Norcold 20 cu. ft. RV frig or 18 cu. ft. or residential frig

[cardsfan]

I am factory ordering a 2024 Keystone RV Montana 3123RL. Question, Should I get the fully electric 18 cu ft residential all electric refrigerator that comes with the fifth wheel, or should I order the optional Norcold 20 cu ft RV propain or electric refrigerator?

Thank you in advance for your ideas.

[MandK]

Welcome to the MOC! I am probably not knowledgable enough to offer an opinion, but the folks that are would probably need to know how much solar you are ordering and how much dry camping you do. We are always (almost) plugged in to power and love the residential fridge.

[AnArky]

Originally Posted by cardsfan

I am factory ordering a 2024 Keystone RV Montana 3123RL. Question, Should I get the fully electric 18 cu ft residential all electric refrigerator that comes with the fifth wheel, or should I order the optional Norcold 20 cu ft RV propain or electric refrigerator?

Thank you in advance for your ideas.

Don’t get a Norcold 2118. Highly recommended not getting one. It’s a bag of hurt.

[Daryles]

If you get the residential fridge, get extra batteries or lithium batteries if you boondock a lot.
OR,
Get a 12vdc compressor fridge if you Boondock and lithium batteries. Much more efficient.

If you don't boondock, get a residential fridge and don't worry about it.

[AZ Traveler]

Vernon,

Either of the refer options are all electric compressor models as Keystone no longer installs the older gas absorption models. The 12v model will be easier to keep cold while traveling.

[Lee-CI]

We were informed Norcold is out of the RV refrigerator business altogether, hence the industry shift to only 12V compressor or residential units.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

We were informed Norcold is out of the RV refrigerator business altogether, hence the industry shift to only 12V compressor or residential units.

Interesting, their website is still up and offering RV refrigerators.



I do know Keystone isn't installing absorption refrigerators anymore. 12 volt compressor refrigerators are the new standard. So for boondockers you'll need a hardy battery bank and solar combination. My Norcold is doing it's job for now. The fridge is around between 35 and 40 degrees and the freezer stays between 25 and 30.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

We were informed Norcold is out of the RV refrigerator business altogether, hence the industry shift to only 12V compressor or residential units.

Norcold's website still shows gas absorption refers in their lineup. Keystone/Montana does not install them, they only install compressor models (120v or 12v).

[dlowrey]

We have a Norcold 2118, which I believe is 18 cu. ft. Runs on AC or gas. Can switch automatically to propane when electricity is not available.
Since we load the refrigerator with food the night before we leave, we run the refrig while traveling. I prefer to run off the invertor and batteries when traveling, but this is only good for about 4 hours of travel time, less at night or cloudy day. We have the i400 solar package with two lithium 120 Ah batteries. Some people have had problems with this refrigerator. No problems with our unit.

[AZ Traveler]

The 2118 is no longer used by Montana.

[Route66Rambler]

Thetford bought out NORCOLD. We just installed a N15DCSS 12 volt compressor fridge in our 2019 MHC 330RL. It replaced the Dometic 1350. The fridge is fantastic and cools much better then the LP/electric fridge.
Be advised that if it breaks there are only a few parts that can be replaced. If it is not one of those few parts then the whole fridge will be replaced. Ours broke after only about two weeks of run time. The "user interface" which is the control panel on the upper portion of the right door is the problem. We soon learned that this part is on "backorder" with NORCOLD with no ETA. Even though our unit is under warranty, we just wanted to fix it. We found the only user interface board on the internet and that fixed it but we don't know for how long. If it goes out again (could be any time with no warning) there are no parts available to fix it. I don't know how long NORCOLD will sit on it before they decide we can get a new fridge if it does break again.
Our local dealer is trying order us one (or two) and see how long it takes. This is info I received directly from NORCOLD/Thetford.
Just be aware that it could work perfectly or not. So far the new board is working fine and it's a stable 36 in the fridge and 6 in the freezer.
It's really a great fridge when it's working.

