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Post by shogunles on Apr 5, 2017 21:22:18 GMT -5
Hello all. I just purchased a 2017 Durango Gold 382MBQ, and am about to leave on our maiden voyage in 2 days. Heading to Disney for the Easter Break and then some. This is the first fiver or any unit for that matter that has the side fridge vents because it is installed in the slide. All the other ones were roof vented or residential fridge.
Being that I am leaving from NY where it is in the 50's to Orlando, where it is going to be in the 80's, I have read that if the OEM Fan cannot move the heat adequately out of the vents, you will have temperature loss in the fridge/freezer. I opted to buy 2 computer fans, and planned to install them above the stack, and below the top vent, to help move the heat out. It came with a 130* thermostat, so the installed fans will not run constantly. I have not installed them yet because I wanted to see if the one fan installed at the factory will do the job. It should not take me but 20 minutes to wire in the fans if need be.
SO with this all said, for those of you with this type of fridge vent, do you feel your fridge's temperature remains adequate in higher ambient temperatures?
Appreciate any input. Just want to see what I should expect. Thank you.
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Post by lynnmor on Apr 5, 2017 23:06:46 GMT -5
I haven't had a problem with the one fan doing the job. If you open the fridge a lot in hot weather, I suppose it may not do the job.
I installed a switch to prevent the fan from running if I camp where there is no power and battery drain might be a problem. If I buy another trailer, it will not have a fridge in the slide with side vents.
KZ did not install the sheet metal at the top of the fridge to direct the air flow. The instructions on how to do it correctly was in my manuals. As always, I fixed it myself.
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Post by shogunles on Apr 5, 2017 23:36:38 GMT -5
Doesn't that figure! Who does quality control for these manufacturers? Well at least you had the sense to notice the problem and correct it. Since you mentioned it, I am going to give mine a look tomorrow. Than you for the input.
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Post by johnr on Apr 6, 2017 6:26:46 GMT -5
I haven't had any issues with my side vent fridge staying at temperature either.
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Post by jetzen on Apr 6, 2017 8:15:18 GMT -5
My old M-----a that I had for almost 13 years had a slide mounted RV refrigerator and it made a yearly trip from Ohio to Florida and back without any issues, however it was a Dometic Refer. Yours is a Norcold I do believe and they need all the help they can get to just work properly in normal conditions. Adding those fans may be a good idea from a preventative standpoint.
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Post by shogunles on Apr 6, 2017 10:03:13 GMT -5
I agree with you. I am going to add them. Would have done it today if it weren't for the weather today. I am going to install them in a way that I can easily remove them and the dealer is none the wiser. In the case something goes really wrong with the fridge. I have piggybacked spade connectors to put on the 12v fridge hot and ground connectors.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 6, 2017 21:07:41 GMT -5
shogunles
I do not know about your 5th wheel but in jetzens and mine the vent for the stove needs to opened from the outside Ugh
So I would check and see if you will have the same problem ... another reason to go to the Kz Rally, to ask what they
were thinking about when they did that ...
Chuck
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Post by Edd505 on Apr 6, 2017 22:16:50 GMT -5
I haven't had heat much over 80 so far but it has held temp. I was getting water from inside, out the bottom front. I called the factory and they sent a "kit" to direct the water to the drain pan inside back. The water runs to and outside pan but it did not evaporate fast enough so I removed the little plug in the rubber drain hose. The single fan does run a lot but it stays cool.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 7, 2017 1:11:00 GMT -5
Hummmmmmmmm Food for thought on the drip pan, I wonder if jetzen had this same problem, maybe not since he left Florida a week maybe two after they got their unit Have to remember this for the Rz Rally or when I go for Warrenty Service, have to give them something besides the TV problem LOL  |
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Post by johnr on Apr 7, 2017 6:47:07 GMT -5
Chuck, wouldn't you think that they could get a little motor operated door so that when you turn the stove vent on, it opens the vent door?
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Post by jetzen on Apr 7, 2017 7:32:39 GMT -5
Chuck
I don't have the RV refer in mine. I opted for the residential refer. Got tired of defrosting and having to make my own ice. |
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Post by joecamper on Apr 7, 2017 12:58:16 GMT -5
I've got a 2014 Durango with the fridge in the slide. I can attest that it does have a hard time keeping up when the temps are really high (90s and up). Start up is also lengthened when it's that warm. When it's cool (50s or less) start up is easily just a few hours. When it's hot, it's a must to start up in the evening the day before and even then it barely is ready by morning. Also as alluded above, frequent opening definitely is hard on the unit.
