I had a 17.5cf Samsung residential fridge (model RF18HFENBSR) installed at MOT last week (pm me if you wanna know how many CB's that set me back :-X ). The sticker shock has waned enough to post this. The fridge is all that it's been touted to be, and I absolutely love it. Makes lotsa ice fast and it is quiet and as far as my readings are it's very efficient.
However, comma, I ran into an issue I'd never read about before. My pantry is across from the fridge. Due to a timely unrelated event...my top/lower pantry slide locked up due to a being jammed by a pulled slide mounting screw...led me to discover a potential issue down the road. Tried to remove the drawer to re-set the screw, and the drawer slides won't come out far enough to release and drop the drawer as it had with the increased clearance with the Dometic I'd removed. Had to remove the fridge freezer door by emptying the freezer, removing the drawers/baskets, and unbolting the door from the slider. Then the pantry drawer could be slid out far enough to remove the drawer so I could replace the mounting screw with a larger size screw. Only took an hour to complete everything, but it was a hassle.
The other issue is the opposing side pantry doors extend far enough to hit the fridge...my nice new shiny fridge. So I put some velcro (fuzzy stuff) strips on the pantry drawers to protect the fridge, just in case someone gets a little over-zealous in reaching the back of the said drawer. Pics attached.
The full review on the rest of my visit to MOT is still being drafted and won't be ready till next week. Mostly a very positive experience...more to follow...
Woody.
Woody, The doors on the Samsung come off pretty easily, that might just get you the extra room you need. They most likely had to take the doors off to get it installed.
This manual is for mine, yours should be very similar.
Woody,
There should be some fairly easy way to put a limiter on the pantry drawers, so they can't come out far enough to hit the fridge.
Roger is a terrific wood and cabinet craftsman. I bet he could suggest some clever way to avoid the possibility of dented fridge doors.
Thanks, Roger. Doors never came off mine...went from the carton into the coach through the slide opening, since I timed the fridge install with the slide seal replacement at MOT. The pantry drawer I had to service was in the lower cabinet, so it was the freezer door that had to come off. Just 4 10mm bolts and the freezer door comes off...just had to empty the freezer to do so. The velcro in the pics will keep the fridge from getting dinged, just in case.
W.
Woody, a simple way to limit how far out the drawer comes out is to add a nylon strap at the back of the drawer to the back of the cabinet. If you have to remove the drawer just one screw to remove.
Checked our installation last night, our drawers will not come out either. Don't have and issue with the drawers hitting as they are always latched except when taking something out of them. My freezer door will have to come off if I ever need to service the pantry slides. Small price to pay for the convenience of the residential fridge. If you hadn't posted I might have never known there was an issue during our time with the coach.
Not every installation will have drawer/refrigerator issues. Our drawers had to come out to get the refrigerator in but once in both the freezer drawer and the pantry drawers work without interference. Measure, plan, do.
As far as function the drawers come out far enough for the back of the drawer to be at the front of the cabinet, and the refrigerator doors open all the way. The only issue would be to remove a drawer. My refrigerator is flush at the rear of the enclosure so when it was installed this was part of the deal.