Replacing the old Dometic
I know the first thing many campers have to do when they buy a used RV is replace the Dometic refrigerator that came installed. I know that was my first task. A new gas/electric refrigerator comes at a premium, and I know some campers who either just leave the dead Dometic there and use a cooler for refrigeration needs, or do as I did and buy an electric "college dorm" size refrigerator and install it. When you hit the road, if you put a bag of ice in the refrigerator inside a leak proof container, you can keep your food cold until you get to a camp ground, then use the ice for cooling beverages in an ice chest to save room in the fridge, or in your drink to celebrate your arrival.
Since my Seville is permanantly situated, I don't need to secure the fridge in the opening, like you folks who actually take to the open highway. So I didn't. But if any of you travelers are inspired to refit the fridge space as I have, then you WILL need to secure the fridge and anything else you put in the Dometic fridge space. This should not be too difficult as there are ample places to mount braces or brackets in the fridge space.
I had to place some paneling along the sides of the space after I pulled the old Dometic out and capped off the gas line. There is nothing but insulation along the sides of the opening otherwise. There was plenty of room for the new electric fridge and a microwave on top of the fridge as well. You can use the outlet in the rear of the fridge space to plug in both the fridge and the microwave. I then trimmed the edges with some molding.
This new configuration allows me to free up counter space where the often accessed microwave used to sit and still keep it in the galley.
Pictures are enclosed.
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'88 T3200
Permanently situated in Charlotte County VA
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