Karen:
Several people in our area (Kalamazoo MI) replaced their refrigerator.
They found several pitfalls. The curvature of where the roof meets the
sidewall, limits the top elevation of a refer in proportion to the depth
of the unit. In addition, the wheel well housing limits the lower
elevation of the refer. The distance between those two elevations will
give you the height of the opening in which to install a refer.
I believe you'll find that the depth of the cabinet beneath the refer
platform stops short of the wheel well housing.
Another problem you'll have to face by installing a refer larger than
the original (or one that will sit lower than original) is that since LP
gas is heavier than air, any leakage will create an explosive atmosphere
and be trapped at the bottom of the platform the refer sits on, assuming
that the louver vent on the outside wall is above that point. Operating
the refer then, will provide a source of ignition and cause an
explosion.
Two of the above people (let me know if you need their names) solved the
vent problem by boring a hole at the back on both sides of the refer
thru both the platform and wheel well housing and installed a short
piece of 1" PVC pipe (securing it of course) into the wheel well. They
cut one end of each PVC pipe at a 45 degree angle and oriented the angle
so that the longer part of the pipe end was adjacent to the tire in the
wheel well, to preclude water spray from the tires from being forced up
into the pipe and freezing the opening shut.
As they say, it's easier said than done and I guess you can see that you
probably wont have to loose your storage.
Paul Bartz
> From: KSkip94403 [SMTP:KSkip94403]
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 1998 4:41 PM
> Subject: GMC: Replacement refrigerator
>
> I have a 76 26' EleganzaII and it needs a new refrigerator. My dad
> found a new one at a salvage freight store for a very good price, but
> it is an 8 cubic foot model RM 2812 Dometic. My motorhome is
> presently stored for the winter so I can't measure that way. Is there
> anyone who has replaced their refrigerator with this model?
>
> My husband said we might be able to use it by taking out the lower
> cupboard under the current refrigerator, but I would hate to lose that
> storage. If you have any ideas on this subject, please e mail me (
> KSkip94403) or reply on this spot.
>
> Karen
Several people in our area (Kalamazoo MI) replaced their refrigerator.
They found several pitfalls. The curvature of where the roof meets the
sidewall, limits the top elevation of a refer in proportion to the depth
of the unit. In addition, the wheel well housing limits the lower
elevation of the refer. The distance between those two elevations will
give you the height of the opening in which to install a refer.
I believe you'll find that the depth of the cabinet beneath the refer
platform stops short of the wheel well housing.
Another problem you'll have to face by installing a refer larger than
the original (or one that will sit lower than original) is that since LP
gas is heavier than air, any leakage will create an explosive atmosphere
and be trapped at the bottom of the platform the refer sits on, assuming
that the louver vent on the outside wall is above that point. Operating
the refer then, will provide a source of ignition and cause an
explosion.
Two of the above people (let me know if you need their names) solved the
vent problem by boring a hole at the back on both sides of the refer
thru both the platform and wheel well housing and installed a short
piece of 1" PVC pipe (securing it of course) into the wheel well. They
cut one end of each PVC pipe at a 45 degree angle and oriented the angle
so that the longer part of the pipe end was adjacent to the tire in the
wheel well, to preclude water spray from the tires from being forced up
into the pipe and freezing the opening shut.
As they say, it's easier said than done and I guess you can see that you
probably wont have to loose your storage.
Paul Bartz
> From: KSkip94403 [SMTP:KSkip94403]
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 1998 4:41 PM
> Subject: GMC: Replacement refrigerator
>
> I have a 76 26' EleganzaII and it needs a new refrigerator. My dad
> found a new one at a salvage freight store for a very good price, but
> it is an 8 cubic foot model RM 2812 Dometic. My motorhome is
> presently stored for the winter so I can't measure that way. Is there
> anyone who has replaced their refrigerator with this model?
>
> My husband said we might be able to use it by taking out the lower
> cupboard under the current refrigerator, but I would hate to lose that
> storage. If you have any ideas on this subject, please e mail me (
> KSkip94403) or reply on this spot.
>
> Karen
