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93 GV fridge replacement

November 19, 2013, 10:29:56 am

On the last trip to the lake the fridge(RM 3663) seems to be having more issues every time.  Last time it couldn't decide AC or Gas and seemed to switch at random.  This time the freezer worked fine but the fridge part couldn't seem to get cold enough.  I have decided it is probably time to replace.  I never dry camp so I really don't need anything other than a regular refrigerator.  We measured the dimensions and it is 24 3/4 wide and 54 1/2 tall.  I seem to remember others have replaced theirs so I wanted to see if there were any suggestions.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #1 – November 19, 2013, 10:40:15 am

Since I have no idea where you are located but this is what I plan to do.  When I need to replace my refrigerator I will go to Home Depot and purchase a Samsung double door Stainless steele with bottom freezer for $999 and it is about 33 inches wide.  Take it to a cabinet shop in my case Foretravel and have it installed.  Your inverter should keep it working while traveling as they use very little voltage.  Foretravel can do it in a day for about $1500. Good luck  DAN

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #2 – November 19, 2013, 11:07:06 am

Bill,

Here you are: Replacement boards for Dometic  Give them a call with your problem. Used their logic board on our Attwood and it works great. Much less expensive than the OEM.

Pierce

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #3 – November 19, 2013, 01:08:15 pm

Did the same on my RM4808.
also most 4 years ago, still working great

bill

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Reply #4 – November 19, 2013, 03:05:43 pm

I shouldn't jinx myself but my OEM works great still after all these years.  I keep it on (3 way on A/C).  Would attempt repair rather than replace especially since the space on the older GV's doesn't allow for a direct replacement without removing the ice maker below (which still works too though I keep it off).

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #5 – November 19, 2013, 03:12:54 pm

We replaced our 2' x 5' propane RV fridge with a $350 about 10 cu ft fridge from Lowe's. Last I looked the brand being sold was Heir. A few years ago it was Whirlpool, which is what we have. After removing RV fridge, we took time to clean up and reinsulate cabinet before installing household fridge.

There is a lot on the subject on this Forum. To use a home fridge, you will have to find a way to fasten it in place, secure the doors while driving, seal the cabinet edges from the open weather behind fridge, have a 120-volt INVERTER outlet behind fridge and cap off propane line. We left the top and outside vents in place to allow air flow up back of fridge.

Many electric fridges have a bottom condenser & fan, which do not work as well in RVs. We prefer the 'old fashioned' rear condenser coils that do not use a fan to cool. So that why we kept our rear vents.

Our electric fridge fit in the same place as the RV fridge with minor cabinet wood work. We did put a metal plate on the bottom to give the fridge a stronger cabinet base. RV fridges are supported on front edge of cabinet and do not need a strong floor.

Electric fridges have many advantages: automatic defrost, more inside space, ice cubes frozen in half day AND harder ice cream.

Lowe's and Home Depot give 10% discounts to veterans. And Lowe's had a $50 bonus with a prepaid Lowe's gift card.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #6 – November 19, 2013, 03:43:09 pm

I just replaced my 2'x5' fridge with a 10 cu-ft Vissani fridge just a week ago. It is $298 at Home Depot and comes in Black or White.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #7 – November 19, 2013, 03:50:29 pm

We've been chewing on this problem since we got our coach. The old refrigerator is dead, and I'm in the process of taking it out. Once the old one is out I'll see what sort of opening I actually have there. I suspect that I'm going to have to drop the floor an inch or two in order to get a new unit in, or else accept a somewhat smaller refrigerator than Jo Ann wants. The space under the refrigerator had the old vacuum cleaner (long gone) and has the connection points for the washer and dryer. Has anyone done the woodwork to put in a somewhat taller refrigerator?

