Dometic Fridge Heat Damage

Bill36re · 02-25-2013, 07:10 PM

Last year I reported overheating issues with our Dometic Fridge in our 2012 36RE. Long story short, when running on propane on warm days the unit would overheat and shut down. My local RV repairman had spotted the issue during our annual service and told me not to use it on propane. I was convinced by Redwood however that it was safe and there were 300 units like mine produced with Dometic's.

We continued to use the fridge and it continued to overheat on every warm trip. I bugged Bryan Emmons and he bugged others at Crossroads and they shipped us a brand new Norcold which we had switched out last summer.

When the techs pulled out the Dometic they discovered the start of fire damage on the inside of the slide wall and evidence of overheating on the back of the Dometic. After looking at the damage we were lucky our trailer did not burn up.

I've attached photos of the char marks of our slide wall and the back of the fridge. If you and anyone you know has a Dometic have the propane burner looked at. It is likely that it is buried behind the slide wall with no clearance space and should not be used with propane. A clear fire hazard according to every tech I showed the unit to.

Above: Inside of 36RE slide wall behind propane burner after Dometic is removed (next to access hatch)

Above: Rear of Dometic Fridge after removal. Note that there was no way for heat to escape from propane burner.

Hope this helps others!

Update: Don't know why my photos are not appearing here (showing broken links)? Any help uploading photos will be appreciated.

Edited by: Bill36re

atom ant · 02-25-2013, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill36re

Last year I reported overheating issues with our Dometic Fridge in our 2012 36RE. Long story short, when running on propane on warm days the unit would overheat and shut down. My local RV repairman had spotted the issue during our annual service and told me not to use it on propane. I was convinced by Redwood however that it was safe and there were 300 units like mine produced with Dometic's.

We continued to use the fridge and it continued to overheat on every warm trip. I bugged Bryan Emmons and he bugged others at Crossroads and they shipped us a brand new Norcold which we had switched out last summer.

When the techs pulled out the Dometic they discovered the start of fire damage on the inside of the slide wall and evidence of overheating on the back of the Dometic. After looking at the damage we were lucky our trailer did not burn up.

I've attached photos of the char marks of our slide wall and the back of the fridge. If you and anyone you know has a Dometic have the propane burner looked at. It is likely that it is buried behind the slide wall with no clearance space and should not be used with propane. A clear fire hazard according to every tech I showed the unit to.

Above: Inside of 36RE slide wall behind propane burner after Dometic is removed (next to access hatch)

Above: Rear of Dometic Fridge after removal. Note that there was no way for heat to escape from propane burner.

Hope this helps others!

Update: Don't know why my photos are not appearing here (showing broken links)? Any help uploading photos will be appreciated.

There ya go

Edited by: atom ant

**Dave&Ginny** · 02-25-2013, 11:42 PM

That's scary

spindrift · 02-26-2013, 05:08 AM

WOW! You caught a monster just in time.

Tobys Home · 02-26-2013, 06:03 AM

Wow is right! That could have started an event that would't have ended in your favor. Good to be persistent.

**hoosierguy** · 02-26-2013, 09:20 AM

Bill36re,

Has this information been reported to Redwood? And, are they going to issue a recall?

Guy

subdoc4 · 02-26-2013, 09:38 AM

Is this why we have Norcold now in newer units?

jlandon13399 · 02-26-2013, 08:32 PM

Our 2012 RW34SK came with a Norcold 4-door fridge. After reading these posts I am glad it did.

atom ant · 02-26-2013, 11:59 PM

I've been doing a lot of window shopping on the Redwoods, and it seems the ice makers only come in the Norcold, and the Dometic units do not have ice makers.
Is that the criteria for when Redwood installs one or the other, or is there one out there that ruins my theory

?

Oriana · 02-27-2013, 12:02 AM

Our coach proves your theory, we have an ice-maker and the fridge is a Norcold

sinder · 02-27-2013, 01:24 AM

No ice maker in my unit and I have a Norcold.

homeguy · 02-27-2013, 05:38 AM

We have a 4 door Dometic with an ice maker

atom ant · 02-27-2013, 10:24 AM

Well - so much for that theory

Oriana · 02-27-2013, 10:35 AM

Just checked the website - the 12 Ft 3Norcold is an option and it comes with or without the ice maker.

atom ant · 02-27-2013, 10:47 AM

I just looked too, and your are right, it does call out Norcold. That means the Dometic is not used for 2013 for the 4-dr, or the manufacturer reserves the right to do what they want in spite of the brochure

Buck · 02-27-2013, 02:05 PM

my 2012 early production rl has a 4 door dometic with ice maker,my2013 gk has a 4 door norcold with icemaker

UNDRPSI · 02-27-2013, 11:36 PM

WOW thats scary. Glad you stayed on them. Wonder what their comment was when they saw the wall....

BradPAjax · 02-28-2013, 07:23 PM

We have a 2013 38B with Domestic 12 cf 4 dr and no ice maker.

Retired educators · 02-28-2013, 09:35 PM

I have a Dometic in my 36 rl and we have had nothing but problems. The doors have been replaced, only one fan works and oyher is noisy. Have condensation problems now that requires us wiping up water daily from floor. Taking back to factory in March. Hoping they replace it, if not I need additional warranty from them .

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