An update on my experience with "burping" the Dometic refrigerator removed from my '84 Excella: For anyone who did not read my earlier posts on the subject, the original factory installed Dometic refrigerator in my '84 Airstream Excella was cooling but not satisfactorily. Freezer temperature was a measured 12.8 degrees and the temp in the food compartment was 48 degrees when the temp knob was in the "maximum" position. A friend who I bought the trailer from had a replacement cooling unit (new or rebuilt?) installed several years ago and it seemed to be working okay when I bought it. ((The moral of this story is measure the temps in freezer (0 degrees) and fridge (approx. 30 degrees warmer) before buying a used Airstream.) Even your friend selling an Airstream may forget to tell you that food spoils in the fridge. I planned to remove and replace the unit but many have spoken of the practice of "burping" an absorption refrigerator by removing from the trailer, turning upside down for 24 hours, then righting the fridge and turning it back on. Some have told me that the practice worked for them so I decided to try it before investing $1k in a replacement fridge. 48 hours after burping the fridge for 24 hours then righting it and plugging it back in to 110 volt electricity the freezer temperature remained at the same 10 degrees on my cheap $3 Wal-Mart thermometer as before the fridge was removed and burped. In conclusion, I'm going to Camping World in Denton, TX early this week to pick up a replacement. Burping the fridge in this case did not improve the situation. It didn't cost anything to try it and I removed any possible doubt that might occur later if someone asked me, "did you try burping it before you replaced it?" >From what I have learned from my own experience and several more knowledgeable list members, burping can sometimes work but probably only if the fridge is of the older design which was more susceptible to problems caused by off-level operation and probably only if it has been parked for a lengthy period. In my case, the fridge reportedly has a restriction in the upper portion of the cooling coils which blocks circulation of the coolant mixture. An experienced RV repair tech felt of the coils on the back before I removed the fridge and told me he could tell from the temperature differential that the coil was obstructed. Camping World is offering the Dometic RM 2820 for $987 plus $25 shipping or $75 installation in a July sales catalog. For anyone who lives on or near the West Coast, Advanced RV Parts http://www.advrv.com in National City, CA offered free shipping to meet Camping World's prices when I offered to buy an RM-2820 for the '84 and an RM-2510.2 for my '66 Safari at the same time. They indicated a willingness to negotiate so anyone who is shopping for trailer parts might want to contact them. Attached below is the series of posts in reverse chronological order exchanged with Advanced RV. In my opinion it is commendable for an RV parts retailer to take the time to exchange e-mails and negotiate with a potential customer. Considering sales tax, his price is actually much better than CW. The only reason I'm going to buy from Camping World instead is because CW is within driving distance and I can spend part of a day visiting with my '91 year old uncle and aunt when I pick up the fridge instead of waiting a week or so to receive the units via truck from CA. (and I wanted an excuse to try out my new Dodge-Cummins puller.) I will buy from Advanced RV in the future. Harvey ____________________________________________________________________________ _______ Final message received from Joseph at Advanced RV: > OK, $1015.00 Delivered for the RM 2820 & $740.00 Delivered for the RM 2510. > Call 1-888-426-8707 to order. Joseph-advrv ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Second reply: > Harvey Barlow wrote: > Joseph, > > Thanks for your prompt reply. Your price is better than Camping World but > they are offering a brief $25 shipping charge. > > Can you offer me a better price if I also buy a Dometic RM 2510.2. I need > one for a vintage '66 Airstream Safari 22'. > > I'm not trying to squeeze out your profit, just offering you an opportunity > to beat Camping World's prices if you can. > > Thanks. > > Harvey Barlow > Lubbock, TX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Reply: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: JR Dollendorf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Harvey Barlow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 5:38 PM > Subject: Re: Replacement RV Refrigerator > > > That model is $995.00 plus shipping, approx. $110.00 and no tax. > > Joseph-advrv > > 1-888-426-8707 Pacific time zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- First message: > > Harvey Barlow wrote: > > > > > The refrigerator in my '84 Airstream 31' is ailing and I'm looking for > > > a replacement. I have been told by an Airstream service center that > > > the best fit available is a Dometic RM 2820. Glancing through your > > > list of offerings I don't see this refrigerator. Is it available? If > > > so, what is the price. Please advise. Thanks, Harvey Barlow Lubbock, TX To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
