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06-12-2012, 11:50 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Being a seasoned travel trailer traveler, I like to keep my food cold on the road and frequently tow with the refer in propane mode. I've owned 5 campers with propane refrigerators and found that the ones with both vents on the side are prone to having the flame blow out while towing. My last camper had to be modified to prevent this. How many Escapee's have had any problems
with the Dometic 5' refrigerator failing to operate or staying in operation while on propane and being towed? Thanks for your response.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-12-2012, 12:35 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 238
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
We've had no problem.
__________________
2012 Escape 19 towed by 2012 Ford Flex
See lots more about our Escape at https://kibitka.blogspot.com/
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06-12-2012, 01:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
We tow our 19 with the fridge on propane most of the time, and have never had a problem.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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06-12-2012, 01:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: '09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
Posts: 221
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Ditto for us - no problems thus far.
__________________
Brad & Shay
'09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
'14 MB GL350 BlueTEC; '99 Toyota 4Runner V6 4WD
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06-12-2012, 01:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 104
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
We drive with the propane on and have done so for over 40 000km in all kinds of weather conditions including very strong cross-winds and have never had a problem.
Cheers,
Paul S.
__________________
N. Van.
2012 Escape 19'
2013 F350 crewcab 4x4
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06-12-2012, 01:59 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cobble Hill, British Columbia
Trailer: 2011 Escape 5.0; previous 2008 Escape 17'
Posts: 98
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Same here no problems other than the ferry folk wanting it off during the transit. In a similar vein has any one used the fridge for an extended length of time in the electric mode? Would it make a good beverage fridge when not traveling around the country? Is there any time limit for it being on?
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06-12-2012, 03:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Well I hate to be the "naysayer" but I have had the problem of the flame blowing out while driving since I've had the trailer. Of course it could be because my 5 cu ft is the "refer from hell" - so far both the heater & the cooling unit have been replaced (under warranty) and 3 weeks into this trip it no longer runs on electric. It also can't get the temperature under 40°F when the outside temperature is over 90°F. According to the the last Dometic repair, the flame is correctly adjusted...
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06-12-2012, 06:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 374
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
No problem with the flame staying lit while traveling but I do believe the seals around the freezer do not seal the unit tight enough thus causing a lot of condensation to drip.
Steve
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Steve and Cynthia
San Antonio, TX
Escape 19 "Why So Serious?"
2019 Chevy Silverado RST 1500, 5.3L
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06-12-2012, 07:44 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Alcoa, Tennessee
Trailer: 2015 5.0 TA
Posts: 419
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
No problem staying lit, but coming back from Vancouver last summer I could not get it to stay below 50 when traveling. Worked fine when stopped.
Dick
__________________
2015 Escape 5 TA
2016 Ford F-150
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06-12-2012, 07:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Is there any indicator on the refer that it is operating properly, like a light or signal, similar to the water heater that comes on when there is a problem?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-12-2012, 08:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Mine isn't on when traveling.
Bought a half liter of Haagan Dazs cherry chocolate ice cream in Osoyoos and 6 hours later in Vancouver, it was still frozen. But, it wasn't as good as Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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06-12-2012, 08:24 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Ours isn't on while traveling either. Neat trick, that frozen Haagen Daz.
We have had ice packs that lasted a day and a half. And we don't keep paying for the ice packs.
Cherry chocolate, very fancy... I'll take plain chocolate, thank you.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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06-12-2012, 08:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Actually, try the Haagen Dazs Mayan Chocolate, if you like chocolate.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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06-12-2012, 10:07 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 893
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
Well I hate to be the "naysayer" but I have had the problem of the flame blowing out while driving since I've had the trailer. Of course it could be because my 5 cu ft is the "refer from hell" - so far both the heater & the cooling unit have been replaced (under warranty) and 3 weeks into this trip it no longer runs on electric. It also can't get the temperature under 40°F when the outside temperature is over 90°F. According to the the last Dometic repair, the flame is correctly adjusted...
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We had the same problem with the flame going out when we had our Airstream.. eventually we got the Fridge to be considered "condemned" and they replaced the whole fridge. It never happened again on the new fridge..
__________________
Former 17ft Plan "B" Escape
Toyota Highlander w/tow pkg
favorite quote: "Put the candle back"
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06-12-2012, 10:49 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 276
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Mine works very well. We do use a temp sender in the fridge and carry the receiver in the tow vehicle. We have friends who do the same with their Casita.
Chuck
__________________
Tundra Crewmax 2007,2001 Bigfoot 21RB, 73 Boler, 75 ECO,
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06-13-2012, 09:04 AM
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#16
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Guest
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Will I be able to depend on the freezer to keep my dog's raw food frozen?
If the refrigerator/freezer does need repair, where do you take it (I live near Little Rock, AR)?
Thanks,
Mike
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06-13-2012, 09:44 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 276
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Find a Dometic repair shop in your area if you have any problems.
Chuck
__________________
Tundra Crewmax 2007,2001 Bigfoot 21RB, 73 Boler, 75 ECO,
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06-13-2012, 10:05 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Our dog is raw fed Mike, and we have never had issue on long trips keeping meat frozen. Though for trips up to 4 days, we just keep it in the fridge. If anything with this type of fridge design, the freezer is very cold indeed.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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06-13-2012, 10:17 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 893
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeV99
Will I be able to depend on the freezer to keep my dog's raw food frozen?
If the refrigerator/freezer does need repair, where do you take it (I live near Little Rock, AR)?
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Basically any place that does RV repair (or sells RV) will handle it as most Fridges in RV are either Dometic or NorCold..so they are authorized dealers/repair shops..
__________________
Former 17ft Plan "B" Escape
Toyota Highlander w/tow pkg
favorite quote: "Put the candle back"
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06-14-2012, 08:07 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
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Re: 5 cuft Dometic Fridge 2 way refer
We just got back from a trip to the Badlands and Wind Cave National Park. The WC campground is sunny/warm and we found that when the sun hit the refridge side of the trailer that it has trouble staying at the 37 deg F we try to keep it at. I did some web searching and found that this is a very common problem with 3 steps to help. The first step to try is one of the battery powered fans designed to circulate the air inside the fridge - I bought this one: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...f-switch/38134. Since we most often camp in cooler weather I am hoping this all we will need. I think lots of other Escapees use these and the internal fan is apparently a good idea for any RV fridge as they supposedly keep temps much more even inside.
For camping in really hot weather the next step is 12v fan put in the top vent of the fridge to create more air flow through the system. The final step if both those don't work is another 12v fan in the lower fridge (exterior) compartment to further aide in air flow. If we need more cooling than the internal fan, I think I will try one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A2XNAOBSW0CZDL in the upper vent and power it with my small solar trickle charger.
Eric
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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