Suburban SDS2 LP Leak Cooktop Owners

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Upfisk

We bought another SDS2 stove last year to harvest tubing as our RH burner 's tubing had broken the ferrule off at the control knob. We reassembled everything at both knobs with star washers and blue lock tight and felt our stove was fixed, at least for now. We're getting ready to leave for Osoyoos on Friday and decided to check the propane connectors, just to be sure. Stuck the battery operated propane sniffer into position and the RH burner' s tubing is perfect, but wait, we have a squeal from the LH burner with the propane sensor. Turns out the LH burner's tubing just sheared off it's ferrule at the burner head! We do have another spare tube for the LH burner, but this is not from the knob loosening and putting pressure on the aluminium tube, this is a "work hardening" failure. While we have the stove fixed, again, for now, this SDS2 is unsafe at any speed. We'll be at the rally next week but we want a new stove when the recall occurs.

That's what I've been saying. tightening doesn't stop the pipes from breaking. Glad you had the sniffer!

[Ron in BC]

While mine didn't show any problems I reinforced the joint with stranded glass coated with epoxy. Unlikely to ever fail but I'll be happy to get a replacement.

Not holding my breath, that's a lot of units and/or parts that they're going to have to come up with in a short time span.

Ron

[JohnK]

Planning a 10K mile trip from KS through Newfoundland we're going to eliminate the cooktop and thereby the risk of fire by plugging the propane supply hose to the stove. We'll use a small $25 Coleman butane burner instead when we can't cook outside.

For anyone following suit, prior to disconnecting make sure BOTH BOTTLES on the tongue are SHUT OFF. The supply hose connects to the regulator at the supply end of the burner manifold under the cooktop and requires a 3/4 inch open end wrench. I'd also recommend putting a wench on the regulator elbow fitting when loosening up the hose so as to prevent the stainless steel manifold downstream of the regulator from taking the twisting load.

The plug is a brass $3.49 3/8 inch flare plug (ACE Hardware # 41210) which requires a 5/8 inch wrench.

Cheers! John

[Dee08802]

Just received our new cooktop from Suburban. It came to our local RV shop 10 days after I contacted Suburban for the recall replacement unit. The cooktop is identical to the original except for upgrading the aluminum gas lines to stainless. After removing the black control knob rings the control knob nuts were found tight.

I was surprised to find out that the RV shop received nothing from Suburban for their support. This did not seem fair so I gave him a good tip for helping us out.

Seems crazy why Suburban didn't just send out the stainless lines to everyone two years ago.

Happy to be able to use the cooktop again.

[Bobbie54]

I wondered if those would be tight. Thanks. I guess I should try to get them started with a replacement for mine. I thought we had to wait for the official recall.

[Dee08802]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

I wondered if those would be tight. Thanks. I guess I should try to get them started with a replacement for mine. I thought we had to wait for the official recall.

The recall has been processed. It just hasn't been sent out to owners yet. I found out when my wife called suburban to see if they would do anything for us to remedy the broken gas line. That's when they told us they could supply a replacement cooktop under the recall.

[Perry Butler]

I'm guessing for those who have replaced their SDS2, there will be no check written.

On the other hand, Terry loves her Dickinson stovetop, and we don't have to worry about the glass top breaking.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

I'm guessing for those who have replaced their SDS2, there will be no check written.

On the other hand, Terry loves her Dickinson stovetop, and we don't have to worry about the glass top breaking.

Enjoy,

Perry

The recall info said there would be.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Dee08802

The recall has been processed. It just hasn't been sent out to owners yet. I found out when my wife called suburban to see if they would do anything for us to remedy the broken gas line. That's when they told us they could supply a replacement cooktop under the recall.

Thanks. Probably good to get on the wait-list at a shop to have it installed.

[Calicia]

My mobile RV tech was able to order the replacement stove top from Suburban yesterday. Suburban needs a photo of the vin # on the plate outside the Escape and the serial # found on the bottom of the stove top. (She didn’t asked for a photo of the serial #-just the number.)Then I had to have the RV service tech call Suburban to have the replacement sent directly to him. He will then have to send the replaced stove top back to Suburban. He should receive the new one in about a week.
I will be responsible for installation charge.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by AnJ

My question is, has anyone that swapped out the Suburban for the Dometic had problems with the Dometic not fitting as Karl mentions? I.e. had to shore up the sides or insert a piece of plywood so that it fits properly?

The cutout for the Suburban is oval and slightly larger front to back than the square opening required for the Dometic. So you have to cut out the corners of the oval to make it square. I cut the corners to the exact size required for the Dometic stove top, centered on the oval. The Dometic has metal supports that the stove top rests on in the corners, so the stove is secure. The only issue is the two screws that go on the left an right side of the Dometic stovetop. Those go into the slightly larger oval section. I used some plastic parts from the Suburban mounting screws to secure those screws. Another person posted pictures showing they used a drywall toggle to allow the screw to pull up on the underside of the counter.

