PPL Motorhomes is selling Atwood Helium filled refrigerators for just over half price. This should just about eliminate the fire danger. The 8 cu ft (59 1/2" tall) model should replace the Dometics found in GVs. Check the direction the door opens before ordering and if the wrong way, find out if the kit is available to change sides. No big deal on many fridges. Looks like $9.95 shipping to continental destinations. Panel sets are additional.
There are YouTube video reviews out for comparison.
Helium Refrigerator for RVs - by Atwood - PPL Motor Homes (http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-refrigerators/atwood-helium-rv-fridge-special.htm)
I don't like to advertise for a company but I know quite a few members have had failures in their older Foretravel models. Ours did just before we bought it.
Pierce
So I read that Dometic is buying Atwood ... wonder if Helium filled refrigerator will survive?
Jimmy
1998 U295 36'
Jimmy,
With all the bad press because of the fires, I wonder if Dometic might be buying Atwood along with all of their patents because the ammonia charged fridge may be a thing of the past soon.
Pierce
Boy, I don't currently need a fridge but that looks like one heck of a deal. Pierce, do you know if the 8 cu ft is a direct replacement for our double door fridge?
Kent,
Our Dometic does/did not have a flat bottom (Won't stand up by itself, would fall over). When I installed the Norcold (flat bottom) 5 years ago, I had to modify the compartment bottom. Looking at the Atwood YouTube video, it looks as if it also has a flat bottom. Guess I'm saying that once the compartment bottom is modified, it should slide in fine.
Didn't check to see if it had an automatic icemaker but don't think so. The flat bottom has more interior space than the old Dometic.
I think another member may install one soon so looking forward to photos.
Pierce
The listed height and width look the same.
Pierce,
I just bought an 8 cu.ft. model from RV Parts Country. Atwood Helium RV Refrigerator 8 Cubic Ft (http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Atwood-Helium-Camper-Refrigerator-8-Cubic-Ft.html)
$974.95 + shipping $49.99 for total of $1024.94. Brand new shipped direct from factory with 2 year mfg. warranty. The price at PPL is $999 + $120 for shipping to a residence and $75 for shipping to a commercial establishment for a new one with mfg warranty. The scratch and dent ones are $769 (great price) with only their 90 day warranty and they didn't have a left hand model and I couldn't examine it firsthand.
The left hand model I need is a special order part #724104. It will ship direct from the factory and take a couple of weeks. That's okay since I have to remove the platform where the old Dometic 4804 was and line the compartment with Hardie Board per your excellent instructions to make it even more fire proof.
Price, greatly reduced fire hazard, and Neal Pilsbury's excellent critique on his helium fridge made the choice easy for me. No solar yet and I like having a two way fridge. Since the water supply for the ice maker in the old fridge is still intact I can add a built in or portable ice maker later on. Have seen some small portable models that would work.
I think this helium 2-way fridge ( much safer) setup is a good trade-off for all the $$$ saved and extra fridge space gained. Thanks for the inexpensive Hardie Board recommendation!
Jerry
Jerry,
Super! Will look forward to photos and any problems you run into. I just used a box cutter for most of my backerboard pieces. I had a drywall "T" square and just started scoring down that until I got down deep enough I could bend it and it would fail at the scribe marks. The small pieces were a combination of the box cutter and hand held saber saw. A mask comes in handy when the dust floats around from the saber saw. I used about a conventional 1/8" drill for the pilot holes and then a larger bit to make a counter sink so the screw heads would not stick up above the backerboard. A surform file cleans up the edges nicely. I like the plastic coated square drive drywall screws rather than the gold galvanized. The galvanized are probably OK indoors but have had a lot fail when used for decks. I did use a semi-gloss latex white when I finished. White paintable sealer on the joints.
Pierce