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Topic: Shipshewana Choices (Read 1013 times) previous topic - next topic

Shipshewana Choices

We just arrived in Shipshewana, and intend to get our refrigerator cooling unit replaced. I had been in touch with both JC Refrigeration and National RV Refrigeration, a while back. How should I determine which company I should choose ??
What has been YOUR experience??
Thanks
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #1 –
I had JC do ours a year ago, all is well and they stand behind their units, they are all new material.  But be aware all they do is the COOLING UNIT replacement. Also if you hav an older Frige defend it will not work on a Amish cooling unit. No repairs to the gaskets, doors, box and so on. We went with a gas/electric replacement. And they do answer the phone, when They call. As always others will have their opinion. DWMYFG. Do you boondock much? If you run pole to pole you might consider a res unit conversion.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #2 –
I just had my cooling unit replaced by JC Refrigeration three weeks ago.  It works very well.  Freezer at the cooling points measures at -17F.  Fridge portion is at 35-39F.  This is with the setting at 3.  We went with the Gas/electric unit.

I am happy with my choice so far, but still very early in its life.

Edit:  I would buy the JC unit over a rebuilt unit like National.  JR uses thicker tubing and more coils than original units.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #3 –
Like Bruce says, it's how you travel and camp out.  We had our cooling unit changed out by JC 3 years ago. At that time we mainly wanted to keep the original look inside the coach. We do very little boon docking.  Now I'm leaning on a residential mainly for internal fridge space and cooling consistency.  Great people and service at JC.  When I changed mine out I did the gas/electric absorption cooling unit like we had.  They now have a residential conversion you can choose from.  Analyze and compare all of your options.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #4 –
Whichever you choose, do stop at Rise n' Roll for "Amish crack" (cinnamon caramel donuts).  It will ease the pain.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #5 –
I agree-- evaluate how YOU use your coach to help determine the best option for YOU.

Clearly, as residential refrigerators have become more efficient AND many owners have upgraded their battery banks, added solar and/or installed more efficient inverters, they are a more viable option than they were when you coach was built.

If you boondock much of the time and electrical system is pretty much OE, absolutely stick with absorption refrigerator options.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #6 –
Don't forget to stock that new freezer with amazing, inexpensive  meat from Yoders Meat and Cheese. The chicken is the best we've have ever had.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #7 –
We had JC Refrigeration replace the cooling unit in our 1995  Dometic in May 2013. It appeared to work well and they were a good organization with which to work. However, we still had the cooling performance of an absorption unit and limited space in a box that showed its age. The JC Refrigeration unit failed in February 2018. I replaced the Dometic with an 18 cu ft Samsung later that year. If I had it to do over again I would have installed a residential refrigerator in 2013. The difference in cooling performance and storage capacity really is that dramatic.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #8 –
My question was WHICH company to use. Seems from the answers, that JC is the one. The conversation of residential vs. gas/electric is interesting. We have a big drawer under our refrigerator that we simply cannot afford to lose. We are tight for space with the 36' coach, and Amy likes lots of cooking appliances. We like the option of using gas. ANOTHER choice is whether to go with helium or hydrogen. Guess I'll ask JR tomorrow.
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #9 –
Glenn, How did you determine your coils are bad? You might want to look at this post when Roland was having issues.

refrigerator replacement - Page 2

Using this trick you will know if your coils are the issue or not. If coils are good look at my post from yesterday on adding a radiator fan to the fridge vent to improve performance of the coils. Could save you a lot of money.

Ammonia Refrigerator Hot Weather Mod

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #10 –
Glenn, are you using the space under the J dinette?  I added three big drawers under there.  The 18(ish) cuft Samsungs are 32" wide.  You can add a fill height, 22" deep 4" wide panty next to it.  All of the stuff that we have that fits nowhere else fits in there.  The side by side refrig in your coach was tough to use.  The freezer section was pretty much useless.  Our Samsung really changed the way we can use our coach.  Any electric option will increase your power use by about 1600 watts per day.  About 130 amp hrs.  Some solar, added battery capacity will cover that.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #11 –
Roger,
We don't have a J dinette. We have storage under our two benches. I appreciate the response from all of you. The question was never answered. IF one wanted to upgrade an almost 20 year old cooling system in Shipshewana, which company would they use....National or JC....simple question. Seems like some here have used JC. Anyone use National.?? He gets five star rating as well...
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #12 –
I forgot to answer your question, sorry about that. I wail say that JC stands behind their work. We visited Shipshawana 3 years ago and had a new cooling unit installed in October, then put the coach in storage. In February we headed from NC to Fort Desoto for a 3 week trip. 

