Dometic Rip-Off

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I too have had numerous issues with the quality of the plastic parts. I went through a number of 2551 models for clients and the spring that keeps the freezer door shut has been repaired over and over and over. The plastic door shelve seem to work fine until you go to adjust them or remove them for cleaning, it is then they tend to snap in strange ways. The frustration over fixing the freezer door hinge has lead me to stop using the brand mentioned and switch over to Norcold. I find their products to be of better quality. I always thought if Wally chose to use it, it must be good. I think somethings have changed for not the better...

[eberrobw]

I received my "gold-plated" spring castings for my frig freezer door. Does anybody have any installation tricks for ensuring the spring tension is such that the freezer door springs shut once opened? It's a little tricky getting the spring tension.

Thanks!

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by eberrobw

I received my "gold-plated" spring castings for my frig freezer door. Does anybody have any installation tricks for ensuring the spring tension is such that the freezer door springs shut once opened? It's a little tricky getting the spring tension.

Thanks!

See Post #18.

I spent a couple of hours messing with it and finally when i put the opposite side in first it all came together. The video I saw online made it appear that you could use a small screwdriver to turn the spring holder little x shaped plastic bar to increase tension, but I found you pretty much would need to have three hands to do that. Mostly (IMO) it's just a matter of starting to insert one of the carriers at such an angle that it will have enough tension and it will dictate the tension for the other.

it's not the easiest thing in the world to do... if Dometic wanted to improve one small thing, this would be it from my perspective.

Dana

[eberrobw]

Thanks so much for your pointers. When you say "opposite" side first, which is the opposite side. I was unable to locate the video you mention, do you have a link to that video readily available? If so great, if not don't worry about it.

I plan to tackle the job tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Again, thanks!

[Goal15]

The RVPartsNow video is no longer on youtube, it appears that they closed their account. Sorry about that.

I had success after putting the right side spring carrier in first. That's your right hand side as you look at the freezer door.

You just have to experiment a little to see what the position of the door should be when you put the spring carrier in but mine worked when i was able to put the spring carrier in with the door as nearly closed as possible. If you have the door all the way down when you put the carrier in, it won't have enough tension to close it when you let go.

Pretty much this is a repair that goes right when you find just the right way to hold your mouth as my old VW repair boss used to say.

Good luck.

Dana

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by eberrobw

Thanks so much for your pointers. When you say "opposite" side first, which is the opposite side. I was unable to locate the video you mention, do you have a link to that video readily available? If so great, if not don't worry about it.

I plan to tackle the job tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Again, thanks!

So, how went the battle of the difficult spring carrier?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Have any of you written to Dometic Customer Service about this? I did and was astonished. I guess my issue and those of the people I have installed these units in, is of very little consideration. The suggestion was "to replace the parts". Nothing else. Not even a link to their parts department...

[noreen&sal]

For some reason, unknown to me, businesses these days spend a lot of $$ to attract new customers but seem to forget about old customers. I'm retired now and pretty much on a fixed income. I worked my a**s off since I was 11 years old for every $. I carefully consider all spent. Sal.

[KJRitchie]

Same issue as my 4 cu/ft in my Casita. The lower shelf lasted a couple of years with water and juice bottles in the bottom shelf but finally broke. I epoxied the broken piece back on the shelf and using some epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth I reinforced the break point then sprayed with Valspar white spray paint (perfect color match). So far so good but I don't have many miles on it yet. Best to remove heavy bottles on the lower shelf. I've also put a rubber no slip liner on that shelve to see if it will absorb some shock.

Kelvin