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06-22-2013, 07:20 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kentville, NS
Posts: 134
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One less Vectra...Motor Home Fire
We came across this late this afternoon....
Highway 103 reopened after motorhome fire | The Chronicle Herald
Although I never got to talk to the owners I heard from a couple bystanders that the fire started in the fridge area....so we know what that is all about  Thanks God no one was injured. Looks to be around a '94.
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Binnie, Wanda & Yasper (Labradoodle)
1999 Winnebago Chieftain 35U F53 Chassis V10
Towing 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
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06-22-2013, 11:48 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Marquette, Michigan "Da UP"
Posts: 219
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The fact that someone had the time to put out a hiway warning triangle sparks my interest in the event.
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John & Cathy R.
06 Pace Arrow 38L W24
08 Lincoln MKX AWD
See My RV Upgrades
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06-23-2013, 04:58 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kentville, NS
Posts: 134
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRR
The fact that someone had the time to put out a hiway warning triangle sparks my interest in the event.
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Interesting observation John 
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Binnie, Wanda & Yasper (Labradoodle)
1999 Winnebago Chieftain 35U F53 Chassis V10
Towing 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
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06-25-2013, 07:26 AM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 352
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Lately, I've been running my fridge off of the inverter while traveling...this post makes me think that I've finally made a RIGHT choice in my life...!
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06' Itasca Meridian 36g with CAT 350
2011 Jeep Wrangler 4-door
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06-26-2013, 12:23 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 8
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For the newbies, what's the deal with the refrigerator? Thanks!
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06-26-2013, 12:44 PM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: bis. nd
Posts: 9
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that warning triangle could have been put there afterwards as it is very close to the fire eh?
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London Aire..350hp Sparton chassis... with all the good stuff from the time.
2007 Alfa Gold!! model 1008. 400hp Freightliner, now in use!!
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06-26-2013, 12:58 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC/GA
Posts: 10
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allison8648: there are many posts about catastrophic refer failures in the archives...search refrigerator fires, Norcold, etc.
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2014 XLR 415AMP, 2011 F350 Lariat 6.7 DRW, restored 82 Wing, 02 Shadow, 06 ST1300A, NRA Benefactors.
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06-26-2013, 01:13 PM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Arizona West RV Park, Yuma, Az
Posts: 94
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allison8648
For the newbies, what's the deal with the refrigerator? Thanks!
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Most are operated on LP gas, at least when traveling. Then on 120v when camping or when shore power is available, but that is up to the individual. RV fires are not that uncommon and most are caused by the fridge running on gas vs on electric.
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John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
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06-26-2013, 02:20 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by clyon51
Most are operated on LP gas, at least when traveling. Then on 120v when camping or when shore power is available, but that is up to the individual. RV fires are not that uncommon and most are caused by the fridge running on gas vs on electric.
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Absorption refrigerators use ammonia and hydrogen in the cooling unit. A small leak in the cooling unit caused by a ruptured tube, corrosion, broken weld, etc will emit a highly flammable gas into the refrigerator compartment. An open flame such as the refrigerators LP gas burner tube can ignite this gas and a resulting fire can occur.
Mike
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NHSO
2016 DSDP 4369
2012 DSDP 3734--sold
2012 Jeep Liberty Limited
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06-26-2013, 02:42 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 34
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Don and Mary
'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
Geo Tracker/Dodge Neon/Aprilia Scooter towed
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06-26-2013, 03:00 PM
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#11
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 111
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It was a fire. Cause TBD. It could have been the refer. It could have been a propane leak. It could have been.....
Nobody knows.
On my rig the refer, furnace, water heater are all placed in line, vertical.
If my rig burned there, many would say "refer".
But mine is well after the build dates of the recall models, and is not even one of the recall models.
Just sayin.....
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06-26-2013, 03:05 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Marathon, Florida
Posts: 222
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Wow, that is scary and sad. Makes me very happy we went with a residential fridge in our Vectra. Just because the fire started in the fridge area doesn't mean the fridge was the cause but history speaks for itself.
I would guess any of the responders could have put out the triangle. I know if it was my rig, I would be looking to get out and the safety triangle would be the last thing on my mind.
