Poor service from Thetford Fridges
Hi fellow members. Just had a meltdown on a Thetford 145 fridge/freezer. The cooling units on these are not serviceable or replaceable. (It is however, available from the USA) I have spoken at length to Thetford and they have simply said "sorry, it's new
fridge" Cost is £1600.00. This cooling unit is made by Norcold in the USA, their replacement unit including P&P is £1079.00. I bought this excellent caravan (Swift 645) in October 2012. It's a 2010 model but when I bought it all of the fridge accessories were
still in polythene bags and it hadn't been commissioned. I switched it on in March 2013. It is now June 2015 and I have worked out that it has seen about 62 days service in three years. I don't tour the van, so gas and 12v are not an issue. Having been told
by two engineers that there is an inherrant fault with the decomposition of the lining on the inside of the cooler unit tubes which clogs the pipe and restricts the flow of the cooling liquid I am reluctant to chance best part of £1700 again. So I've been
to the local Co-op and purchased one of their "Ice King" brand fridges at £159.00. It's not quite as big inside, it fits snugly into the hole where the Thetford came from and I've had a qualified caravan gas/electrician fitter install it. Totall cost was £95
including blanking off the gas correctly. It doesn't need ventilation like the absorbtion type fridge so the big side vents have been sealed off too. I would encourage any future purchaser of a caravan with this type of unit fitted to consider whether or
not it's a wise move. Sorry Thetford, once bitten twice shy. Anyone good at adding up ££££'s?