TheSamba.com :: View topic - fridge replacement projects

Tue Sep 17, 2024 1:31 pm

Has anyone used this bodega RV refrigerator? The dimensions look like it would fit in the stock location.

https://www.amazon.com/BODEGA-%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3...amp;sr=8-1

Tue Nov 26, 2024 7:06 am

scotty timmerman wrote: Has anyone used this bodega RV refrigerator? The dimensions look like it would fit in the stock location.

https://www.amazon.com/BODEGA-%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3...amp;sr=8-1

Somewhere, can’t find it, maybe not the Samba, there’s a thread where a guy was showing his cabinet work and there’s a Bodega in one of the pics. This got me looking into them and I wrote their “customer service” to see if I could find out typical power consumption vs. specified, which I assume to be worst case. Not surprisingly they couldn’t understand let alone answer my question but I did get out of them that the Eco mode consumes about 80% of the regular mode.

I’m talking about their 45L model here, which is rated at 60 watts. I wrote them because I thought this must be a cover your butt rating (seems high). Here is their response:

“The maximum power of this refrigerator is 60 W. The power of the refrigerator fluctuates, approximately between 55-60 W. This fluctuation is based on the ambient temperature and other factors. This fluctuation depends on other factors such as ambient temperature.”

I’d really like to find out what people’s real life experiences are.

Edit: I should add, yes indeed I’m looking for a lower cost fridge, but my bigger concern is power consumption. We run a CPAP now so I need to conserve power wherever possible everywhere else.

Tue Nov 26, 2024 8:17 am

Corwyn wrote: Vitrifrigo C50i. In like a glove! Perfect size, easy install. Super quiet. 3 hours after wiring it up, I have ice cubes! :D

This is a great size. I am rocking the CFX3 55IM portable Dometic unit with about the same capacity. However, it is a pretty large unit to have in the middle of your living room.

Corwyn how was the install? Did you have to remove the whole galley or were you able to install in place.

Wed Nov 27, 2024 8:22 am

Corwyn and Brandon,

How does this unit compare sizewise to the TF49 and the TF65? Thanks

Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:12 am

Rorke wrote: How does this unit compare sizewise to the TF49 and the TF65? Thanks

Vitrifrigo C50i:
- Height: 25 inches
- Width: 15.6 inches
- Depth: 13.6 inches (flush-mounted) or 15.2 inches otherwise
- Capacity: 50 liters

TruckFridge TF49:
- Height: 20.5 inches
- Width: 15 inches
- Depth: 17.5 inches
- Capacity: 49 liters

TruckFridge TF65:
- Height: 21 inches
- Width: 17.75 inches
- Depth: 18.5 inches
- Capacity: 65 liters

Summary:
- The Vitrifrigo C50i is taller but narrower and shallower than both TruckFridge models.
- It offers a similar capacity to the TF49 but with a different form factor.

Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:29 am

^^^ Interesting. This is similar to a normal depth house fridge compared to a cabinet-depth (about 6" shallower) fridge: a normal fridge is so deep that stuff gets lost in the back. I find it hard to get stuff out of the back of my VF51 (same as the TF49) and would appreciate a taller, shallower fridge. Maybe the VFC50i is the new best choice.

Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:21 pm

The fridge is a perfect fit.

1. Remove the entire cabinet fascia where the fridge was
2. Wire up the new fridge
3. Screw the frame to the fridge
4. Place the fridge in the cabinet
5. Screw the frame to the cabinet sides, securing it in the van.

The only destruction I did was to notch the cabinet edge on the left side all the way to the floor so the frame fit flush. I doesn't stick out like the TF does.

The compressor is on the bottom, outboard so it is really quiet. It draws a lot less than my ARB 50 did.

It is actually a 12/240v dorm fridge with feet.

Thu Nov 28, 2024 10:16 am

Thank you for the dimensions Brandon.

My older vitifrigo model (nearly identical to the TF49) sits so deep behind the stock fascia that it needed to be notched. Moreover, the fridge compressor needed tricky modification to route the city plumbing and new air compressor port.

When / if this dies, I intend to fit a TF65 behind the original fascia, which may be less work than my current set up.

- cabinet would need to be mounted two inches off the side to provide a deeper recess.
- Top and sides would need to be extended accordingly (I have the GW melamine already)
- The stock seam between the fridge side and cabinet/drawer side needs to move forward (to the right if looking at cabinet). This would be the “hinge” and the whole fridge door/new face would be the door cover.

