Securing Residential Refrigerator Doors

[Rosemary Allen]

For those who have replaced their Norcold/Dometic refrigerators with a residential model such as the Samsung, how do you secure the doors for travel?  We are looking for suggestions.

In December, we put in the 18 cu ft Samsung and are very happy with it.  It uses less power than the Norcold.  We have a ProSine inverter in our 2001 Patriot Thunder which is PSW and so far have had no problems.  We still have 6 house batteries and will test to see if we should add more.  

This refrigerator was ordered, shipped, and installed for less than it would have cost us to replace the cooling unit on the Norcold (for the second time).  So, at this point, we are happy, but need some advice on keeping the doors secure while traveling.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Joel Weiss]

We had our 18 cu ft Samsung installed two years ago and we love it.

To secure the freezer drawer I am using an idea I got from someone on another forum which was to mount a small "L-bracket" to the cross-piece of the refrigerator, just above the top of the drawer. With the drawer closed then drill through a hole in the L-bracket into the plastic top of the drawer front. When we travel I drop a small hitch pin through the L-bracket into the hole in the drawer. Works like a charm and can withstand the rather large forces that a freezer full of food can create when you make a turn. I actually used two brackets evenly spaced along the drawer width. It's not as elegant as the latch our installer first used (one of the ones lots of folks here use on their cabinets) but that one didn't hold well and there was too much play in the drawer slides to be sure it would engage every time.  The hitch pin approach is secure and the L-brackets are totally invisible with the doors closed.

To keep the doors closed I stuck a small piece of this: http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-All-Weather-Fasteners-Inches-RFD7090/dp/B00347A8EO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1365890667&sr=8-3&keywords=dual+lock on both doors near the top and the bottom. When we travel my DW attaches a longer piece to the ones on the doors, bridging the gap between the doors. In 20,000 miles of travel it has worked without a problem.

[Dennis Evans]

We also installed a Samsung.  I installed a cabin door hook on the side of the bottom drawer.  For the french doors we use a velco strap to secure the two handles together.  Have not had any problems.

[Michael Marcocchio]

Hello we use a  a small Quick Grip Standard Bar Clamp  which holds both door tightly closed bought them at Home Deport work great and are fast on and off Clamp is made by Irwin

[Jim Nichols]

Ken Sair has the most expensive lock I heard of. If you happen to see Ken ask him, he'll be overjoyed to share.

[Michael Kauffman]

[size=18]Which model Samsung are you guy's installing to replace the Norcold?  Thanks, Mike[/size]

[Dennis Evans]

Michael - I installed a Samsung RF197ACPN.  Width and depth of cabinet were fine.  Height needed cabinet modification.

[Joel Buchan]

Just ordered a Samsung  RF197ACRS from Home Depot for $1,173.00 in Eugene, OR with free delivery.

[Rosemary Allen]

Thank you to all who have replied to my request.  This will certainly help us.  

I misspoke on the initial thread in that we still have 4 (four) house batteries and it is working fine.  We will be testing further to see if we need to install 6 or even 8 batteries, but at this time, 4 are fine.  We have dry camped once, ran the generator until bedtime so the batteries were at full charge.  In the morning with minimal TV throughout the night, the batteries were at 12.2 volts.  Seems just fine.  The ice maker was turned off for the night.

One other item, we purchased the Samsung RF197ACPN so that the brushed platinum finish would match the microwave finish.  We purchased through www.redtagappliance.com which is the website for a brick and mortar store in Michigan.  This is the distributor that Amazon uses for this refrigerator, but it is less expensive from Red Tag Appliance and the order was processed/shipped quicker than with Amazon.  Shipping was free and it arrived one week earlier.  We had it shipped to Bend, OR for installation.  Total cost was $1165.00 in December 2012.  We had tried to get this model through some other stores like Home Depot or Best Buy, but could not get delivery in Bend in a timely fashion.

Thanks again for the information and hope this will help others.

[Stan Simpson]

I've been following this thread with interest. Can someone explain how 1) you got the Norcold out of the coach, and 2) you got the Samsung in the coach? Took off the slide?? Wowzer!

Stan

[Joel Weiss]

Our installer had the passenger-side windshield removed for the removal and installation.

[Stan Simpson]

So, it would require taking out the entire windshield, since we have a panoramic style..? Thanks for the reply Joel.

[Joel Weiss]

My understanding is that the windshield removal is necessary to get the Norcold out.  The doors could have been removed from the Samsung and it could have been brought through the door.  With the windshield removed both were installed and removed through that opening.

[Mike Nunn]

we had ours done at Alliance Coach in Wildwood,Fl. They removed the driver's window took out the old and put in the new with no problem. Good luck

[Brad Burgess]

Hello All

I removed our Norcold and installed the Samsung RF197 in our coach myself.  I did NOT remove any windows.  I did remove the doors from the Norcold and from the Samsung.  I removed the passenger seat and the scissor arm that holds the entry door.  In this manner the entry door could be folded all the way forward.  I will admit that I had the assistance of two younger and stronger guys to lift the fridges in and out.  The fridges just fit through the front door and great care and cushioning was used to protect the dash.  Removal of the Norcold would have been even easier if I had removed the cooling unit as well.  Obviously, measuring the door front door opening and the fridge widths is essential to determine if this will work in a specific coach.

See Bob Nodine's post on iRV2 about building and using a wheeled platform to maneuver the Samsung once it is inside the coach.

Brad Burgess
06 Monterey