xctraveler
Livingston TX
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I have been reading the thread on Residential refrigerators and boon docking, a subject of great interest as we are shopping for a new coach and most that we have seen in dealers are equipped with them. We boondock extensively in the southwest and often stop off grid, Wal-mart, etc. The thread seems to have relieved me relative to usability.
DW now asks "how reliable are they as we bounce down the the often not very smooth road." We know the gas/electrics do not seem to be bothered by movement, but do require level when stopped. Do any of you have experience, bad or good with regard to longer term reliability and also do they need to be level when in camp?
Paul
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rr2254545
Minnesota/New Mexico
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We have one and we arrange items inside to give us minimum movement. It is amazing how much fits on the doors ie: gallon of milk etc. We also secure the top doors with a bungee cord. Bottom freezer has a good built in hasp.
On another thread on here some say they get curtain rods to put in the fridge to secure items. We have found not need for this.
We have been traveling with our new refrigerato three months and 3000 miles.
* This post was
edited 03/26/12 07:30pm by rr2254545 *
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barlow46
Edgewater, FL
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past-MIdirector wrote:As a home Appliance Tech over 20 years now I can tell you this about todays residential fridges. They are no were near as reliably as those of 20 years ago. Life expedience is down to 7-10 years, they are overloaded with plastic parts, computer controls, less insulation, not made for on & off use, and made as cheap as possible. I find the foreign models to be the worst with lack of parts to little or no factory support. If and when you buy one remember if it works with no service call the first year chances are you'll get at least 7 or more years with out a service call. If it break in the first year you'll see a lot more of the service techs over the next few years.
If you go with residential than Whirlpool products would be my first choice which includes the AMANA and Maytag line. AMANA did hold the patient on bottom freezers.
What year do you consider to be the start of this decline. I am not seeing it yet in my home kitchenaid (11yrs old and no repairs period). I would agree that some of the electronic boards are susceptible to surges, modified sine wave inverters possibly, and what I consider "bells and whistles" (crushed ice through the door, water in door, etc.). However, the basic closed refrigeration system seems to still be very reliable. My coach has had a residential refrig. since day 1 and it works every single time and it cools down fast and will freeze everything in it if you choose to dial it down too low. It is now 7 yrs old and I would never have another NoCold or any gas/electric in any RV that I own.
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chrisnjackie
Land O Lakes, Florida
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My experience with a residential refrigerator has great, although you have to remember to secure the doors prior to heading down the road. On my first trip, half of the contents were ejected on the first hard left hand turn. A velcro strap solved the problem. My Whirlpool washing machine, on the other hand, hasn't worked right since the beginning.
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royST
ann arbor
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When we got our Motorhome, we decided to put in a little bit more investment on buying appliances that were specially designed for RVs. That included our refrigerator. Yes, it was a bit more expensive than residential ones, but it was definitely worth it. For starters, since it was designed for RVs, they are more able to handle the stress on the road than residential ones. Also, residential refrigerators mostly run on just one power source. Our refrigerator can run on either propane or AC. That way, it gives us more option when it comes on the power source.
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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As a home Appliance Tech over 20 years now I can tell you this about todays residential fridges. They are no were near as reliably as those of 20 years ago. Life expedience is down to 7-10 years, they are overloaded with plastic parts, computer controls, less insulation, not made for on & off use, and made as cheap as possible. I find the foreign models to be the worst with lack of parts to little or no factory support. If and when you buy one remember if it works with no service call the first year chances are you'll get at least 7 or more years with out a service call. If it break in the first year you'll see a lot more of the service techs over the next few years.
If you go with residential than Whirlpool products would be my first choice which includes the AMANA and Maytag line. AMANA did hold the patient on bottom freezers.
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moisheh
North America
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I would also disgaree with MI director. We have a GE 25 cu ft. stainless fridge in our Mexican home. It is subject to huge power surges and brown outs. Voltage is sometimes as high as 132. Power goes off and on in the summer. When we are not in Mexico the room temps are as high as 100. 4 years old and keeps on humming. We liked it so much bought one for the stick house in Canada. 2 years old and still no problems. The Jenn air ( Whirlpool) in our Dynasty is over 4 yars old and never had a problem. I would agree that the foreign makes SUCK. We had an LG that cost me $400 in year 4. No parts depot in Western Canada. Could not keep ice cream hard. All appliances are lighter and mostly plastic. But they are far more efficient.Now how about comparing the house fridge to a No Cold. You cannot buy a door gasket for a Norcold. Must buy the whole door for $1000. The hinges break and are also expensive. They leak Ammonia. Often cannot cool well in high ambient temps. The house fridges also give you more capapcity in the same space. I wont even mention the fires! When a residential fridge bites the bullet replacement cost today is under $1200. If you replace a Norcold today the cost can be as high as $3500.
Moisheh
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Bionic Man
Colorado
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We have had the same ones in our houseboat for nearly 10 years. They work fine in that application.
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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Like I said if it doesn't break the first year it will probably last over 7 years. We're talking average and the life span can go either way. Do I expect these fridge made since 2000 to last 18 to 20 years may be one out of a thousand might make it. I've worked on hundred over the year and been to schools on home appliance. I make a living off these appliances and know what the average life can be expected. You also might want to know that there has been fires in home fridges also, which I have personnel seen three and a half dozen on window A/C.
The big problem with home fridges is mold will grow in the foam insulation between the freezer and food side when left off for extend periods even with the doors open. You can not see it since it forms in the air flow chambers between the freezer and food compartment.
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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I've always been curious if you told the maker, who supplies the warranty, that the refrigerator will be in a motorhome is the warranty still valid?
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