Refrigerator blues

[bibbs]

How old is your working refrigerator? I bought a new Dometic and thought I was good and careful, (only using it when it's level) and it was great . It only lasted 5 years. Is there a better fridge out there? I need to buy 2, one for the motor home and one for our "new" 73 globetrotter. What can I do to keep it working? Please help, any advice or even a little sympathy might help.
Thanks
Bibbs

[TG Twinkie]

Do you know what is wrong with the refer(s)?
Have you lost the ammonia charge?
Does it (they) work on electric or propane? One or the other.
What are the symptoms?
Have you done anything with the control board(s)? There won't be one in the '73 unless the refer is not original. Don't know what is in the MH.
I have a 42 year old Dometic refer that still works. You may have the same refer in your '73.
Unless you have lost the ammonia which requires a cooling system replacement. Most other problems can be resolved much cheaper than a new refer.

[Nuvite-F]

The original Dometic in our 1980 Caravelle still works fine on either gas or electric. Let's see, that would be 36 years old at this point.

You must have had some bad luck with yours. They seem to be mostly trouble free.

[CRH]

My 1995's original fridge works great.

My prior camper was a 1974. It's original Dometic worked great when I sold it last year.

[LAquaker]

Unlike GM+DuPont's 'Frigidaire', Albert Einstein's ammonia system will heal if turned over.
This will kill a 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane 'Freon' type device.

Ammonia for a refrigerator? Rabbit piss & water
Ammonia for your engine? see http://nh3fuelassociation.org/

[1973Argosy]

My 1973 Dometic still cools as it should. I have replaced the electric element twice in my 15 years of ownership and I blow out the burner tube yearly with compressed air.

[bibbs]

Yes the 73 is original the gas makes a flame that stayed on and or the electric makes the flue hot, to the touch. The flue is clean, nothing gets cold.
The MH Dometic was new in 08, I tried a new control board, no difference. Never smelled amonia. I will try unplugging the thermistor, I read that will make it run continuously.Yeah bad luck, with refrigerators, lucky with almost everything else
I hope