|
|
05-06-2010, 07:15 AM
|
#1
|
Always Airstreaming!
2005 22' Safari
1960 24' Tradewind
Anytown
, Connecticut
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,115
|
Dometic Rip-Off
For the past three years we have had to replace at least one door shelf each season for our RM2451. The upper back corners always break off causing the shelf to fall. I have talked to them several times and each time they have stated they have never received any complaints about the shelves breaking. Does anyone else have this problem. I also had to order new strips for the top and bottom door panel. Cheap plastic which had broken away from the screws. No get this; I ordered the top & bottom strips and figured I would get the six new screws. How about $6.26 each! A stupid RXS B4X9.5 screw; how about $0.06 at Ace Hardware? If anyone else is having trouble with the door shelves please let me know, we can't be the only ones replacing one every year.
__________________
J. Rick Cipot
Sandi Gould
NEU New England Unit
Airstream Life Magazine
Proud Member of WBCCI
WBCCI #3411
AIR #17099
2009 Silverado 2500HD
2004 22' Safari
1960 24' Tradewind
|
|
|
05-06-2010, 08:42 AM
|
#2
|
Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
|
I'm with you there. Have replaced the plastic top & bottom trim strips and all of the three shelves have the top slots chipped off. But the shelves are still holding, for now. Dometic sure does know how to charge for cheap plastic replacement parts.
|
|
|
05-06-2010, 08:59 AM
|
#3
|
Always Airstreaming!
2005 22' Safari
1960 24' Tradewind
Anytown
, Connecticut
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,115
|
I would really like to hear from everyone who has had shelf problems and if possible documented with photos, dates, communications with Dometic etc. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a design flaw and I am getting tired of paying $35 a year for new ones and being told, "No Sir, no one else has had this problem". Lets All get together under one umbrella and see what we can do to get this corrected to proper and organized way.
J. Rick
__________________
J. Rick Cipot
Sandi Gould
NEU New England Unit
Airstream Life Magazine
Proud Member of WBCCI
WBCCI #3411
AIR #17099
2009 Silverado 2500HD
2004 22' Safari
1960 24' Tradewind
|
|
|
05-06-2010, 09:08 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 684
|
Mine is too new. Do you have any pictures?
|
|
|
05-06-2010, 11:21 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Lafayette
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,559
|
Our shelves also broke, but it was our fault. Lots of weight in them while driving over bumpy roads caused it. If I recall correctly, the replacements were just expensive enough that we wanted to avoid the problem. So we now move the heavy stuff off the shelves while driving. No more broken shelves.
Tim
|
|
|
05-08-2010, 01:14 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
|
Same experience as Tim A. -- We replaced three shelves the first year, then quit putting heavy stuff in them. Poor design, but even worse materials.
There are lots of plastics out there; surely they could use one that would last. Polycarbonate is practically indestructible, and is used in eye glasses and the FantasticFan lids.
As much as replacement shelves cost, it is inexcusable to continue to use the cheap plastic for this application.
Maybe, someone could start a new business molding polycarbonate replacement shelves. I'd buy some...
|
|
|
05-08-2010, 04:10 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
1970 27' Overlander
Espanola
, Full Timer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,753
|
Ours is 'freezer above-fridge below' built. And the shelves are fine and get cleaned on a regular basis...but one time I forgot to close the egg bin and shut the main door on it and cracked it. So I took some gorilla glue and made a hairline repair. But I will still almost overlook it when it's open.
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 04:10 PM
|
#8
|
3 Rivet Member
2015 23' International
Lake Forest Park
, Washington
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 140
|
I see this is an old thread, but will say our 2007 19' Safari SE LS has Dometic with same cheap plastic inside door. The bottom shelf, which is wider (more lever arm) broke a tab and fell off. I screwed it and glued it, but then pieces of the inner door liner broke off.
Clearly this is poor choice of plastic material.
|
|
|
03-12-2012, 06:13 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
1968 24' Tradewind
Rural
, Delaware
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,476
|
Didn't see this thread until now. My shelves started breaking shortly after the warranty expired. Same situation as aircampr, screwed, glued, and they broke somewhere else. Still looking for a non-Dometic replacement parts solution, that doesn't involve a lot of duct tape.
__________________
2005 Bambi
1968 Trade Wind
2007 Ford F250 4x4 Crew
WDCU
|
|
|
06-22-2012, 03:29 PM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member
2007 19' International CCD
The Woodlands
, Texas
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 45
|
I agree that Dometic rips you off royally for plastic replacement parts. The two plastic spring castings which provide the spring tension which allows the freezer door to shut cost me $23.38 each and a $25.00 shipping charger for a total of $74.68 for two small plastic parts.
