I may be buying our first trailer tomorrow and the fridge doesn't work. It is my understanding that replacement fridges are expensive. Are there places that are known to be cheaper than others? Are there brands that are known to be better or worse than others? Is the work to remove the old one and install the new one very difficult or could my handy husband do it?

Thank you,
Cheryl

If your Husband is "handy", he could certainly replace the fridge.

The BIG expense comes when the thing is 3-way (DC/AC/Lpg). The 2-way (AC/Lpg) fridges are somewhat cheaper. There've been several posts here about towing with the fridge running on Lpg, and the only time you really would like to have DC operation is while towing, so 2-way is probably fine for most people. About the only concern would be when stopped for gas at a gas station. The little flame could be a hazard there.

I don't know that any brand is cheaper than others. All are a bit expensive considering the storage capacity they offer.

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T - Tire Minder TPMS on Tow Vehicle and Trailer, 300W Solar Battery Charger, Equal-i-zer WDH, Progressive Dynamics Converter, Fan-Tastic Fan, LiFePO4 battery 12V DC Electrical System, SoftStartRV mounted on A/C
2024 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5L PowerBoost SCrew

Inthepink,

Send you a PM. Please check your Hi-Lo inbox.

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Les & Patricia
2006 22ft towlite (replaces 97 21TL)
2006 Toyota tacoma pre-runner 4.0 L V-6 quad cab
w/ 98 chevy Powervision towing mirrors
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 v8 (replaces Toyota)
2 Hobie mirage pedal drive kayaks

You can replace just the cooling unit in the back if it's the problem, which it usually is. I paid $650 for parts and labor to have my local RV repair shop replace mine.

Some time ago, a HTF member reported that if an absorption type refrigerator (which is what RV reefers are) is removed and turned upside down for an hour or so, then righted and the ammonia refrigerant allowed to settle, it might work again depending on the problem.

Sounds crazy, and I've never needed to try it myself, but there might be sound logic behind the idea, especially if the unit stopped working due to being run while sitting at a severe angle.

Not much to lose for trying!

Jim

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1967 17' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1967-1969)
1969 19' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1969-2011)
2004 27' Hi-Lo TowLite (2010-present)
2015 Chevy Tahoe LTZ

You can check for used fridges in the online adds. I sold a working 2.3 ft Dometic for $125. No one wanted to buy my 11' slide in truck camper that was loaded for the $300 I had it listed for. So I removed all the appliances and fixtures and sold them for $800. I could have gotten a lot more for some of them but it was like organ donation from an old friend. I have seen Truck campers listed for $100 or less with working (so they say) fridges. My wife doesn't like the idea of me junking the out for a living. Maybe because I would be doing it at her moms house.

It is good to recycle also called green living. You can never have enough $.

It had a lot of good memories. The rig was named General Sherman. It was a big step up from a Subaru Brat and a Eureka tent. It had toilet, hot water heater, furnace, fridge w/ freezer 4 burner stove. It's parts rescued 5 trailers for people who didn't want or couldn't afford to buy new.

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Thanks for all the great tips, everyone. Would you believe that the guy who owns it got it working? Hopefully it will keep working but if it goes out again, I will be glad to have all this great info.

On another note, the trailer we are hoping to buy doesn't have an awning and I priced them at over $600!!!! This gave me the idea to look around for used ones. Thanks, everyone!

Cheryl

If you are in southern Ca, I will make you a great deal on an awning. It will need new material as it's off of my 2002 towlight but it's complete and still mounted on the trailer. I never used it.

Thanks, Fireballsocal. I'm sending you a PM.

Cheryl

In the pink, a problem with mine at least that you need to consider and check out...

My fridge "was" where it works perfectly when weather is cool, 75 degrees out or cooler. The problem "SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN" that the factory fan, that is on the back of the unit, at the top vent opening (which is covered by a louvered aluminum panel) was inoperable. This fan has power and a thermostat that turns the fan on when coils reach a certain temp. I found mine quit working. So, I replaced the single fan, with a pair of fans, ultra quiet models like they use in a computer/server case... Mine are now direclty connected to battery source, no thermostat, and I have to turn off and on this fan when I need to use the fridge, that switch is a lighted one, on the side of fridge so I dont forget.

Now the fridge seems to work good now (HOWEVER, so far it has only been as hot as 90 outside, since I fixed it.)

I like my fix, because I think I found out why a brand new battery died while in storage, it got hot this year in Kansas, and the fan probably tried to run, most of the summer, because I didn't have a way to shut it off when not in use at all, like some units do? so when the shed it was in, got over 90 degrees, that fan was on. I now disconnect the battery when stored as well, which is easier for me with my 5th wheel than it is, in stock config on your bumper pulls, I have been told!

There is a HUGE RV recycle center in missouri, south west corner near the big lakes. and a link in a reply to another post about a fridge that smelled like amonia, to a place that had my bigger fridge's cooling coils for 380 + Core last year over the winter.

fridge is tricky to find all the screws onthe back side, and front benind the trim, to take it out and is definitely a 2 man job to lift out of cabinet in mine (due to confined space, ya know).

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.