Refrigerator Woes
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Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3967
Printed Date: 05 May 2024 at 1:06am
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Topic: Refrigerator Woes
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Subject: Refrigerator Woes
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 1:14pm
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Last trip the fridge performed flawlessly- this time, not so much. Both instances were on shore power, and nothing else that we know of changed from one trip to the other. This outing the best the box could do was chill items "cooler than ambient temperature". I tried removing the freezer shelf / door in order to get better results, and it helped a little, but still not to the point I would have liked. I switched over to propane, and again there was a slight improvement but not much. Both the vent grill covers and their compartments were clear of obstructions. Any ideas? Thanks! ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Replies:
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 1:33pm
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I noticed this my last trip out as well. I always set my temp setting at the coldest just to confirm and it was not working well. I cycled through the temperture settings a couple of times and again back down to the coldest. For some reason after doing this it performed flawlessly. Honestly, not quite sure why. I have also noticed that there have been times when I switch from battery to gas, it won't fire unless I turn the fridge completely off and then to gas. Again, not sure why this is the case. Hope all this makes sense. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 1:36pm
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Bob, Good to see you are keeping Manatee Springs occupied while we are away camping in Colorado. We also fight the fridge. Looks like the best it will do is 40 degrees below outside ambient in the fridge section. That means 50 degrees inside if it's 90 outside. Better if you take the freezer out, but then, no ice cream. Outside ambient includes the inside of the Pod if it's closed up such as when traveling. Freezer will maintain below 32 degrees, but that still leads to mushy IC. I have not confirmed any difference gas vs. electric so I've been leaving it on gas, even at the campsite, in case of power failure. Either way the recovery capability is zip so in and out traffic has to be minimized. Camp on! ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 3:50pm
In truck campers and travel trailers over the past 35 years I've had 5 Dometic and one Norcold fridge. The older ones were not very good, and the new ones are not one iota better. Manufacturers have just not improved their products with the times. My one Norcold seemed a little better than any of my Dometics, but friends have complained just as much about their Norcolds. Now ya wanna talk about what a fine air conditioner that Dometic produces ? That company has done very little to earn my respect. Little competition from other manufacturers has not been good for us RV purchasers. End of rant!------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 4:40pm
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Thanks for the tips. We can try them out while the 'Pod is in the barn awaiting our next trip. We were wondering if an electric-only "dorm fridge" would fit in the same space, and if it would offer any better performance than the triple power models. We pretty much stick to spots with power and water, so the lack of battery / propane operation is not a big deal. I think I'll pull some measurements and browse Amazon. Maybe one will be advertised as "quick cool". BTW, +1 Kickstart! ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 6:40pm
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I have always had good experiences with the Norcold refrigerators and Coleman air conditioners. But, Dometic refrigerators and air conditioners are another story. My pod has Norcold and Coleman, so I am a happy camper. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 8:05pm
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Non-stop problems with our fridge since July. I thought I had fixed it after blowing out the burner assembly but the problem came right back. I like figuring out problems - basically that's what I do at work - but I'm close to just dropping it off at a dealer and let them deal with it.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 9:14pm
Bob, A few things to think about with a dorm fridge. They are motor-compressor systems. As such they make some noise at night in a quiet camper. They may also not be able to handle the vibration of the camper. Years ago small camper fridges were compressor driven, but they were designed for the environment. Lastly, you have no cooling while you're driving. Close in maybe OK, but longer trips probably not so. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 9:41pm
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Today many dorm fridges use thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling systems, so the only noise is a cooling fan. This is the same thing the electric coolers use, and both have the same problem. They will cool X number of degrees below ambient, usually 40 F, so if the camper gets to 100 F while you are going down the road your food goes up to 60 F. Better to find an old-school compressor-driven system. They do make some noise but my old dorm fridge (now 23 years old) is fairly quiet. And they will provide far more cooling power. To run one on the road you could either add an inverter in the TV and run an extra plug up to the TV, or make suresure all wiring through the Bargeman is big enough and add the inverter inside the pod itself. Again running a separate line from the fridge to the inverter's outlet. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 9:58pm
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I think the units around 4 cu. ft. are still compressor types. Example Danby Company at Amazon. Some of the reviews talk about noise. Also, no spec on AC power so I don't know how much of an inverter would be required.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 10:04pm
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------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 10:29am
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I found a 1.6 cubic foot model last night which claimed to use a compressor. No amperage spec, but I remember using my Kill-A-Watt on my old dorm fridge a while ago and it wasn't much. The fridge is now at my wife's work location so I can't test it again to get an exact number. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: EmptyNesters
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2013 at 6:17pm
| I have found the Norcolds to be a much better product then the Dometic, I will be pulling out the Rpods Dometic and replacing with a Norcold. (Someday) |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2013 at 6:37pm
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We must be the odd ball....no issues to report, all has always been good with our frig and has always kept the stuff in the freezer frozen, even in AZ. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2013 at 7:51pm
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+1,the only thing I would like to see is a little bit deeper fridge, the space is there. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2013 at 10:27pm
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We are on our third season with the Dometic fridge. No problems so far. I did do something I normally do not do, I bought an extended 2 year warranty as my dealer said the 3 way fridge is about the only thing that causes a problem and could be a little expensive to repair. so far, so good. The extended warranty was fairly reasonable cost wise. I understand the 3 way fridges are rather expensive. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 8:54am
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Yep, ours has been perfect. I have it on and cooling right now, turned it on Saturday afternoon, yesterday after church I threw my instant read in the freezer area and it was 10F, the fridge section was 34F in the crisper drawer.. We have noticed no difference in performance no matter the power source. The fridge in the 'stream is nearly 40 years old, only two way, still runs perfect also. I did have to replace the door gaskets a couple years ago on it. ------------- |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 1:48pm
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I'll echo the last 4 posts ... 1 year in and not a single problem or issue with our fridge. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 8:34pm
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We too have had no problems all three ways the refrigerator works. I am presently using it on 110 volts all that is in the freezer is frozen solid. Twelve volts is the only way it will not operate the freezer at its best. David and Danette ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2013 at 11:51am
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Many many thanks to Hogone!
I tried cycling the temp control and the fridge kicked in perfectly! I could have made ice cubes in the little freezer section! Who knows why or how this makes any sense, but apparently it works for the fridge's electronic brain. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2013 at 1:27pm
No problem coopercdrkey; glad it worked out. Now trade in that Silverado and get an F150!!!!!!!! Just kidding!!!!!! ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |