TheSamba.com :: View topic - fridge replacement projects

Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:02 pm

Updated 8/2015 >Lots of good info , love the fridge closet door/table idea shared above by Microbusdeluxe ! I ended up buying a Demo model Isotherm stainless steel Cruise 130D with no freezer through ebay for $750 shipped to my door. It's 4 cubic feet and 12v/110 . I will be building my own cabinet will add a new Euro SMEV single burner stove/sink combo similar to Karl's from Westyventures. <Thanks Karl for that product idea. I currently have 200 watts solar and an AGM 155AH battery and may have to add one more battery and more solar .
I don't feel the need for a double burner stove in my van as I do most of my cooking outside. I do find having one burner handy in lousy weather conditions however. I also prefer all drawers over jamming and stacking things in the stock westy cabinet .
Here are some links; http://www.indelwebastomarine.com/us/products/frid...g-classic/

http://www.jacksonsleisure.com/caravan-and-camping...ation-unit

Tue Aug 25, 2015 5:47 pm

Hi to all,

I would be ready to install the TF-49 soon.

Is there some suggestions that i should consider to minimize the noise and the vibrations? Some bushings or insulation to add somewhere?

Regards,

Martin

Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:08 am

I'm removing my fridge and putting in shelving. I'm building the shelves myself, so I don't want the whole GW kit, but I do need all the hardware that's included.

Does anyone have a parts list (including styles & sizes of screws, grommet plug, and propane cap off) of what's included in that kit? I was hoping to save a lot of time by checking here to see if anyone's already done it, then head to Home Depot for the parts. Thanks!
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Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:16 pm

I recently revamped the van to include a truck fridge tf49. I tried to do the cleanest install possible. Here's a photo of the results and a more thorough write up can be found here. Feel free to ask questions, I'm happy to help out.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7865023#7865023

Sat Jan 16, 2016 1:16 pm

When you guys are installing the TF49 as high up in the cabinet as possible, are you having to cut/trim the stock backing board that goes along the back of the cabinets? I did a test fit of mine and it seemed like it was hitting it. In some of the pictures here on the Samba it looks like people have cut theirs.

I'm a real dumb dumb when it comes to this stuff, and wood working. I was going to try to make my own front frame instead of cutting up the stock one, but I'm pretty sure it would turn out terribly so I may just have to cut it. Either way, any extra advice or step by step pictures are appreciated! I've scoured the samba and google so I have a lot of examples but could always use more.

Sat Jan 16, 2016 1:33 pm

blackglasspirate wrote: When you guys are installing the TF49 as high up in the cabinet as possible, are you having to cut/trim the stock backing board that goes along the back of the cabinets? I did a test fit of mine and it seemed like it was hitting it. In some of the pictures here on the Samba it looks like people have cut theirs.

I'm a real dumb dumb when it comes to this stuff, and wood working. I was going to try to make my own front frame instead of cutting up the stock one, but I'm pretty sure it would turn out terribly so I may just have to cut it. Either way, any extra advice or step by step pictures are appreciated! I've scoured the samba and google so I have a lot of examples but could always use more.

Yes, the back wall (1/8" ply) needs to be trimmed away.
FWIW, I'm getting ready to do a run of replacement fascias / frames in gray, cut to fit the new fridge, blank at the bottom.

Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:26 pm

Karl

Will you have any laminate in tan? I picked up a sample from home depot and it was a few shades off. The photos people posted from the gowesty laminate also looks too far off and the shipping from GW was $35 for a $29 sheet of laminate!

Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:37 pm

vw4life wrote: Karl

Will you have any laminate in tan? I picked up a sample from home depot and it was a few shades off. The photos people posted from the gowesty laminate also looks too far off and the shipping from GW was $35 for a $29 sheet of laminate!

Still looking for tan - what I use to have matched the early vans but not later tan.

Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:51 pm

Cool thanks. Got the fridge today and am really excited to have a fridge that stays cooler than 48-54 in the summer.

I am upgrading to 2 72 ah batteries that fit the factory battery location, 180 watts of solar.

Sat Jan 16, 2016 4:07 pm

vw4life, what 72AH batteries did you find that fit in the factory space?

Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:59 pm

Factory Passat batteries from a 2012 2.5 Passat.

I will post the part # next week.

Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:00 am

just wanted to thank everyone who posted to this thread. and other threads too.
I just finished my TF65 install.

I got my fridge from westyventures.
drop shipped from KY so got it in like 2 days when I though it would be coming all the way from the west coast.
it was a great surprise.

the fridge is huge! you can fit 25 cans of beer on the bottom and still have more room then the stock fridge above it.
plus it's ice cold instead of the "am I going to get salmonella?" temp of the domestic.

install went smoothly although a little more time consuming than I thought it would be.

I used some super-vodoo magic and got to basically be flush.
I think this was the first of it's kind install. :D

how you ask? yes. yes I did trimmed the panel support beam by 1.25" directly behind fridge.
I then welding in a 1/2x3/4 steel U-channel gusset inside the remaining channel.
is it as strong as original? probably.
Im I concerned? not so much. :D

I had to ditch the city water all together. I never used it anyway. had to trim box flush on behind and seal up hole.
used gowesty cover plate for the flue. and gowesty tan formica which is a little warmer than original, but ok.

the space under the fridge is huge. I just made a cubby cover for now.
still undecided if it will be storage drawer, or future propex home.

about as flush as it can get, but in the end needed the space for the door swing on the other side.
I could have eked out another 1/8 if I wanted to start moving the compressor and lines a bit.
but in the end didn't think it warranted it as Im happy with it now.

a little trim on the top of the cubby door.

Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:19 am

Thanks for bringing this tread up. It reminds me to add my eccentric installation to this mother of all fridge install thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7998299

color spectrum corrected lighting

Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:54 pm

Hey I wanna play too...

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Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:10 pm

awww... those 49s are so cute. 8)

question: how is the paint holding up on the trim?
I bought the brown paint from gowesty but did't use it since I'd rather have black trim than brown trim that is all chipped.

does it hold up well?

Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:07 pm

It has held up really well for the one week it has been installed :) . I'll keep you posted. If it chips would be simple enough to mask and respray

Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:40 pm

chase4food wrote:
color spectrum corrected lighting

Yes! I did the same to mine. I can't believe they sell them with that crazy light that makes it impossible to find what you are looking for because you look for the wrong color.

I caution that if it is not an LED bulb, leaving the door open for prolonged periods will let the bulb get hot enough to warp the plastic parts in the ligt fixture/switch.

Wed Apr 06, 2016 3:13 pm

I forgive them for shipping with the "night of the living dead" :shock: light, as they think Americans will like it. Love the everything about the fridge. My light I hacked in is 3-LED that runs cool. No Chernobyl here. :lol:

Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:13 pm

vince, have a part # on the bulb…or the specs?

Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:15 pm

slackin' at work wrote: vince, have a part # on the bulb…or the specs?

No. I bought it in Bangkok. :D

It is 3 LEDs on a small PCB and protected by transparent heatshrink. I basically shoehorn into the light fixture lens with a bit of clever soldering of the leads. 8)