@@Mouserjan0222 True. But it wouldn't take much to put a piece of that wainscoting on the 2x4 boards and a piano hinge on the covering board in front. The same safety latch can be used as on the fridge.
As an Industry Technican, VHB tape is your friend. We use it from mounting LED tape lights upside down / Toe kick lights to Mounting Solar panels on roofs with NO HOLES! Going on 8 years with two 100 watt panels on mounted to the hood of my Truck. That includes getting hit by a Twister in Utah earlier this month. Still holding Strong!
That framing around the fridge looks good! You could always paint the supporting 2x4s black so it's not as noticable but you don't really see it until you're right up on the fridge.
40 years old and still runs every day for the last 5 years. I have the same motorhome from breaking bad it is a 1986 fleetwood bounder A class. For an old rig, I have had minimal problems. I totally recommend fleetwood r.v.'s👍
Why close off the vents? I did a video on my channel and installed a Unique DC fridge and installed 12v cabinet fans to use the chimney for cooling. My compressor ran at about 160f if i remember correctly and with my 12v fan added it took it consistently down to 80f.
You are so lucky that you didn't kill your new fridge by putting screws into the side of it. There are freon lines behind the side panels of the fridge. I have personally seen new refrigerators and freezers ruined by people drilling into the side walls because they wanted to add a lock.
I was thinking the same. To each his own but I’d have used a ratchet strap over the top and secured to eye hooks on the 2x4, also would have L-bracketed to the floor on the rear at the bottom where the frame is. That would hold it well but also make it super easy to remove in the future.
I feel your pain Eric with Dometic products. In 3 years, 3 out of 4 Dometic Blizzad AC units have gone bad. Disappointing that Dometic is refusing to honor the 2-year manufacturer's warranty on our most recent failure. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the fridge.
@salty6pence672 I agree the fridge will work the way he has it. But it will last a lot longer and work much better with some venting. I did it to my high end fridge at home it runs much better than before .
Even Vissani fridges have this said about them; "What is the life expectancy of a Vissani refrigerator? Our appliance repair company told us that five years is about the maximum lifespan for this brand, so I feel like we did OK." I bought a Summit 8.5 cu ft fridge in May 2009, for my house, it's had zero probles at all, and it's now Aug 2024, so it's already 15-1/3 years old. The model has been discontinued, but Summit appliance has been great to me. From my invoice in 2009; Summit: 8.5 cu. ft. Counter-Depth Top-Freezer Refrigerator with Adjustable Wire Shelves, Door Storage, Adjustable Thermostat and Interior Light Model: FF874, $523.99 Total
We have a 2007 Fleetwod Tioga with a Dometic fridge. RV has 97,000 miles on it. When it's parked at home the fridge is on 24/7 and filled with drinks, condiments, etc. We have a dedicated RV outlet for it. On the road it runs on propane. We leave it set to AUTO and that fridge has run NONSTOP except for cleaning for years and years. I have a micro camper I use on solo trips with my Jeep. It has a Dometic fridge and yup, it's been running non stop since I bought it last November.
Outstanding design and execution on your refrigerator project. Measure once drink twice was sheer brilliance and we are pushing 80. I’ve been following you for about eight years and this was a really really good video.
I would like to add that I live offgrid with 6, 6 volt batteries in series with a 7,000 watt inverter and burn just 1 gallon per day with my 2,000 watt inverter Honda generator. 6, T-105 Trojan's. It will run for 12 hours charging the batteries and then can sit for the next 12 or longer running my 32 inch TV connected to my laptop. It is tethered to my phone for internet. I consider 1 gallon per day to be very cheap indeed! If I tun on the AC, it will burn that gallon is just 5 hours.
I put a new cooling unit in my 68 Clark Cortez (A C/propane dometic) in 2002. 30k miles later, plugged in for the last 3 years. Still chillin like a villain
Fridge looks good to me. Those propane fridges really are meant for "seasonal" use. I've had one go out and no way am I going to replace it with another similar. I do have some worry on whether the compressor on the new fridge will like vibrations from the road.