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #8 – November 19, 2013, 04:21:00 pm

David

My question exactly. There has got to be a way,, i was thinking ofmy sonic saw to do the cabinet cuts then put a edge molding like on a car to cover the cut edge

Do you have the rolled door i know i did on our 88 gv. I now have a door to dut down on our u280.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #9 – November 19, 2013, 04:28:55 pm

John Haygarth's fridge and pantry upgrade (What did you do to your coach today)

David, it is quite easy actually. Take out the old, measure the opening then measure new one and figure the change needed to both support the weight and hold it down. I framed mine from a double opening to a single then made a sliding pantry cabinet to work in the space left. This unit is far more useful to us than more room in fridge. We actually lost very little between units as the old one had a lot of framework and more insulation built in because of the double door. This new one is powered by its own 1000w inverter and is working perfectly from solar or shore power by way of a DPDT switch.
John H

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #10 – November 19, 2013, 04:57:08 pm

As Dwayne said, if you have a Dometic 4804, you will be rebuilding the opening to go with virtually any replacement-- absorption or residential.  The 4804 sits on a "stair step" floor with the front (inboard) low enough to accommodate the compressor for the ice maker.

Not a big job if you have basic woodworking skills (no finish carpentry needed).

An important safety issue does come up if you replace a 4804 with another absorption refrigerator:  since you will be lowering the floor, the gas valve is not BELOW the outside opening.  So you will need toand run a "drain hose" from the new lower refrigerator floor through the basement and finally through the basement floor.  Really not difficult or intrusive to run a 2-3"  hose through.

Brett

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #11 – November 19, 2013, 05:36:13 pm

Brett make a good point if you are replacing the old one with a new absorption RV fridge. Installing a new Norcold meant I had to rebuild the floor as it has a flat bottom. A lot more room inside but the floor is lower and the gas valve is located just about at the bottom of the Norcold. If the front of the fridge is pretty well sealed and you happen to have a small gas leak, it can build up to the access door and in the case you went from 120V to gas, the vapor could explode as the pilot tries to ignite. A bottom vent could also get rid of the ammonia in case of coil failure.

Pierce

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #12 – November 19, 2013, 05:46:30 pm

Ya, you really need to have a vent with an absorption refrigerator.  That vent did not take an extra hour to do and at least on the U240 conveniently ran down a wall in the basement.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #13 – November 19, 2013, 06:03:46 pm

Thanks. We will be putting in a residential refrigerator. Once the old one is out I can figure out what I need to do for a new one. I have a mobile RV tech coming Thursday to give me an estimate on his part. He is about 20 years younger than me and has a strong son to help him, so I'm guessing it won't take them long to get the old one out.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #14 – November 19, 2013, 07:20:53 pm

David,

Just take the rail off on the right when you climb in ahead of time. Two screws under the little wood caps as I remember. The fridge is not flat on the bottom so make sure to have plenty of blankets or towels to set it on. Think I pulled the doors off so it would have clearance. Once it has been disconnected and unscrewed, it's only a minute or two and it's out the door with two guys. Fridge compartment floor will need to be modified and reinforced. Make sure the guy is going to do a proper job.

Pierce

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #15 – November 19, 2013, 08:36:12 pm

I just took that rail off this evening, and the doors have been off for some time. I think everything is disconnected and unscrewed, but I can't make it move any by myself. Perry grew up in Indiana and used to work at some of the RV manufacturing plants before he moved here. He's about 20 years younger than me and in better physical shape. His son is a young adult and quite strong, too. I suspect that my role will be to provide a cup of coffee, and Jo Ann's will be to write the check. Hmmm, wonder if I can talk her into making a pie to help the work along.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #16 – November 19, 2013, 09:57:27 pm

The woodwork depends on how closely you can match the dimensions of the current refrigerator. Most residential units will be taller than the current unit. Usually the space below the refrigerator is used, building a shelf there that will hold the refrigerator.

In my case the original door insert panels from OEM refrigerator were used to mill new trim pieces, so it was very easy to trim out around the new refrigerator. The new refrigerator was 10" taller than the one it replaced, but they were within a 1/4" of each other in width.

Pariament charged me 9 hours labor to R and R the refrig, including milling and installing the trim, bottom shelf, etc. They took out the large curb side window to take out old and put in new.

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Re: 93 GV fridge replacement

Reply #17 – November 20, 2013, 01:13:11 am

David, there may be a couple of screws at the back thru' base if you have not found them.
John H

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