Replace RV Refrigerator with Residential Fridge | RV Refrigerator Installation 

We removed our broken Dometic RV refrigerator and installed a Magic Chef 10.1 cu. ft. refrigerator. Sometimes Amazon has it here: amzn.to/3RAsBuU. We got ours from Home Depot for about $400. If you have a Home Depot near you, try this link: www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-10-1-cu-ft-Top-Freezer-Refrigerator-in-Black-HMDR1000BE/302245062. We love the extra space and it cools down really fast. It uses a lot less electricity also. Please like the video and subscribe to the channel if this was helpful! Thank you and take care. 👍

Thanks a lot for the video it helped me a lot. Mine went out today (yellow powder under the fridge so the coolant unit was toast). Started at 6pm and got done just past midnight a little while ago (an hour of which was driving to HD). When I opened those doors and saw the size of this thing I was glad the old one broke. Ill share a few things that I experienced in case it helps someone else. Getting the old fridge out the door was an adventure. That thing is heavy AF. It's like trying to solve one of those little mechanical puzzles except with pieces that weigh 200lbs .We ended up taking the doors off and turning it to the side. The fins on the back hit the edge of the frame a bit and we had to force it out and bend all the fins. I was able to get the new fridge in ok by taking it in perfectly straight (fridge doors first). However, it was quite heavy to pick up to put in place, so we took the doors off to reduce the weight which helped a lot. If you do this, make sure you have clearance at the top to reattach the screws that hold the door bracket on. I also had to remove a wood panel at the top. Be aware as well that you might not be able to push it as far back as you think. In my case for 2 reasons, one is that the wall at the back of the RV curves so the top of the fridge hits it, and second because the receptacle inside stops it from going all the way back. It sticks out about 4 inches. It's not a huge deal. I plugged the propane line using a $5 3/8 flare plug from HD, this was an Everbilt LFA-159. You can tighten the plug and turn on the gas and spray with soapy water to check for leaks. All I have to do now is use the old piece of cabinet to fix a 4 inch gap that is at the top. And cleaning up the huge mess I made during the process haha

Excellent video. In the morning we're replacing our Dometic 6 cu ft with a Frigidaire 7.5 cu ft that we picked up from Sams Club for 219.00. Helluva lot better than the 3200 we were quoted from the repair tech who told us the cooling system was shot. I love that the inside is bigger even though the two frig's are basically the same size. The new one is actually a couple inches smaller in width but an inch and a half taller. After watching your video I feel confident we can easily handle this.

Great video Thank you ! Big difference 6cu to 10 cu This is was awesome tutorial

You are the only one (so Far) who mentioned about adjusting (removing) upper insert trimwork. Our 4 year old 7 cubit foot Dometic fridge bit the dust and we didn't want to pay the outrageous amount for a new RV type fridge. Many videos mentioned the Magic Chef 10.1 cubit foot fridge as a good replacement, but they never mentioned the height adjustments required. Thanks for all the good info.

Great tip about installing the shelves BEFORE its pushed in!

I really wish I had seen this video a week ago lol. I just replaced my fridge in our fifth wheel. Same magic chef fridge. Fit like a glove with no modifications other than having to shim it to level it. I made the same mistake of not placing the racks before installation and had to take the door off 😂.

Thank you for telling me to take the door off the frig!!! I'm doing this ! Can't wait to say I DID IT MYSELF!!!

I plan to do this tomorrow. Along with a lot of other repairs due to a recent freeze here in SW MS. Thanks for this video. Big help for sure. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks!

Great job. Ended up looking great. Appreciate you posting this.

Thank you so much!!! This is an excellent tutorial and will help us so much!! You spent a lot of time and effort doing this, and it is greatly appreciated! Hoping a $32 thermistor will fix our problem for now. If not, this is what we'll do!