I think I will probably look at the above fixes for this. didn't think of that. I have some spare computer fans that should fill the bill.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 7, 2017 16:30:55 GMT -5
Chuck
I don't have the RV refer in mine. I opted for the residential refer. Got tired of defrosting and having to make my own ice. jetzen I didn't think about it, ask the wife, she said they told us we had the Residential Refrigerator not the RV, I looked sure enough she was right  I hate that when she is always right Ugh LOL Chuck |
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Post by Edd505 on Apr 8, 2017 20:56:53 GMT -5
OK I can't check mine right now but doesn't the "residential" run both electric & propane? 4 door side by side, two refer & two freezer? It makes ice, good news, because my ice maker died.
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Post by jetzen on Apr 9, 2017 0:00:19 GMT -5
Edd505
RV refrigerator is a Norcold 4door. 2 door freezer on top 2door refer on bottom. No ice maker that I am aware of. Runs gas or electric.
Residential is a Samsung 3door. 2door refer on top 1 drawer freezer with icemaker on bottom runs on 110 volt and has a inverter and should have at least 2 12v batteries.
On the outside the RV refer has the 2 vents in the slide. No vents for the residential.
OK now for the I'll kick myself in the ass part, if you have your build sheet the RV refer list price is $2800.00 the Residential w/inverter is $1800.00. Surprise surprise, I would have never thought that either. |
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Post by Edd505 on Apr 12, 2017 21:31:24 GMT -5
OK mine is the large RV then. The sales people called it a residential and because of it's size I didn't question them. All my prior had 8cube refers so this is huge by comparison.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 12, 2017 23:16:59 GMT -5
Edd505
RV refrigerator is a Norcold 4door. 2 door freezer on top 2door refer on bottom. No ice maker that I am aware of. Runs gas or electric.
Residential is a Samsung 3door. 2door refer on top 1 drawer freezer with icemaker on bottom runs on 110 volt and has a inverter and should have at least 2 12v batteries.
On the outside the RV refer has the 2 vents in the slide. No vents for the residential.
OK now for the I'll kick myself in the ass part, if you have your build sheet the RV refer list price is $2800.00 the Residential w/inverter is $1800.00. Surprise surprise, I would have never thought that either. Hummmmmm Well I double check. the wife was wrong Yaaaaaaaaaa, but so was I Ugh, we have RV frig Ugh, Wonder what the difference is on weight and the inverter. We didn't get a build sheet with ours, possibly call Customer service at Kz or wait to the Rally and ask, another good reason to attend |
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Post by Chuck on Apr 12, 2017 23:26:27 GMT -5
OK mine is the large RV then. The sales people called it a residential and because of it's size I didn't question them. All my prior had 8cube refers so this is huge by comparison. LOL Yep our old 5th Wheel had a small Frig, barely could put in a few soda's, mustered, ketchup, and some of that green stuff along with meat and Ice Cream in the freezer, along with Ice cubes Ugh.... It scare's me how much you can put in this new one, I can see it now, 40mph climbing the mountain passes with a full frig, pantry overloaded, 1000pds of the DW cloths, 400 of my clothes, the two dogs with their bones an toys and us |
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Post by jetzen on Apr 13, 2017 7:13:25 GMT -5
Chuck Your build sheet will look kind of like a automotive window sticker. I has all the options, option codes and price I will bring mine to the rally with another that I found online for a similar unit. |
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Post by Chuck on Apr 13, 2017 11:21:44 GMT -5
I haven't had heat much over 80 so far but it has held temp. I was getting water from inside, out the bottom front. I called the factory and they sent a "kit" to direct the water to the drain pan inside back. The water runs to and outside pan but it did not evaporate fast enough so I removed the little plug in the rubber drain hose. The single fan does run a lot but it stays cool. Ed The frig "kit" to direct the water to the drain pan inside back might be a good thing to remind me (Because I forget some things at 150 years old) at the Rally ...hint LOL Chuck |
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I hate that when she is always right Ugh LOL