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Old 06-27-2007, 11:16 AM   #1
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Dometic or Norcold

OK, my Dometic in my other trailer just died. Worked fine. Towed it 600 miles, and I open the door and smell amonia. She's dead.

RV Fridge man says Norcold is better than Dometic. I don't know enough to know one way or the other. What do you guys think?

I see I can get a new cooling unit for $520 (R3800) from a place on line. I forget the name....Trailer Refridgeration Inc. I think. Not sure if its new new or rebuild. I can put it in myself. RV Fridge man says he doesn't recommend those, at least if he's doing it, because you wind up with $700 in it and a new one is $1000.

Are the new/rebuilt cooling units worth looking at on a 20+ year old fridge? Or should I pony up and buy a new one? And if new, which brand?

Thanks!
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Old 06-27-2007, 11:42 AM   #2
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I bought a rebuilt RM2625 Americana for $700 plus shipping from Jones RV refrigeration in Illinois. 90 day warranty on the fridge, 2 years on the cooling unit. It comes with new inner panels, new cooling unit, new gaskets, new electricals.
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Old 06-27-2007, 12:37 PM   #3
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We had a 5- or 6-year-old Norcold in our SOB and a 5-year-old Dometic in the 310. We swapped them before we sold the SOB since we liked the Norcold so much better.

The Dometic was larger on the outside but smaller on the inside, and the Norcold had a light in the fridge where the Dometic did not.

There was a freezer plate of some sort in the middle of the Dometic fridge where the Norcold was wholly open.

The Norcold had a status panel on the front while the Dometic did not.

I don't know if some/all of this can be attributed to the respective models of the two fridges (options vs. bare-bones) -- I don't have the model numbers here to look up, sorry. I can tell you we are very pleased with the Norcold and, if necessary, would buy another one in a heartbeat!

Susan
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Old 06-27-2007, 01:40 PM   #4
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Dometic or Norcold

We absolutely love our Norcold! It is always the right temperature and holds so much more than our Dometic did.

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Old 06-27-2007, 03:55 PM   #5
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They both are good boxes, but I've only had exp with Dometic. From what I've heard, Dometic has had fewer recalls.

The Dometic in our family's SOB lasted 25 years before it had the dreaded ammonia leak. My pops spent about $500 having the unit rebuilt and since 2002, it's been as flawless as it always has been.

Both our Airstreams have Dometics and outside of this recall, I've been pleased with them.
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Old 06-27-2007, 04:46 PM   #6
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I've seen more Dometics than I have NorCold, but I don't know that that means a whole lot. Is this a Ford/Chevy thing? Or is there really a reason to choose one over the other?

I have to admit, I'm thinking of just ponying up the pesos and buying an all new one. This one is 20 years old.

Anyway, just wondered if you guys who have more experience than I with these fridge's would recommend one over the other.

Thanks!
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Old 07-02-2007, 01:33 PM   #7
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One word...

Norcold!
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Old 07-02-2007, 08:16 PM   #8
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I have a original Dometic in mine... still works fine...
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Old 07-02-2007, 11:37 PM   #9
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Camping world has new Refers on sale 7 and 9 cu inch. I would buy a new one when my 33 year old one dies.
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