Norcold Fridge packed up

[BlackMule15]

Hi all. We have a 2016 model year 3440RL with the Norcold 2118 4 door fridge. It has been a terrific fridge with no issues until now. Yesterday morning I noticed there was no cooling in the fridge are and the freezer section was still cold. Pulled the outside lower vent and saw refrigerant had leaked all over. The end result being the cooling unit is dead.
My question is, with the unit being 5 years old, do we replace the cooling unit or the whole fridge? The pricing for the cooling unit is slightly less than half the price of a new fridge, but part of the reason could be the fridge itself - door seals, case issues, electronics etc. The fridge itself is $5K plus
Replacement with a residential fridge is not an option as we need the propane for a backup in the event of an AC power loss when we are not at the trailer.
Curious if anyone has had the same issue and what the solution was?

[mhs4771]

We have a Residential Fridge, 1000 Watt Inverter, and Four 6 Volt Batteries. If we loose shore power our Fridge keeps running and doesn't miss a beat and can run for several days if necessary.

[rohrmann]

We have the 12 cu ft Norcold and after having the cooling unit replaced twice in 2015, and installing an ARP device on it the second time, our fridge has worked perfectly since. I would suggest just having a new cooling unit installed, whether a Norcold or a good Amish unit and install the ARP device and you should be good.

[PNW Fireguy]

Take a look at JC Refrigeration offerings. Third party replacements of OEM cooling units in a couple of different flavors.

[PeteandJoan]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

We have a Residential Fridge, 1000 Watt Inverter, and Four 6 Volt Batteries. If we loose shore power our Fridge keeps running and doesn't miss a beat and can run for several days if necessary.

Yep, x2

[AZ Traveler]

Mule,

First, welcome to the forum!

Either replacing with a residential or repairing can work. I would not buy a whole new RV unit - replace the cooling unit instead. If you repair, add an ARP unit to protect it. Finding a residential that will fit is a challenge sometimes.

[jimcol]

Give Dave Forest at https://rvcoolingunit.com/ a call. My older Dometic cooling unit went out several years ago. Replaced the cooling unit myself with the Amish Built unit Dave handles for $680.00. Much heavier than the Dometic OEM as the walls of the coil are thicker. Dave provided all the advice and guidance I needed to complete the change out.

[BlackMule15]

Thanks for the reply. Which residential fridge do you have?

[BlackMule15]

Thanks for the info!

[NCFischers]

Contact Leon Hirschberger at National RV Refrigeration in Shipshewana, In. When the fridge in our old unit quit, I brought the rig to him and he replaced the burner unit for half of the cost of a new refer, added an ARP Fridge Defend unit and warranteed it for six years. I installed a ARP Fridge Defend unit on my new rig. It will protect the refrigerator from over heating.

[BlackMule15]

Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.

[Donjamin]

Hi Bob,

For my own clarification, what is an “ARP device”?

Don

[BlackMule15]

Hi Don,
Here is a link to the ARP product offering. Not all that familiar with the product but if you have an absorbson fridge, it seems like a good safeguard.

[BlackMule15]

Sorry, here is the link for ARP.
https://www.arprv.com

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Donjamin

Hi Bob,

For my own clarification, what is an “ARP device”?

Don

Installed an ARP in ours - great protection. https://www.arprv.com

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by BlackMule15

Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.

I think you will be happy with that choice. I don't know how often you have power outages. At our southern winter private site we have had only one significant outage in 7 years. That was for 8 hours in our second year with the residential. Invertor/battery got us through with no issue. We have had several others of very short duration and the fridge just stays on without a hitch. I would recommend two batteries if you don't already have that.

[Carv]

Originally Posted by BlackMule15

Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.

Can you let us know make and model of the replacement. Any additional work needed due to size differences. Total cost of the conversion. My Nevercold is pushing me to do the same thing.