Refrigerator front panel falls apart - 2019 30’ Serenity

[Powerrunner]

Has anyone had an issue in which the front panel insert fell apart on our recent travels. What looks like happened the flimsy retainer frame fell off the bottom of the refrigerator main door and the aluminum insert slid down. I was able to put it all back together, just can’t believe this happened. We had a 2018 25’ Flying Cloud and I really like that refrigerator. This one seems like a junk.

[Steamy1]

yes; same thing happened to me. I used construction glue and re-attached the trim piece along the bottom edge of the door that holds the panel in place. No issues since I did this fix.

[BayouBiker]

Our signature has a strong looking refrigerator its a RM3762 the front panels look well designed. What model is yours?

[Powerrunner]

Here is a picture of our refrigerator.

[Powerrunner]

Originally Posted by Steamy1

yes; same thing happened to me. I used construction glue and re-attached the trim piece along the bottom edge of the door that holds the panel in place. No issues since I did this fix.

Looks like my next project. Thanks

[BayouBiker]

yeah that is a different model. Looks very pretty, too bad the quality does not match the appearance. Guess some strong polyurethane construction adhesive is in your future. Sorry I could not help.

[kgp6591]

Same for us - 2017 Serenity - Glue stopped holding after awhile and bottom plastic finally broke. Inside shelf od door broke as well. New door 450.00. However new unit is 2K

[bolerama]

In 2017, a new Dometic fridge was installed in our 2002 Chinook motorhome. We continually have this problem. It snaps back in place, and then we forget about it until it happens again. Thanks for reminding us. Something else to put on the to-do list.

Interestingly, this hasn’t happened on our 2017 Airstream. Did I just jinx it?

[harryk]

I have a new one like yours in out 2005. I had a problem with the top frame always coming apart.
The fix...I trimmed 1/16 off the large front panel and now its fine. When the panel was in place and all the way down against the bottom, I could see that it was too tall. It was just too big for the clip locks to do their thing. Never happened again after the trim.

[SKANDAL330]

Wee bought new 23d serenity after about 14 months same problem. Took it airstream nw x 2 but, finally glued it at bottom. Since gluing no problem. Love that Airstream.

[SYC2Vette]

Originally Posted by harryk

I have a new one like yours in out 2005. I had a problem with the top frame always coming apart.
The fix...I trimmed 1/16 off the large front panel and now its fine. When the panel was in place and all the way down against the bottom, I could see that it was too tall. It was just too big for the clip locks to do their thing. Never happened again after the trim.

I was about to repair mine by adding some rivets between clip and panel or possible along the sides. Sounds like trimming might help too so thanks for that. Lousy design and PITA.

[Toasterlife]

If the roads are bumpy my panel which is ever so slightly bowed seems to pop off the bottom plastic retainer and slides down as soon as I open the door. So far bracing the bottom of the door with popsicle sticks to hold it up tight seems to be working but I am looking for alternative solutions.

When we are about to set off in our now 12 year old CD, I have bungees to keep the pull out draw near the door closed, tiny bungees holding the round sink doors closed, the same under the bathroom sink and I barricade the fridge door shut with a mop held in place with more bungees to the pull out kitchen shelf opposite.

The barricading and bungees seem to work but always looking for better ways to do things - all advice welcome.

[SYC2Vette]

Just a follow up on my post #11 above. I trimmed ours slightly as suggested, bonded top and bottom trim in place and added two pop rivets at the top corners through the trim and into the panel. Many miles later all is good.

[Tschupp]

Hi all! Failing at finding new fridge and freezer handles for my Dometic. Any ideas?

[Burnside Bob]

Hi Tschupp

Try this link. Enter your Dometic model in the search box.

https://www.manualslib.com/


If you go to the Dometics site you can find out which models are still in production. The RM3762 in my 2009 Flying Cloud is still available. https://www.dometic.com/en-ca/outdoo...-refrigerators

Good Luck!

[RanchoTexano]

Hey folks, after some bad bumps in our 3,337 mile summer trip this week, we too suffered the panel falling off the Dometic fridge issue. After looking the design over, it seems pretty poor. The panel rests just on the two short pegs and can easily fall off. The trip piece at the bottom is no way strong enough to hold it.

After taking a few measurements, I whipped up a design for a better ledge piece that can hang off the pegs. Printed it on the 3D printer and worked like a champ.

Also added some child cabinet safety straps that stop the fridge from opening enroute. Pictures of all below.

Gary

[Gregg Lowes]

May be late to the discussion, we had the front fridge panel falling of after some rough roads in the BC mountains. Solution-removed the panel trim top and bottom- it clips in so careful not to break the clips- then applied a strip of 3M double sided tape about 2/3rd the length of the panel on the inside. Carefully realigned the panel, then replaced the top and bottom trim. No issues since. Note. This goes easier with the extra set of hands from your traveling companion.

[GOUSC]

We had this repeatedly occur on a 2018 Globetrotter on rough roads in Newfoundland. We used the double sided tape method with good results as well.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by Gregg Lowes

May be late to the discussion, we had the front fridge panel falling of after some rough roads in the BC mountains. Solution-removed the panel trim top and bottom- it clips in so careful not to break the clips- then applied a strip of 3M double sided tape about 2/3rd the length of the panel on the inside. Carefully realigned the panel, then replaced the top and bottom trim. No issues since. Note. This goes easier with the extra set of hands from your traveling companion.

This slipping-refrigerator-cover thing is driving me crazy. It is very hard to get it back in place, and it will, eventually (and sometimes soon!) pop loose and slip again.

Currently in the slipped-apart stage.

I just bought some double-sided tape for another project, and so I am going to give your solution a try.

Thanks for sharing your tip.

[Toasterlife]

Originally Posted by RanchoTexano

Hey folks, after some bad bumps in our 3,337 mile summer trip this week, we too suffered the panel falling off the Dometic fridge issue. After looking the design over, it seems pretty poor. The panel rests just on the two short pegs and can easily fall off. The trip piece at the bottom is no way strong enough to hold it.

After taking a few measurements, I whipped up a design for a better ledge piece that can hang off the pegs. Printed it on the 3D printer and worked like a champ.

Also added some child cabinet safety straps that stop the fridge from opening enroute. Pictures of all below.

Gary

I came up mid-trip with a less high tech solution - I took out one of the fridge shelves and wedged it in between the bottom of the door and the door frame - fits perfectly and supports the door (and plastic frame holding the door cover) in place - no problems since then but not as elegant as your solution.