening, I would assume the Wildcat would be fitted the same.
I also think if you are going to change the fridge I would try and go for a three way type so that you could use the power from engine battery when you are on the move, and they tend to be fully automatic for changing over from gas to mains too battery.
Sean

I've heard good things about Norcold. I wonder how Dometic and Norcold compare head-to-head?

TC

I replaced a dometic with a norcold in one of my dads travel trailers several years ago.

I'm thinking the only issues were getting the gas line hooked back to the new unit and removing/replacing the wooden trim around the cabinet. (I think we added an elbow or maybe a short piece of tubing for the gas line.)

Like Sean's, I remember there only being a few screws holding the unit in place and it slid right out. Just be sure and measure for clearances and compare the two for gas hookups. Get any materials you think you'll need ahead of time.

At that time Norcolds were made here in the USA. I think they still are and thats always a good thing in todays peoples republic of walmart china.

We've had two Norcolds in past campers with zero problems.

I have noticed many of the upper end 5ers and motor coaches have Norcold instead of Dometic.

I called Dometic this morning and tried to get some assistance since this is a known issue with their fridges from 97 to sept. 2006. That's why they had that recall to put that piece of tin around the burner. I understand that Norcold had the same problem and they stepped up and replaced the whole cooling unit.

At this point Dometic is unwilling to do anything. I politly expressed my displeasure with the person i talked to and she is filling out some form to give to her supervisor who is supposed to call me back. I'm not holding my breath !

Sounds like Norcold is the way to go when and if I lose this one.

Well, no call back so looks like i'm in for a fight to try and get some kind of compensation from Dometic.

Got the old fridge out, very easy ! Hard part is getting it out of the trailer ! We have the RM 2852 8 cu ft and it won't go thru the door. I will be pulling the door/door frame in the morning.

Bought the new fridge, RM2852 is now DM2852 or DM 2862. New letters i was told are after the redesign so the cooling unit won't break. The DM 2862 has the adjustable thermostat on the control panel. We bought the DM 2862, $1286 !, man they sure are proud of these RV fridges !!

You decided to go with the Dometic again? I guess that way you'll be certain it will fit. That's a shame it won't go through the trailer door.

Tater

jacandjan wrote:Well, no call back so looks like i'm in for a fight to try and get some kind of compensation from Dometic.

Got the old fridge out, very easy ! Hard part is getting it out of the trailer ! We have the RM 2852 8 cu ft and it won't go thru the door. I will be pulling the door/door frame in the morning.

Make sure thaat you put the new fridge in the Cat before you reinstall the door and frame
Sean

Have fun.

I'd rebuild the Dometic or put a new one in. Norcold's are no better and have the same issues with cracking cooling units and recall's. They also have an issue with broken door hinges and very expensive repair parts.
Personally, I would get a re-engineered Amish cooling unit.

I'd like a little more info about the re-engineered Amish cooling unit. Is this a replacemen part or a whole new fridge?

Tater

Me 2 Tater.

Scott and Grace,
I just googled this. I see it's a replacement part, and they make them for both Dometic and Norcold.

Thanks for the info.

Got the new fridge in yesterday, had to lay it down a little while the wife and I were lifting it through the front door so didn't fire it up until today. Let it run on gas for awhile and it was down to -8 in the freezer and 28 in the fridge with the thermostat set on 5. Backed it off to 4 and put it on electric and even though it's 89 degrees here today the freezer only went up to 1 and the fridge to 31. Alot eaiser job than i expected.

Thanks for your input..................Jim

Talked with someone at the Dometic recall office, explained what had happened and how i felt about their so called recall fix instead of replacing the cooling unit when they knew they had a design and weld flaw. I told her that i had already replaced the fridge since i was leaving on vacation in a week and couldn't wait but i thought i was due some kind of compensation.

She said they do have a compensation program but since i had already replace mine she was not sure if i would still qualify.
She is sending me a form to submit and i will go from there. It sure would be nice to see Dometic step up like some of the other companies have !

I hope Dometic comes through on this. The people who provide the best service are the ones we keep going back to. If people have problems with a product, and the company doesn't back it up, they are going to find a different product. In the case of Dometic, if the customer is unhappy, then the customer is going to start demanding another brand - Norcold, for instance. If they have to go to a different RV company to get it......... then one RV company has lost a sale. So....... RV companies should be providing dependable service and demanding quality and/or excellent service from their suppliers. That brings in repeat business when people want to upgrade.