| Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #271655] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 20:24  |
Ray R.
Messages: 26
Registered: December 2014
Location: Ladysmith, WI
Karma: 0
|
Junior Member |
|
|
My Edgemonte has the fridge mounted opposite the bath. This is the narrower side of the coach. The PO mounted the newer Norcold and it sticks out in the hall 3 to 4 inches. I would like to move it closer to the wall but the cooling rack hits the wall/roof corner. It can not go down because it is over the wheel wells. I was thinking of have an AC repair place shorten the cooling rack on the back about 6 inches. I believe it would still work. Has anyone done this modification. I believe that all newer fridges are wider because they go into box style trailers or coaches.
Thanks,
Ray R.
Ray R. 76 Edgemonte 26, 455. Refurbishing for fulltiming, Ladysmith, WI
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #271659 is a reply to message #271655] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 20:47  |
powwerjon
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Ray,
The problem you have is that the PO installed the wrong size Frig in your coach. RV refrigerators are a ammonia absorption refrigerators, they are NOT a freon type units and CANNOT be arbitrarily shorten. They are a closed loop system that operates differently than freon refrigerators, they just won’t work if you open up the plumbing and it takes special equipment to make the cooling systems
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator
and
http://www.fixyourfridge.com/index.php/faq/the-rebuilding-process
There are a number of single door units that are not as deep and that would fit into the available space. The 1975 Avion model came with a single door frig and was mounted on the short side of the coach too.
http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Norcold-Refrigerators_c_721.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA9eamBRDqvIz_qPbVteABEiQAnIBTEEtI5KsxbgfxLNVNqsb7TaTYtgVFtGLWQBa1gNrsM- 0aAg2f8P8HAQ
or
http://tinyurl.com/pxc9lul
J.R. Wright
30' Buskirk Stretch
Michigan
On Location in Tucson
> On Feb 10, 2015, at 7:24 PM, Raymond Radwanski wrote:
>
> My Edgemonte has the fridge mounted opposite the bath. This is the narrower side of the coach. The PO mounted the newer Norcold and it sticks out in
> the hall 3 to 4 inches. I would like to move it closer to the wall but the cooling rack hits the wall/roof corner. It can not go down because it is
> over the wheel wells. I was thinking of have an AC repair place shorten the cooling rack on the back about 6 inches. I believe it would still work.
> Has anyone done this modification. I believe that all newer fridges are wider because they go into box style trailers or coaches.
> Thanks,
> Ray R.
> --
> Ray R. 76 Edgemonte 26, 455. Refurbishing for fulltiming, Ladysmith, WI
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #271664 is a reply to message #271655] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 22:04 |
Adrien G.
Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Ray R. wrote on Tue, 10 February 2015 20:24My Edgemonte has the fridge mounted opposite the bath. This is the narrower side of the coach. The PO mounted the newer Norcold and it sticks out in the hall 3 to 4 inches. I would like to move it closer to the wall but the cooling rack hits the wall/roof corner. It can not go down because it is over the wheel wells. I was thinking of have an AC repair place shorten the cooling rack on the back about 6 inches. I believe it would still work. Has anyone done this modification. I believe that all newer fridges are wider because they go into box style trailers or coaches.
Thanks,
Ray R.
Ray,
I think your objection is that the frig. is not flush with the closet module. And it's an eye sore.
It would help a little if you would lower the floor, where the ref sits, to be right on top of the wheel house. There's about 2" of space between WH and ref floor.
It's a lot of work for little gain.
Depending whether you boon dock or CG as to which ref would work best for you. A 120vac only means shore power, gen power, or inverter, big batt and solar panels.
You could look an original working frig, or down size to a 5 cf frig., it's not as tall. raise the frig. as high as you can, and make a small storage space in that lower area.
I moved mine in 3" to make room for a on demand water heater, but on my floor plan it's not visible.
Good luck.
Adrien & Jenny Genesoto
75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild
Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #271670 is a reply to message #271655] |
Wed, 11 February 2015 01:56 |
John Olson
Messages: 96
Registered: August 2013
Karma: 0
|
Member |
|
|
Hi Ray,
Last week I installed a Nova Kool RFU9000 (9.1 cuft total - 2.5 cuft
freezer) into our Edgemonte, in which we fulltime and also boondock. It
replaced a Dometic rm2551 5.1 cuft gas absorption 2-way.
Nova Kool
(not to be confused with NorCold) 12v fridges use the energy efficient and
quiet Danfoss bd3.5f compressor. Specs for their larger capacity fridges
say 5.2 amps @ 12v* when compressor is running*. In our week of ownership,
compressor has run for 20mins/hr during 5-6 hotter 75deg mid-day hours. Ice
cream is rock hard.
Since your question is about near flush mounting, the below link shows the
relative bump-out of our install.
For the rfu9000 with bottom mounted guts, I had to 'nudge' the location of
the compressor guts toward fridge door about 2" to get around the wheel
well. The wheel well drives the location of this particular fridge install.
This location change was easier than it sounds as the thin copper tubes
have sweeping curves to them as to not stress, kink or need to break the
closed system. Took me about 2 hours to move the guts toward fridge door.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p57210-edgemonte-novakool9000-1.html
Above and below the fridge will have modified storage compartments, as time
to install allows. Feel free to contact me about this epic saga :) as the
hours of planning and CAD files shouldn't go to waste on a one-off.
77three.3one5.nine22zero cell.
John Olson
76 Edgemonte. Currently in Lake Pleasant St Park, AZ. Moving westward, then
N to OR.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
John Olson
76 Edgemonte
Fulltime traveler
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #271924 is a reply to message #271670] |
Fri, 13 February 2015 22:06 |
Ray R.
Messages: 26
Registered: December 2014
Location: Ladysmith, WI
Karma: 0
|
Junior Member |
|
|
Thanks for all the info. Sounds like I will need to do a little more research before making a decision on frig choice. We eat a lot of fresh greens so a smaller fridge is out. Everyone feels that cutting into the cooling rack is a bad idea. I agree.
We do a lot of boon docking so I don't know if an efficient DC fridge will work. Rough figuring, two more 12V batteries for 4 days of running. This may be doable. The advantage of getting rid of the LP would be a bigger fridge and the ability to close up the air exchange vents. One would be able to properly insulate the area behind the fridge. As is now, and it shouldn't, hot or cold exterior air moves in and behind the interior wall along that side. I believe this should be a closed compartment to prevent LP leaks from entering the coach. My unit does not have holes in the fridge compartment floor for venting. I believe it should.
Feed back on someone that has an efficient AC unit like John Olson mentioned would be appreciated. I plan to contact John to see how he is getting along with his new installation. This would be the best way so far but I am leery about the battery drain.
Thanks, Ray R.
Ray R. 76 Edgemonte 26, 455. Refurbishing for fulltiming, Ladysmith, WI
|
|
|
|
| Re: Modify fridge to fit wall profile. [message #272078 is a reply to message #271655] |
Mon, 16 February 2015 04:14 |
Gatsbys' Cruiser
Messages: 91
Registered: August 2014
Location: Illinois
Karma: 0
|
Member |
|
|
I had to replace my frig and chose a 3 way Norcold. The new frig was a tad deeper than the old frig and the curved wall and roof came in quite a bit so the frig would not go all the way back in. I had to add 3/4" wood trim to meet the frig and attach it to the cabinet.
It would have been major work lowering the frig floor since there is cabinetry beneath it. Adding the 3/4 trim was the easy fix and it is not noticable.
Just wot I did
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