Me too. Repairs but also things like how to quickly dump tanks, using the water bandit to get water from a faucet with no threads, slide mechanism repair, etc.
My Dometic dual is 21 years old and constantly runs on shore power. They weren't designed to operate intermittently. Think about a light bulb that usually fails when it is turned off or on. They also weren't designed to operate solely on propane. The flame degrades the metal and allows the Ammonia to leak out.
Sorry you had trouble with your electric/gas Dometic fridge. I have a Forest River Wolf Pup, on my second one too, a 2020. One reason I upgraded to a newer model was I now have a 10 cu. Ft. all electric Furrion Artic fridge. When plugged in to 30amp power it runs and freezes just fine. When boondocking I switch the temp dial to off grid and it maintains temps with no problem from power from my two marine deep cell batteries which are kept constant with (as long as there is sun) with a small 50 watt solar panel in the roof. Have been pleased with operation so far. When I am not on the road and plugged in at home at base camp, I often use it as a secondary fridge. Hope your new deal works well for you. I do t use lithium batteries due to often staying in winter climate thus no worries when it goes below 40 other than winterizing my plumbing. Hey to the Diane and rubs to the kitties!
My trailer came with a 12 volt 6 cu ft. No 110 or propane. I love it It's a furrion cheap but has worked for 3 years. I love it. Only pulls 120 watts and thermometer in the freezer stays around zero with fridge set at aboulasts. Well see how long it lastx.
This is one of your best recent videos, Eric. It's good to see you doing a project on your RV, like you used to do. Looks pretty good, although I would prefer to see the lines running up and down on the top panel, but that's just me. Well done, my friend. BTW, I almost cheered when you dumped the old one out the door!
Just curious why you didn't decide to push the new fridge all the way to one side and make the resulting 7 inch gap into storage shelves? I'm sure you had a reason.
They are garbage, I agree. But somehow my 2003 RV fridge is still working and I have been living in it fulltime since 2017. Every day I expect it to stop working but it keeps going. Mine is a Norcold made in Ohio. Maybe that's the difference. You made that new fridge look pretty good in there.
Eric, I know how you feel about rv appliance breakdowns. I'm on my 3rd Dometic hot water heater. when it starts leaking, my life gets turned completely upside down. Spend the weekend replacing it😒
I replaced my Dometic with the same vissani fridge 5 years ago…easy to replace…3years into replacement the timer for the defrost quit working..timer got from amazon and directions on youtube..all is good now…I don’t move my 5th wheel so a.c. Power not an issue…good luck
Any unfamiliar project I am trying to accomplish, I always search for UA-cam videos. We make the UA-cam how to videos if a project comes up that we can't find a specific video for what we need. We are by no means professionals, but we always have a good time making them. And the project seems to work out in the end...even if we have to modify to fit our needs. You tackled this one, and made it work. Awesome!
Looks good Eric, I’m not a carpenter neither. But would have chosen a closer color to match your interior. Hopefully it lasts, and the next road trip will see how it works.
So essentially letting a fridge settle before plugging it in is BS? You're moving all the time and even hitting bumpy roads. Never seemed to effect your other house fridge in last RV?
Eric, I am surprised that you didn't make a storage cabinet on top of the fridge. One never has too much storage in an RV.
he probably didn't want to deal with it
@@Mouserjan0222 True. But it wouldn't take much to put a piece of that wainscoting on the 2x4 boards and a piano hinge on the covering board in front. The same safety latch can be used as on the fridge.
Video idea for him.
As an Industry Technican, VHB tape is your friend. We use it from mounting LED tape lights upside down / Toe kick lights to Mounting Solar panels on roofs with NO HOLES! Going on 8 years with two 100 watt panels on mounted to the hood of my Truck. That includes getting hit by a Twister in Utah earlier this month. Still holding Strong!
Eric, You always make your project's look neat.
I enjoy your project successes, but also appreciate that you show the struggles too. You connect as a relatable person.
