Back surgery - TruckFridge reward

[singler3360]

I'm starting day 1 of post-op recovery from back surgery. My wife is letting me pull the trigger on a TruckFridge as a reward. Sympathy points BIG TIME and I need to spend them before they disappear so I will make the order today*****. The lengths I go to for my Westy!

Unfortunately, we need to hold off a little longer on the Propex planned for under the fridge. It doesn't seem like it would be too much of a hassle to pull the fridge out for the Propex install when the time comes. Is this the pain meds talking or is this not a good idea?

And now for the main reason for the post. Sodo has a good walk-thru of mods he made to the TF 49 to make it quieter, http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=367141.

QUESTIONS:
1. Are others finding this necessary?
2. If so, do these mods remain effective over time?
3. Are these mods not necessary on the Vitrifrigo?
4. Any other differences between the TruckFridge and Vitrifrigo?
5. If you had to do it over again, would you install the TF65 instead?

Thanks!

*****FULL DISCLOSURE: My wife loves our Westy too and is looking forward to the fridge install as much as I am

[BillM]

The post op experience,been there more than I care to recall. Sound like you have a great wife so your in very capable hands. Good luck with getting better.
As for the propex later that would be fine. Pulling a ac/dc fridge is easy. Nothing like a propane box.
I have had a tf49 and a virtifigo. The Virt did seem to run quieter but I never compared them side by side. I could have just been convincing myself it was better as I spent more money. Honestly I never though the tf49 was ever to noisy. I also don't think my propex is noisy but other people
complain.
I'd hurry up and order that fridge while she is still sympathetic. My wife loves our Westy just as much if not more than me. I usually never get told no when it comes to upgrades and improvements.
In fact she's been researching five speeds lately. Trying to figure out if it's worth the expense. Were going to need a tranny swap this winter as
second has started to whine a bit.
Hope you feel better soon. If it takes back surgery for a fridge,what's a paint job going to take?
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Bill M
87 Westy

[j_dirge]

I'd be thinking about better seats... unless you can stick your butt into that fridge after a 4 hr drive.

L3,4,5.. partial lamentecomy on L3, 1986.

Youth is wasted on the young.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[singler3360]

[climberjohn]

I too am curious to hear from anyone who is installed a truck fridge 65. The cost is almost identical to the smaller one, and getting that much additional fridge space for very little additional money is very tempting.

I can see if you camp by yourself or with one other person the smaller fridge would be adequate for most people. However, I usually With a family of four. We currently use a 70 quart cooler, and it's always pretty darn full.

Here's a thread that discusses installing the TF 65, with some nice pictures and description of the cabin modifications that apparently need to be done.

Thanks Howesight! See page 1 of this long thread.

fridge replacement projects - post here
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359831

-CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[wyomingriviera]

Make sure you HEAL before installing that fridge!

I had back surgery in October of '07, then re-injured my back within 2 weeks by waxing my bus...it sucked!
_________________
'77 Rivi 2.0 T2 GD
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different."- Kurt Vonnegut

[markz2004]

It's not the TF I'd be worried about, it's really how to power it off grid. I probably spent another $300 on batteries and chargers, etc.

Recover quickly,
mark
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87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels

[madspaniard]

Good wishes to you during recovery! Don't move too much around for a while.

I have not experinced any of the noise problems Sodo describes in the thread above. I have a Isotherm unit but is should basically be the same as the Truckfridge or Vitifrigo units. My recommendation, buy it and try it before final installation to see if the noise really bothers you. The Propex is definitely louder when it kicks in but it has never bothered me at night unless I can't really sleep because something else is going on.

Yesterday I finished the installation of the Propex under the Isothem, works great and it was not difficult. I just need to finish some wood and laminate work for the fascia around the fridge and Propex hot air outlet. Will post pics.

I agree with others, start thinking how to cope with the additional power demand from the fridge during extended stays. Big aux battery coupled with solar power.
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[Howesight]

QUESTIONS:
1. Are others finding this necessary?
2. If so, do these mods remain effective over time?
3. Are these mods not necessary on the Vitrifrigo?
4. Any other differences between the TruckFridge and Vitrifrigo?
5. If you had to do it over again, would you install the TF65 instead?

1. Unless you are camping in a very quiet area, you will barely hear the fridge. On my TF65, the most annoying noise is the "plink!" sound the relay makes when the compressor cycles on. Like the fridge at home, it all becomes "normal" after a while and you stop noticing it.

5. I didn't have to do it all over again since I started with the TF65. From the start of my research, I looked at many models, knowing I had no difficulty modifying the cabinet for an "oversize" fridge. I even considered getting a compressor/evaporator kit and making my fridge box myself to maximize the available size.

However, the TF65 was so close to the available space that I went with it. Essentially, you completely disassemble the Westy kitchen cabinet, move the right side panel over by 3/8", cut 3/8' off the left side of the right cabinet face, and thereby widen the space available for the TF65 by 3/4". This also requires slightly relocating the 120V outlet in the cabinet and revising the sliders for the factory Westy drawer also to accomodate the right shift of the face that drawer sits in.

If you can work with a table saw and a router, it's easy. It also allowed me to install a large drawer underneath the fridge. The compressor fridges run on a different principle than the factory absorption fridges and DO NOT require ventilation to flow under or behind the fridge. On the TF65, my mounting puts the condensor and its fan right beside the existing ventilation grate on the left hand side of the Westy cabinet - - almost like it was designed to accept the TF65. On other models, I cannot say where your condensor would sit relative to the grate so YMMV.

One of my main complaints with the Dometic was the incredibly small size, so if I was going to spend the time and money to install a compressor fridge, I wanted the most bang for my buck.

While you have the table saw and router out, you can build your new drawer for under the fridge!
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[singler3360]

[Timwhy]

Very nice!!

You have a very understanding wife, can she give mine some lessons?

Get well soon!
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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[binger59]

My understanding is the fridge will switch from Dc to shore power when the shore power is plugged in correct? So my question is , Does the fridge always run when you're just driving about town? I have another van that I drive so I'm not always driving the westy. Is there a way to " turn it off"?
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Binger

1984 Westy
1986 7 Pass R.I.P. Donor van
2019 Jetta
2014 Passat
2019 Atlas
2006 Passat R.I.P.
1998 Jetta R.I.P.
1984 Vanagon R.I.P.

[jackbombay]

[singler3360]

[jackbombay]

Its pretty easy to install a switch just in front of the sink.
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