The cooling unit failed as soon as we arrived. JC over nighted a new unit and sent a tech that he had trained that lived in the Tampa area.

The tech arrived by himself at 7:00 and worked until 2:00AM replacing the defective unit.

That said we are tired of worrying about the absorption fridge. The fridge works as designed but it struggles when in direct sun. Freezer always stays close to zero degrees. Fridge ranges from 37 - 45. We think about the fire hazard even though we've minimized the risk. We do have a ARP installed. 

We have an appointment at MOT in the spring to convert to residential.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #13 –
thanks, Jeff.
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #14 –
I do not know anyone who has used National and several who have used JC.  Of those several 4 have had a replacement unit fail.  Three got replaced under warranty, one of them twice.  Many have had good luck with them.  But it still leaves you with a nearly 20 year old refrigerator, control board, seals and design.  I think these replacement cooling units can cost as much as a new residential.  And there are residential refrigerators with smaller capacity that will fit in your space without losing the cabinet space below.  An electric (12v or 120v) cooling system replacement, a small residential or a bigger one will all use about the same amount of energy - more than an LP/electric.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #15 –
I have worked with JR at JC Refrigeration- they are very responsive and do good work.  Last January we replaced our failed Amish cooling unit with the new 12 volt conversion.  It worked well but was noisey so they replaced it this summer, under warranty with another whole  new 12 volt cooling unit.  When we left Shipshewanna the freezer was 7 and fridge was 35 ish- great.  Not sure what has happened but the freezer part does not seem to hold temp in our unit.  I know the compressor is working fine because I have had to turn it down because it was 28 in the fridge.  Our freezer is not longer a freezer as the temp has risen to within 4 degrees of the fridge.  My conclusion is there is something wrong with the freezer box, door, something........not the cooling unit.

That being said, Karen has had enough and we have ordered a residential refrigerator and have an appointment with MOT for installation.  Keith Davis is a great guy to work with - he said they can install a refrigerator of our choice.  We have our furnace under the  refrigerator so I researched to find one that would fit in the same space as our Dometic 2862.  I found a Frigidare apartment unit, 10 cu. ft., frost free, dimensions almost exactly like what is in there now, just and inch or 2 taller, so little modification needed.  It is Energy Star rated also, which will help with our boondocking .  Model is FFET1022UB. 

Just a reminder, we got the 12 volt cooling unit under warranty and thought it was a good choice- which I still believe it was.  The compressor seems to work fine and others who have 12 volt  refrigerators seem happy with them.  Bottom line, my recommendation is to evaluate your refrigerator, how you camp, your batteries, etc , budget and make your decision and see what happens.  Whatever you do today will probably not last forever, just like the OEM systems we replace/ upgrade in our 20 year old coaches.

Travel, have fun, be safe, and CYA down the road......................... ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Shipshewana Choices

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Ted & Karen –
I have worked with JR at JC Refrigeration- they are very responsive and do good work.  Last January we replaced our failed Amish cooling unit with the new 12 volt conversion.  It worked well but was noisey so they replaced it this summer, under warranty with another whole  new 12 volt cooling unit.  When we left Shipshewanna the freezer was 7 and fridge was 35 ish- great.  Not sure what has happened but the freezer part does not seem to hold temp in our unit.  I know the compressor is working fine because I have had to turn it down because it was 28 in the fridge.  Our freezer is not longer a freezer as the temp has risen to within 4 degrees of the fridge.  My conclusion is there is something wrong with the freezer box, door, something........not the cooling unit.

That being said, Karen has had enough and we have ordered a residential refrigerator and have an appointment with MOT for installation.

I believe you have made a good choice by going with a residential refrigerator. I like JC Refrigeration, but I'm becoming more and more convinced (based upon my own experience and the experiences of several others) that putting a new cooling uniting an old refrigerator is an unwise option. Our new cooling unit lasted not quite five years, and even when it worked defrosting the cooling fins was an issue when camping in the humid south. The residential refrigerator option is so much better in so many ways that I couldn't recommend anything else.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186