It's REFER MADNESS at the Crouse House

We began installing Charlotte Gonet's  new Dometic (WAECO) refrigerator today 06/04/2009. We started by removing the old unit and reframing the opening to the smaller width of the new refer. We used parts of the old shelf to frame the new opening. Had to cut off the old gas line and cap it and relocate the 110 volt plug. All that required doing was dismounting it and remounting it in a location that would not interfere with the coils on the back of the refer.

It's in the HOLE!....Plugged in and cooling it was starting to get cold in the freezer before we got all the screws installed. All we lack is making the door for the large opening to the left. We should have that done in a couple hours and they will be making ice on the road!!!!!!! We will have some better pictures tomorrow to the completed install and show how we create the new door out of the old refer door skin.

Day 2 was nice and wet just the right weather to work inside the Rialta. We started off with making the frame for the new door on the left of the refer. We ripped some 3/4 plywood to make the frame. Then made lap joints at the corners using a dado cutter in the table saw.

    Ernie was sure to clean off his wet feet before venturing into the Motor home

This a Saw to Suite and File to fit operation.

Measure Twice Cut Once.......   It really helped having a pattern to go buy.

WOW integrated circuits.....(Black and White wires). And it appears Winnebago sold there stock in the Purple & Green wire corporation and upgraded to the Yellow and White wire subsidiary (Only a true Rialta fanatic will understand that last statement). An easy connection to the existing 12v wiring was all that was needed to finish up the electrical. We plugged in the 110v last night and had a cold box this morning. It only takes a couple hrs for this thing to make 2 nice sized trays of ICE! Thats right ICE real bonafide rock hard clink in your glass ICE! The kind your Mother used to make to chill the tea for lunch on Sunday (if the minister and his wife were coming over to eat!)

The new door made from the skin off the old refer. Looks like it came from the factory that way.

 The Inside frame has to be wide on one side to accommodate the latch. Also have to trim down the inside latch retainer on the belt sander to make it work with the thicker door frame.

DONE! Just a few hours work and the right tools and it looks GREAT!

Lets make some Ice!!!!

Lots of room in here and the FREEZER!!!!!!!!ICE for Libations! Still don't understand why Winnebago did not use this fridge in the original Motor Home? Guess they were not available at the time.