Changing out residential refrigerator

[John330]

I have a 2015 coachmen 404rb diesel pusher with a Frigidaire Gallery french door bottom freezer residential refrigerator. The refrigerator has been nothing but trouble many service calls and now the refrigerator has been determined by frigidaire to be not repairable . Very upset that a 4 year old refrigerator is no good called Frigidaire and got no where. My question for the forum is anyone have any experience getting a residential refrigerator in a diesel pusher?
The refrigerator box without the doors is 24" deep 36" wide and 70" high. the door opening is 24 1/4".
Also any recommended residential french door bottom freezer refrigerator
thanks John

[WDW]

I’m guessing the answer to your question is that they have to take the windshield out to accomplish that. I believe the units are set on the floor prior to the walls being installed. That’s what I have read in other situations where others have reported a similar dilemma. Good luck! Probably having an RV dealer involved might be a good choice.

[CaptnJohn]

They come out and are replaced through a large window or removing a slide.

[John330]

I am hoping that is not the case because I contacted the windshield installers and they will not take out a windshield and install the same one, they would have to install a new one they estimate 3,000 to 5,000 for the windshield.
my door opening is 24 1/4 " and the box of the counter depth refrigerator minus the doors is 23 3/4".

I am made a mock up of the refrigerator box and playing with that to see how I may get it in. I have removed the screen door and took the pin out of the door so it swings wider and I was able to get the mock up in to the bottom of the first step. I have a front tv and tv frame which is interfering with it getting in any further , I may have to take out the tv and possibly the passengers seat.
Not sure if this will work

[John330]

My mock up of the refrigerator box showed me that I can get it thru the door but can not get it past the dash. So my only option is a side window that is plenty large enough but 6 feet off the ground.

Is removing a frame less window difficult?

[jonwisconsin]

What is so wrong with your refrigerator? I wonder trying to put on a balance taking a window vs fixing the refrigerator. Have you contacted someone who can service it for an estimate? I had problems a few years back with my Samsung refrigerator. I looked for an independent service person. $100 later it was fixed for good. Just a thought. Removing a window or a windshield and put it back might open other problems in the future. Just a thought.

[Bluepill]

How about considering two smaller units stacked, like RV washer/dryer installations? Or maybe a small fridge and a chest freezer mounted in another location.

You could chop up the old fridge with a sawzall to get it out the door, then bring in the new units.

[John330]

I did have a certified Frigidaire repair person look at the refrigerator and it has a Freon leak somewhere in the box and can not be repaired.

[dapentaf]

Think out of the box. Get a Saws
all an cut up the refer into pieces that can fit thru the door. Make sure you disconnect all electric lines etc.

[Retired JSO]

Most large items are installed before the walls are in place. Way back, we used a local RV shop that was able to remove a large window and remove and replace the fridge.

[camaraderie]

If you don't need quite the same size fridge you could get one that fits through the door and then hire a woodworker to fill in the gaps with usable storage or cabinets or a closet.

[formerFR]

I just removed a Dometic RV fridge, which is ~24" deep, from our GulfStream bh camper, which we tow with our diesel pusher, which required me to remove the whole door and frame, which allowed it to barely slip out. The new residential fridge replacing it was the same, ~24" deep, though a lot taller.

I know how to remove and replace my door and frame, now!

I would measure your entry door width, the thinnest point, and compare that to the depth measurement of the fridge, without the doors, or hinges. You may find that it will barely slip thru. Otherwise, you can removed the entry door/frame, which is probably a single unit, which is probably only held in it's frame by external screws, though you may have to also remove some trim to reveal those screws.

[John330]

Thanks for all the feedback here is an update. Old refrigerator is out and new refrigerator is in. After shopping around and explaining my situation I found a retailer that would help with this issue.
I took the RV to the store where I bought the refrigerator. I opened the slides and took out the side window which was about 7 feet off the ground.The delivery people backed a truck to the slide and turned the refrigerator on its side with the doors off and it went in no problem with room to spare.

The french door refrigerator was 24" x 36" with doors off.

Thanks Again
John