What a total rip off.
Is there a better place to get refrigerator parts for Dometic?
Thanks
|
|
|
06-22-2012, 03:53 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
|
I got my stuff at PPL Motorhomes, they are cheaper than Dometic direct. Most recently, a cracked freezer "Juice dispenser" The old one was a rather brittle clear plastic, like the shelves in the freezer and fridge. The new one was a white plastic which matches the interior of the unit and the plastic seems to be a more flexible material. Maybe an improvement over the clear stuff?????? Cost was $6 and change....reasonable shipping.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
|
|
|
06-22-2012, 06:54 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by eberrobw
I agree that Dometic rips you off royally for plastic replacement parts. The two plastic spring castings which provide the spring tension which allows the freezer door to shut cost me $23.38 each and a $25.00 shipping charger for a total of $74.68 for two small plastic parts.
What a total rip off.
Is there a better place to get refrigerator parts for Dometic?
Thanks
|
I'd like to hear of one. Those latches are complete junk. I hope Dometic monitors this site because they've made the same crappy spring castings for years.
|
|
|
06-22-2012, 07:40 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Holly Lake Ranch
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,794
|
There is a place. I just replaced mine. I will look tomorrow and see where i got them
__________________
Dana and Olga
2006 Safari 23
2011 Tundra Double Cab
|
|
|
06-22-2012, 09:22 PM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
|
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
|
|
|
06-23-2012, 03:53 AM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
|
I also have a broken door shelf. What do you expect from a $1200. appliance? How about needing accessory fans for the interior box and vent compartment. Don't get me started. Sal.
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
|
|
|
06-23-2012, 05:57 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
|
Never needed fans for the fridge or had a shelf break, I also never overload either the fridge or the shelves. Just by looking at the shelf you can tell not to put too much weight on it. Sometimes we need to help ourselves by using common sense and not blame everything on someone else. Yea, the fridges could be more substantial, but they are what they are. Be aware! Jim
|
|
|
06-23-2012, 08:33 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
Mississauga
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,238
|
I also have had pieces break but I imagine they try to keep weight down and cost of construction.
Mine needs two $60.00 door handles that can't cost more than $5.00 to manufacture.
Al
__________________
Al and Jean
TAC ON-3
|
|
|
06-23-2012, 10:10 AM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Holly Lake Ranch
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,794
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by eberrobw
I agree that Dometic rips you off royally for plastic replacement parts. The two plastic spring castings which provide the spring tension which allows the freezer door to shut cost me $23.38 each and a $25.00 shipping charger for a total of $74.68 for two small plastic parts.
What a total rip off.
Is there a better place to get refrigerator parts for Dometic?
Thanks
|
Google is your friend. if you google dometic freezer door springs, both the springs and carriers come up.... carriers cost me about $8 each and i was able to order them through my local AS dealer's parts department. a real pain to install depending upon the year of your refrigerator, mine was before they added screws to the bottom of the door, but there is a pretty helpful online video to do the installation. I also detailed it in this thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...ngs-89138.html
Hope this is helpful, although I realize that you have probably already made the repair with the more expensive Dometic parts. But if the spring carriers broke once, they may break again.
Dana
__________________
Dana and Olga
2006 Safari 23
2011 Tundra Double Cab
|
|
|
06-23-2012, 10:11 AM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Trabuco Canyon
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 866
|
I had a small piece of the shelf break off, but so far so good otherwise. It sure appears the plastic is flimsy and I've always treated it tenderly.
But that seems par for the course for Dometic. Most of my RV trouble over the years centers around the Dometic nameplate. If you like the plastic on the refrigerator interior, you'll love the plastic AC shroud which rots quickly in sunlight.
|
|
|
06-24-2012, 03:53 AM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpi
I had a small piece of the shelf break off, but so far so good otherwise. It sure appears the plastic is flimsy and I've always treated it tenderly.
But that seems par for the course for Dometic. Most of my RV trouble over the years centers around the Dometic nameplate. If you like the plastic on the refrigerator interior, you'll love the plastic AC shroud which rots quickly in sunlight.
|
OMHO, but I think plastic milk bottles are stronger. I realize they are not mass produced, but still, the refer in my kitchen cost 1/3 of the one in the AS, is at least twice the size, and put together 10 times better. Now somebody tell me I'm compairing apples and oranges. Sal.
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|