- The door latch needs an appropriate solution. I don’t trust the magnetic seal alone.

Fri Nov 29, 2024 3:30 pm

Recent install of a Dometic NRX 50C. The freezer is removable and you an add a shelf. I'm still deciding if I am happy with it. Uses about an amp an hour overall. It's quiet and it fit without cutting the stock cabinet. Top filler might become another drawer. My only complaint is condensation never clears up. I don't know how the moisture is getting in. Seal seems fine. Just may need to put some things in plastic bags that you'd prefer to keep dry.

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/outdoor/boat/boat-re...9620001829

Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:58 am

has anyone tried swapping panels side-to-side like this guy?

kinda looks like he has a 65L fridge in there on the left, with the stock drawer on top, e.g. from moving the right side over to the left

then has the large factory fridge door moved over to the right for a bigger cabinet

seems pretty ideal (and very logical from a design perspective)?
albeit looks a tight fit.

can't say i love how the right cabinet interior is setup as-is ... but seems easily improved upon with a scandvik drain, a little more careful routing, and some interior shelving/drawers

Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:09 am

MarkWard wrote: Recent install of a Dometic NRX 50C.
......
My only complaint is condensation never clears up. I don't know how the moisture is getting in. Seal seems fine. Just may need to put some things in plastic bags that you'd prefer to keep dry.

check the wiring entry point for the interior light and/or temp control... it may need some help from butyl. i had to do a warranty claim on a fancy Vitrifrigo in my bay window because of that. luckily, the moisture only made it inside the light housing (which filled with water and fried the pcb) it was fine after sealing it up.

Mon Feb 10, 2025 4:44 pm

scotty timmerman wrote: Has anyone used this bodega RV refrigerator? The dimensions look like it would fit in the stock location.

https://www.amazon.com/BODEGA-%E3%80%90Upgraded%E3...amp;sr=8-1

Bodega customer service sucks, they give me a a runaround about my warranty claim. Save your money and get something else.

Sat Mar 01, 2025 7:06 pm

Here is my bodega 45L install with a Propex hs2800.

Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:32 am

I pulled the trigger on a Vitrifrigo C50i this morning--$650 plus tax and $59 shipping to Colorado, at 4-State Trucks:

https://www.4statetrucks.com/vitrifrigo-refrigerat...gIhRPD_BwE

The webpage also includes quite a bit of useful info re: power consumption, installation, etc.

EDIT 14 March...this is NOT a C50i, wrong dimensions. It might be possible to use, bit it's about 4 inches (100mm) deeper than the C50i.

Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:47 pm

I don't see where the fridge model is stated in the advertisement, and I'm sorry to tell you, the photos on that website are of a different model Vitrifrigo fridge than the C50i.

Thu Mar 13, 2025 9:03 pm

snoop wrote: I don't see where the fridge model is stated in the advertisement, and I'm sorry to tell you, the photos on that website are of a different model Vitrifrigo fridge than the C50i.

I agree that website fridge looks just like the VF51 (which is the same as the TF49 for the most part - see comparisons earlier in this thread) that I installed in my van years ago.

Website photo

Fri Mar 14, 2025 11:02 am

snoop wrote: I don't see where the fridge model is stated in the advertisement, and I'm sorry to tell you, the photos on that website are of a different model Vitrifrigo fridge than the C50i.

Crap, you're right, it's 100mm deeper than the C50i. :( Canceling and resuming the search.

Wed Mar 19, 2025 7:30 am

Ordered a C50i from camperinteriors.co.uk. Price was $722 plus $230 shipping to Colorado, US.

Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:40 am

korfmach wrote: Ordered a C50i from camperinteriors.co.uk. Price was $722 plus $230 shipping to Colorado, US.

You did good. That's where we got ours about 4 years ago and that's about what we paid. No tarrif on the UK yet.

Enjoy your new fridge; we do ours.

Mon May 26, 2025 9:20 pm

Don't buy the c50i from camperinteriors!!
Just ordered and the fridge was marked as if it is made in China.
Meaning you are charged tariffs as if it is from China.

Also the flush mounting frame has not made it through custom either as they didn't complete that paper work correctly either...

They have gone silent on me and won't return my emails.

Just a major expensive headache and nothing to show for it.