4 Door Dometic Refer in a 2008 Select Suite

polehooker · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Payson AZ

We purchased this 5th wheel coach 6 months ago and love it, BUT the refer is temperamental. I may move the coach from one location to another and might be without power or LP on for up to 8 hours. Holds temp but when it needs to refrigerate, it doesn't seem to come on whether on gas or electric. We are level, and do not change temp gauge or anything between shutting off and re-establishing power. We suspect the seal around the doors. We lock the doors each time we open and close the doors, and even push on the doors to make sure they are closed, but it will still go up to 58-59 degrees. When the doors are shut, there seems to be a little play in the seal. Is there an adjustment on the doors to make a better seal or do I have to replace the seal or do you think it may be another problem that is associated with this model of Dometic refer? Any input would help! ") Thanks--I appreciate this forum.

Motor31 · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:26 am Post subject:

Does the fridge run on propane when off shore power? If it does, unless you are turning it off when you travel, it should stay running while moving. It should also turn on as soon as you use the power switch when you stop if you do power it down to travel. They do not work very fast. It does take a while to cool off again, but the unit should not get real warm in only 6 hours.

Do you know how to do the dollar bill seal test? Place a dollar bill in the door as you close it and see if the seal holds the bill in place with the door closed. If it does all around the door, the seal is holding properly. If not, then the seal is bad and is covered under warranty.

FWIW there is a very active Mobile Suites forum at www.5thwheelforums.com
Just look for the sub heading of Double Tree and then the Mobile Suites section
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mphsrebel · Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Toms River, NJ

I have a 35' class A with a 4-door Dometic and have also had some problems. There is a door with a flap that must go to a flat position when its door is closed so the opposite door can seal againest it. The door hinge went out of adjustment and bound the flap at the bottom which allowed cold air to leak. I adjusted the hinge with just a little force and corrected the air leak. Also when I lay my hand on the 2 lower doors, they feel noticeably colder than the freezer doors which seems that this should be the other way around. Not sure if this is normal or my door is not insulated properly?

midgarvservice · Joined: 17 Jan 2009 Posts: 13 Location: Byron, GA

Make sure if the ref is in a slideout that the manufacturer did not install the upper vent too low. It should be as high up as possible. Also there should be a baffle that pushes the air from the lower vent towards the coils on the rear of the ref. This will allow the air flow to remove the heat from the rear of the ref out of the compartment correctly. There should not be a large area above the fins located on the top of the cooling unit. This area must have proper air flow to allow the ref to work correctly.
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