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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19072
Location: Retired South Florida
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 Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 5:31 am Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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| The Dometic I installed above also averages about 1 amp an hour, but with a 100 amp lithium battery, the math doesn’t work out to 6 days of run time. It’s nice to have options that fit from multiple places. |
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wpegden
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 11:57 am Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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| WestiT3_1986 wrote: |
Dear Vanagon/Westfalia friends,
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Greetings from Germany
Sven |
Just wanted to chime in here and say that I followed Sven's path and it worked out great.
Dometic is sellling these Dometic CRX50 fridges for $500 on amazon right now, with free shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/DOMETIC-CRX0050TN-Compressor-Refrigerator-Navistar/dp/B0BDTMLB6J
this one has a different outside appearance for installing in some particular truck, but this doesn't matter since you disassemble the door anyways. This version is the one I used and it worked fine. At the end you have a modern, roomy compressor fridge/freezer with a totally stock look when the door is closed.
Only thing to note is that this is the DC only version. If you want to add AC capability you can use the following Dometic switching power supply:
https://www.suremarineservice.com/Galley/Refrigeration-Accessories/MPS-35_2.html |
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wpegden
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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Here are photos of the finished project (excusing the missing gang box cover to the left):
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WestiT3_1986
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2016
Posts: 46
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:39 am Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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Nice to see the write-up still being used! Great work!
| wpegden wrote: |
| WestiT3_1986 wrote: |
Dear Vanagon/Westfalia friends,
...
Greetings from Germany
Sven |
Just wanted to chime in here and say that I followed Sven's path and it worked out great.
Dometic is sellling these Dometic CRX50 fridges for $500 on amazon right now, with free shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/DOMETIC-CRX0050TN-Compressor-Refrigerator-Navistar/dp/B0BDTMLB6J
this one has a different outside appearance for installing in some particular truck, but this doesn't matter since you disassemble the door anyways. This version is the one I used and it worked fine. At the end you have a modern, roomy compressor fridge/freezer with a totally stock look when the door is closed.
Only thing to note is that this is the DC only version. If you want to add AC capability you can use the following Dometic switching power supply:
https://www.suremarineservice.com/Galley/Refrigeration-Accessories/MPS-35_2.html |
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wpegden
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 7:34 am Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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| WestiT3_1986 wrote: |
Nice to see the write-up still being used! Great work!
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Yes the write-up is fantastic and made the job (I suspect) much easier than it would have been the first time. With your measurements I needed very little trial and error for fitting. |
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korfmach
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014
Posts: 267
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2025 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: fridge replacement projects - post here |
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| korfmach wrote: |
| Ordered a C50i from camperinteriors.co.uk. Price was $722 plus $230 shipping to Colorado, US. |
Finally getting around to updating this project. My old OEM Dometic still worked, but even after cleaning, upgrades, etc. was still very difficult to start on propane above 8000 ft (2450 m) elevation...and most of our camping is well above that. I had installed solar power, controller and battery to run it on 12V when the propane circuit didn't work, but (as you perhaps know already) this is an imperfect and not very efficient solution.
The fridge took nearly two months and a couple of overseas phone calls to get it to my home in the US. Neither CamperInteriors, FedEx, the original shipper (an obscure French firm) nor myself ever figured out what took so long--probably the stupid tariffs which were in flux at the time. It did finally arrive, with some small non-consequential dents to the metal at the rear of the fridge; CamperInteriors offered to send a replacement but I declined as the project was already well behind schedule at that point! CamperInteriors were very helpful in keeping things moving; I suspect they are as annoyed by the shipping complexities as I.
After all that...the install was straightforward. It fits easily into the original space. I didn't order the trim kit; instead, I used some 3/4" aluminum angle which looks just as good and was a lot less expensive. The wiring was simple. I have mine wired to DPDT switch so I can run it off the alternator when the engine is running. Otherwise it runs off a 50 A-hr LiFePO4 battery behind the driver's seat, charged by a 200W portable solar panel and Renogy 20A controller originally intended to run the OEM Dometic. I also added a quick-disconnect so I can pre-cool the fridge on line (mains) power using a separate 12VDC transformer. If anyone's interested in the wiring schematic, I can send or post.
The solar/battery setup is a bit of overkill--the battery will run the fridge in moderate weather (e.g., 80F/25C) for three days without even using the panel. The panel will fully charge the battery in a few hours of full sun, even while running the fridge.
Performance has been, in a word, excellent. The fridge made ice in two hours after initial startup, and the only problem I've had is regulating the thermostat so it doesn't freeze our produce. Power consumption is minimal. On one trip, with daytime highs over 90F (32C), the compressor's duty cycle was still only about 50% during the day, and used about 20 A-hr in 24 hours.
This is a very well-designed fridge, and performance has exceeded expectations. The interior volume as about the same or maybe a little bigger than OEM, and the reliability and low power consumption have eliminated a significant source of stress on our camping trips--no more worries about the fridge losing power and all of our food spoiling. I can't overstate how much this has improved our camping trips. The cold beer is nice too.
The replacement project hasn't been cheap. Between the fridge, solar panel, controller and battery, the investment has been about $1400. So far as I'm concerned, it's been worth it and then some. If you are considering a replacement, and you've got the scratch, do it.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread; it's been very helpful.
_________________
1989 Westy, "La Barchetta Rosa" (Rosy)
2022 ID.4, "Ivy"
Gone, but not forgotten:
2016 Golf TSI
1974 Dorper Baywindow, "The Bleeding Trout"
1998 Jetta TDI, "Trixie"
1987 GTI, "Heike"
1974 Thing, "The Luftwaffel"
1974 Ghia
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