What is the life expectancy of a refrigerator (Norcold aka)?

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

DTT

2003-09-21 17:00:04 UTC

My used NORCOLD fridge might have crapped out. I may need to buy a new
fridge. $500 is not a small pocket change, but if it works and last 7
yrs I would be very happy. Does it require lot of maintenance and
care/preparation to get it to work on every trip. Maybe I should get
an ice-box or a solidstate thermo-electric cooler.

What is your experience/advice?

Thanks.

-0--0-<99'Westlake

Dale Farmer

2003-09-21 19:30:55 UTC

Permalink

Post by DTT
My used NORCOLD fridge might have crapped out. I may need to buy a new
fridge. $500 is not a small pocket change, but if it works and last 7
yrs I would be very happy. Does it require lot of maintenance and
care/preparation to get it to work on every trip. Maybe I should get
an ice-box or a solidstate thermo-electric cooler.
What is your experience/advice?
Thanks.
-0--0-<99'Westlake

Mostly it depends on what kind of camping you do. Availability of
electricity and what duration of camping. If you nearly always have
electricity, then a conventional AC fridge is the way to go. Far less
expensive to buy per cubic foot and can be repaired by any fridge
shop you need.
If most of your camping is short duration, and you are willing to
get along without your cold beer, milk, and so on, then an ice box
or thermal chest of some sort, and you buy block ice as needed.
If most of your camping is along the way to someplace else,
so that you are driving to a new place every day, then one of those
thermo-electric fridges is enough in most climates for keeping
things cold. ( But not frozen, they have a limit of about 40 degrees
below outside temp. )
If most of your camping is without electricity, then a propane
fridge is for you.
Or you can just not take foods with you that need refrigeration,
and not take a fridge at all.

--Dale

Ca_s__s__no_DAMN_spPammmm_____

2003-09-21 20:20:38 UTC

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My bet is that he really liked your last sentence, Farmer.

I am certain that he never thought of that.

You are a genius.

Cass

Post by Dale Farmer

DTT

2003-09-22 02:34:15 UTC

Permalink

The fridge is only 1.7 cubic ft and not accessible when I am on the
road. So most of the food will be in the icebox in the truck anyway.
There will be time I camp without electricity, but $500 can buy me lot
of ice, dry ice, and even food. It won't be far away from the store
anyway.(actual itemperature is likely below freezing at night)

I camped with tent and ice cooler in the past before. No problem
really. The only minor problem is that the food get soaked with water
and got rot by the 6th day. But this should be cured with a good and
big cooler.

OK. Put the fridge back in to fill up the hole for now. Buy a good
thermal electric cooler. Try w/o a fridge on this trip.

Post by Dale Farmer

Tony Wesley

2003-09-22 04:11:20 UTC

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Post by DTT
[...]
I camped with tent and ice cooler in the past before. No problem
really. The only minor problem is that the food get soaked with water
and got rot by the 6th day. But this should be cured with a good and
big cooler.

I recently learned a trick for ice cooler camping. I put the ice
in gallon zip lock bags. To "drain the cooler", I remove each
bag, partially open the zip lock bag, and poor the water out,
and replace the bag in the cooler.

I get some water in the cooler, due to condensation, leakage,
the occasional ice cube who dies in an escape attempt. But it's
far less than dumping the ice loose.

Also, I lined my cooler with reflectix. I haven't used my cooler since
I did that, so I don't know how well it will work. But I have high
hopes.

Tony

meldx

2003-09-22 12:26:25 UTC

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Replace it with a second hand ice box. will be much cheaper. then you
can get either a small electric cooler (12V or 120V) when you leave
home, anything that can be frozen should be, this will act as Ice. we
always leave home with Meat"saussages..etc all solid frozen.

Mel

--
MELDX....FAMILY AND CAMPING SITE
http://www3.sympatico.ca/meldx

family e-mail: mailto: ***@sympatico.ca
camping-RV e-mail: mailto: ***@gosympatico.ca

DaViT

2003-09-22 23:02:44 UTC

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Dead fridge is already an ice box at half the space and 30 lbs dead weight.

:-)

Post by meldx
Replace it with a second hand ice box. will be much cheaper. then you
can get either a small electric cooler (12V or 120V) when you leave
home, anything that can be frozen should be, this will act as Ice. we
always leave home with Meat"saussages..etc all solid frozen.
Mel

Jim Pauw

2003-09-22 23:28:32 UTC

Permalink

I bought my '99 Westlake without the fridge. We got a small Sunbeam 110V
bar/dorm fridge at Walmart for about $75 and installed this in place of
the ice box. Two small wooden strips attached to the fridge bottom, and
some 3/4 x 1-1/2 strips of oak flooring around the door secure it in the
trailer. Plugs into the 110V socket found behind the wall. Two years (and
10,000 miles) later all is fine.

Jim
'97 Astro
'99 Westlake

DaViT

2003-09-23 06:30:34 UTC

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Way to go. A $500 piece of crap fridge from Nocold is such a rip off.
You can buy a brand new portable Honda 1000W AC inverter for $600, or
2000W for <$1000. And with these ultra quiet generator, I can run
almost every applicance (except AC).

Post by Jim Pauw
I bought my '99 Westlake without the fridge. We got a small Sunbeam 110V
bar/dorm fridge at Walmart for about $75 and installed this in place of
the ice box. Two small wooden strips attached to the fridge bottom, and
some 3/4 x 1-1/2 strips of oak flooring around the door secure it in the
trailer. Plugs into the 110V socket found behind the wall. Two years (and
10,000 miles) later all is fine.
Jim
'97 Astro
'99 Westlake

DTT

2003-09-28 07:49:37 UTC

Permalink

I bought a thermo-electric Igloo today from Walmart. $89 plus tax, 65
qrt. Turned it on, and 15 minutes later I already feel cool. The box
is 20 inch wide, not sure it would fit in the cutout for the 1.7 cubic
ft Norcold. But I plan to put this in the back of the SUV anyway.

The specs says it draw about 4.5 Amp in 12VDC. This is much less than
the Norcold in DC mode. This Igloo can pull about 40-45F below the
ambient. Not bad.

Post by DaViT
Way to go. A $500 piece of crap fridge from Nocold is such a rip off.
You can buy a brand new portable Honda 1000W AC inverter for $600, or
2000W for <$1000. And with these ultra quiet generator, I can run
almost every applicance (except AC).

Bill Cornwell

2003-09-23 22:31:16 UTC

Permalink

I see everyone thinks Norcold fridge's are junk. Well I love mine!!!!!!!
Model N260 2.4 CF 3 way
fridge that will be 3 yrs. old in nov. It works great in all 3 modes in
any outdoor temperature.

Even 12V while traveling 4 hrs. will maintain 40 degrees.

Bill
00 Jayco Eagle 10UD
01 Ford F150 XLT SC

DTT

2003-09-25 07:03:09 UTC

Permalink

Depend on what is the ambient.

Talked to a RV service man. He said in 100+ degree F temperature, a
typical Norcold could only get to about 50F.

By the way, a 1.7cubic ft MagicChef fridge is sold at HomeDepot for
about $60. It even has a small ice compartment. Can't beat that.

Post by Bill Cornwell
I see everyone thinks Norcold fridge's are junk. Well I love mine!!!!!!!
Model N260 2.4 CF 3 way
fridge that will be 3 yrs. old in nov. It works great in all 3 modes in
any outdoor temperature.
Even 12V while traveling 4 hrs. will maintain 40 degrees.
Bill
00 Jayco Eagle 10UD
01 Ford F150 XLT SC