Did you get the proper access door for your frig???

GutzNGlory · 07-17-2023, 06:33 AM

We ordered our 2023 32RLTS with a 12 volt compressor refrigerator. It is essentially the same as a residential refrigerator but runs on 12 volts. ALL electric refrigerators are designed to exchange heat with the inside air. Like most residential frigs these days, it has a fan that pulls air in from under the front of one side of the unit, exchanges heat and blows the warmed air out the other side.

Any unit with an electric refrigerator should all have the standard access door (normal cargo door) on the side - IF they provide outside access to service the frig. The standard door is insulated and has weather stripping to seal out weather, bugs, etc.

My unit came with the VENTED ACCESS PANEL that is designed for dual fuel (absorption) type refrigerators. That type of frig requires outside ventilation.

There is a very thin piece of wood behind the panel that is held in place by 4 wood screws. That piece of wood is the only barrier from the elements. It has gaps all around it and there is no insulation, no weather proofing, nothing to stop bugs from coming inside. In fact, the thin wood panel has water stains and will eventually rot and mold!!

To top it all off, the access panel isn't even big enough to provide adequate access to the frig... Can you imagine having a house built and the builder puts a vented plastic panel on the outside of the wall and a tacks up a thin piece of wood on the inside? That would be completely unacceptable on a house and it is on an RV too!

In doing some quick research on my model, it was obvious that they simply ran out of the proper door and started using the vented access panels to get the units out the door. It looks like this happened about 10 or so units before mine according to the VINs.

I opened a case number with Jayco and talked to several people in Customer Service (and the dealer) but Jayco refuses to put the proper door on the RV or even acknowledge that it is wrong. They just keep saying that 'my unit was built as designed' but are not able to tell me why they would think this is an acceptable solution (when clearly they've manufactured most other units with the proper insulated access door).

My wife and I really love our pinny but I cannot believe that Jayco would build something like this AND not even stand behind it. This is our second Jayco but due to their quality issues (we've had several problems with both units) and warrantee & service practices, it is likely the LAST Jayco we will own!!

(Sorry that my first post on here has to be such a downer. But I also wanted to raise awareness for others.)

F350guy · 07-17-2023, 06:50 AM

That is not good. Our 2020 has the access door which was a selling point for me. I'm not sure what you can do at this point other than maybe add some foam insulation board behind the cover. It doesn't appear there's much room though and it might block the air vent on the back of the fridge. Since Jayco won't help I wonder if they could sell you a door but I would guess the vent cover hole is probably a different size.

Parrott · 07-17-2023, 10:39 AM

Does the proper access door have hinges and a latch? Looks like they either messed up or maybe ran out of gas/electric fridges and made it work but still not right. I would be very upset.

TaftCoach · 07-17-2023, 06:09 PM

How did you discover the issue? Is the refrigerator not working correctly?

nfisherman · 07-17-2023, 06:55 PM

I feel your pain. I’ve had my own frustrations with Jayco’s customer support. I bought my new White Hawk 13 months ago and have completed a lot of what should have been warranty repairs. I’m not Jayco bashing; just understanding the OP’s complaint.

Despite my frustrations, I now have everything working as it should have from the factory and I like the camper. If I were you, I’d buy a hatch that fits your fridge opening, maybe like this:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Access-D...lo/SE96VR.html

You might have to cut the opening a little larger to get a hatch to fit. It would look like just another storage compartment. It would give you access to the fridge, if needed, and it would seal better than a vent and thin plywood.

GutzNGlory · 07-17-2023, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F350guy

That is not good. Our 2020 has the access door which was a selling point for me. I'm not sure what you can do at this point other than maybe add some foam insulation board behind the cover. It doesn't appear there's much room though and it might block the air vent on the back of the fridge. Since Jayco won't help I wonder if they could sell you a door but I would guess the vent cover hole is probably a different size.

I did add foam board as a temporary fix. Your right, it is tight. The vents protrude inward leaving even less room for the foam board.
Luckily, I have body/painting experience so I will see how much it all costs (compartment door and 3/4 colors of paint plus clearcoat). I'm guessing a few hundred dollars - if I do all the work.
It just sickens me that Jayco made this change that has such a negative impact on my insulation and weather proofing - and then tells me to jump in the proverbial lake. I am totally saddened and disgusted them.

GutzNGlory · 07-17-2023, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

How did you discover the issue? Is the refrigerator not working correctly?

I did my research before we ordered this unit, so I knew what it should have. And, like F350guy, I wanted the insulated cargo door for the frig access. Also, my previous RV was a 2021 Jayco Seismic that had the gas/electric frig, so I was very familiar with that technology and vented access panels.

Needless to say, I was appalled when I took the panel off this RV and saw what was underneath.

Grumpy · 07-17-2023, 07:42 PM

For what it's worth, you will find posts from last year where the 12 volt compressor refrigerators came off the line with the same vent and wooden panel as yours. I agree the solid access door would be much better, but that tells me that it is not unusual or "wrong". Seems that the residential models get the access door primarily, since that is where the ice and in door water valves are located.

GutzNGlory · 07-17-2023, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfisherman

I feel your pain. I’ve had my own frustrations with Jayco’s customer support. I bought my new White Hawk 13 months ago and have completed a lot of what should have been warranty repairs. I’m not Jayco bashing; just understanding the OP’s complaint.

Despite my frustrations, I now have everything working as it should have from the factory and I like the camper. If I were you, I’d buy a hatch that fits your fridge opening, maybe like this:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Access-D...lo/SE96VR.html

You might have to cut the opening a little larger to get a hatch to fit. It would look like just another storage compartment. It would give you access to the fridge, if needed, and it would seal better than a vent and thin plywood.

Thanks nfisherman! I hadn't even considered aftermarket doors. If the OEM door costs too much, I will have this to fall back on.

I do most of my own warrantee work too. This process takes way too long if you take it to a dealer. If you want to actually use your new RV much, you pretty much have to fix what you can. In the 3 months that we've owned this, I have fixed several items.

I really don't want to Jayco bash either. I really just wanted to raise awareness and share what I found with the access panel situation since I know they are producing units like this and a lot of people will be affected.

GutzNGlory · 07-17-2023, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

For what it's worth, you will find posts from last year where the 12 volt compressor refrigerators came off the line with the same vent and wooden panel as yours. I agree the solid access door would be much better, but that tells me that it is not unusual or "wrong". Seems that the residential models get the access door primarily, since that is where the ice and in door water valves are located.

I would have to respectfully disagree ('that tells me that it is not unusual or "wrong"').

I think it is VERY wrong to build units like this. This vented access panel configuration really compromises the interior envelope. It's no wonder that the RV is hard to cool on hot days. I'm sure heating it will be expensive too. And then there is the humidity and bugs.

Just because they build them like this, doesn't make it right. I would never accept a house built like this. If they are putting the insulated doors on units with residential frig's, they should on 12 volt units as well. They use the same technology.

They just started offering 12 volt frig's on Pinnacles after the beginning of this year. Had I known they would build it like this, I wouldn't have ordered this option or model.

ARoamer · 07-18-2023, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GutzNGlory

This vented access panel configuration really compromises the interior envelope. It's no wonder that the RV is hard to cool on hot days. I'm sure heating it will be expensive too. And then there is the humidity and bugs.

IMHO, If you look at the underside of most any RV you will find that that is where most of your interior envelope is "compromised"! In most cases, add thin walls, aluminum studs, minimal insulation, poorly installed or non existent coroplast, one piece of rubber slide out seals, single wall plastic crank up roof vents, single pane windows..... they contribute way more to poor energy efficiency than a single closed off fridge vent. We live in our RV for months at a time, it has 2 of those vents and I have never felt any air intrusion around the 2 way fridge in extremely windy cold conditions.

GutzNGlory · 07-18-2023, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARoamer

IMHO, If you look at the underside of most any RV you will find that that is where most of your interior envelope is "compromised"! In most cases, add thin walls, aluminum studs, minimal insulation, poorly installed or non existent coroplast, one piece of rubber slide out seals, single wall plastic crank up roof vents, single pane windows..... they contribute way more to poor energy efficiency than a single closed off fridge vent. We live in our RV for months at a time, it has 2 of those vents and I have never felt any air intrusion around the 2 way fridge in extremely windy cold conditions.

All very good points. These things leave a lot to be desired in regards to insulating the inside environment. Some of it is just very difficult (sealing big sliding walls) and some of it is poor build quality (underbelly, etc.) and some even poor design (using a vented access door). Anyone who has RV'd for a while has knowledge of this.

However, I don't think we should just accept things that could easily be avoided during design/manufacturing. This is, in large part, why the manufacturers are putting out crap these days. They are only interested in profits and will cheap out as much as they can get away with.

We can debate how much this will impact the interior envelope. I would argue it is quite a bit (in addition to everything that you mentioned). Consider it is about 4 sq. ft. of essentially no insulation. Compare that to the 2 inch thick wall (decent by RV standards). Then there is also the gap around the wood panel. This is about 4 ft. long total and probably about 1/16 in wide. That would be equivalent to a 3 sq. in. hole.

I would like to see a thermal image of this on a hot day with the AC running. I bet the image would show a stark contrast between the access panel and the wall. I know I don't want that extra hole and missing insulation on my RV.

BTW, we ordered ours with dual pane windows. I know they don't do a lot to improve insulation but they definitely help. Like I said, I did some research and it shows that they changed the access door to the vented panel a little before our unit was built.

IMHO, that is an unacceptable change, unnecessarily adding even more to the insulation/sealing problems.

Radar57 · 07-18-2023, 05:32 PM

Not sure if this is a positive or not. 2019 with residential fridge and no access door to the back side of fridge. The positive is no heat loss (or gain in the summer time) but have to pull the fridge if it has to be worked on. Note: the fridge has already been replaced under warranty. I know it can be done but not one I'm looking forward to, if and when the time comes.

TaftCoach · 07-18-2023, 07:42 PM

I'm wondering why you accepted delivery with such a major flaw?

GutzNGlory · 07-18-2023, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

I'm wondering why you accepted delivery with such a major flaw?

I wish I had noticed this at the dealer. It wasn't until about a week later that I decided to pull the panel to see what was under it.

Marcm157 · 07-19-2023, 06:50 AM

My 12 Volt fridge has no access panel on the exterior at all...

bill777x · 07-19-2023, 04:21 PM

My 22 model has the 12v fridge but the standard vent in the wall. I asked why when I did the PDI and the tech said it makes it easier on them if they have to work on it so he thought it was a plus. The 12v was an option on the 22's and the standard on the 23's. I haven't seen a 23 so I don't know if they have the door, vent or solid wall. Not much I could do about it so it is what it is. It doesn't have the vent in the roof so I guess I can live with the one in the wall.

Full disclosure I haven't opened it to see if its blocked off somehow but I will in the near future.

TaftCoach · 07-19-2023, 04:23 PM

It seems to me it would also allow flexibility in what kind of fridge you could install later.

C&R · 07-22-2023, 08:43 PM

GutzNGlory,
I wouldn’t be happy either. This spring I replaced our 2way fridge with a 12v compressor fridge. I placed 1” dow board on the side wall vent to help with sealing it. The link below is a pic. It’s obviously not as good as a proper access door, but it has to be better than what Jayco provided. Just providing an option.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/m...ture12745.jpeg

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