That framing around the fridge looks good! You could always paint the supporting 2x4s black so it's not as noticable but you don't really see it until you're right up on the fridge.
They make a roof vent with a fan to help move air behind your fridge, helps it last longer when you live in the desert
Nice install. Good work! Even Opie approved!
We have a Dometic fridge that is Propane and electric and we have never had an issue with it, Oh and it's from 1978
Do you live in your RV fultime? Has it run 24/7 since 78?
My fridge is a 1997 just went out been full time for 8 years @@carollang6090
He's owned 5 and they have all broke. 5-1 odds are not in your favor.
I had a gas frig for 38 years. No problem. I gave it to kid brother for a cabin in Maine. Wasn't very big.
40 years old and still runs every day for the last 5 years. I have the same motorhome from breaking bad it is a 1986 fleetwood bounder A class. For an old rig, I have had minimal problems. I totally recommend fleetwood r.v.'s👍
Why close off the vents? I did a video on my channel and installed a Unique DC fridge and installed 12v cabinet fans to use the chimney for cooling. My compressor ran at about 160f if i remember correctly and with my 12v fan added it took it consistently down to 80f.
You are so lucky that you didn't kill your new fridge by putting screws into the side of it. There are freon lines behind the side panels of the fridge.
I have personally seen new refrigerators and freezers ruined by people drilling into the side walls because they wanted to add a lock.
@@larrybergman6075 I've replaced 2 fridges on a boat because someone drilled in the side. I was thinking the same thing
I was thinking the same. To each his own but I’d have used a ratchet strap over the top and secured to eye hooks on the 2x4, also would have L-bracketed to the floor on the rear at the bottom where the frame is. That would hold it well but also make it super easy to remove in the future.
So yea but now we know the magic spot on this refrigerator to drill!!!
I feel your pain Eric with Dometic products. In 3 years, 3 out of 4 Dometic Blizzad AC units have gone bad. Disappointing that Dometic is refusing to honor the 2-year manufacturer's warranty on our most recent failure. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the fridge.
The Fridge needs to breath to work. you blocked off the airflow.
the gap around the front is probably sufficient
Dead rv refrigerator
@@MrZooobaaawhat gap? He sealed it off with the wainscoting.
@@MrMinimalst he has enough gap
@salty6pence672 I agree the fridge will work the way he has it. But it will last a lot longer and work much better with some venting. I did it to my high end fridge at home it runs much better than before .
This is when you're at your best. Creativity. RV improvements. Nascar is boring as hell.
Even Vissani fridges have this said about them;
"What is the life expectancy of a Vissani refrigerator?
Our appliance repair company told us that five years is about the maximum lifespan for this brand, so I feel like we did OK."
I bought a Summit 8.5 cu ft fridge in May 2009, for my house, it's had zero probles at all, and it's now Aug 2024, so it's already 15-1/3 years old. The model has been discontinued, but Summit appliance has been great to me.
From my invoice in 2009;
Summit: 8.5 cu. ft. Counter-Depth Top-Freezer Refrigerator with Adjustable Wire
Shelves, Door Storage, Adjustable Thermostat and Interior Light
Model: FF874, $523.99 Total
We have a 2007 Fleetwod Tioga with a Dometic fridge. RV has 97,000 miles on it. When it's parked at home the fridge is on 24/7 and filled with drinks, condiments, etc. We have a dedicated RV outlet for it. On the road it runs on propane. We leave it set to AUTO and that fridge has run NONSTOP except for cleaning for years and years. I have a micro camper I use on solo trips with my Jeep. It has a Dometic fridge and yup, it's been running non stop since I bought it last November.
.....because powertools and drinking go perfect together
Heck yeah they do!
You’re showing how young you are fella. Don’t you know jobs are always based on how many beers.
He can camera pretty well... so I guess that it's not affecting him.
Outstanding design and execution on your refrigerator project. Measure once drink twice was sheer brilliance and we are pushing 80. I’ve been following you for about eight years and this was a really really good video.
Refrigerator give off heat u should have left
Small hole in bottom and top to get rid of heat
Ugh. He rushes through everything. Very sloppy.
