TheSamba.com :: View topic - fridge replacement projects

Mon May 16, 2016 1:15 pm

in order to install a Tf49 concealed behind original Westy door, which is the best (or the less worst!) ? :

- trim the vanagon inner bracket (structural issues?)

- trim the back of the fridge like previous post on this page)

Mon May 16, 2016 8:58 pm

More precisely: trim one of the above plus the insulation from the TF door (about an inch thick) or trim both the Vanagon body brace and the back of the fridge and retain the insulation on the TF door (that's the option I chose).

Regardless, the TF 49 is too deep to fit behind the Westy door w/out considerable hacking to the fridge, van or both (one could also pull the Westy cabinet out an inch or more which falls into the category of hacking the van).

I hope that helps.

Tue May 17, 2016 1:39 pm

since I already removed the door insulation I will now trim the vanagon brace !
Thanks

Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:07 pm

This is my first post. Nothing special on this tf65 install. Cold and lots of room! And I also like the extra drawer. But the fridge requires an auxiliary battery and charger project to have a decent autonomy. I will post pictures of the two 6Volt batteries and charger locations soon. Thx to all for your ideas.

Guy
Syncro Westy 86, 2003 Suby

Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:49 am

Welcome, and nice job on the fridge.

guycadieux wrote: This is my first post. Nothing special on this tf65 install. Cold and lots of room! And I also like the extra drawer. But the fridge requires an auxiliary battery and charger project to have a decent autonomy. I will post pictures of the two 6Volt batteries and charger locations soon. Thx to all for your ideas.

Guy
Syncro Westy 86, 2003 Suby

Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:00 am

bajaleo wrote: Welcome, and nice job on the fridge.

guycadieux wrote: This is my first post. Nothing special on this tf65 install. Cold and lots of room! And I also like the extra drawer. But the fridge requires an auxiliary battery and charger project to have a decent autonomy. I will post pictures of the two 6Volt batteries and charger locations soon. Thx to all for your ideas.

Guy
Syncro Westy 86, 2003 Suby

The t65 is my single best upgrade in 19 years of vanagon ownership, followed closely by the propex. With my 100 amp battery and 100 watt solar battery have yet wanted for more power. I also installed an iota converter because I was struggling getting my agm battery fully charged when at home. This is also a nice upgrade as it allows you to have shore power for all your aux stuff when at home before a trip or when at a campground that has electric. Enjoy the plethora of ice cold beer!

Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:01 pm

Did you guys all insulate around your tf 49 or other fridges?

Thu Aug 17, 2017 6:58 pm

So my td49 worked on 12v just fine. I then plugged it in all night to prepare for departure. Now it's back to 12v and dead as a door nail.

Any suggestions?

Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:10 pm

designer wrote: So my td49 worked on 12v just fine. I then plugged it in all night to prepare for departure. Now it's back to 12v and dead as a door nail.

Any suggestions?

Check the fuse? Does the interior light come on?

Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:29 pm

designer wrote: Did you guys all insulate around your tf 49 or other fridges?

No. Insulation may help conserve battery power but I'm too busy stirring manhattans with ice or eating ice cream to worry about it. :D

With adequate solar/battery, insulation would have a negligible affect on operations. It may be helpful if trying to run the fridge for days with a 50 watt panel and 50 ah battery but I'd first recommend increasing solar and battery capacity.

Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:33 pm

davevickery wrote: I really like the look of the Dometic Waeco CRX-50. It was introduced last Fall and has a removable freezer compartment.

http://www.dometic.com/QBankFiles3/EPiServer/Domet..._30569.pdf

Has anyone tried installing one of these?

Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:20 am

Those links above are dead so I added a picture to the gallery, courtesy of CampingVan Culture in the UK. http://campervanculture.com/shop/waeco-crx50-12v-compressor-fridge/

This is the stainless version which looks nice but Raney Truck Parts has the the black front version for $495 USD less $25 for first time customers. http://www.raneystruckparts.com/truck-fridge-built...IcEALw_wcB That is the cheapest I have seen them. This is certainly the way I would go. There are detailed features listed on CampingVan Cultures site but from memory it has a variable speed compressor to save energy, has a sleek push button control panel, the same DanFoss compressor they all have, Dometic quality, the removable freezer compartment which allows it to be a huge freezer, or just a larger fridge plus the freezer compartment goes all the way across because the controls are on the side.

Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:55 am

davevickery wrote: Dometic quality, the removable freezer compartment which allows it to be a huge freezer, or just a larger fridge plus the freezer compartment goes all the way across because the controls are on the side.

I think that may be a misprint/misquote - I don't believe the unit has the reserve cooling to be a 'freezer' but a huge fridge instead, when the removable freezer compartment is removed. Freezers will be capable of taking the entire contents down to -10 F. Full freezers use a bigger cooling unit IIRC.

Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:09 am

You're probably right Karl and I hope I didn 't mislead anyone. I got that from the Dometic site, "The Dometic CoolMatic CRX 50 offers 45 l of cool storage and an optional 4.4 l of freezer space. Providing a 3-in-1 solution, you can choose between having: a fridge, freezer or both at the same time!".

Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:33 pm

Thanks for posting! That's a really good looking replacement, and it seems to fit well in the old fridge location. Hard to believe they're selling any version of this for under $500!

edit:
After looking at the models available, I think there's an important distinction between the CRX-50, which is DC only, and the CRX-1050E, which is AC/DC. The Ryder model is a 50. The lowest prices I'm seeing for a 1050 are in the $700 range. Not widely available here in the US.

Has anyone here actually seen one in action?

Fri Aug 25, 2017 6:00 pm

Karl,

Any chance you may carry these in the future or if you have any thoughts on them in comparison to the TF49?

Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:08 pm

westyventures wrote: davevickery wrote: Dometic quality, the removable freezer compartment which allows it to be a huge freezer, or just a larger fridge plus the freezer compartment goes all the way across because the controls are on the side.

I think that may be a misprint/misquote - I don't believe the unit has the reserve cooling to be a 'freezer' but a huge fridge instead, when the removable freezer compartment is removed. Freezers will be capable of taking the entire contents down to -10 F. Full freezers use a bigger cooling unit IIRC.

My Dometic CFX65 DZUS can do just that, it is either a fridge, fridge/freezer or full freezer. Works awesome!

Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:39 pm

Kkinsch wrote: Karl,

Any chance you may carry these in the future or if you have any thoughts on them in comparison to the TF49?

I would buy one from you if you did :)

Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:46 pm

moxbox wrote: Kkinsch wrote: Karl,

Any chance you may carry these in the future or if you have any thoughts on them in comparison to the TF49?

I would buy one from you if you did :)

X2 on this. I really like the stainless look with the gray interior

Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:55 am

No plans to carry anything additional as there are possible 'different plans' in the winds for the next year +.

The chest style fridges have wrap-around cooling in the box, that's why they can be full freezer function.