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02-13-2017, 11:47 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: TX
Posts: 213
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Dometic A/C's, Junk??!?!!!
So our camper is creeping around the 2 year old mark and I fear our A/C is not up for the Texas Summer that is fast approaching! We used it this past weekend and it was in the mid 80's and we had the a/c on 55 and each time I expected to go in the camper and be freezing and it was cool and comfortable. Not what it should be when it's only 83ish outside.
The reason for the title of this thread is because of this:
Some of our family friends had the same Dometic A/C on their camper as ours it was a Cruise light 26 BHXL that was 2 months newer than ours and it went through 3 a/c units. On the 3rd one we were camping in july and it started blowing hot, after many angry phone calls to the dealer he called a mobile service guy who came out and actually tore the unit apart. He flushed the Freon and charged it, after that it was good. He took the bill to the dealer and they said warranty wasn't going to float the bill because it wasn't approved work. Then my parents bought a brand new Vib 26RKS in October and paid to have a second A/C put on (both a/c's are Dometic), right off the bat the add on a/c bit the dust. They went with us this past weekend and they are having the same issue we are, but with 2 a/c's.
I called my dealer this morning and told them everything I just told y'all thinking it might ignite a light bulb to just flush and recharge the a/c's. However they said Dometic will just want to replace the unit and I'm looking at a minimum of 2-3 weeks from the day I drop it off. They also told me that if I choose to have someone recharge the a/c that not only will warranty not pay for it, that it will void the warranty on the a/c all together!
The reasons to never buy a Forest River again just keep stacking up....
__________________
2020 East to West Della terra 31k3s
2012 Ford F350 King Ranch FX4
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02-13-2017, 11:57 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 293
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The problem is not with FR, but with the junk that is available to FR. Coleman used to make a good AC unit, but stopped making them, Carrier could, but won't, so it appears Dometic is the only game in town. They intentionally make their units "non-serviceable" so owners of their crap are forced to buy a new unit when the lightly used unit stops working. Huge profits by doing this.
There are excellent AC mechanics out there who truly know their trade and can easily make the Dometic junk a serviceable unit, but they are not easy to find. All that is needed is the installation of service valves and re-servicing the units with 410 Freon.
__________________
Alan
2012 Ram 3500 DRW Crew Cab, 6.7 HO Cummins
2014 Columbus M-340RK
'69 Chevy C-10, 396BB
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02-13-2017, 12:18 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: South Bend, IN
Posts: 50
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Kudos to Dometic Customer Service
Five stars to Holly at Dometic Customer Service for a quick and helpful response to my message via their online 'contact us' form.
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02-13-2017, 12:19 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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As was said, not sure why you're blaming FR for something made by Dometic.
Dometic supplies air conditioners to nearly every RV manufacturer out there, not just FR.
That said, did you get a 15k a/c or a 13.5k a/c?
Our Dometic 13.5 a/c has worked flawlessly for over 10 years.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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02-13-2017, 12:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: South Jordan, UT
Posts: 113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alsdas88
The problem is not with FR, but with the junk that is available to FR. Coleman used to make a good AC unit, but stopped making them, Carrier could, but won't, so it appears Dometic is the only game in town. They intentionally make their units "non-serviceable" so owners of their crap are forced to buy a new unit when the lightly used unit stops working. Huge profits by doing this.
There are excellent AC mechanics out there who truly know their trade and can easily make the Dometic junk a serviceable unit, but they are not easy to find. All that is needed is the installation of service valves and re-servicing the units with 410 Freon.
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Hi Alan, I am a small RV parts and accessories dealer and the 2017 catalog that I just received from one of the largest RV Parts and accessories distributors in the US still shows Coleman Mach 3 AC units. Now maybe they don't sell to the manufacturers any more?
Just curious who told you Coleman stopped making AC units.
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02-13-2017, 12:25 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DFW Rusty
a mobile service guy who came out and actually tore the unit apart. He flushed the Freon and charged it, after that it was good.
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This is strange as Dometic units are sealed units without recharge ports.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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02-13-2017, 12:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 3,954
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OP, Have you tried dealing directly with Dometic? I've found them to be pretty responsive on issues. They may be able to direct you to someone besides your dealer who can service your ac under their warranty.
I agree with others though, you may need to give up RV'ing if you won't buy a RV with a Dometic ac...
__________________
2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
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02-13-2017, 12:37 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
This is strange as Dometic units are sealed units without recharge ports.
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Thought that was odd as well. How do you recharge a sealed unit in the field???
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02-13-2017, 12:49 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
This is strange as Dometic units are sealed units without recharge ports.
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I try to never use the word ALL, but most hermetically sealed systems have no service ports... haven't had in the last 50+ years. There have been a couple appliance manufacturers that put service ports on them, but they where proprietary type(special) connections. Most sealed systems NEVER require refrigerant service. The only reason to open the system is for failure(electric, mechanical or leaking) and in that case you would need to service and either add service ports or use process tubes. It is illegal to "add" refrigerant without system repair(or attempted repair).
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
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02-13-2017, 02:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bhoth
Hi Alan, I am a small RV parts and accessories dealer and the 2017 catalog that I just received from one of the largest RV Parts and accessories distributors in the US still shows Coleman Mach 3 AC units. Now maybe they don't sell to the manufacturers any more?
