dometic "recall"

[raptor]

my dometic rm 2862 boiler unit has failed after four years of light usage. what disturbs me is dometic's "recall" means installing a safety devise that shuts the system down after it ruptures to prevent a fire. that's like installing a "safety devise" on my brakes that sounds an alarm after my brakes have failed. so should i replace it with a norcold or stay with the dometic?

 

[TXBobcat]

I have had no problems with my Dometic since we bought it in 2008. I did hear about the problem with the Reefer but mine was not in the group.

I have never had a Norcol but among the people I have talked to say the Dometic has some problems but the Norcold doesn't even talk to you about any problems. They only work through a dealer. It seems they have more problems than Dometic. If it were me I would stay with Dometic. But that is just me. Hopefully more will pipe in. You didn't say what trailer you have and what year. That would help some. You may be able to have it repaired rather than buy a new one.

Debbie Gallant's friends Gary & Karen has had some problems with their Dometic and had something replaced just resently. If Debbie will chime in maybe they can give you some insite. I am not sure if Gary & Karen are on the forum yet.

BC

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Our cooling unit failed as well. Since the replacement 4 years ago, no issues at all. What baffled me is the fact that they installed the exact same type of cooling unit. Not an improved one. So the same possibility exists for failure. Where's the logic in that? I can't comment on Norcold's reliability but an independent service technician may have an opinion.

 

[raptor]

thank you bc. my unit is an 07 31"ck alpinlite. sadly, i'm taking it in today to have a new dometic installed. in spite of this units (dometic ref rm 2862) obvious engineering flaw and refusal to help they win unjustly. that just dosen't feel right.
stay safe and God be with you. bill

 

[raptor]

thanks for the comment. question, did they replace your unit at there expense? was it just the cooling unit they replaced or a new ref?
bless you guys, bill

 

[danemayer]

my dometic rm 2862 boiler unit has failed after four years of light usage. what disturbs me is dometic's "recall" means installing a safety devise that shuts the system down after it ruptures to prevent a fire. that's like installing a "safety devise" on my brakes that sounds an alarm after my brakes have failed. so should i replace it with a norcold or stay with the dometic?

Raptor,

I think you're confusing a safety issue with a reliability issue. Things do wear out. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. In this case, if the boiler wears out in a way that allows gas to leak, it's unsafe to allow the gas flow to continue. The safety recall is to correct the safety issue, not to extend the life of the refrigerator. You can certainly argue that if the boiler was more durable, it wouldn't fail for a much longer time. But no matter how durable, sooner or later there will be a failure and the design needs to deal with the safety exposure.

None of us wants to see major appliances fail at our expense, but frankly that's where extended warranties come in. You have a choice of self-insuring (where you pay for the repair), or paying someone else to insure you against losses if you experience an appliance failure (the extended warranty).

I think Norcold has also had safety recalls on some of their models.