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Norcold worries are OVER!
https://carriage-lifestyle-owners.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1669
Posted: 7:45 PM – Aug 16, 2014As I may have made clear previously, I have not been happy with $2820 Norcold 12 cu ft refrigerator “upgrade” since taking delivery of the 2014 LS36fw. At the time I placed the order, I could not see paying $4800 for the Samsung residential 18cu ft upgrade which also included 2 additional batteries and inverter.
My units Norcold cooling performance during transit has been dismal. I have tried and tried more than I care to even recount. Nothing improved the situation. I talked to LS warranty/service and documented in extreme detail the issue. They passed this info along to Norcold. I saw correspondence between LS and Norcold to indicate the two parties discussed the situation. Plus, I sent the same info to Norcold along with my contact info.
I NEVER heard a peep from Norcold and with absolutely NO help for a resolution from this situation I decided it was time to go residential. I pulled the Norcold out and sold it within a week of being advertised. The unit cooled flawlessly parked on either LP or electric. However, I could not have fridge temps reaching the mid 50’s during travel and get sick from improperly chilled perishables. I’d reached my limit.
I ordered the Samsung French door RF197 18 cu ft French door fridge from Home Depot for $988. This unit uses 445 kwh a year so is very efficient. Many have reported 3.5 watts at compressor start-up and less then 2 watts while running. I have I installed a 1000 pure sine wave inverter. I am using an auto transfer switch between the dedicated fridge inverter 110 line and the shore power but only the outlet/branch circuit the fridge plugs into.
I made few modifications to the cabinet which allows the Samsung to slip right into place. The unit will now set on the slide-our floor. This makes the fridge look even more residential. The pots and pan drawer that was underneath the Norcold is now gone. However there will plenty of room atop the fridge to place the same items we had in the drawer. I am using the drawer front to make a lift-up door above the fridge for storage. So actually no storage was lost. This is the way Redwood is installing the Samsung in their rigs and it looks very nice.
Since our rig is stored in an RV storage lot, we had the fridge delivered to our local HD store. We took the LS to the store today and pulled right up to the covered lumber loading area. We took the doors off the fridge and placed them on the bed. Two HD staff kindly placed the fridge into the LS. Then we placed it into its new spot, secured it and went back to the storage lot.
We will finish-up the complete installation tomorrow and/or next weekend. It’s been a HOT summer in FL so its difficult to work inside the LS without a/c in such heat.
Everyone who has the fridge reports being very happy with it and say it will cool down to -2/37 degrees in about 3 hours. We are so excited for this addition to our LS and can’t imagine that we will miss the NO-Cold! LOL I will post a pic or two when we get it all finished.
Safe travels, PhillipPosted: 8:50 PM – Aug 16, 2014Phillip,Good news. Good riddance!
Working on the 5er isn’t so bad up here in NH.
Posted: 11:49 PM – Aug 16, 2014Good to hear, PhillipRick
Posted: 9:26 PM – Aug 17, 2014That is wonderful news. The MHZ we bought today has a residential fridge. We are excited to have a “real” fridge.Posted: 9:35 AM – Sep 02, 2014Our Samsung performed flawlessly over our 3 night weekend trip. It is so silent and absent of any noise. Freezer maintained -2 – -8 and fridge 38 -34. We did not hook-up the water line or ice maker since we are not full timers. I didn’t want to have to deal with stale water in the lines or winterizing. IT will make 5 trays of ice in 2 hours easy. So we just use the ice trays and dump them into the ice bin.
Our progressive monitor shows it using 1 amp while running. When the compressor kicks on, it draws 3 amps for a short time. Amazing our quiet and efficient.
I have heard that this particular unit which is counter depth and fits very nicely is being discontinued. The next model up is identical except 2 inches deeper.
Anyone interested in a nice residential fridge should giddy-up to Home Depot and order before its to late. PhillipPosted: 6:58 PM – Sep 07, 2014A couple of pix of the Samsung. As I previously mentioned, we did away with the pots and pan drawer at the bottom. This allowed the fridge to much more easily installed. A couple of 2×4’s stacked atop one another allow you to roll the fridge in and out of the space during installation and in the future should a need arise. This also allow the fridge to be at a lower center of gravity.
I took the front of the previous pots/pans drawer and cut it down to make a lift-up door atop the fridge. We are storing our post and pans atop the fridge. The control panel is atop the fridge and is about 1.5 inches tall creating a lip which keep them from sliding out during travel. I have a piece of wood across the back to keep them more from getting lost to far back and unreachable.
I removed the carpet that was under the Norcold and cut a strip and glued it down in front of the fridge. I thought it blended with the rest of the carpet in the area. Otherwise, I would had to finish the 3/4 plywood into a finished wood floor look.
The unit is attached at the rear with 3 3 inch lag screws as well as the levelers in the front that are bolted to the plywood 3/4 plywood sub-floor that we added. The screws go down into the slide-out floor.
Overall, this was an easy project and cost wise is awash. I sold the Norcold for $1750 and that paid for the new Samsung, the inverter, and all else needed for the mod.
Safe Travels! Phillip
Posted: 7:15 PM – Sep 07, 2014Great looking install. Well Done!!!Posted: 9:51 PM – Sep 07, 2014Hi Phillip,Very, very nice work.
Thanks for the sharing.
Brad
Posted: 10:10 PM – Sep 07, 2014Phillip – great install. Any issues with the fridge doors opening while travelling?Rick
Posted: 10:11 PM – Sep 08, 2014Not so far. I do want want to drill any latches into the fridge and/or install any latches. It’s very easy to use a velcro strap to secure the fridge doors closed. The freezer not as easy. I have some ideas but have not implemented one yet. Last of my worries now. So happy to have all the room of the new unit and a quick cool down and cold beer and ice cream!Posted: 11:47 PM – Sep 08, 2014Phillip,The fix for the bottom drawer is an easy set of snap buttons. I thought that I took a picture when I was at LaMesa, but not of the snap with vinyl strap. Maybe a factory built owner can post a photo.
Posted: 3:28 PM – Sep 09, 2014To keep the doors closed, why not cut out a large “U” from plywood, cover it in fabric, and slide it thru the refrigerator handles, letting it hang down thru the bottom freezer handle to keep all doors closed.Zim
Posted: 9:43 PM – Sep 10, 2015Wasn’t sure if I posted what I did to keept he residential fridge doors closed during travel. So here are a couple of photos.Posted: 6:35 PM – Jan 26, 2017jdpm do you have Any photos pleasePosted: 7:06 PM – Jan 26, 2017I posted some photos in the thread a few post up.B.W.Gentry
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2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
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