Just curious who told you Coleman stopped making AC units.
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He said Coleman used to make a GOOD ac unit...
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02-13-2017, 03:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: TX
Posts: 213
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As to the question about adding service ports in the field. I do know he had to modify something on his unit to make it work. My friend is getting the contact info for me to the service guy. He said his over all bill was about $400, and that was him coming to the camp site on a Friday.
I believe I have the 13.5k which supposedly is not known for having a lot of issues. However, our same friend that went through 3 a/c's was told his unit was a 15k.
I know my last statement was harsh to hold FR accountable for their a/c, but I've had a pretty long laundry list of issues with this camper. This just adds to the list.
__________________
2020 East to West Della terra 31k3s
2012 Ford F350 King Ranch FX4
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02-13-2017, 04:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 293
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bhoth
Hi Alan, I am a small RV parts and accessories dealer and the 2017 catalog that I just received from one of the largest RV Parts and accessories distributors in the US still shows Coleman Mach 3 AC units. Now maybe they don't sell to the manufacturers any more?
Just curious who told you Coleman stopped making AC units.
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I was just told that this past weekend by the RV center that repaired my heater. I too am having weak output from my rear AC unit and had what I thought was a good discussion with the techs there. I think I need to do some more independent research before I relay second hand "knowledge".
Thank you for the correction.
__________________
Alan
2012 Ram 3500 DRW Crew Cab, 6.7 HO Cummins
2014 Columbus M-340RK
'69 Chevy C-10, 396BB
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02-13-2017, 04:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: South Jordan, UT
Posts: 113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 325BH
He said Coleman used to make a GOOD ac unit...
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Ok you got me there!
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02-21-2017, 12:09 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: TX
Posts: 213
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update:
As to my friend who had his unit re-charged. It wasn't an RV repair man as it turns out. It's his cousin who is a licensed HVAC guy. He said if I bring my rv to his house he will do the mods for $450 cash. He said he has been doing this for a few years now. Although he doesn't want it advertised, because it's all under the table so he doesn't end up in a lawsuit somewhere.
I spoke with Dometic, and it's pretty straight forward. The a/c has to be changed. The recommend I take it back to the dealership where I bought it... . It seems as though I am out of their manufacturers warranty.
Luckily I have the aftermarket warranty. I called the dealership and the soonest they can get it in to look at it is April 21, and about a 2 week minimum lead time on repairs.
I have called a couple mobile service guys and they all said if I use them that 9 times out of 10 that my warranty will make me pay something out of pocket. Also that their first trip out will be out of my pocket and then their second trip out will be to actually replace the a/c!
Either way.... I feel kinda stuck... I either wait till April to drop my camper off and wait some more, pay $450 out of pocket and void the warranty on my a/c all together, or be out of pocket about $200-300 and get it done in the next couple weeks! .....
My next step is I'm going to call my aftermarket warranty and ask them about my options through them.
__________________
2020 East to West Della terra 31k3s
2012 Ford F350 King Ranch FX4
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02-21-2017, 01:51 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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You can buy clamp-on service ports pretty cheap. Like $5 cheap. If I ever have an ac refrigerant issue that it out-of-warranty, this would be my first attempt to fix.
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02-21-2017, 02:17 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alsdas88
The problem is not with FR, but with the junk that is available to FR. Coleman used to make a good AC unit, but stopped making them, Carrier could, but won't, so it appears Dometic is the only game in town. They intentionally make their units "non-serviceable" so owners of their crap are forced to buy a new unit when the lightly used unit stops working. Huge profits by doing this.
There are excellent AC mechanics out there who truly know their trade and can easily make the Dometic junk a serviceable unit, but they are not easy to find. All that is needed is the installation of service valves and re-servicing the units with 410 Freon.
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I have a 15000 Coleman on my 2016 Shasta 185 FQ. :-))
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02-21-2017, 02:19 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: South Jordan, UT
Posts: 113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 325BH
You can buy clamp-on service ports pretty cheap. Like $5 cheap. If I ever have an ac refrigerant issue that it out-of-warranty, this would be my first attempt to fix.
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Wow this is awesome to know you can add a service port. But begs the question, if the A/C unit needs a recharge, isn't there a leak in the lines somewhere? Adding a service port may be a temporary fix?
__________________
2012 Ram 3500 Megacab SRW 6.7L Cummins
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02-21-2017, 02:28 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Box elder
Posts: 724
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__________________
2015 silverback 31IK
2023 f350
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02-21-2017, 02:29 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 4
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sealed AC
It is not a big deal to install saddle taps or braze in service valves on sealed systems. They get leaks just like any other AC's. I do it all the time. If the unit keeps needing refrigerant the leak needs to be found and fixed. There is never a need to add refrigerant unless the unit is leaking. Don't ever let a tech just "top it off". Doing HVAC for 35 years.
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02-21-2017, 04:14 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bhoth
Wow this is awesome to know you can add a service port. But begs the question, if the A/C unit needs a recharge, isn't there a leak in the lines somewhere? Adding a service port may be a temporary fix?
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Correct.
Sometimes though a leak can be very slow. I know a guy who adds a can every season (actually it is less I think, but doesn't matter). The price of the can is so cheap it isn't worth getting a new ac. Once the tap is installed, adding a can (or however much you need) is easy.
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