[jpwhite]

My Norcold 2118XSST in my 2019 3120 just flamed out due to .05 screw working loose and fried all the wires. Lucky for me it did not set my rig up in flames.

I wanted an "RV" when I ordered. However, I would go Residential if I did it again. The Norcold fridge pushes the limits of effective absorption refrigerator operation. The fans run nearly continuously, so it uses 12 v power, as well as propane. Maybe get one day on battery. When run on electric, it uses more power than a residential compressor driven unit. It also struggles to maintain temperature in hot weather. Not hitting any positive metrics.

Go residential! Perhaps 12 vdc, but don't know them well enough to comment (yet). Will be looking into them to replace this problem of mine.

[Cat320]

No question, residential. The new ones use very little power.

[regbsn]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

I do know Keystone isn't installing absorption refrigerators anymore. 12 volt compressor refrigerators are the new standard. So for boondockers you'll need a hardy battery bank and solar combination. My Norcold is doing its job for now. The fridge is around between 35 and 40 degrees and the freezer stays between 25 and 30.

My “New” 2023 Montana 3901RK has the optional 20 Cu ft Norcold. Is that one compressor or gas/electic? It has the aluminum looking fins that my old gas absorption freezer had in my old 2003 MH.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by regbsn

My “New” 2023 Montana 3901RK has the optional 20 Cu ft Norcold. Is that one compressor or gas/electic? It has the aluminum looking fins that my old gas absorption freezer had in my old 2003 MH.

My understanding is that Keystone no longer uses the gas absorption as of mid 2023. The only 20 CF Norcold I found was a Polar Elite N20DC. It doesn't have fins. Look on the fridge for the control panel. If you see a switch marked LPG it's not the compressor model.

[regbsn]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

My understanding is that Keystone no longer uses the gas absorption as of mid 2023. The only 20 CF Norcold I found was a Polar Elite N20DC. It doesn't have fins. Look on the fridge for the control panel. If you see a switch marked LPG it's not the compressor model.

Sadly then, mine was made in February 2023.
So what model Norcold is in my rig? I’m hoping it’s not the much lamented 2118.
I stay in very hot temps at times, recently in Tucson with 58 days this summer over 100F.
Any ideas to keep my fridge cold during days like that?
Does AC work better than propane to for this absorption fridge?

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by regbsn

Sadly then, mine was made in February 2023.
So what model Norcold is in my rig? I’m hoping it’s not the much lamented 2118.
I stay in very hot temps at times, recently in Tucson with 58 days this summer over 100F.
Any ideas to keep my fridge cold during days like that?
Does AC work better than propane to for this absorption fridge?

Most likely a version of the 1210. They work OK. in 100 degree days the Fridge stays in the low 40's and freeze in the low 30's. Ice stays frozen. Better than some of the other models. It should have 4 fans on the top vent. I've seen people put a standing room fan on the bottom vent As far as the AC. It takes hours to get the rig to the high 70's. Then they just stay running. Assuming your intake/supply is properly sealed it's works as good as it's going to. I changed all the vents in my to the old style louvered. It helps. At least I can feel air movement.

[Maddog]

Originally Posted by cardsfan

I am factory ordering a 2024 Keystone RV Montana 3123RL. Question, Should I get the fully electric 18 cu ft residential all electric refrigerator that comes with the fifth wheel, or should I order the optional Norcold 20 cu ft RV propain or electric refrigerator?

Thank you in advance for your ideas.

No I wouldn’t. If you lose power and we have several times in the last few years. We keep ours on electric and if power goes out it goes straight to propane until power is restored.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Maddog

No I wouldn’t. If you lose power and we have several times in the last few years. We keep ours on electric and if power goes out it goes straight to propane until power is restored.

Jeff,

The old style RV refers (gas absorption gas/electric) are no longer an option. You can get an electric 120V residential model or a 12V RV electric compressor model.

[prk7]

If you go with residential fridge, don't go with samsung or lg, total junk. Go with ge, frigidaire, or whirlpool, in that order.