Nice video! HELPFUL TIPS: STAIN: Generally, you want to buy the stain that is darker than original. The trim piece that you used to fill the gap, save some scraps. You can make a test batch of several different ratios of mineral spirits to stain. Mineral spirits will clean and/or dilute the stain to make it lighter. You want to test it on the trim scrap piece before you put it on the final product. GAP: The top gap can be filled with a piece of wood with a couple of shims at the ends. The small shims can be placed to lock the block of wood. You may need a table saw to precisely cut it to the right thickness of the block to leave just enough for the shims to fit. For removable gluing, possibly for shims, you can use hot glue gun or Elmers glue. GAS & WATER: For threaded plugs, splices, and other terminations, it’s best to use both Teflon tape with thread sealing paste. Plumbers will tell you, from experience, that threaded fittings seal best using both tape and paste. Silicone grease or plumber’s grease works best for fittings that use rubber gaskets. Make sure you coil up the gas copper line that you wish not to use and secure it with a zip tie or tape and prevent it from wiggling around from driving. ELECTRICAL: I know you didn’t make any electrical modifications, but because I like your effort to help others, I figure I share this with you. Many electrical connections that you wish to make secure without special connectors, especially thick copper wires, you can twist them together and trim using lineman’s pliers. Then, you can use a torch, instead of a soldering iron, to heat the twisted copper to apply solder, but don’t forget to slip on heat shrink tubes first, if you wish to use them.

I removed the propane switch thing from the old fridge and left it connected to the propane line as its in the closed position until the 12v switch is energized to open it which it wont once disconnected so it won't leak and is ready to go with a new fridge someday if you decide to go back to three way. Your plug works though and I was going to do that but it saved me the money and trip to the store doing it the way I did it.

Good overview of the removal and getting the new one setup. Thanks.

I'm getting ready to do replace mine. Thanks for the video.

Other than engine fires when driving or idiots with space heaters, the fridge is the most likely cause of RV fires. They cool by heating, that's why they can use propane. Residential fridges use electricity to run a compressor, not to run a heating element, so much safer.

Hi there thanks for this video you help a lot of people like me and my family.

Thanks for this video, I just pulled my dometic out and was looking for a fridge to fit in the hole. Going to home depot tomorrow to get fridge and gas fitting.

This video saved my day, thank you Sir

As to the vent cover OUTSIDE the RV, you make a terrible mistake closing that off because there is "x" heat -- no matter how little -- coming off the fridge that is escaping through that vent and might actually hinder both the proper functioning of the fridge and challenge its longevity. Here's a much better solution: 1) Remove the vent cover. 2) Cover the vent with a piece of galvanized screen (you can buy a 2' x 2' roll of super thin stuff at Home Depot, etc., for $4.98). It doesn't have to fit perfectly or even completely. A gap here and there isn't going to let wasps in (well, maybe the occasional one). This now keeps most if not all wasps, ants, etc., while still allowing heat to escape.

Thanks for the demonstration

Great video thank you. Very explicit you took us step by step. Incidentally, I’m picking up the same fridge from HDepot today.

Nice job, I may try to go with a frig without Cyclopentane, that stuff if flammable. Will try to find a frig that will fit that uses good ol' R134a. Also like the diagnostic video you did.

Excellent video I’m doing this today

This looks like it will work in our 2018 Forest River.

Nicely done. We are considering upgrading our 'Not-Cold' fridge. I was going to look at getting a 12v fridge, but the residential seems like a better (more affordable) way to go. We don't boondock, only an occasional overnight at a truck stop during trips. We have a generator for that. I like your off-colour trim. It adds character.

Nice the way that fits!

Excellent video, our Dometic just crapped out on us this weekend. Looks like a Home Depot run is on the agenda for this week.

I just didn’t this upgrade today it took a little more finesse for mine but it’s in the there and it looks good and I have way more room now just need to get the trim

The motor gets pretty hot, I wouldn't completely close that front vent and leave it at least partially open for better ventilation. Go open it up and feel the warmth after its running a while. They make screens you zip tie to the holes to keep critters out. Good job on the install. I put the exact same unit in mine. Mine fit better though with no trim needed. I did have to cut about an 1/8 of an inch off one side but it was super easy with a jigsaw and some tape.

Oh yeah, you can get that adjustable locking wrench here: amzn.to/3uM4yPN

Nice job.

Very good video only thing I would have done different is put some screen on that outside vent and let that back portion breathe due to that compressor will produce heat which you did mention in the video but I rather go out the vent and come in the camper. Plus if that back little plastic piece filled up with water if it's spilled from driving it can go out the vent

Just a note, that yellow residue behind the fridge is a sure i dicatir that the cooling unit is toast for anyone with fridge issues, get rid of it and replace it with a residential one, its cheaper safer and lasts longer, no brainer.

residential refrigerators need space around the unit to keep heat from building up. you definitely don't want to trim up against the refrigerator. most residential refrigerators need 1" above and 1/8" on the sides, check the instructions that came with the refrigerator. And you can probably close the outside vent unless that vent also provides air for gas heater combustion.

