disc01971 wrote:

Seattle to Utah, to Flagstaff, to Orlando Fl. Back to Dallas, up to Denver, then back to Seattle. About 8k miles and didnt have any issues in the 5 weeks. Go camping 2 weeks later and the fridge leaked ammonia when turning it on, 1st out of pocket replacement item. Having to take door frame off to take out fridge is just %$###. Good time to re caulk entire rv though after redoing door.

MtnBikeMarty wrote:

DOMETIC'S PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Just paid the tab at State Trailer RV & Outdoor Supply for a new 13.5 BTU Dometic Brisk II a/c unit, t-stat, and control box....about $1100 for my 2011 Majestic 27G (former Cruise America). The a/c died last month in the AZ heat. I was getting a E6 code of the t-stat, researched that up and it was humidity sensor fail code. Took it into State Trailer whom I like and trust, having bought lots of accessories there and gotten a lot of "newbie" info from the guys there. Any way, they contacted Dometic and offered some tricks to try and reset the error code, which did but then an E4 code kept coming up (open circuit, out of range outdoor sensor), Dometic said the t-stat was bad. State Trailer (ST) said they couldn't just replace t-stat with a new t-stat cause the wiring and my old a/c unit were not compatible (Dometic's Planned Obsolescence??? by not making new equipment downwardly compatible with older equipment), therefore the unit, the control box, wiring, and t-stat had to be replaced. FYI, the original wiring was telephone wire...???

ST and I tried for a couple days to find a used t-stat of my same model but to no avail. I did forget to check with the service dept at CA...duh.... I was in a hurry cause I needed my rig for a mountain bike race this weekend, so I had ST replace it all... can't not have a/c in AZ. ST did a great job putting the new equipment in and it cools (and heats great cause it's a heating control t-stat too) great, and I'm off for a long weekend mountain biking.

I was just wondering if anybody else experienced this "planned obsolescence" of manufacturers before, and if this is common in the RV industry?

MtnBikeMarty

MtnBikeMarty wrote:

DOMETIC'S PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Just paid the tab at State Trailer RV & Outdoor Supply for a new 13.5 BTU Dometic Brisk II a/c unit, t-stat, and control box....about $1100 for my 2011 Majestic 27G (former Cruise America). The a/c died last month in the AZ heat. I was getting a E6 code of the t-stat, researched that up and it was humidity sensor fail code. Took it into State Trailer whom I like and trust, having bought lots of accessories there and gotten a lot of "newbie" info from the guys there. Any way, they contacted Dometic and offered some tricks to try and reset the error code, which did but then an E4 code kept coming up (open circuit, out of range outdoor sensor), Dometic said the t-stat was bad. State Trailer (ST) said they couldn't just replace t-stat with a new t-stat cause the wiring and my old a/c unit were not compatible (Dometic's Planned Obsolescence??? by not making new equipment downwardly compatible with older equipment), therefore the unit, the control box, wiring, and t-stat had to be replaced. FYI, the original wiring was telephone wire...???

ST and I tried for a couple days to find a used t-stat of my same model but to no avail. I did forget to check with the service dept at CA...duh.... I was in a hurry cause I needed my rig for a mountain bike race this weekend, so I had ST replace it all... can't not have a/c in AZ. ST did a great job putting the new equipment in and it cools (and heats great cause it's a heating control t-stat too) great, and I'm off for a long weekend mountain biking.

I was just wondering if anybody else experienced this "planned obsolescence" of manufacturers before, and if this is common in the RV industry?

MtnBikeMarty

Mocoondo wrote:

Be glad it is gone. The Dometic rooftop AC's with electronic thermostat controlling both heat and AC were awful. Went back to ceiling controlled Coleman units and standard analog t-stat for the furnace which is a virtually bulletproof installation.

{cut}

gotsmart wrote:


I'm glad I have a 28R. Coleman Mach 1, Sunbeam T-stat on the furnace, troublefree Norcold N621 (also has a N623RT label. ??)

You gave me an idea to mull over. I use a LUX WIN100 to control a 1500W space heater. Would it be possible, I ask myself, to add a digital line voltage set-back thermostat that is sized to the power requirements of the Mach 1? My surgeguard at the pedestal takes care of the needed 2 minute compressor delay during a power failure. Would the Mach 1 be unhappy about being cycled via AC power? hmmmm

kirbymurphy wrote:

Wow! 85 Pages.
What is the current opinion of rental sellers? Is one better than the rest?

The high miles do concern me, but CA provides a 12 month/12,000 miles powertrain warranty. Any good?

I'm focused on the 23U since it's just me and a pooch after my wife died. I like to go out for 2 to 3 weeks at a time but wondering if others have had one and wished they had bought bigger.

Thanks!

gotsmart wrote:

Someone PM'd me about my thoughts on buying a former Cruise America rental RV.
I bought my 2005 Cruise America 28R in March 2011.
The 12-month/12,000 mile warranty is a joke. It covers about 20 parts and explicitly lists each part that is covered. .