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Topic: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions (Read 1418 times) previous topic - next topic

RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Hey Ya'll!

Working on my new refrigerator finally. Have the replacement refrigerator. Dometic tells me the replacement for my RM3800 Dometic Royale is a new DM2852, which I picked up from Camping World yesterday.

I knew some cabinet modifications would be required... but it seems that it's going to be more than anticipated.

The new fridge is 4" taller than the previous one. Knew that going into it. So I've started work to take out the floor and move it down 4". Shouldn't be too tough... have to move porch switches down and power monitor down. Which sucks. Not sure how I'm going to make that look nice. And I'll have to modify the cabinet for the vacuum stuff that's below the fridge  and make it shorter. That's gonna be a pain... but also doable.

So far, so good.

Then I went and measured the depth of the fridge. It's 24". And Measured my box depth. The old fridge is listed as 24" deep in the old install guide. But my hole is 23 1/2" deep. So I've got a 1/2 inch to make up in the depth. I have no idea how to do that.

Any of you talented carpenters in here have any ideas?
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #1 –
Update:

Cabinet modifications all done. It's now 4" taller.

The floor of the cabinet is now super strong and stable all around. I can stand on it. Previously it was 1/8" rotted ply. Not designed to be weight bearing. And sealer poorly. PO must have made some shoddy modifications, cause I can't imagine that was original factory work.

This is also good cause the new fridge mounts to the floor. Previous model mounted to front of cabinet.

Had to remove the old central vac system. It was too tall for the new cabinet height. Replaced it with a dirt devil central vac. Cause it'll mount horizontal in that cabinet below the fridge. Man is that thing ever powerful by comparison. Also got to use the old vacuum vent as the new fridge propane leak vent. All sealed and screened off. Ready for catastrophe. Lol.

Also, the slide cabinet below the fridge was made shorter. That was much easier to do than I imagined.

And i got enough wood from scraps to be able to replace a bit of rotted facing wood from a previous fridge leak. Looks nice now.

Just gotta actually put the fridge in the cabinet now. And see if I can make the depth fit.
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #2 –
If new fridge sticks out a little, just find some wood that matches and add a little extra trim around it.  Nobody will notice the difference.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #3 –
Dirt Devil pic and number, please?
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #4 –
Quote from: AKATheAlchemist –

The floor of the cabinet is now super strong and stable all around. I can stand on it. Previously it was 1/8" rotted ply. Not designed to be weight bearing. And sealer poorly. PO must have made some shoddy modifications, cause I can't imagine that was original factory work.
The first thing we did to our coach was to replace the dead Dometic. The Norcold required extensive compartment modification and was constructed of the same OEM cheesy 1/8" stuff and was a fire trap too. Lots of wood rot below the outside access door. The 110V Romex is not up to Foretravel's neat 12V wiring either.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #5 –
Our change from Dometic to Norcold required much interior work and dropping the bottom of the outside to vent any lpg. Big fridge was worth it.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #6 –
@Chuck - That's what I ended up doing. Used 3/4 pine square. Pained black and glue and screwed around the opening whole. Looks alright. Like it's part of the refrigerator.

@Forewheelers - The Vacuum is the Dirt Devil CV 1500. Pics attached.

@Pierce & Gaylie Stewart - The floor in mine is now 3/4" thick. 1/5" around the edge. Braced all the way to the floor all the way around. :) I can stand and jump on it. Super sturdy.

@lgshoup - Yeah... It's nice to have the bigger fridge back. We've been using a tiny walmart min-fridge for a few months, since our old dometic died. This one is also 2 cubic feet larger than the old one. Lots of space. We also had to do the LP gas venting, since the new floor was lower than the wall vent now. Was able to just cut out the old vent tube for the old central vac. Screen cover and seal the edges and I've got a nice lp gas leak vent without having to cut any new holes.

@All - UPDATE. Install Finished. Fridge works on 110 and LP. It's mounted well. Very sturdy. New vacuum is working great. Much more powerful than original. Still need to finish cutting the edging around the vacuum access cabinet door below the fridge. Need to find someone with a miter saw for that. Still need to figure out what to do with the holes left over from having to drop the 110V power monitor and the porch light switches down. Pics attached!

IMG_5539 - What our house looked like the last few days with two fridges and totally messed up front room.

IMG_5553 - Our kitchen being destroyed by tools.

IMG_5538 - New central vac system. Mostly installed.

IMG_0006 - New floor finished. Still hadn't finished the new facing yet. But it's mostly done at this point.

IMG_5555 - How two tiny people installed a big heavy fridge. We installed the fridge using a blanket (to keep from scratching the floor), a stool (to get the fridge off the ground - we tilted it up on that), and two 12K LB bottle jacks (used under the fridge frame to lift it to opening height so it could be slid in. Also, used to hold the front of the fridge while I did wiring work and such behind the fridge after it was in the cabinet. Brilliant.

IMG_0022 - Wood shims around the fridge. Cause I needed about 1/2" more depth. These are 3/4" squares. Spray painted black. Glued and screwed in.

IMG_0023 - New horrible holes in wall. Don't know what to do about these. But theses items had to be moved down to make room for new fridge. Also, you can see the thickness of the pine floor frame here. :)

IMG_0021 - The cabinet below the fridge. Shrunken quite a bit. Extra wood cut off for this modification was used to repair wood rot from previous fridge leak around some facing. New fridge has water collector and drain that runs out of the coach. Shouldn't have that problem in the future.

IMG_0020 - New fridge totally installed! Yay. Just needs door panels. Who knew they didn't come with them?
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #7 –
pics didn't upload properly in last post.
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #8 –
Dangit. still doesn't upload all the pics It said were 100% attached.
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #9 –
Could you install one of those wall mounted magazine holders over the holes?  Might be a handy thing to have near the door anyway.  Or maybe a key rack?
Mike & Lilli
1991 GV U280 36' SBI, 3208 Cat, Build #3825
4320 Watts Solar
Kansas City, MO

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #10 –
That's a good idea @rvtinker. My business partner suggested beadboard. Don't know what that is yet. But I'll figure something out.
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #11 –
Small chalk board for grocery list
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: RM3800 Refrigerator Replacement - Cabinet Modification Quesions

Reply #12 –
@rvtinker - I found a solution for the holes. :) Since we finally decided we are paining to wood paneling on the walls... I am going to be cutting some extra wood paneling I can to fit the holes and bondo-filling the gaps. Saw someone else do this repair... it's pretty seamless after the paint. :)
Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.