1983 Dometic fridge replacement

[realpank]

Purchasing an 83' 325 MH. Appliance mechanic has looked it over and has said it will cost too much fix and will not guarantee.

I don't mind replacing with an electric only unit as I don't plan on using propane.

Has Anyone done this? What did you buy to replace (make/model/$$?)

Don't have. The model number yet

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[Vycan]

This link will give you options. Recommend you use it for research purposes, and buy elsewhere camping world is significantly more expensive than anywhere else I have been. I would recommend trying an RV salvage place nearby if an option.

[rideair]

I would check with this company, they are currently rebuilding a 1966 Dometic M52 for me. Great guy to work with.

RV REFRIGERATOR REPAIR - Cooling Coils For Norcold And Dometic Refrigerators

Enjoy,

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by realpank

Purchasing an 83' 325 MH.

I don't mind replacing with an electric only unit as I don't plan on using propane.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Just curious, how are you planning on heating your rig or cooking if you don't have propane.

Also if you plan on travelling, how are you planning on keeping your fridge cool?

Mine is a 2 way Dometic RM2820

The fridges are a bear to get through the door but are very easy to install. Remove two cap covers at top frame of fridge, remove screws. Then remove screw lags at base of fridge, front and rear. Disconnect 12v connections and also unplug fridge from box as you pull it out. Reverse order to install.

Cheers
Tony

[idroba]

If you do go with a residential electric only refrigerator, the most serious thing you need to consider is the way it dissipates heat. Many of the small refrigerators these days have the heat dissipation coils welded to the exterior side walls and top of the refrigerator. When they are made like that, and pushed into a tightly encloses space where the original refrigerator was, they can't get rid of the heat properly. They are designed for free standing use only.

So, when you look at residential stile small refrigerators be sure to buy one which has coils on the BACK of the refrigerator, like they did in the "old days". Only that type will work in an enclosed space of an RV and will dissipate the heat out the back, the way the original RV refrigerator did.

[realpank]

Thanks for your responses guys, much appreciated,

tony, I don't typically use my propane as I use my RV for short-trip camping outings to parks that have electricity. I don't feel the need to use the propane if I'm paying for electric and cook and heat with that. Travelling I'll run the generator to keep power to the fridge. My last unit did not have a good propane system anyway so I may consider using propane on the new one if they whole system is complete

I am going to try to find a 2 or 3 way Dometic to replace but not cheap or easy to find is the key(perhaps a post on classifieds!!)

I have a month or two before I pick up unit in FLA.

[chriscraw]

My Dometic RM3804 seems to be slowly dying!
Although the ice box (top) freezes, even on MAX, the rest of the unit (lower) remains sort of cold. So, I'm looking at replacing the cooling unit. Seems that pricing including shipping to Texas is between $520 and $600. Has anyone dealt with a specific supplier (there seems to be 4 or 5) and equally as important, has anyone attempted a RM3804 cooling unit replacement in a 350 or 345 as in..are you crazy?

[idroba]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

My Dometic RM3804 seems to be slowly dying!
Although the ice box (top) freezes, even on MAX, the rest of the unit (lower) remains sort of cold. So, I'm looking at replacing the cooling unit. Seems that pricing including shipping to Texas is between $520 and $600. Has anyone dealt with a specific supplier (there seems to be 4 or 5) and equally as important, has anyone attempted a RM3804 cooling unit replacement in a 350 or 345 as in..are you crazy?

In my opinion only, spending $500 to $600 on a new (not actually new, but rebuilt) cooling unit in a refrigerator which is already 20+ years old is penny wise and pound foolish. The rest of the refrigerator is old, seals, electronics, electric elements, gas valves and piping, shelves and all other parts. And you have to still take it out, install the cooling unit, and replace the thing into the Airstream.

Again, my opinion: if a refrigerator is over 20 years old, and develops problems with the actual cooling unit (not the electronics) replace the entire refrigerator with a new one. To save money, remove the old refrigerator and replace it with the new one yourself.

[shepherd57]

We have the Dometic 2820 2 way 110 and propane and it works fine. When we are on the road it is on propane and when we are plugged in it switches over automatically. When we unplug it switches back to gas.

[mtlagger]

I have replaced the refrigerators in both the 93 classic MH and our 86 32 Excella with 10 cu ft. electric units. The MH having the generator was super easy. The trailer in installed a 1500 watt inverter in the fridge bay and just move the plug from the 120 plug to the inverter when traveling. I paid less than 400 bucks for each of them from Lowes. I'm not a mathematician by any means....but at that price I can replace the electric one 3 or 4 times for the price of one gas/elec model. To install I had to cut the opening 1/2 inch wider and from 2 1/2 inches to 6 inches taller....depending on which 2 way unit you have.
To keep the doors shut while traveling I purchased baby cabinet locks from Babies R Us 3 for 2.99. You won't be disappointed!

[mtlagger]

[chriscraw]

I wish I had followed the advice given by "idroba" above!. After considerable thought, I decided to have the internals of my RM3904 "upgraded". Although this was only the "gas fired" internals, as I had previously replaced the control board and wanted to keep the original "look" in the 350LE, I took the risk.
The "repair shop" originally quoted $1100 to complete the replacement. This escalated to $1300 to cover extra labor removing the rear buffet seat and part of the backing wall (the wall with the clock). Still, I was ahead after considering a cost and installation of a replacement.
New install worked fine for a few weeks and then stopped..I mean no green light, nothing. After a revisit to the installer, and another $300 in labor, found that a short had developed in the 12V connection at the rear of the refrigerator. Installer swears not caused by his install but who is to know. I also learnt that even though 110V and gas are present, the control board requires 12V "to think"
The moral of this tale is again to reinforce "idroba's" advise and state without reservation that the decision should have been to replace not rebuild.

[bobmiller1]

Did they at least install a baffle while the fridge was out ? Fans in the exhaust stack ??? Regards, Bob

[LY007]

In my 83 Excella, I replaced the original 6 cu ft fridge with an 8 cu ft.

Getting the old one out was easy, definitely a one person job. Had I replaced it with the same size, installation would have been just as easy, but since the new one was two inches taller, I had to modify the cabinetry above. I am no carpenter, but it came out looking good! Extra 33% space worth the hassle.

I looked at the rebuilt stuff. Replacing the cooling unit is a lot more work than just replacing with a whole new fridge, plus you have to mail the old unit back. And as a bonus, I got $1.25 at the junk yard for the old fridge, because they are very lightweight.

[bobmiller1]

There is extra room inside the refer cabinet, after I installed my 8" deep baffle (depth is not a problem) added 4" of insulation on top (height is not a problem and 2" of insulation on the shower wall side and 1" of insulation on the dinette wall side, so width is not a problem either. I to thought my refer was bad, but after I cleaned the 30 year cabinet out added the baffle, insulation, and fans it works awesome ! Regards, Bob

[howell57]

Trying to find replacement for a Dometic RM3804 which is your RM2820 which now is discontinued. All the newer ones are much taller. How long ago did you buy your 2820?

[Roby466]

I see you're in Ontario, did you check the ''young farts RV parts'' guys in Calgary? They appear to have a massive inventory of used parts so you may be able to find a reasonably priced fridge they can freight over to you.
Cheers
David

[realpank]

Thanks David,
I have replaced with an electric unit. I appreciate your tip on the Alberta parts guys as well.
Chris

[Roby466]

Hi Chris, good luck with the airstream! Sorry I had missed you replaced with electric unit. I'm trying to figure out how to get mine over here from Alberta. I have no experience with those guys in Calgary for parts, I just saw their advert and read some reviews.
Cheers
David