I think it looks great. Just touch up the trim later with some transparent stain. They can match that kind of stain at places like Home Depot or Lowes.

Going to Home Depot tomorrow to get one and install it in my Keystone Sydney Outback 5er. Thnx for all the tips, I’ll let you know how it goes…..

I wonder why you would seal off that former fridge access door when it would offer escape for the humid air coming off the condensation in that tub. Our RV fridge has just died yesterday here in Houston (we're from the Reno area). Our RV guy here says the best thing to do is what YOU did, so your video has helped temper our concerns.

NEVER use teflon tape or thread sealant on flare gas fittings The threads don’t seal, the flare does & you’re possibly keeping the flare from making connection to the fitting

That stain looks sharp I'd keep it that colod

Outstanding video. I've been searchng on how to replace our RV frig. and your explanation & video has helped tremendously. Thank you for taking the time to post the process. Have you had any issues with the new refrigerator while traveling? If so, what were they and how did you resolve them? Once again, thanks for the video. New subscriber, count on it!!

My just went out have lived in the RV 13 years running 24/7 it lasted a really long time am not putting a RV refrigerator back in

No mention of performance is truly mind boggling.

Firstly, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your video. I have a house fill of ammonia so bab i cant even stay in there & its been raining for days here in florida. First clear day so ive opened up all the windows to dissapate the smell and i will be doing this swap myself as i live alone. Secondly, I have 2 questions...(1) did you remove the wheels from the fridge? (2) i have a dometic RM2862 2 door with woodon front of fridge like yours. Having a heck of a time getting the actual dimensions of the dometic fridge to make sure the majic chef will fit in cabinet. I cant being on my fifth wheel longer than a few seconds because of the amonia and even then my tongue and back of my throat throb. I would so appreciate if you could figure that up for me before i buy the one you have.

I unplugged the electrical from the propane switch thing and removed it from the fridge and left it connected to the pipe as it stays closed until the 12v system switch on the fridge tells it to open which it wont once you remove the old fridge. Problem solved. I just tested it several times over a few days to make sure it didn't leak in any way which it didn't and just left it in place out of the way that way its ready to go if someone else decides they want a three way re-installed someday.

Looks good! I read a lot of the comments below. How did you secure the fridge doors when traveling? I have friends with a large fifth wheel that has the SS residential fridge and the door(s) came open?? I was hoping you would have a suggestion in the video. Great informative video. I also watched your troubleshooting the eye brow panel and the control board video. My problem was no power to the eye brow. I replaced the eye brow circuit board... no difference. I then changed the control board and power comes on but Check light is on and the fridge is beeping twice every few seconds. I called Dometic. Dometic sent me the Service Manual the techs use. I have 13.1 volts and the 120 w is ok. Tested Thermo Fuse, OK; tested Thermocoupler, OK; tested Thermister, OK. I give up and plan to purchase a residential fridge...

Great choice those toxic absorption refrigerators are garbage when they are new

Great video. I think I have the same Dometic RV fridge. How tall is the Magic Chef that you replaced it with? The link shows a 59 in tall one, but I thought that was the height of your existing fridge? It looks like you gained close to 10 inches.

Thanks for the video. Did you install the solar panels and inverter? If yes I would appreciate knowing the specs. Ie total wattage, inverter size.

So I just did this yesterday and when I removed the ac/dc lines my lights went out. One fuse was burnt and I replaced it but all lights don’t work. AC outlets oven microwave work just the lights seem to have stopped. Any suggestions?

Did you have a chimney on top of your rv? If so, was it for venting heat from the refrigerator? And also if so, could you possibly get rid of the chimney by removing the stack and covering the hole?

Thanks so much for this video! Our absorption refrig just started leaking this summer. I’m going to pull it out and start to put in a small refrig like you did. I have a question, in your video you mentioned an inverter hooked up to the Magic Chef…is that so it will run while traveling? Did you install one? Could you make a video showing how it works and how to hook up the wires properly? Thank you!

The previous owners installed a residential fridge in our motorhome. Unfortunately they did not close up the vent so it’s COLD and drafty. The vent also lets moisture in and part of the fridge is rusty. So dumb. The doors are also super thick and stick out into the walkway. I hate it honestly and would like to upgrade to a 12 volt fridge so we don’t have to deal with inverters on long road trips or when boondocking. Your fridge fits the space a lot better than ours and looks like it belongs there.

