Replacing a caravan fridge is usually less about the brand badge and more about the cabinet opening, ventilation, power supply and how you travel. A fridge that fits the existing cavity properly will usually be easier and safer than one that needs major cabinet changes.
This article follows a common Dometic upgrade question: if an older RMD absorption fridge is ready for replacement, should you stay with a 3-way absorption fridge or move to a compressor fridge such as the RCD10.5XES?
My trusted Dometic RMD fridge began showing signs of wear, so the first job was not choosing a fuel type. It was measuring the fridge cavity. Width, height, depth, vent positions, clearances and door swing all matter.
The Dometic RMD10.5XS 3-way fridge was an obvious replacement path because it matched the style of the old absorption fridge. It also suited the existing installation dimensions.
The second option was the Dometic RCD10.5XES compressor fridge. It is designed with matching dimensions for many RMD-style installations, which makes it worth considering when the cabinet is already set up for that fridge family.
There is no single right answer. The best fridge type depends on how you camp.
Absorption fridges are still useful for people who spend longer periods away from mains power and want the option of LPG operation. They can reduce the load on the battery system, which may matter if the van also needs power for lights, pumps, fans and other 12V gear.
Compressor fridges are attractive where the van has a strong 12V system, solar and DC charging. They are generally straightforward to run from battery power, but you still need to check your battery capacity, charging and cable sizing.
For my travel pattern, the compressor model made sense. I usually spend a few days in one location before moving, and the DC-DC charger helps replenish the batteries on travel days. I also avoid the far north in peak summer, so the air-conditioning load is not the main driver of the fridge decision.
The main advantage of the RCD10.5XES in this case was the fit. The fridge cavity already suited the older RMD8551-style fridge, and the RCD10.5XES was designed around the same general opening.
The existing two rear vents were also in useful positions. Ventilation is not a detail to gloss over: poor ventilation can hurt fridge performance, create heat build-up and make the installation harder to service later.
The one extra job was the old gas connection. Because the compressor fridge does not use gas, a gas plumber was needed to cap the gas line and safely remove the redundant copper pipe. Do not leave old gas lines loose, damaged or partly disconnected.
A fridge installation should keep heat and dust behind the fridge from entering the living area. The fridge also needs the correct ventilation path so warm air can leave the rear cavity.
For a fresh installation with the preferred two-vent layout, the lower air inlet vent should sit low, and the upper outlet vent should be no lower than the top of the refrigerator. Higher is usually acceptable, depending on the installation instructions and wall space.
Common Dometic large wall vents used for this style of installation are:
Changing from an absorption fridge to a compressor fridge can involve both gas and electrical work. Treat those as separate licensed trades.
If you are fitting a fridge into a new cabinet rather than replacing an existing RMD-style fridge, work through the installation before ordering:
If any part of the job feels uncertain, pause before cutting the wall or changing services. Fridge replacement can be straightforward when the old and new models share the same installation style, but it is still worth checking the manual, the vent layout and the service connections before committing.
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