fridge removal and replacement

[Lerv]

My fridge has died on me, and I am curious, how can I remove it from the coach? Looking at the numbers, it seems to large to fit through the rear entry door https://refrigeratorfaq.com/refrigerator-lock/ . Does anyone have experience here?

Thanks

FYI, my rig is a 1988 Chinook Concourse 18 plus. It has a Norcold 8663, 6.3 cubixc foot, 3-way fridge.

[wa8yxm]

Gee. I just replaced the cooling unit. We layed it face down on the floor (Had to move a fixture but only 4 screws and that was also part of the next job) took the back off and carried it out the door. carried the new back in and put it on (Ok I'm very highly simplifying Rachal did a lot of work "Between" Steps) and shoved it back in place.. Works great now. No windows involved.

Next job was replacing the floor on the slide out.> The Fixture (Dining room table) I needed to move bolts to that floor so it had to move anyway .

[ajriding]

The window.
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29948572.cfm
Post of a fridge going through window

They build campers from the inside out sometimes, so the interior and furnishings are installed before the outer walls sometimes. The window might be the only hole big enough.

If you have a big window that is an "emergency exit" window then you are fortunate as you can remove the window without removing the frame, often this is why there is an emergency window.

Good news is that you end up replacing the butyl around the window, which is something that is a maintenance issue after 10-15 years anyway.

Consider converting to the Danfoss type compressor fridge. Some propane models can be converted, or there are many chest type fridge/freezers out there. Dometic or ARB are two name brand ones, but many others on ebay that are similar.

[Chris_Bryant]

I’ve always been able to remove the RV door to make them fit, if the door is too narrow.
I wouldn’t repair yours- due to its age, I would bet the foam is bad and the door has swollen a bit, but you did get 31 years out of it!

[wanderingbob]

How are ya gonna get the replacement back in ?

[DutchmenSport]

If you are just tossing it away, dismantle it and take it out piece by piece. Once you have the pieces outside, you can crush the metal box, bend it up, or chop it up to get it out the door.

However, if you plan to keep it whole... probably through a removed window.

[pianotuna]

convert the existing unit to a compressor fridge.

[Johno02]

Ours came out and back in through bedroom window/escape hatch. open it and folded back out of the way. 6 big men and a pickup truck managed it.

[Big_Katuna]

I replaced the cooling unit with an Amish made unit so no removal necessary.

Works better than a new one.

[BarneyS]

We had our Dometic fridge replaced a few years ago while wintering down in Florida. They took the old one out an new one in through the entry door of our trailer. They took off the fridge doors first.
Barney

[Gonzo42]

had ours repaced at CW. it went thru the entry door, minus the fridge doors.

[chast]

Hi—we just did ours and replaced it with a residential model. Have done many over the years. Do you have specific questions that I can answer for you?

[jplante4]

The shop at the RV store where I work usually takes them out the nearest window. It takes the about 10 minutes to remove a window and about a half hour to re-install it.

They take the fork lift and extend the forks into the coach, hoist the fridge up onto the forks and back it out. This may be your biggest challenge doing it this way, unless you have a fork truck that is.

[larry_cad]

You can make the frig smaller by removing the door, and sometimes by removing the cooling unit. If that doesn't work, you may have to remove a window. Check to see what your best option is by measuring doors and windows.