Once full of food and cooling how many ANPS does the fridge pull. I had head like 1.3A. Also these Magic Chef vent frim the sides. Does your keep temps?

What is the cubic feet and what were the measurements of the fridge? I would really like to replace my troublesome rv fridge with a residential unit as well. Any help would be much appreciated. My rv fridge looks very similar. Thanks, Bruce.

What did you do to get this to run on a 12V with inverter so it will run on the road and when boondocking? Curious about how many watts it uses then and the noise difference from the Dometic absorption fridge. Thanks!

just keep applying cherry stain and it will get darker.

You may have already answered this, but I didn’t see anything. When you disconnected the propane line, how did you cap it do propane was no longer going through the line?

By looking at the date it has been a couple years now. So my question is How do you like it so far and would you change anything that you did or did not do on the install. I am loking to do the same shortly. Please let me know! Thx

Dometic should be put out of business. Terrible products. Furnace never worked right. 2 years and ammonia smell was the tell-tell sign that the frig was toast. Things should last longer. going with this same set up. Thanks SeidelRanch!

What's the size like what's yiur measurements? I got the same one so I'm getting ride of it

My friend just pissed out the yellow ammonia mixture. Crazy expensive so I may do straight electric too. Say you drive 2 hours to a camp site. That length of trip is it really terrible that your freezer thaws out? I'll miss the propane for road trips

What happens if my stove also doesn’t work? How else would I drain the propane from the line? The water heater maybe? 2006 keystone

What kind and size of fridge did you replace your RV fridge with? I’m facing the exact same problem that you did.

👍👍👍👍

How do plan on keeping the doors closed while in transit?

How are things going? I know it's just been a few months, but any updates? Also - how big of a deal is the type of coolant? Would you recommend *trying* to fine one with regular coolant? I know - you mention the size / general reality of sizing.

Great idea. But Wow. Did you pay as much as the one shown in the link ? Over 900? For that fella. ? Is there something special about that one that makes it twice the price of similar sized others ?

How’s the fridge working out since you installed it?

Have you had any issues with the doors coming open going down the road???

Any updates on how things are working? I to replaced my rv fridge with the magic chef.

Could you send me the link on the refrigerator? The link through Amazon isn’t a valid link, thank you in advance

Thank you for the video. I had the same issue with my Dometic. Also replaced with the Magic Chef. I have a couple of concerns: the users manual states the appliance is designed to be free standing and to allow 5 inches on sides and back for ventilation. I used screen over the RV factory vents to allow some air flow and keep bugs out. Do you think the snug fit in the built in slot will diminish the life span of the fridge?

How do you latch doors locked when moving down the road..?

Can you please find me and let me know what size of fridge I can put on our Sierra by Forest River 365SAQ I want to switch it to a residential fridge like the same size. Thanks 🙏🏻

what was the model number of the reefer you took out?

How do you use that when you're boondocking?

I live in a stationary travel trailer that is not on the road. My Norcold Refrigerator went out---the cooling system. I want to replace it with a residential refrigerator. I am a senior lady and I need someone in my area who knows how to do this particular conversion. Do I buy a residential refrigerator then search for a technician? I am in Long Beach, California which is near Seal Beach and 10 miles from Downtown Los Angeles. Thank you.

What did you do to keep the doors closed during travel?

Do not foam up the sides,that is where u dissapate the heat...u would be wise to put screen on your vents as well

I did all of this today and now my furnace will not come on. The propane is running bc my water heater and stove are working. Any ideas??

You went from a made in USA to made in Chine. Sad really but I understand as I did too.

Watts per hour is not a unit. If it's 33 W, it's 33 W.

Hurts your resale value now.

VRAIMENT trop long vidéo!

Worst idea ever. It needs ventilation. Bet that thing only lasted a month or two.

Some people who make videos should learn to condense their words, so they don’t repeat themselves

Blah blah blah.... RV fridges are the best thjng... EVERYTHING ON A RV FRIDGE CAN BE REPLACED EVEN THE COOLING SYSTEM.. I'm not a tech but I have fixed my furnace, AC unit, installed a soft start, worked on my fridge as well. I'm not talking 💩 but you have to do your homework.