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Brianh View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 Aug 2016
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Dometic RM8551
    Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 6:01pm
My Dometic RM8551 crapped out in my RP171.  Has anyone been able to order this online in the US, or do I need to go through a FR dealer?  RM8555 is a newer replacement.  Any other 3-way refrigerators that anyone has used as a replacement?

BTW...my problem has been going on for over a year.  It stops working on LP, I take it in, they clean it and it works.  When I take it home and travel, it stops working.  Not entirely, just the flame dies down and it does not get cold enough.  Had it cleaned 4-times, and the regulator replaced as the tech said maybe that was plugged and not getting enough LP.  I've had it.  Time to replace.
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podwerkz View Drop Down
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Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 6:39pm
You may have some contaminated propane and/or deteriorating propane lines or contaminants inside the lines.
r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 6:41pm
I ended up buying a new fridge directly from FR after a bad experience with someone else installing and messing up a Norcold.  It's an RM8501 and the price was very competitive.  Casita had it also for a pretty good price, but FR was cheaper.  If you are a vet, be sure to mention it if you get it from FR.  The FR and Casita prices were way lower than anywhere else I could find.  The refrigerator was the exact replacement for the old Dometic we had in our 172 that conked out a couple years ago.  

If you call the parts department at FR, they can look up exactly what fits your 171.  My trailer is pretty old so I had to do a minor wiring change for the 12vdc operation to make the wire a little heavier than the original, but it was easy and they were helpful with some technical advice.  

I installed it myself and it has worked very nicely ever since.  I salvaged the pancake/muffin fans from the old fridge and added them up by the upper vent to give a boost to air movement for hot days.  Someday when I'm feeling really frisky, I'll put a thermostat switch in to automatically turn them off and on.  For the time being I have just a toggle switch.  I didn't connect them to the fridge fan circuit because it has a low amp fuse that could blow if two more fans were connected.  

I gave the old fridge to the RV dealer where I occasionally buy stuff.  They wanted it for parts.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Brianh View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 7:41pm
Contaminated lines?  Hadn't thought of that.  Are the lines easily replaced?  I haven't looked, are they copper or some other material?
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 8:23pm
Copper and rubber hose (which can deteriorate).
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Brianh View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 9:04pm
I searched a bit more about clogged lines.  Going to try and blow out tomorrow and see if that works.  It makes sense this could be the problem as it works for a while, then when I travel it stops working.  Thanks again!
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 9:58pm
Have you noticed any other problems with your stove or hot water heater when on gas? Long shot thought .....  but you might want to take the regulator to a LP company to check out. I've heard of regulators that go flaky like that so it might be worth a roll of the dice to check it out or replace it. As far as a new refrigerator just ask the almighty Google and I'm sure it will spit out many sources. Wink 
Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
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Brianh View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 10:34pm
I had the regulator replaced.  Frig worked for 1-day.  When I relocated...didn't work again.  I'm really hoping, its the line. 
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Brianh View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 10:35pm
The repair guy said the frig takes lower pressure than stove and furnace, and if regulator plugged would cause frig to not work.  This seems in line with a plugged line as well.  No...no problems with stove or furnace.
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podwerkz View Drop Down
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Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Apr 2019 at 6:21pm
Maybe he meant lower volume of gas, since all those appliances are on the same low pressure propane supply.
r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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