What did the Hillbilly say before he went to the Emergency Room?
"Watch this!!!"
Good work on the fridge. Good replacement
you could re use the old fridge as a insulated storage box for your batteries in babe the blue box if they do not need air flow for the batteries.
Fridge looks good Eric.
Self tappers are not for wood, so check when driving. Looks good, I like the silver paint also.
Looks good Eric. Add a dc fan on the back at the top to help exhaust the hot air.
I would like to add that I live offgrid with 6, 6 volt batteries in series with a 7,000 watt inverter and burn just 1 gallon per day with my 2,000 watt inverter Honda generator. 6, T-105 Trojan's. It will run for 12 hours charging the batteries and then can sit for the next 12 or longer running my 32 inch TV connected to my laptop. It is tethered to my phone for internet. I consider 1 gallon per day to be very cheap indeed! If I tun on the AC, it will burn that gallon is just 5 hours.
Fridge looks good and you got super lucky because a lot of the newer fridges have the coolant lines running in the side panels
I would have made a shelf on top of the refrigerator for more stuff to put away there
I put a new cooling unit in my 68 Clark Cortez (A C/propane dometic) in 2002. 30k miles later, plugged in for the last 3 years. Still chillin like a villain
Fridge looks good to me. Those propane fridges really are meant for "seasonal" use. I've had one go out and no way am I going to replace it with another similar. I do have some worry on whether the compressor on the new fridge will like vibrations from the road.
The repair/fix it/problem solving videos are my favorite....keep 'em comin'.
Me too. Repairs but also things like how to quickly dump tanks, using the water bandit to get water from a faucet with no threads, slide mechanism repair, etc.
The ridge DOES look great! I love the paint and now I’m inspired.
Fridge looks good!
This is excellent and smart/beautiful. I love the price of all of it!--VTown Paddy Patrick
You have become the internets expert on the RV fridge
Looks Good! Maybe make a storage cabinet on top of the fridge.
Looks great and kitties won’t get stuck
My fridge is 40 years old and it still works grate It's on all the time 24/7 no prolbems propane or electric. 🙂
Looks great Eric. I love your projects, you do them with experience and what works for you. I love it.
Great
fridge and trim looks great!!
instead of framing around the fridge maybe build shelves for small stuff ?
Best of your fridge replacements I’ve seen. Looks nice.
My Dometic dual is 21 years old and constantly runs on shore power. They weren't designed to operate intermittently. Think about a light bulb that usually fails when it is turned off or on. They also weren't designed to operate solely on propane. The flame degrades the metal and allows the Ammonia to leak out.
Fridge looks really good!
Your new thermometer is great. I would put in the sensors in some plastic baggy though- just for general protection reasons.
Sorry you had trouble with your electric/gas Dometic fridge. I have a Forest River Wolf Pup, on my second one too, a 2020. One reason I upgraded to a newer model was I now have a 10 cu. Ft. all electric Furrion Artic fridge. When plugged in to 30amp power it runs and freezes just fine. When boondocking I switch the temp dial to off grid and it maintains temps with no problem from power from my two marine deep cell batteries which are kept constant with (as long as there is sun) with a small 50 watt solar panel in the roof. Have been pleased with operation so far. When I am not on the road and plugged in at home at base camp, I often use it as a secondary fridge. Hope your new deal works well for you. I do t use lithium batteries due to often staying in winter climate thus no worries when it goes below 40 other than winterizing my plumbing. Hey to the Diane and rubs to the kitties!
Fridge looks great Eric!
The Fridge looks great.
Best refrigerator you have done
they make a 12v fridge that fits that hole. Or as others have suggested turn it into a storage cabinet, which you can never have too much storage!
We’ve had our 14 year old Bigfoot camper with a Dometic fridge that’s never had a problem. We boondock for a solid 7 months every year
Remember kids, measure once , drink twice! Erics golden rules of household projects. You're a riot Eric!
