Casita referigerator replacement

[Teresa]

Hi. I have a 1992, 13' Casita. The refrigerator (Dometic RM 2190) is no longer working. I am looking for a replacment. I looked through the A-Z Guide and it did not mention my model. I looked on Dometic's web site and they recommend RM2193 model. On Amazon it sells for just over $600. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel ordering something like that, having it delivered, and then finding someone to install it. I then looked at Camping World. I found one on their site that is a Norcold 1.7, which the dimensions are slightly smaller than the one I have now. It is on sale for $559, plus I'd probably have to drive 1 1/2 hours north to have it installed. I'm totally new to this, so do you all have any suggestions, recommendations? Have any of you had that particular model and had to replace it? Thanks for your help.

Teresa

[sokhapkin]

Get 2193 and install it yourself or ask your neighbour for help. It's not a rocket science. You will get a nice modern 3-way fridge.

[Jack L]

Shop the internet and print the best, lowest price seller's offer and ask Camping World to match it or just order the unit from Amazon. Dometic would be my brand of choice and as Sergey said, it's not hard to install. Camping World appears to have high labor prices and anyone with basic mechanical skills can do this job.

[starbrightsteve]

Contact Larry at Little House Customs and tell him what you need. Then take a road trip/ vacation to Texas. Larry will treat you right and the job will be done correctly. I could be wrong but I think the fridge has to go in through the rear window.
Steve

[Jack L]

Originally Posted by starbrightsteve

Contact Larry at Little House Customs and tell him what you need. Then take a road trip/ vacation to Texas. Larry will treat you right and the job will be done correctly. I could be wrong but I think the fridge has to go in through the rear window.
Steve

The hardest part of my refrigerator replacement was getting the new unit through the door. The old unit came out easily with the use of a sawzall, but to get the new one in required some disassembly of the door and interior dinette and counter.

[Teresa]

Thank you. Looks like I'll probably do that, but there is no way I'll try to install it myself. I'll have to have someone else do it.

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by starbrightsteve

Contact Larry at Little House Customs and tell him what you need. Then take a road trip/ vacation to Texas. Larry will treat you right and the job will be done correctly. I could be wrong but I think the fridge has to go in through the rear window.
Steve

Seriously? Through the back window? Well, looks like I will call Larry and see how to go about this. Thanks for that suggestion. I could definitely have him do a few things while I'm there.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Teresa

Seriously? Through the back window? Well, looks like I will call Larry and see how to go about this. Thanks for that suggestion. I could definitely have him do a few things while I'm there.

You might want to call Casita and ask them based on your trailer model what the procedure is for removing the fridge. Its not uncommon to have to take out a window to do it .... but if the fridge is small enough it may be you just need to take the door off of it. Check the width of your door and size specs on what you have.

If you have to take a window out to remove it, it may not be a bad thing as due to the age of your trailer it may be time to reseal the window anyways.

Forgot to mention that you may also want to price just a 2 way - electrical and propane as the DC function due to the power draw is something I know I never use. My new trailer has just a 2 way and I am very happy with it.

[Donna D.]

This may be a tough one. Casita went to a large rear window in 2003 all because of the refrigerator. You're really going to need to pay attention to the measurements.

[Mary F]

And I have wondered, Donna, if it also coincided with when they switched from a standard RV door to the one with rounded top corners that is more reminiscent of the doors on their 13 and 16 foot models. And, come to think of it, it's just the 17 footers with the problem of the fridge being too big to come in through the door, right?

[Donna D.]

What I referenced was for the 2003 17' Casitas. But I've been given to understand all rear windows on all models changed at that time. The curve top door actually changed to flat top in 1995, then changed back to curved top in 2001.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

What I referenced was for the 2003 17' Casitas. But I've been given to understand all rear windows on all models changed at that time. The curve top door actually changed to flat top in 1995, then changed back to curved top in 2001.

Interesting Donna. I wanted the curved top flat door and wanted to narrow down my search. I called Casita to find out when they changed to radial cornered flat doors and no one could give me a year. Go figure .

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

Interesting Donna. I wanted the curved top flat door and wanted to narrow down my search. I called Casita to find out when they changed to radial cornered flat doors and no one could give me a year. Go figure .

I cheated, I looked up the information on the CasitaForum, no way I'd remember all this stuff. If you want to know when changes to the 17' happened, Gene keeps excellent notes. But, you have to be a member of the CasitaForum to read it. Joining there is simple.

Casita 17' Factory Changes - Upgrades over previous years for the 17' models: http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/...ctory-changes/

[Mary F]

Well, I know they were using the standard RV door in 1999 (but wonder about getting the fridge out if/when that's ever needed); and I also don't think they made the 17 footer prior to 1995 - all of which is neither here nor there to the OP, who's asking about replacing the fridge in a 13.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Mary F

Well, I know they were using the standard RV door in 1999 (but wonder about getting the fridge out if/when that's ever needed); and I also don't think they made the 17 footer prior to 1995 - all of which is neither here nor there to the OP, who's asking about replacing the fridge in a 13.

Right, 1995 first year for the 17'. This is Gene's info:
1995
First 17' Casita produced and are rare (I have actually seen and been in one and was verified by the factory)
Early ones had rounded entrance door top like later model Casitas, later ones changed to square door with silver trim
Early ones had stove and oven, oven was deleted later in the year


Maybe this conversion chart will help the OP, when it comes to size: http://americanrvcompany.com/assets/...ementChart.pdf

[Jack L]

Taking the window out is not very complicated or difficult if that is what's necessary. It is a 2 person job.One inside and one outside.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Jack L

Taking the window out is not very complicated or difficult if that is what's necessary. It is a 2 person job.One inside and one outside.

I believe the 13' and 16' Casitas have fixed plexiglass rear windows. They're trickier to remove and replace, by most accounts.

[Scamper Jim]

Teresa,

You said your current one is no longer working but have you had an RV tech evaluate it? After seeing the above comments regarding issues involved in removing and installing a new one, you will want to be real, real sure it has to be replaced and not just repaired. If not, you should seriously consider that before just buying and dealing with the cost, modifications and contortions necessary for installing a new one.

My 1983 Dometic 211 still works fine in all three modes, so the age of your 1992 alone doesn’t make it a candidate for automatic replacement, only if an RV tech issues a death certificate for it.