what should I do with my dead fridge

Swingking · 11-11-2003, 06:42 PM

howdy from texas.

background: 1969 27 Land Yacht

firdge: worked for a while on 110v now it is dead. I never got the courage to light the fridge. the "auto-flint" thingy wont spark.

fridge door: the plactic on the inside of the door is totally blown out. Just the ugly insulation is remaining.

so....

do I....

a) remove this one and put in a small electric only fridge so I can save up for a replacement ($1200?)?

what is the procedure to remove an AS fridge?

or

b) try to get this one repaired... somewhere in the Austin, Texas area? do people ship them out to get repaired?

I can provide additional photos if it would help.

thanks in advance for all the helpful info I am about to get!

Mark

**wahoonc** · 11-11-2003, 06:53 PM

Mark,
Is all of the plastic inside gone or just on the doors? If it is the doors you might be able to get a door from a salvage yard and fix what ever else is wrong. But given the age of the unit, you might just be better off replacing it. I have seen plenty of TT's with 110volt only fridges. In fact one of the guys I camp with bought one of the FEMA hurricane trailers, surplus, it only came with a 110volt fridge. He just plugs it in for a day or so before he is ready to go then plugs it in again when he gets to the campground.

Aaron

Swingking · 11-11-2003, 06:57 PM

it's just the plastic on the door.

I never thought of plugging a 110 fridge in for a day prior to heading out.

Someday (hopefully soon) I would like to be totally self contained. It will come in handy when I get laid off from my tech job.

do people ever ship their fridges out to be repaired?

Chas · 11-11-2003, 07:14 PM

Hello neighbor!,

I think I may have met you at the vintage weekend over at the Fischer's last year?

I would give Crane RV refrigeration a call, they may have a door for yours. In the meantime I would check yours out a bit more thoroughly, the gas part never worked as you say which is common and repairable, so running it on 120 volts so much you may have just burned out the heater element. Unless you have smelt ammonia, which is the kiss of death, I would do the above stuff first. I could help you out on this if you like, drop me a line.

Chas

**wahoonc** · 11-11-2003, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Swingking

do people ever ship their fridges out to be repaired?

Seems to me the shipping costs would be prohibitive. I suppose you could remove it and take it somewhere to have it fixed.

Aaron

Swingking · 11-11-2003, 09:01 PM

ok.

now I need to figure out a way to remove the fridge regardless if I get it repaired or replaced. any ideas?

Inland RV Center, In · 11-12-2003, 09:59 AM

Swingking.

Remove the credenza, then remove the bulkhead that is fastened to the reefer.

How to complete the removal is obvious from there.

Andy

Swingking · 11-12-2003, 12:06 PM

thanks for all the info!!

I called Crane RV and they said I was S.O.L.

they don't work on anything prior to 1980 and only sell rebuilt units locally.

he suggested Camping World to go for a new one?

any other places in or around the Austin, TX area?

thanks!

Mark

Swingking · 11-24-2003, 06:44 PM

well the fridge is truly dead.

nice blue flame when running on propane but the ice box was still warm after 5 hours.

the electrical heating element is bad.

the frame is almost rusted through (bottom left side)

THANK YOU CHAS for stopping by and showing me how to light it!!

so... I must rip it out and get another one.

Quote:

Remove the credenza, then remove the bulkhead that is fastened to the reefer.

so, what is a ....

credenza?
bulkhead?
reefer?

anybody have a working fridge in the central texas area they want to sell?

if I can't find a used one should I go to camping world for a new fridge?

will they be able to match or use the front decrotive panels?

thanks all you airstreamin' people!

thenewkid64 · 11-24-2003, 11:08 PM

Credenza=little table forward of the wall on right side of fridge.

Bukhead=wall on right side of fridge

reefer=weed=mary jane=another name for a fridge

If you go the camping world route you want to have removed the existing one and measured it very carfully. The new ones come in all diffrent sizes so you should be able to find one to fit with little or no modification. They offer a cross refernece chart in the catalog. DOn't bother with a 3 way it will require too much wiring to make it work properly, just go 2 way.

The door panels will likely not fit. The door sizes have changed over the years. Form the picture you posted it looks like the door has brown formica cut to size. Camping world will sell you a kit for 50-60 bucks, but it is generic. You can do a better job matchiing the interior wood by odering a sheet of formica and cutting it down to the size you need. You can also get a close match this way, unlike the generic kit.

biggerbadbrad · 11-25-2003, 01:11 AM

I would search classifieds and free ad magazines for a used RV fridge. I often see them for sale in my search for other RV items. Many SOB owners part out their trailers with perfectly good Dometic refrigerators in them. They may not be the exact size you need, but with a little modification I'm sure you will get one to fit for around $150. And you can fill it with a lot of milk, eggs and beer with the money you'll save.

bbb

Pahaska · 11-25-2003, 08:09 AM

There is a place in San Antonio that has a whole yard full of old fridges, water heaters, and the like. I was there with my daughter a couple of years ago and bought some small parts from old fridges. Prices were good.

If you like, I can email her and get a street address for the place.

Swingking · 11-25-2003, 02:45 PM

an address would be great!

I googled up a parts place in San Antonio however he didn't have any used ones that big and he said that a new one would be $1,100 + !

if you look at the big picture, that makes my cheap beer cost a lot more.