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Mark & Nancy
2004 Winnebago Vectra 40KD
Shep dog, R.I.P. Kenzie dog Toad 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler
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06-26-2013, 04:50 PM
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#13
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 33
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While I have no idea how the triangle got placed, I would bet that it was not the FD. Typical FD response is to pull up within a safe distance using the truck to block, then deploy the hoses, yada, yada, yada. If FD were to deploy the triangle, behind their truck would have been the better place... at least until they clear the scene.
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Dewey & Sharon
Southern Maryland suburbs of DC
2015 Tiffin Allegro Bus 45LP
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06-26-2013, 05:33 PM
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#14
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: OH, FL, LA, WY, KS & TX
Posts: 2
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Hope all is well for the owners of this coach... We pray they will recover in time and not let this totally end their future travels over the open roads. If you have a unit deemed for recall, please see an authorized repair shop ASAP... Our Norcold had a recall notice, (something regarding possible overheating), which was accomplished ASAP... Our Prayers...
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2006 Monaco Knight aka WAR BIRD
330 ISC Cummins/3000 Allison
Blue Ox Tow FMCA #F393140 DAV & VFW
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06-26-2013, 06:03 PM
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#15
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dacula, Georgia
Posts: 184
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This topic raises a question in my mind. What is expected the life span of when of these refrigerators? I mean, if you wait until it develops a leak and you happen to be on running on gas then you are too late, right? It's concerning mainly because mine is now 13 years old.
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2000 Itasca Horizon 36LD
300 HP Cat Diesel
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06-26-2013, 06:17 PM
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#16
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaDawgFan
This topic raises a question in my mind. What is expected the life span of when of these refrigerators? I mean, if you wait until it develops a leak and you happen to be on running on gas then you are too late, right? It's concerning mainly because mine is now 13 years old.
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Well, nobody seems to know how old it must be to fail, or how many have failed, or how many will fail, or how many fires there have been.
But they do know the cause of the fire before the authorities do.
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06-26-2013, 06:25 PM
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#17
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 560
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaDawgFan
This topic raises a question in my mind. What is expected the life span of when of these refrigerators? I mean, if you wait until it develops a leak and you happen to be on running on gas then you are too late, right? It's concerning mainly because mine is now 13 years old.
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Our Dometic was around 8 years old when the recall shut off was triggered. I replaced the cooling unit with an Amish unit. Now I find that the door gaskets are no longer made so when it totally lets go (it's torn now) I'll have to replace the whole unit. May or may not go to a compressor type unit.
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2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft
Charter Lifetime GS Member, SKP, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '14 CR-V
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06-26-2013, 06:50 PM
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#18
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaDawgFan
This topic raises a question in my mind. What is expected the life span of when of these refrigerators? I mean, if you wait until it develops a leak and you happen to be on running on gas then you are too late, right? It's concerning mainly because mine is now 13 years old.
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It's hard to say. We sold our old MH after 20 years, still had the original refer in it. Our current MH, the refer failed after 6 years, just put in a new one.
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Don (RVM19) & Mary,
Furry friends Sophia & Zander
2006 Coachmen Freedom 289QB | 2004 Jeep
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure..
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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06-27-2013, 08:08 AM
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#19
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Arizona West RV Park, Yuma, Az
Posts: 94
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We had an old class c that was 20 years old that caught fire via the Norcold fridge. It was on LP but no leak from coils and was easily put out, but destroyed and replaced. Our present fridge is a Dometic and now 15 years old. It still runs great only on #2 (-10 / +33) and no worries at this point.
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John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
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06-29-2013, 07:04 AM
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#20
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,520
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Road Rangers usually get there first and will secure the area as will good samaritans.
When my 95 Vectra went up in flames due to a front wheel fire from a faulty brake caliper that happened on the interstate the road rangers got there first and we had a lot of trouble keeping bystanders a safe distance from the coach. It had 120 lbs of propane and 80 gallons of gasoline in it.
I shut down the propane after the family and pets were in the clear. Too bad the ladies didn't grab their purses when the exited the coach as they did not fully comprehend what on fire in a gasoline powered coach meant.
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Neil V
2001 Winnebago Adventurer WFG35U
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