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07-15-2014, 05:44 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Everett
Posts: 187
M.O.C. #10319
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Norcold N811 failed
Last Friday we arrived at a campground in Eastern Washington our intent to say just for the weekend. As I set-up the rig in the campground we heard a strange sound. To be honest I was not sure what it was at first, but the smell was bad and I soon realized it was the refrigerator losing its refrigerant gas. We switched the fridge off and then opened some more windows and got outside. It probably took about an hour before the noise of escaping gas stopped.
Three questions for you all if I may.
1) Has anyone else experienced this?
2) Surely we should not have been able to smell the gas inside our rig - surely the gas should have been restricted to the rear of the fridge and vented outside?
3) Honestly I would rather not replace with another Norcold - but the choices seem to be Dometic or Norcold and both run using the same gas absorption system. Is there a better brand I should look at?
Thanks
Chris
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07-15-2014, 11:48 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Unfortunately Dometic and Norcold own the market for RV refrigerators, with Dometic seeming to have the best reputation. You might consider a residential unit if you can find one that fits. I helped do that over the winter with a friend's 4 door Norcold, and it was not to hard, although some trim work was required to make it look good. He wired in an inverter and separate battery for operation on the road and total cost was still cheaper than an RV unit replacement.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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07-16-2014, 05:28 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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Chris,
When our fridge goes out on us we will definitely look at replacing with a residential type. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing. Dennis
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07-16-2014, 09:14 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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I forgot to mention that after pulling off the front, the NOrcold fit thru the front door and the residential replacement was much lighter.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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07-16-2014, 03:21 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Crossville
Posts: 295
M.O.C. #5424
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Ours went out this past fall. Replaced with a residential unit and we couldn't be happier!
__________________
Ted & Beth Uhler, Crossville, TN
and "Monty", our traveling/camping cat
2022 Montana 3781, 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
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07-16-2014, 05:33 PM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Everett
Posts: 187
M.O.C. #10319
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Thanks all for your notes, interesting to hear that we are not the only ones who have had a failure. I may need to seriously consider a residential unit.
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07-19-2014, 07:39 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Everett
Posts: 187
M.O.C. #10319
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Been looking around for a replacement, still considering going domestic, but I did find an ATWood Helium RV Refrigerator, about the same cost as Norcold and Dometic. Anyone have one of these and has the experience been good or not?
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/refrigerators/
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07-19-2014, 09:14 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Haven't heard anything about it lately, but in the past there was an Amish company making replacements for the refrigeration part of an RV frig that many folks were really happy with. I believe they were from the Elkhart, Indiana area.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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07-24-2014, 03:44 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Livingston
Posts: 131
M.O.C. #11717
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Ours went out two years ago. Replaced it with a 11 cubic foot resi fridge/freezer at a fraction of the cost. More room and much lighter. Plus lower risk of combustion. Best decision we ever made! It fit into the cavity like it was made for it.
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07-26-2014, 02:40 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by DQDick
Haven't heard anything about it lately, but in the past there was an Amish company making replacements for the refrigeration part of an RV frig that many folks were really happy with. I believe they were from the Elkhart, Indiana area.
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I think this is the company Dick is talking about, http://www.rvcoolingunit.net/servlet/StoreFront
I used them when my dometic went south. Bought the better cooling unit from them for about $600 I think. Not a bad repair at all. Their support was excellent. Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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10-10-2014, 06:04 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Everett
Posts: 187
M.O.C. #10319
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I wanted to report back to the forum our experience getting our fridge replaced. We decided to purchase the Atwood HE-0801. I did email to Keystone and asked them if we should have been able to smell the refrigerant gas inside the rig. Keystone said we should take the trailer to one of their authorized dealers and have them take pictures of the Norcold installation as they remove it.
So we took the trailer to Camping World in Burlington WA last weekend. They started work on the trailer on Wednesday. I received a call from Camping World telling me the wiring loom from the Fridge was fried all the way back to the distribution panel and that it would need 6 hours of technician work (approx. $770 in labor alone). Cleary I was not too pleased about this. Camping World did however tell me that they had submitted a claim to Keystone for the 6 hours of labor because they believed the cabling had been incorrectly installed in the first place by Keystone. So I had hope that I might not have to pay for the 6 hours, but the trailer is about 4 years old now - clearly not under any Keystone warranty.
So the next day Camping World called me back, Keystone had responded to their ask to cover the 6 hours. Keystone will cover the 6 hours of labor (nice!) and also pay to replace the fridge too! Very nice! So to be clear - they are going to pay the equivalent value of the Norcold unit - as we are not replacing the Norcold with another Norcold. I am very impressed by this, I honestly did not expect this. I take my hat off to Keystone for this.
Happy Camping
Chris and Lynda
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10-10-2014, 06:21 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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Once again Montana comes through and Kudos to Camping World for looking out for you
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10-11-2014, 03:52 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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First off, it sounds like a experienced, smart tech, at CW knew how to document the problem to Keystone so they realized it was their fault in the first place. Of course Keystone went "above and beyond" by covering it out of warranty. I believe they try to do this many times when there is no question of possible "owner abuse" causing the failure.
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