Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY (Read 1281 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Yahoo Message Number: 91293
We decided to replace the cooling unit in our Norcold Refrigerator with the Amish RV Cooling Unit. The decision to replace the cooling unit stemmed from the reputation of the refrigerator catching on fire, exploding and destroying the coach. If we were in the bedroom and the coach caught on fire our chance of escaping was nil. The decision to replace with the Amish RV Cooling Unit was based on the previous posts to this website.

We ordered the unit from David Force at rvcoolingunit-info@.... The unit was shipped to a freight company in Phoenix where I was able to pick it up. That saved on shipping; in the meantime I shopped for a place to install the unit. I had some recommendations, and finally settled on Freedom RV in Tucson. We had planned a trip in that direction so it made sense to stop there and have it installed. After the unit was installed (Quote $750) the Freedom RV technicians said it was not working right. They called the factory and said the unit was defective, so another unit was shipped. After a couple of weeks delay on our trip we were able to retrieve our coach and continue our planned August trip. Our quote turned into a bill of over $1,700, due to the 'double installation' of the cooling unit.

We drove from Tucson to Las Cruces, NM, and realized the refrigerator wasn't working as it should. I contacted David Force the Amish RV Cooling Unit representative and was directed to a Pat Tellez of All About Service in Las Cruces. He had a mobile service, was very familiar with the cooling unit. He came and tested the unit. After testing the unit it was decided the unit had not been installed properly. He removed and re-installed the cooling unit. Total cost $400. The refrigerator is working great - better then when it was new. He also identified five instances of mistakes Freedom RV did on installing the cooling unit. Bottom line - Freedom RV -NO - bad service and overcharged - All About Service in Las Cruces and Pat Tellez - YES! - Very Good Service and reasonable..


Apparently the welds on the Norcold are deficient and will leak the cooling fluid. When they leak they have the possibility of catching fire if on propane. It appeared my original Norcold unit had such a leak because of some residue on the frame. It was a miracle we had not caught on fire.

Clint Frederick
2004 Inspire #51038

Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91297
All I can say is if you have not had the recall done do it now. Check for leaks on a regular basic or have someone else do the checking. My recall unit kept my coach for burning and I replaced it with the Amish unit. Could not be happier with it performance. I have heard and don't know if the number is correct that Norcold has received over 8,000 notices of fires in coaches.


Jock Vargo

2005 Inspire
51428

RE: NORCOLD â?? THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91298
all's well that ends well... Glad it worked for you. We are very happy with the Amish cooling unit to.

Larry 03 Allure 30856

RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91301
Glad things worked out in the end for you. I have had all the recalls but it still does not get cold so, I am going the other way with the Samsung 197 and while i;m at it going with the Magnum 2812 inverter. I know the Xantrex will work (for a while) but I am tired of working on this coach so this is the last big thing for the year (I hope), this puppy has turned into a money pit pushing $14k for the year. Hope next year I can get by with just $1k time will tell.
Floyd 2006 Inspire 51744

RE: NORCOLD â?? THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91302
Had ours replaced with the Amish unit last spring by Chris Snyder in Tucson (before he went back to CC). Totally frightening to see all of the burnt parts in the back of the fridge that got replaced. I would not go one more day with the original Norcold 1200 seeing this mess.

Ricardo 04 Intrigue #11830

RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91309
Floyd

I think next year will be equally disappointing.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348 C-9

Re: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91322
Next time you need work on your CC near Tucson, go to Premier Motor Coach in Tucson. They are all former Country Coach techs. I am surprised you did not hear of them.

Rich 2002 Magna

RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91330
X2 on Premier Motor Coach. They have done some wonderful work for me over the years.
But, I live in Las Cruces, so I will have to check out Pat Tellez of All About Service and see what's up.

Luck,
Bob

01 Affinity 6009

RE: RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91345
Bob,

You will like Pat. I use him for most everything related to the coach. BTW, did you contact me when I was on the road some many months ago and I said I would contact you when we got home? Well, if so I lost your phone number please send it again. I know this should be offline but I can't figure out this new system. We are in Ruidoso and headed for Sedona.
Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

RE: RE: RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91366
Lyle,

Wasn't me that you were going to contact.
Have a great time in Sedona, it is a wonderful place.

Luck,
Bob

01 Affinity 6009

RE: RE: RE: RE: NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91373
Bob,

Ok, there was another gentleman who lives out near Joranado and I was supposed to meet up with him but I lost his number. Anyway, since we both live in Las Cruces we should me one day. Lyle Wetherholt 04 Intrigue 11740
 

NORCOLD – THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91320
If you check the archives for 11/2011, you will see that our 2004 Allure coach was destroyed by Norcold while on electricity, not propane. It's the tubes, et al., not method of power.
Also, see FMCA tech column for opinions re: Amish, etc. And, the Amish do not advertise their home fires and their deaths, so one cannot really attest to the safety of the so-called Amish modifications.

Terry Apple