[LarryLSB]

Originally Posted by Calicia

My mobile RV tech was able to order the replacement stove top from Suburban yesterday. Suburban needs a photo of the vin # on the plate outside the Escape and the serial # found on the bottom of the stove top. (She didn’t asked for a photo of the serial #-just the number.)Then I had to have the RV service tech call Suburban to have the replacement sent directly to him. He will then have to send the replaced stove top back to Suburban. He should receive the new one in about a week.
I will be responsible for installation charge.

Thanks for posting this. Couple of questions. Did you get a recall notice already? If not, how did you get this going?

What is the mobile tech charging. you?

thanks,

Larry

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

I thought with a recall you are supplied with a replacement free of charge …….. bad bad customer service n shame on Karl and ETI :

Under the recall you get a new Suburban cooktop, installed by a Suburban Authorized Service Center when you can finally get an appointment with them. Escape selling you a Dometic Cooktop allows you to do the replacement right away rather than waiting months and months to get an appointment at the Suburban Authorized Service Center.

I was very happy that Escape sold me the Dometic cooktop so I could install it before my last trip. good good customer service n gratitude to Karl and ETI for making that available.

[Calicia]

I haven’t received the recall notice. I called Suburban and talked to customer service to start the process. I am lucky in that my mobile RV tech got on it right away and called Suburban to order the replacement stove top. Suburban said they would be sending it to him within a few days. I will pay the regular hourly rate which he calculated would be about one and a half hours or less—hopefully less.

[Eggscape]

Removing the stove and installing the new one should take less than 1/2 hour…tops.

Thanks for the info.

[Dee08802]

My rv tech offered to process the recall while giving me the choice to have him install it or supply it to me for my install. I picked it up two days ago and installed it myself in 10 minutes. Though he did not request any payment I did tip him for his help. From the time I contacted Suburban to when I received the new cooktop was 10 days.

[Calicia]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Removing the stove and installing the new one should take less than 1/2 hour…tops.

Thanks for the info.

Yes, that is correct. I just realized that the hour he quoted was for installation of two stovetops. My friend is also having hers installed by the same tech on the same day.

[bborzell]

I decided to do my own recall prior to our camper being completed. We like our Eno 3 burner.

[AnJ]

Originally Posted by AnJ

To update my previous post, they are selling us the Dometic. Escape also shared this YouTube video that may be of interest to others. My question is, has anyone that swapped out the Suburban for the Dometic had problems with the Dometic not fitting as Karl mentions? I.e. had to shore up the sides or insert a piece of plywood so that it fits properly?

Just following up for anyone installing the Dometic stove alternative offered by Escape. They have it in stock and it cost $205 CDN with tax. We had it installed by Trademasters in Chilliwack, who Escape used to regularly refer customers to for TV modifications or some RV modifications. They at first said it was against their policy to install a customer’s stove and they would only be able to provide the stove. After looking, they agreed to do it if we were picking it up directly from Escape and bringing it there as they could not find any stoves in stock anywhere. The cost for installation was $178 CDN.
When installing, they did not have issues with having to shore up the sides, however, the propane line was not long enough. Apparently it is illegal to splice a propane line in an RV, so the option was run all new propane line or inch along extra slack in the line all along the bottom of the trailer. Thankfully, they were able to feed the existing line a bit further to connect the stove.

Thanks to all who shared their experience. Travelling with little ones, we would have had no idea about this if it had not been for this forum. While it would be nice if a recall comes soon to Canada and perhaps compensates for the replacement, either way it is worth our peace of mind.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by AnJ

Just following up for anyone installing the Dometic stove alternative offered by Escape. They have it in stock and it cost $205 CDN with tax. We had it installed by Trademasters in Chilliwack, who Escape used to regularly refer customers to for TV modifications or some RV modifications. They at first said it was against their policy to install a customer’s stove and they would only be able to provide the stove. After looking, they agreed to do it if we were picking it up directly from Escape and bringing it there as they could not find any stoves in stock anywhere. The cost for installation was $178 CDN.
When installing, they did not have issues with having to shore up the sides, however, the propane line was not long enough. Apparently it is illegal to splice a propane line in an RV, so the option was run all new propane line or inch along extra slack in the line all along the bottom of the trailer. Thankfully, they were able to feed the existing line a bit further to connect the stove.

Thanks to all who shared their experience. Travelling with little ones, we would have had no idea about this if it had not been for this forum. While it would be nice if a recall comes soon to Canada and perhaps compensates for the replacement, either way it is worth our peace of mind.

Who is the "they" that has it in stock?