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Old 05-14-2010, 10:37 AM   #1
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If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all...

So the weather forecast for our trip next week is iffy and yesterday I noticed that our refrigerator wasn't cooling. I switched it from electric to gas and let it go while I was at work last night. When I came home I smelled what seemed like fiberglass resin in the garage, checked the fridge and nothing, temp read 60 degrees, freezer had defrosted and things were thawing out. Called the local Dometic repair facility this morning and they are 99% sure that the cooling unit went out. Takes a week to fix as they don't keep them in stock.

If I loose my vacation time I won't get it back as we are too low staffed so we have to go. Wife says we will do it the old way with coolers and ice.
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Old 05-14-2010, 10:40 AM   #2
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Well, big time bummer !!! And this is with a 2 year old fridge ??? Geez.
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Old 05-14-2010, 11:37 AM   #3
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Well, big time bummer !!! And this is with a 2 year old fridge ??? Geez.
Less than that Chap. I took delivery of the rig in September of '08 Luckily Dometic has a 2 year parts and labor warranty and 3 year for just parts. Will take the rig in when we get back.
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Old 05-14-2010, 11:42 AM   #4
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Bummer on the refer but don't let it ruin your trip!!
I can't tell you how many times I've let the weather man talk me
into staying home and I wound up wishing I was OUT THERE!!

Grab the coolers and go!!!
We want a trip report when you get back!
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Old 05-14-2010, 11:56 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by NWJeeper View Post
So the weather forecast for our trip next week is iffy and yesterday I noticed that our refrigerator wasn't cooling. I switched it from electric to gas and let it go while I was at work last night. When I came home I smelled what seemed like fiberglass resin in the garage, checked the fridge and nothing, temp read 60 degrees, freezer had defrosted and things were thawing out. Called the local Dometic repair facility this morning and they are 99% sure that the cooling unit went out. Takes a week to fix as they don't keep them in stock.

If I loose my vacation time I won't get it back as we are too low staffed so we have to go. Wife says we will do it the old way with coolers and ice.
NWJeeper, it's too bad you are so far away from me, I just emptied my dauthers dorm from college, she had a small fridge while she was there I would have let you use it....That's a shame. I know how it fells when things go wrong.
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Old 05-14-2010, 12:43 PM   #6
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NWJeeper, it's too bad you are so far away from me, I just emptied my dauthers dorm from college, she had a small fridge while she was there I would have let you use it....That's a shame. I know how it fells when things go wrong.
Thanks Wade. Things are futher complicated by the fact that we had planned to dry camp for the entire 10 day trip save for one night to recharge the batteries fully on the rig and the boat. The small fridge would be an awesome idea if we were staying at a park where we had hookups.

Mother-in-law has a large cooler we are borrowing. I haven't been without a fridge while camping for as long as I can remember. Probably back to my tenting days. It will be a bit of an adjustment but we will make the best of it.

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KYdan wrote: Grab the coolers and go!!!
We want a trip report when you get back!
Will do Dan, thanks for the encouragement.
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Old 05-14-2010, 12:58 PM   #7
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that is is the pitts
i have to ask you did check the 12v supply to the fridge and no blown little fuses.
cooling units just don't go out, unless you get a leak, did you smell the ammonia or just hot plastic? when you get it fixed have em show you if then can what went wrong.

do you leave your fridge on all the time?


have a great trip and conserve that ICE
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Old 05-14-2010, 01:22 PM   #8
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that is is the pitts
i have to ask you did check the 12v supply to the fridge and no blown little fuses.
cooling units just don't go out, unless you get a leak, did you smell the ammonia or just hot plastic? when you get it fixed have em show you if then can what went wrong.

do you leave your fridge on all the time?


have a great trip and conserve that ICE
Yeah we keep the fridge on all the time. Rig is plugged into power in the garage full time. I noticed yesterday that it was getting warmer on electricity so changed to gas, no go. All functions are normal, starts on gas just fine, switches to AC automatically, temperature set is fully adjustable without problems. I even went through the diagnostic mode outlined in the manual which shows codes on the LED display above the fridge if something isn't working right. Troubleshooting section in the manual says if refrigerator fails to cool on either AC or gas to turn off immediately and call a service center.

Wife is picking up the cooler later today from her mom. Luckily there is an RV park just about 1/2 mile from where we will be dry camped that has ice.
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Old 05-14-2010, 04:29 PM   #9
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Sorry to hear about your problem. We just got back from bringing my daughter home from college also. Do you have access to any dry ice. Our local utility company hands it out when power is out for days at a time after bad storms. It lasts quite a while and you could place it in the refrigerator and keep it cold. Just a thought. Hope the weather holds out for you. It's still better than work!! At least the repair is under warranty. Have fun, be safe!
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Old 05-14-2010, 04:49 PM   #10
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Sorry to hear about your problem. We just got back from bringing my daughter home from college also. Do you have access to any dry ice. Our local utility company hands it out when power is out for days at a time after bad storms. It lasts quite a while and you could place it in the refrigerator and keep it cold. Just a thought. Hope the weather holds out for you. It's still better than work!! At least the repair is under warranty. Have fun, be safe!
Hey great idea Charlie, I can get dry ice at the local grocery store. Our power companies don't do anything of the sort. Ours just tell you how long it will be out, hope ya have a generator handy....
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Old 05-15-2010, 08:17 AM   #11
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It is really frustrating when RV problems impact your vacation plans. We've had our trips cut short a couple of times with issues. We bought an extended warranty this time ( I know many of you don't ) but have found that is useful. We've used it twice in the first 2 years. RVs are problematic.
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Old 05-18-2010, 06:21 PM   #12
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Just think, your batteries will last just a bit longer using those coolers, even with the fridge, we use coolers and ice for pop and beer, keeps the kids out of the fridge
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