Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 08:59:35 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rkoerner@CRYOCOR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rkoerner@CRYOCOR.COM>
Subject: Re: Unused Fridge and weight (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Good comments... I have an '85 GL with homemade camper conversion, so
of course no built-in frig or stove. Always wondered about the utility
of the built-in appliances versus their bulk, cost, operational
problems, etc. versus the simplicity of cheap-yet-rugged cooler (with
fresh ice cubes always available) and a portable Coleman stove (mostly
cook outdoors, but can use inside in a pinch).
I had a 45-year old metal "ice-chest" with lots of sentimental value,
but also cracks in the plastic liner and thin insulation. Just replaced
it with the Coleman "WideBody" 50-quart plastic model (on sale at Sports
Authority for $17.99 with an extra jug and mini-cooler); the "wide-body"
is the key, as it's length is reduced, and its width and height
increased, so it fits perfectly on the floor behind the front passenger
seat; with a small foam pad or a folded-towel, makes the perfect extra
seat or ottoman. Most of the other coolers were too big: would extend
out into the "walkway" area between the front seats.
Rich
'85 Homemade-Westy, "Betsy"
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Robert Rountree
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 7:45 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Unused Fridge and weight (long)
I rarely turn on or, use my fridge, mine can take almost 24hrs on 110v
to
get cold. Sometimes I'll run it on 12v while driving home with some
groceries that need to be kept cool (I don't live near town) ... usually
I
just use it to store my film, cameras, wine and other things I want to
stay
at a constant temp, safe in the insulated cabinet and out of sight...I
have
always used a cooler in my vanagon... my 78 champagne edition westy had
a
nice horizontal fridge/cooler with a drain which I miss... I now use a
Coleman Extreme cooler and I use block ice where I can get it. Actually
to
start I freeze my own blocks in juice or milk jugs which last 3-4 days
with
the extreme cooler depending on whether the van gets real hot. My wife
prefers the extreme cooler as her seat at the dinner table and outside
the
door. I keep the cooler covered with a towel, which makes it even more
efficient and comfortable to use as a seat and ottoman. we also put
things
in the cooler in seal-able Tupperware type containers, which helps tame
their smells and keeps them above any melt water. This keeps the melted
water clean enough that we recycle it for basic cleaning up duties (&
cook
with the thawed jug water), this saves on potable tank water. Using the
Tupperware also makes your van less smell-able for the bears, I'm use to
bears, I have them in my own yard.... The extreme cooler is also strong
enough to stand on for getting stuff on the luggage rack and back bunk
area.
I enjoy having the passenger seat turned backwards, my feet up on one
side
of the cooler, my wife sitting in the back with her feet up on the other
side, sometimes playing footsy, we switch seats often, enjoying the view
or
a glass of wine and the candle light, listening to my CD mixes. I sleep
like
a log in my van... and because I never use the propane except for
cooking, I
easily go sometimes 2 years (or one 8 week trip) without needing a
refill.
I have found the major trick to using your camper, is LESS is BEST. I
have
seen people in natl. parks with their vans so full of stuff they can't
move
around, let alone get at the stuff they have and they are only out for
the
weekend. Once this couple in a Syncro non-westy were getting on the
ferry to
Newfoundland, they had 2 kayaks on top of their van (which made it over
the
length of the cheaper car rate, cost $75 each way more than us), they
had 4
paddles, wetsuits, a ton of stuff. I fixed the guys CPU for him, it took
him
30 mins just to get at it. Later on our trip we ran into them again,
kayaking... we rented our kayak there for $25 with all the equipment
needed.
I admit the guy had 2 nice kayaks he had built, and being someone who
enjoys
fine woodworking, they were a real badge of honor to carry around and
talk
about. But they only used them once where we met them kayaking, yet for
their whole trip, they could hardly move around with all that gear. I'm
a
recreational private pilot (who has built a few planes) and I'm always
aware
of weight. Just like when I fly, I check what goes in. My wife gets her
bags
inspected before boarding. She'll say shouldn't we carry some extra
_______
(fill in the blank)? My response is always.... You can buy it
anywhere.....
why carry it over the pass, wear out your brakes and shorten your
stopping
distance, when it's waiting fresh over there for ya already.
You only need what you use....you can rent just about everything where
you
are going now.... ... and something is open 24/7 on the way there.
This isn't 100% true if you mainly camp on remote logging/fire roads in
the
middle of nowhere Canada... but then there is no cell service, no tow
trucks, no light pollution, no noisy campers.......... only crickets,
tree
frogs, owls, howling wolves and northern lights.......with more real
stars
than Hollywood wannabes.
RR
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