TheSamba.com :: View topic - fridge replacement projects

Tue Aug 29, 2017 12:21 pm

I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to use a marine fridge system? It would make a lot sense to insulate/convert the bins into a fridge, since top loading fridges will be much, much more efficient (cold does not spill out every time you open the door). You could put the compressor into the bottom of the closet.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/isotherm--2012-comp...gIaZPD_BwE

Wed Aug 30, 2017 9:41 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.

There is really no problem making the whole thing a freezer - the compressor has capacity to be used in much much larger fridges.

Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:15 am

RichBenn wrote: There is really no problem making the whole thing a freezer - the compressor has capacity to be used in much much larger fridges.

It's the cooling plate the lacks the size. Maybe one could get the entire fridge to cool down to 'near' freezing but it's not going to double as a true freezer, the cooling plate just isn't large enough. Otherwise manufacturers would have no reason to make dedicated freezer models.

Thu Aug 31, 2017 2:35 pm

westyventures wrote: RichBenn wrote: There is really no problem making the whole thing a freezer - the compressor has capacity to be used in much much larger fridges.

It's the cooling plate the lacks the size. Maybe one could get the entire fridge to cool down to 'near' freezing but it's not going to double as a true freezer, the cooling plate just isn't large enough. Otherwise manufacturers would have no reason to make dedicated freezer models.
Nope, 17 F in freezer mode. NOT the same arrangement as the Truckfridge, Vitrifrigo, isotherm. Check out the videos for the CRX Dometic/Waeco models

Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:55 pm

We need to replace the fridge in our 1987 and I am reading through all these posts. I'm not a technical guy that can do this myslef. Anyone know of a shop in Michigan that does refrigerator installs on Westys? :?:

Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:01 pm

Robert Barnes wrote: We need to replace the fridge in our 1987 and I am reading through all these posts. I'm not a technical guy that can do this myslef. Anyone know of a shop in Michigan that does refrigerator installs on Westys? :?:

Oh, if I can do it, you can too. Tell us what you want to do and what you have and we'll get you there.

Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:20 pm

RichBenn wrote:
Nope, 17 F in freezer mode. NOT the same arrangement as the Truckfridge, Vitrifrigo, isotherm. Check out the videos for the CRX Dometic/Waeco models

Hmmm, I've been wondering about the claims to make the Dometic a full-freezer. While 17F is below freezing, it's not the 0F - 10F that freezers run at. The freezer in my VF51 is typically about 5F when the fridge is about 40F (temps certainly vary when opening the door to retrieve cold beer and ice cream :D ).

If I crank my VF51 to 11 it will freeze a glass of water on the bottom of the fridge when it's left there overnight in 60 degree temps.

Regardless, I can't think of a time that I'd ever want the entire box to be below freezing. I can't stir that many manhattans or eat that much ice cream. :D

Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:31 am

jimf909 wrote: RichBenn wrote:
Nope, 17 F in freezer mode. NOT the same arrangement as the Truckfridge, Vitrifrigo, isotherm. Check out the videos for the CRX Dometic/Waeco models

Hmmm, I've been wondering about the claims to make the Dometic a full-freezer. While 17F is below freezing, it's not the 0F - 10F that freezers run at. The freezer in my VF51 is typically about 5F when the fridge is about 40F (temps certainly vary when opening the door to retrieve cold beer and ice cream :D ).

If I crank my VF51 to 11 it will freeze a glass of water on the bottom of the fridge when it's left there overnight in 60 degree temps.

Regardless, I can't think of a time that I'd ever want the entire box to be below freezing. I can't stir that many manhattans or eat that much ice cream. :D

I agree completely. Anyway, dometic says "as low as 17 degrees" which means it may struggle more in higher temps. Still it is a nice option.

Mon Sep 04, 2017 11:56 am

I'd never use the freezer only either, most likely. I was more intrigued by some of the other features, like the controls and the ability to make it all fridge. The fan appears to be bolted on, so if it was quiet like the computer fans everyone replaces on the other models it'd be worth it. It's also inclear if the controls are like a digital thermostat or just a high, medium, low, freezer that use fixed fan and compressor settings.

Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:28 pm

llilibel03 wrote: I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to use a marine fridge system? It would make a lot sense to insulate/convert the bins into a fridge, since top loading fridges will be much, much more efficient (cold does not spill out every time you open the door). You could put the compressor into the bottom of the closet.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/isotherm--2012-comp...gIaZPD_BwE

Yes we build something like this. My girlfriend shows it in this movie at 4.28 minutes (I already tried to skip to the section of the fridge for you):

Edit: don't know why youtube still shows the movie from the beginning. Just skip to 4.28 minutes and you are there. We doubled the isolation so it's really energy efficient.

Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:08 pm

llilibel03 wrote: I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to use a marine fridge system? It would make a lot sense to insulate/convert the bins into a fridge, since top loading fridges will be much, much more efficient (cold does not spill out every time you open the door). You could put the compressor into the bottom of the closet.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/isotherm--2012-comp...gIaZPD_BwE

An ARB or Engle Refridgerator/Freezer top loading unit is commonly used by many. It takes up floor space and it is something you want to lock down while driving, but when you camp you can just move it outside.
I use an Engle marine version 40qt unit. The only thing marine about it is that the entire housing is plastic so it would not rust in the salt water environment.
Some of the ARB units are better I think in that they have a area for freezing and the rest of the space for normal refrigeration.

https://www.engelcoolers.com/12volt-fridge-freezers.html

Tue Sep 05, 2017 8:34 am

Theslowdutchman wrote: llilibel03 wrote: I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to use a marine fridge system? It would make a lot sense to insulate/convert the bins into a fridge, since top loading fridges will be much, much more efficient (cold does not spill out every time you open the door). You could put the compressor into the bottom of the closet.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/isotherm--2012-comp...gIaZPD_BwE

Yes we build something like this. My girlfriend shows it in this movie at 4.28 minutes (I already tried to skip to the section of the fridge for you):

Edit: don't know why youtube still shows the movie from the beginning. Just skip to 4.28 minutes and you are there. We doubled the isolation so it's really energy efficient.

A lot of nice modifications in your van. Compliments.

Where is the compressor unit for the fridge?

Tue Sep 05, 2017 10:16 am

llilibel03 wrote: Theslowdutchman wrote: llilibel03 wrote: I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to use a marine fridge system? It would make a lot sense to insulate/convert the bins into a fridge, since top loading fridges will be much, much more efficient (cold does not spill out every time you open the door). You could put the compressor into the bottom of the closet.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/isotherm--2012-comp...gIaZPD_BwE

Yes we build something like this. My girlfriend shows it in this movie at 4.28 minutes (I already tried to skip to the section of the fridge for you):

Edit: don't know why youtube still shows the movie from the beginning. Just skip to 4.28 minutes and you are there. We doubled the isolation so it's really energy efficient.

A lot of nice modifications in your van. Compliments.

Where is the compressor unit for the fridge?

Thanks. We placed the compressor in the old fridge cabinet in the rear. We use that cabinet now for storage. We have build our new fridge as a independent cabinet in the original cabinet. This way we can remove it while the fridge stays in place. Or we just remove the fridge and everything is back to what it was again. What I like about the setup is energy efficiency. the fridge is almost using nothing while we are camping for months in really high temperatures. So far 18 months into this trip we never used a hookup and the fridge has always been on.

Fri Sep 15, 2017 2:57 pm

It finally became time to replace the old NorMoreCold refrigerator unit in the van. It had stopped working on 12v so I was forced to add a 110v converter to use in that mode, now the compressor went. Since I wasn't about to spend the bucks for another RV specific unit I choose to buy a 1.7cf unit from Wally World
for $60.00. It was approximately the same size, just a bit smaller. I pulled the old unit, saved all the perimeter mounting bits and mounted the new unit in the hole, figured out a anchoring method and trimmed and made the old perimeter trim work to cover the edges of the installation. We are going on a trip starting Monday so i will get a chance to try the unit out. I have caps to cover the extra holes, the paint on them is drying.

Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:24 am

svxcarat wrote:

My install😀

Could a propex fit under this fridge? I really want to keep factory look like pictured.

Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:08 am

This is the year. I have the aux battery and solar controller in the van. At this point I need a fridge.

These are the choices I am looking at right now.

Clean install Truck fridge (keeping OEM door). I love the OEM look. I don't mind hours of fabrication. I am looking to get a propex next fall. One of potential places to put propex heater is under fridge but now there is an exterior model I might go that route.

ARB fridge. This would go in-front of passenger starting battery. However, I love turning the passenger chair around and chilling when friends are in the van. The model I am looking at is an all weather model. It is 63 quarts, 3 inches shorter than the 82 quart model. I think this might work as you could use this as a foot rest. Oh and it looks like it has a shock for keeping the lid open while you looking for munchies. Another benefit of this is that I can take it anywhere! We have a 5th wheel camper we take to beach and it would be nice to have an outside fridge for drinks!

Opinions?

Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:49 am

I am a fan of the ARB or Wyndstar or other chest fridges. Waaaay more capacity than a truckfridge and versatile too.

We put ours outside under the awning when camped. I made a sunbrella canvas cover for it (just in view on the rear bench seat) for when it rains and at night or when we leave camp for a walk. I also lock it to the body of the bus to discourage it from growing legs... 8)

Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:30 am

Dave, capacity is capacity, the same size chest fridges don't hold any more than the front loaders. :wink:
Truckfridge also sells very nice steel chest fridges as well.

Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:35 am

westyventures wrote: Dave, capacity is capacity, the same size chest fridges don't hold any more than the front loaders. :wink:
Truckfridge also sells very nice steel chest fridges as well.

Yep. :wink:

I was comparing the TF size range that fits in the Westy fridge hole vs a chest style fridge on the floor. Not really a fair size comparison but to me size matters in this area.

Which size of chest is preferable is of personal opinion.

Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:33 pm

Shaggin' I'm guessing a propex won't fit under the fridge set in the oem Westy aperture but I'll suggest considering installing the propex outside under the floor of the van. My guess is that it's a bit quieter. Just one more thing for you to ponder. :D

dobryan, agreed that you can get more capacity in a chest, but I've never wanted for more capacity than my VF51/TF49 (two occupants, one beer drinker). I really like having the fridge in the original location and not having anything on the floor of the van. Also the fridge is always ready to go (just turn it on, put stuff in and it's cold in about an hour). If we ever do need more capacity we carry a cooler.

Fridges are one thing with many opinions. :D

Two years after installing a VF51 behind the oem cabinet door it remains one of my favorite mods. Have I mentioned that there's nothing like ending a day with manhattans stirred in ice and ice cream?