Refrigerator not cooling on the road

[cpaharley2008]

Here are 2 more pictures of the screen baffle on my sold Lance trailer

[cpaharley2008]

Another option is a thermometer for your freezer and refer. It has remote sensors that will not only tell you current reading but also a min and a max reading. Thus it will record for you if your freezer starts to warm up while enroute. Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o06_s00_i00
Saves you having to do the penny trick. It also has an alarm which you can set for high/low- real nice and accurate. I mounted mine over the door (the display) and put the wireless probes in refer/freezer. You will need lithium batteries for the freezer, standard batteries will not work as well.

[cpaharley2008]

Finally there is one more toy you can get, if you use your Iphone/Ipad on the road. Called IGrill and it is a application and a thermometer with 2 probes. Although it is advertised for grilling, I read where it will record down to -0-. Since it is blue tooth you may be able to monitor it from your tow vehicle. I have not tried the range on it to verify it can/will work. Here http://www.igrillinc.com

[NuthatchBC]

Although our 19 is at the storage place right now, I think the covers over the fridge vents are rivetted on. How do you get these off to attach screen baffles without doing major damage. I also don't have a rivet gun.

Doug

[JeffZ]

We had an issue with ours Dometic in our Airstream (Bambi).. After several attempts to get it fixed.. new controller board, adjusting the gas pressure in the line.. they had the fridge "condemned" and we got a new one.. that actually fixed the problem..

Our Fridge flame would actually go out in the middle of the night, not to mention while towing.. Our NorCal in the MH seems to be pretty rock solid compared to the Dometic..

I would ask the repair guy's what's the policy on "replacing" the whole thing..

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by NuthatchBC

Although our 19 is at the storage place right now, I think the covers over the fridge vents are rivetted on. How do you get these off to attach screen baffles without doing major damage. I also don't have a rivet gun.

Doug

The fridge vents are removable, the lower one has 2 plastic screws in upper corners. The upper have about 12 square head screws. I always install screening behind these vents to keep out insects and nest building. The screen may also help with other issues, try that before adding a baffle. They even sell screen kits for the refer vents, already precut. Here is one
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-42149-Fl.../dp/B0024E6UE0

[Vermilye]

Since I've had so much work done on the refrigerator, I can't be sure, but at the suggestion on one of the truck camper forums, I added a furnace filter to the inside of the lower vent. I used one of the 1/2" thick woven matt type. It seems to have helped in that the temperature is staying lower during driving. An inexpensive suggestion...

[cpaharley2008]

great idea Jon, keeps the turbulence down and the refer stays on. Does it fit in the opening entirely to keep bugs out also?

[daveandsandyclink]

I for one am real nervous about having my 5.0 with the 5.0 c/f Model RM2510 installed in it. I wonder how many there are in use in the world, not just in our Escapes. I sent Dometic service an e-mail about the history and performance of this model and as expected, received a vague reply that didn't match my inquiry. They indicated that there was no recall on this model. Although we have not had a problem yet with less than two months of ownership, I am expecting it. This is a problem that can add stress and take the fun out of a road trip. I have done everything possible to avoid a warm frig with extra insulation, cooling coil fan, inside fan, and temperature indication/alarm.

[cpaharley2008]

sounds like you are on top of it, now enjoy it. hope to see one of those 5.0 one day

[Vermilye]

I cut mine to cover the entire grill & attached it to the cover.

[cpaharley2008]

you have a picture, Jon, thanks

[Vermilye]

Here is a photo of the filter:

[JeffZ]

Nice.. Probably the easiest thing to do to see if it corrects the problem.

[Garand]

Originally Posted by Paul Braun

To add fuel to the fire, I have this model as well (RM2510) and have had issues with the gasket. It tore and the metal magentic strip slid out. Unfortunately, I purchased four months after Dometic changed their warranty from three years to two years. $160 US for a new gasket, at this time I am trying some DipIt, the product used to coat the grips in your pliers, looks OK so far.

OT: That DipIt stuff also works as "liquid electrical tape" I've been using it for some of our LED projects and it works fine.

Dave

[rvomaha]

This article about flame blow out is very interesting: http://www.rvmobile.com/tech/trouble/blowout.htm

Here are a couple of quotes worth noting --

"One common, but not good, practice for solving a blow out problem is placing a furnace air filter over the louvered access door at the rear of the refrigerator. Don't. This can dramatically limit the air flow for the cooling unit and may eventually damage it."

"The ideal solution is just the right baffle(s) in just the right place, because although your intentions are to prevent a flame from blowing out, you're also tampering with the venting system for the refrigerator which could lead to more serious and costly problems with a bad cooling unit."

[cpaharley2008]

Back to the drawing board...maybe just a piece of screen, metal not plastic?

[Jim Bennett]

The 5ft fridge that Escape uses has been around for a long time, and aside from a couple minor maintenance issues which all appliances can suffer, it works just great. We seem to have a bunch of fear mongering happening here, with people worrying too much about getting a lemon.

I do like the idea of the slightly larger, new unit they are using now though.

[dave macrae]

Jim i am not sure of the model of fridge in our trailer but it was the Dometic one that is pretty standard in lots of the stick trailers with a seperate fridge and freezer doors, we are pretty sure the 6.7 in our new trailer is bigger, if its not it is certainly a better use of space and once we got one of those little battery operated fans to move the air aound a bit it works very well so far. with out the fan on the stuff a the bottom wasn't very cold and i put tow thermometers in the fridge and prooved that in fact the bottom wasn't cold enough.

[Jim Bennett]

Yeah, those circulating fans are the cat's ass. They work great to moderate temps in any RV fridge.