Foretravel Owners' Forum

My original Dometic 7130 has stopped cooling. I have tried both Propane and elec. neither will get it to go. There is no smell. Are there things I can check and next what is the cheapest way to go if I have to replace. I would probably go residential based on what I have read on the forum. But can I do it with no battery changes and using existing electrical? Many on this forum have done great upgrades that go way beyond my needs. I would like to use the KISS method. [Keep it simple stupid]. I live in the leesburg fl area. Thanks.   

Joe, if you are like many of us and are connected to a land line much of the time most residential ref will work fine with out battery changes or electrical mods.  There are lots of size options.  A smaller residential refrigerator won't necessarily use less power.  Get the most efficient refrigerator you can for the size.  Ice makers use lots of power.  If you like to be off the grid then adding an extra battery or adding solar will help. 

Adding/adjusting cabinet space can be pricey depending on who does it so think that part through to make it as effective for you going forward.


When we bought our coach we were told up front that the refrigerator was very iffy. When we got the coach home, a few weeks after we originally saw it, the refrigerator was definitely dead. We replaced it with a residential model. Our original plan was to get one that would fit in the original opening, with maybe some space on the side. Couldn't be done with a normal-sized refrigerator (a dorm room one would fit, but that's too small). We also required the new residential unit to be able to fit in through the door. I finally had to take out the cabinets under the old refrigerator in order for the new one to fit.

We lived with the new refrigerator just kind of tacked down as we decided whether we wanted it on the floor and a cabinet above or a cabinet below as the factory originally had. We thought we wanted the cabinet above, but when we got to Foretravel Larry suggested that we make it more like the original, so we did. Cost was about $3500 for that work (original estimate was less than $2000). Since then, we've had several people in our coach and we often tell them that some of the cabinet work was done in March, while the rest was done in 1993, and ask them to find the new work. So far no one has been able to spot the new work until we point it out.

We replaced the original battery chargers and inverter about the same time on the theory that newer equipment would be more efficient and the old stuff might be nearing the end of useful life. Didn't change the batteries or add solar. Haven't really done boondocking yet, but we've run on just the inverter and batteries for a few drive days without any ill effects.

Thank you all for those suggestions I dont have answers to your questions but I'll be asking them when he does it. Ted and Karen your prices are great most rv joints around here want 6 hours my guy is 4 hours. Its a gamble but I am a gambler. This wont be till after the holidays and I'll report what was done.