My trailer came with a 12 volt 6 cu ft. No 110 or propane. I love it
It's a furrion cheap but has worked for 3 years.
I love it. Only pulls 120 watts and thermometer in the freezer stays around zero with fridge set at aboulasts.
Well see how long it lastx.
I have a Norcold Gas/Electric 8 cu.ft. fridge that is 18 years old. It is going strong!! Never had a problem with it!
The frig looks good. Love it.
Fidg looks good Eric!
The fridge does look good. Wasn’t sure at first. But i like it. ❤
Fridge looks .....cool 😂
Good on ya man. Making some nice changes. Awesome to see you this happy again for such minimal stuff. Good luck to y’all man!
This is one of your best recent videos, Eric. It's good to see you doing a project on your RV, like you used to do. Looks pretty good, although I would prefer to see the lines running up and down on the top panel, but that's just me. Well done, my friend.
BTW, I almost cheered when you dumped the old one out the door!
I got my 7.3 CF Danby very slightly used, (Still under warrantee) for $200. Been running great for over two years.
The fridge looks pretty good.
Looks good Eric.
Just curious why you didn't decide to push the new fridge all the way to one side and make the resulting 7 inch gap into storage shelves? I'm sure you had a reason.
Eric "" fridge looks good😂👍👍.
The fridge looks good.
Great fridge, Eric! Looks good 🎉
Eric, I would have thought to extend the slide out unless you already had the slide out when removing the old fridge.
I think the fridge looks fine plus, I think it’s good to leave a gap around it for ventilation to keep it cool
Fridge looks great
Fridge looks good Eric!😊
Fridge does look good Eric. Pet the kitties for me. Thanks for sharing your videos. Stay cool.
They are garbage, I agree. But somehow my 2003 RV fridge is still working and I have been living in it fulltime since 2017. Every day I expect it to stop working but it keeps going. Mine is a Norcold made in Ohio. Maybe that's the difference. You made that new fridge look pretty good in there.
Eric, I know how you feel about rv appliance breakdowns. I'm on my 3rd Dometic hot water heater. when it starts leaking, my life gets turned completely upside down. Spend the weekend replacing it😒
Hard work pays off, looks great.
Looks good. I’m having the same thing done now.
Looks great Eric! Love the grey!
Hey fridge looks good Eric it’ll really help me out.
I replaced my Dometic with the same vissani fridge 5 years ago…easy to replace…3years into replacement the timer for the defrost quit working..timer got from amazon and directions on youtube..all is good now…I don’t move my 5th wheel so a.c. Power not an issue…good luck
This is the kind of video I can learn from. Thank you.
Any unfamiliar project I am trying to accomplish, I always search for UA-cam videos. We make the UA-cam how to videos if a project comes up that we can't find a specific video for what we need. We are by no means professionals, but we always have a good time making them. And the project seems to work out in the end...even if we have to modify to fit our needs. You tackled this one, and made it work. Awesome!
The fridge looks good, Eric 👍
Looks good Eric, I’m not a carpenter neither. But would have chosen a closer color to match your interior. Hopefully it lasts, and the next road trip will see how it works.
12v would have been interesting, but they are in that 1500 range and much bigger inside
John BykerdogRv
Looks great almost professional lol keep it up 👍
Eric you are one resourceful dude.
Fridge looks great need to do mine also
I'd spray the latches with that gray metallic paint as well! ;)
The refrigerator didn't have a chance when you showed it who was boss. Hi Diane ❤
You did good Eric with the fridge! What ever makes you happy is what counts! Hugs ❤
Great problem-solving skills. Thanks for taking us along.
Bring back the kitties
Frig looks Great !!!
Fridge looks great Eric! Keep ‘em coming! 👍👍
I like the new frig insulation.
Hey Eric, the fridge looks good!
Fridge looks Great Eric!!
A lot of hard work. Looks good. Enjoy
So essentially letting a fridge settle before plugging it in is BS? You're moving all the time and even hitting bumpy roads. Never seemed to effect your other house fridge in last RV?
Fridge look’s good.
Fridge looks great!!!!